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John Pelushi
Metropolitan John (Albanian: Mitropolit Joan, Greek: Μητροπολίτης Ιωάννης, secular name Fatmir Pelushi; January 1, 1956) is the Albanian Orthodox metropolitan of Korçë, since 1998.[1] BiographyIn 1979, he was secretly baptized by Fr. Kozma Qirjo (later, Bishop Kozma of Apollonia) with name in honor of St. John the Theologian.[2] After graduating from Holy Cross Seminary with a Master's of Theological Studies, he returned to Albania and Archbishop Anastasios appointed him to teach theology at the seminary, as well as serve in other capacities within the Church.[2] February 27, 1994, Archbishop Anastasios ordained him as a deacon on then as a priest on December 4 the same year.[2] He received a scholarship from him and returned to the United States to pursue further studies at the Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. After his return in 1996, he was appointed as director of the seminary as well as elevated as an archimandrite on November 19. At the founding session of the newly established Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania, on 18 July 1998 in Tirana, Archimandrite John was elected Metropolitan of Korçë. This was preceded by the election and ordination of Metropolitan Christodoulos (Moustakis) in 1992 by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but he was forced to resign due to the refusal of the Albanian state to visit the country.[3] On 20 July of the same year, in the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Tirana, Archimandrite John was ordained a Metropolitan of Korçë. The ordination was performed by Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, assisted by Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia and Metropolitan Ignatius of Berat. His enthronement took place in Korçë, on July 25, 1998, in the Metropolitan Church of the "Life-Giving Spring".[3] On 25 January 2025, after the death of Archbishop Anastasios the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, during its extraordinary session, elected metropolitan John of Korça as the Locum Tenens of the Archdiocesan Throne.[4][5] See alsoReferences
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