{"id":582355,"date":"2026-07-29T10:35:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T07:35:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=582355"},"modified":"2026-07-29T10:35:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T07:35:37","slug":"romanian-patriarchal-auxiliary-bishop-albanian-ambassador-cooperation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/romanian-patriarchal-auxiliary-bishop-albanian-ambassador-cooperation\/","title":{"rendered":"Romanian Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop, Albanian ambassador discuss closer cooperation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti met on Tuesday with Albania\u2019s Ambassador to Romania, Enkeleda M\u00ebrkuri, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. During the meeting, the two sides discussed opportunities for academic and spiritual cooperation between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Albanian Orthodox Church.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop recalled Romania\u2019s significant contribution to the development of both the Albanian Church<\/a> and the modern Albanian state, emphasising that this shared heritage can serve as the foundation for new joint initiatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsidering the important role played by the Romanian people and the Romanian Orthodox Church in Albania\u2019s attainment of independence and in the organisation of the new Albanian state and its Church, there is a strong desire to deepen these ties, particularly in the academic sphere,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Academic and spiritual cooperation<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti, secretary of the Holy Synod, and archim. Augustin Coman, patriarchal counsellor and coordinator of the Department for External Church Relations. 28.07.2026. Photo credit: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca-Emanuela Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bishop Varlaam noted that Albanian authorities have proposed that Albanian theologians and historians conduct research in Romanian archives because \u201cit is well known that the Albanian emancipation movement from Ottoman rule was organised in Bucharest, where the first Albanian schools were established, the Albanian alphabet was created, and textbooks and prayer books were written in Albanian.\u201d<\/p>\n

The meeting also addressed the development of pilgrimage initiatives and museum cooperation between the two countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are already Albanian travel agencies that bring Romanian tourist groups to Orthodox religious sites, but there is a desire to develop cooperation specifically in the field of Christian pilgrimage, which differs substantially from secular tourism,\u201d the bishop explained.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bishop Varlaam also highlighted interest in organising joint exhibitions of icons and ecclesiastical heritage objects.<\/p>\n

Relations between Albania and Romania<\/h2>\n
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Ambassador of Albania to Romania, Enkeleda M\u00ebrkuri. 28.07.2026. Photo credit: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca-Emanuela Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Albanian Ambassador Enkeleda M\u00ebrkuri emphasised that the long-standing historical ties between the two peoples provide a solid foundation for new collaborative initiatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur desire to place greater emphasis on relations between our two countries is rooted to a large extent in the religious and cultural ties between Albania and Romania.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday we sought to propose several cultural and religious activities that could further strengthen this relationship, which has very deep historical roots,\u201d the ambassador added.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Albanian Orthodox Church proclaimed its autocephaly in 1922, which was recognised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1937.<\/p>\n

After decades of persecution under the communist regime\u2014which declared Albania the world\u2019s first officially atheist state in 1967\u2014the Church was reorganised after 1991, thanks in large part to the work of the late Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos<\/a>. Since 2025, the Archbishop of Tirana, Durr\u00ebs and All Albania has been His Beatitude Archbishop John<\/a>.<\/p>\n