Giannoulatos Anastasios, Archbishop of Albania

• The Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all Albania (1992 ex.) Anastasios (Giannoulatos) is Emeritus Professor of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (1991 ex.) and Honorary Member of the Academy of Athens (2005 ex.). Also Honorary Doctor of Theology or Philosophy of 19 Universities, University Schools or Departments (Greece, USA, Romania, Cyprus, Georgia, Albania, Italy).

• Born in Piraeus, November 4, 1929. Excellent graduate and doctorate of the Theological School of the University of Athens. He studied Religion, Apostolic Studies and Ethnology at the Universities of Hamburg and Marburg in Germany as a postgraduate scholar of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Speaks English, French, German; reads Latin, Italian, Spanish, Albanian.

• Study Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and African Religions, in countries where these religions flourish.

• He was Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Athens (1972-91), Dean of the Theological School (1982-86) and Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens (1993-2005).

• Author of 24 books and more than 200 studies and articles of theological or religious content (see pp. 271-279 of this book). His works have been translated into 17 languages.

• Ordained deacon (1960), elder (1964) and Bishop of Androusi (1972) for the position of General Director of the "Apostolic Ministry of the Church of Greece" (1972-1991).

• He pioneered the modern revival of the Orthodox Foreign Mission. As Overseer of the Metropolis of Irinopolis (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), in the period 1981-1990, he developed a valuable missionary and social work. He was recognized as "Great Benefactor of the Patriarchate of Alexandria" (2009).

• The Archbishop of Albania managed, despite enormous difficulties, to restore from the ruins the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, which had been dissolved for 23 years. At the same time, he fought for the softening of the contradictions in the Balkans.
In 2000, following a proposal by thirty-three (33) Regular Members of the Academy of Athens and many personalities from Albania, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

• He has repeatedly been elected to distinguished positions in international organizations, such as President of the Commission for World Mission and Evangelism (1984-89); Vice-President of the Assembly of European Churches (2003-09); President of the World Council of Churches (2006-2013); Honorary President of the "World Conference of Religions for Peace" (2006 ex.).

• He has been honored with 27 awards and decorations from various countries and Orthodox Churches, among which the Grand Cross of the Order of Honor of the Hellenic Republic (1997), the Athenagoras Human Rights Award (New York 2001), the award for "distinguished activities for the unity of the Orthodox Nations" (Moscow 2006), the highest award of the Republic of Albania "Georgios Kastriotis - Skenderbeyi".

• His contribution to science, the modern Christian witness, the inter-Christian approach, the inter-religious dialogue and the peaceful coexistence of peoples and religions has been internationally recognized.