Historian Xhufi: Archbishop Janullatos will flee from the Autocephalous Church, the Greeks will not let him

Historian Pëllumb Xhufi recalled the ecclesiastical coup that took place in August 1992 on Rruga e Kavajë in Tirana, when the idea was thrown that the president of the Albanian Autocephalous Church would be elected.

Xhufi said on the show "Dritare Tv" with Dritan Hila that his Grace Anastas Janullatos was elected in violation of the church's canons and procedures on August 2.

And yet 7 years ago, says the professor, Janullatos declared that he will leave Albania, but the Greeks did not let him.

Excerpts from the discussion:

Dritan Hila: Professor His Grace, His Grace Anastas Janullatos has called for the Orthodox not to be afraid to declare their nationality in Cens2023 and this is with spec. Are you saying that someone here is persecuting the Orthodox and has called for them to declare their faith. When there are hot issues, Janullatosi sides with the Greeks, for example in the case of Beleri. Do we have any kind of regression on the part of the Albanian Autocephalous Church? Has the moment come to make a reform because the fact that this is Autocephalous also requires the co-ownership of the state over it, right?

Juffy Pigeon:He is looking for it and so it has been. But so many concessions were made and now it is the principle: the acquired right is not removed. Here is the problem. You can't undo what you let happen. Here too, it was trampled on with both feet since August 2, 1992, where in the August wave there was a church attack, on Rruga e Kavaja. Under the pressure of the Greek state, with the presence of the Greek authorities who just came from Greece, in a ceremony that was removed as a usual Sunday ceremony, Mr. Dule, who was then a deacon of the church, comes out and says; we are the ones who choose the head of the church. The chaos started in the church then, because there were also Albanians who said; what is this. When the election of the archbishop is made, if a person says, he is not worthy, it is not done. Not only that, but the canons of the church say that; a bishop arrived with the help of the secular power is illegitimate. On the second of August, the elections were held in the church in violation of the canons of the church, also in violation of the procedure. After there was a mess in the church, the group from Athens, the Greek Embassy in Tirana with Archbishop Janullatos went to the Tirana Hotel and finished the procedure there. In a place called sin by the church, that is, the hotel, you go and elect the archbishop, who also received citizenship from Meta. Mr. Berisha was silent then and Janullatos started the task. Only when the friction started after the massacre of Peshpia where Mr. Beleri was, who came to our stage today after 30 years, then Mr. Berisha goes to him and says; "Grace we made it with words that you are temporarily at the head of the church. Janullatosi said; "My son is temporary we are all in this world and I will leave one day."

Para një 7 vjetësh hirësia e tij bëri një deklaratë që mua më habiti, ishte shumë njerëzore. Ai deklaroi në një televizion grek që: “Ka ardhur koha që unë do largohem nga kreu i Kishës Autoqefale Shqiptare se nuk është e drejtë që një i huaj të drejtojë një kishë të një vendi tjetër. Si do na vinte në grekëve nëse në krye të kishës do na vinte një bullgar.” Unë e simpatizova pastaj dhe fakti që nuk ka ikur pas gati 7 vjetësh tregon që atë nuk e lënë të ikë. Ai është nën presion. Ai duhet të ikë: për faktin që shkoi takoi një të inkriminuar në burg dhe që mbajti anën e Kacifës, apo kur ndodhi aksidenti me himarjotin Guma që vranë në aksident. Ai foli pas Ministrisë së Jashtme dhe bëri një deklaratë fare të padenje për rolin që ka: “Tani nuk e dimë si do shkojë problemi i marrëdhënieve ndëretnike në Shqipëri.” Domethënë që do nise lufta ndëretnike në Shqipëri. Në vend që të qetësonte, ai e shpalli luftën që në atë moment. Një javë pasi vdiqa Aristotel Guma, një shofer autobusi që ishte grek, në ato kthesat e Ballshit, duke folur në telefon përplasi një autobus të tërë dhe vdiqën tre gra me mbiemrin Guma dhe ishin myslimane. Hirësia e tij nuk foli fare.”, tha ndër të tjera profesor Xhufi në DritareTv.