Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains the development of the ecclesiastical issue from the rise of Albanian nationalism in 1878 to the re-establishment of the Albanian state in 1920. It describes the final negotiations that led to the Patriarchate’s endorsement of Albanian autocephaly and discusses the developments that occurred during the Second World War. The Albanian national movement was purely ethnic-based, in contrast to the ethno-religious movements of the other nations in the region. The Patriarchate nearly recognized the independence of the Albanian Church in 1923 and 1926, but both times reversed its stance, until it finally granted the tomos of autocephaly in 1937 – all decisions made at the request of the Greek government. Unlike the other Balkan peoples, the Albanians did not have an Orthodox majority.