ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Exarchate of Parishes of Russian
Tradition in Western Europe

Circular Letter from the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Albania on the subject of the election of Bishop Basil, addressed to His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew II

The official website of the Patriarchate of Constantinople has published the response of Archbishop Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania, to the Patriarch of Constantinople, on the subject of the election of Bishop Basil of Sergievo as Bishop of Amphipolis. In the letter, dated 12 August 2006, Archbishop Anastasios says, ‘Having carefully studied your decision of 8 June to appoint Bishop Basil (Osborne) as Bishop of Amphipolis in response to his wishes, and at the request which he made to the venerable Ecumenical Throne, we are intent on expressing our total agreement with everything that is said in that decision, and we pray from the bottom of our heart that our well-beloved brother in God may serve his flock with unshakeable faith, and with ardent love for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Official recognition by Jerusalem, Alexandria and Cyprus of Bishop Basil's reception by the Patriarchate of Constantinople