People pay tribute around the body of the late Albania’s Archbishop Anastasios during a religious ceremony inside the Athens Orthodox Cathedral, in Athens, Sunday. [AP]
The body of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania will depart from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens on Monday, accompanied by the ceremonial band of the Hellenic Navy.
On Tuesday, it will be transported to Albania by road via the Kakavia border station, where an honorary guard will bid a final farewell. The body will be escorted by bishops from the Albanian Greek-Orthodox Church, along with representatives from the Church of Greece.
Upon arrival in Albania, the late archbishop will lie in state at Tirana Cathedral, where the faithful can pay their respects. The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday.
Anastasios passed away at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday after a prolonged hospitalization at Evangelismos Hospital due to multi-organ failure.