The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, convened on 16 September 2025, at the Synodal Centre in Tirana, in accordance with the Church’s Statute. During the session, the following elections were carried out:
Metropolitan of Gjirokastër – Nathanail, until now Metropolitan of Amantia, was unanimously elected as the new Metropolitan of Gjirokastër. His enthronement will take place on 20 September 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Gjirokastër.
Metropolitan of Korçë – Anastasios, until now Bishop of Kruja, was unanimously elected as the new Metropolitan of Korçë. His enthronement will take place on 27 September 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Korçë.
Following their election, both newly elected Metropolitans read the Great Message in the chapel of the Synodal Centre.
Metropolitan Nathanail of Gjirokastër (Stergiu)
Born in 1957 in Taxiarchis, Trikala (Greece), Metropolitan Nathanail studied at the Athoniada School on Mount Athos (1978) and earned a theology degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1982). He was tonsured a monk at the Great Lavra Monastery (1979), ordained deacon in 1982, and priest in 1987. From 1991 to 2012 he served in Gjirokastër as parish priest, spiritual father, preacher, and teacher at the local church high school. Elevated to bishop in 2012 by the late Archbishop Anastasios, he oversaw the new Cathedral of the Resurrection in Tirana and served as Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod. In 2016, he became Metropolitan of Amantia. He is also a board member of the Orthodox Evangelismos Clinic Foundation.
Metropolitan Anastasios of Korçë (Mamaj)
Born in 1979 in Vlora (Albania), Metropolitan Anastasios studied Greek language in Athens, business administration in Vlora (MSc), and later theology at the “Resurrection of Christ” Academy and LOGOS University College, completing a degree in social theology and religious studies (2023). He worked in senior banking roles (2005–2017) and was a member of the Clergy-Laity Council of the Orthodox Church of Albania, closely assisting the late Metropolitan Ignatios of Berat. He was ordained deacon in 2018, priest in 2019, and archimandrite in 2020. Since 2017 he has overseen Church property and economic affairs, serving as Executive Director of LOGOS University and on the governing bodies of several Church institutions. He has also been protosyncellus of the Archdiocese of Tirana and Durrës since December 2023. He speaks Albanian, Greek, and Italian.
