The election of Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durres, and All Albania is a historical moment in the journey of the martyred Church of Albania, said Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

Elpidophoros noted that the new archbishop has long ties to the Archdiocese of America, as he has studied at Hellenic College Holy Cross in the Boston area. He succeeds a truly admirable predecessor, the late archbishop Anastasios, whose apostolic vision and zeal resurrected and strengthened the local Greek Orthodox Church and transformed it into a lighthouse of faith and hope, he added.

The archbishop of America conveyed his best wishes and prayers to the new prelate, wishing him strength and wisdom.