Albanian Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania is one of the Eastern Orthodox churches. It is very new. It was created in 1922 by the fathers of the Albanian Orthodoxy Fan Noli, Visarion Xhuvani, and others. The Albanian Orthodox Church is autocephalous, meaning its bishop does not have to answer before any superior clerical authority.
Since its beginning it has had a difficult time. The church suffered during the Second World War, and in the communist period that came after. This became worse after 1967 when Albania was declared an atheist state, and no public or private expression of religion was allowed. After religious freedom returned in 1991, the church has become very active again. More than 250 churches have been created or repaired, and more than 100 clergy being ordained.
The Church currently has four dioceses, Tirana, Durrës and Elbasan; Berat and Kanina; Gjirokastër; and Korçë.
Albanian Orthodox Church Media
Kisha Ortodokse e Shqipërisë
Bust of Naum Veqilharxhi, Korçë, the Orthodox "father of the Albanian alphabet" and a former participant in the Wallachian uprising of 1821 who went on to begin the Albanian Literary Renaissance.
Bishop Fan Noli, founder of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.
Visarion Xhuvani (portret)
Digital recreation of Archbishop Vissarion's signature
Portrait of Archbishop Kristofor of Albania
Digital recreation of Archbishop Kristofor's signature
An early image of Paisi Pashko Vodica as archbishop.
Digital recreation of Archbishop Paisi's signature
Damian Kokoneshi
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Other websites
- Official Site of the Albanian Orthodox Church (Warning: requires Flash)
- Albanian Orthodox Library
- Eastern Christian Churches: Orthodox Church of Albania[dead link]
- History of the Establishment of the Church Archived 2005-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
