The Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, the highest theological institution of the Albanian Church, celebrated its 30th anniversary on February 7. The school is located in Durrës, a port city on the Adriatic Sea in western Albania. “Today we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, to see the changes that have taken place during this time, to show what God has done over the years at the Resurrection of Christ Seminary and Theological Academy, which is today the Department of Theology and Culture of Logos University College,” said the Academy rector Metropolitan Nikolla of Apollonia and Fier.

“And even more—what God made possible by the faith of one person, our primate Anastasios,” Met. Nikolla added, reports the Albanian Church. Thousands have “become faithful to the Orthodox Church” thanks to the efforts of those who have passed through the Resurrection school, the rector said. The Albanian Church’s Radio Ngjallja produced a video in honor of the anniversary.

The school began as a seminary on February 7, 1992, about 6 months before the enthronement of His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios as primate of the Albanian Church. It was initially launched with 54 students from four dioceses, studying in dilapidated buildings with no electricity or heat, and scant theological literature. In October 1996, the school resettled in comfortable new premises on the territory of the Monastery of St. Vlasius. Over the years, the three-year course was extended to four, and the curriculum was improved to rise to the university level. Of the Academy’s 337 graduates, 169 have been ordained, including three recently elected hierarchs. Others work as catechists throughout the country. Today, the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy is undoubtedly the foundation of the spiritual education of the Albanian Orthodox Church. (Quelle: www.orthochristian.com, 10. Februar 2022)