TIRANA, June 30 – Albania marked 97 years since the adoption of the Statute of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church on June 30, 1929.
The development followed the country’s independence in 1912. Religious institutions also moved toward separation from traditional external dependencies shaped by political and administrative conditions.
In the first decade of state-building, church independence became a national necessity. Authorities aimed to reduce external political influence through religious structures.
The Orthodox Church in Albania gained autocephaly during the Congress of Berat, held on September 10–12, 1922. The congress approved key decisions that shaped its legal and canonical framework.
Later, church authorities convened the first Holy Synod on June 30, 1929. Visarion Xhuvani led the process as Archbishop of Albania and overseer of the Metropolis of Korça.
Meanwhile, the Ecumenical Patriarchate initially rejected these developments. It later engaged in discussions due to external regional pressures.
Its envoy in Albania, Krisanthos, supported autocephaly. This position contributed to the signing of the Patriarchal Tomos on April 12, 1937. The Tomos formally recognized the church’s status and appointed Archbishop Kristofor as head of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church.
A patriarchal tomos represents an official decree issued by a patriarch and the Holy Synod in the Eastern Orthodox Church. It defines administrative independence or autonomy for a regional church.
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