Location Tirana Albania Completed 2012 Height 46 m Year consecrated 2014 | Ecclesiastical or organizational status Cathedral Interior area 1660 m2 Opened 2012 | |
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Leadership Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Website Official website (Albanian) Address Rruga Desht e 4 Shkurtit, Tirana 1001, Albania Affiliation Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania Similar National Archaeological Museum, Sacred Heart Church, Palace of Culture of Tirana, King Zog, Bride's Tomb | ||
The Resurrection Cathedral (Katedralja Ngjallja e Krishtit) is an Albanian Orthodox church situated in the center of Tirana, Albania. It is the third largest Orthodox church in Europe.
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It was officially opened on June 24, 2012 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the revival of the Albanian Crthodox Church and the election of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania.
Architecture
The complex of the Cathedral includes the following buildings, the cathedral, the chapel of the Nativity, the bell tower, the residence of the Holy Synod, the cultural center, a library, two other chapels and a small museum. The cathedral's dome is 32.2 m high, with the bell tower reaching 46 metres
The bell tower is composed of four Paschal candles which symbolize the four Evangelists who proclaimed the Resurrection. These join together around the central shaft of stairs. The winding staircase leads to two open floors with 16 bells. A four-sided clock sits above the bells. The two underground levels below the Cathedral church were used to fulfill the Church’s need for a Cultural and Conference Center. The Center has an amphitheater with a capacity for 500-850 people which may be used to host lectures, shows, and concerts. The auxiliary wings and backstage allow this hall to be used as a theater also.
On the eastern side of the amphitheater is a small museum, a lecture hall, a surrounding for banquets and an area for exhibitions and children’s activities.
To the right of the grand marble staircase which leads to the church cathedral there is ample space for a bookstore and a store with church items. Meanwhile, to the left of the stairs are two rooms where youth groups and faithful can gather after church services. To the north, in front of the Conference and Cultural Center there is a small outdoor amphitheater, for use during summer months.
Opening
On June 1, 2014 In the presence of a multitude of worshippers, the rite of the Great Consecration and the Divine Liturgy were celebrated by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Patriarch Irenaeus of Serbia, Archbishop Chrysostom of Cyprus, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, Metropolitan Savva of Warsaw, as well as representatives of the Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, and the head of the Albanian archdiocese of the Orthodox Church in America.