The Orthodox Church of Albania was granted autocephaly on April 12, 1937. The history of Christianity in Albania dates back almost two thousand years. It can be divided into several periods: 1) from Apostolic times to 731 AD as a self-governing Church of Illyricum in the jurisdiction of the Thessalonian Church; 2) from 731 to the beginning of the eleventh century, it was in the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; 3) from the beginning of the eleventh century until 1767, most of the bishops were under the jurisdiction of the autocephalous Archdiocese of Ohrid (Bulgarian and Macedonian Church); 4) from 1767–1937, the Church was in the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; 5) since 1937, there has been an autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church. In the final centuries of Ottoman rule, when a range of factors (such as lack of access to quality education and incomprehensibility of Greek-language services) caused the majority of Orthodox Albanians to convert to Islam. In the early 20th century, a movement emerged to create a distinct Albanian Orthodoxy with a national church as a counterpoint to expanding Greek influence. Services increasingly began to be held in the national language. Fan Noli, an Albanian clergyman ordained by Metropolitan Platon in North America, was proclaimed primate of Albania at the Orthodox Congress of Berat on September 17, 1922, and autocephaly was declared. The Patriarchate of Constantinople recognized the independence of the Albanian Orthodox Church in 1937. During World War II, Albania was occupied first by the Italians and then by the Germans. Greek–Catholics (Byzantine Rite Christians in union with the Pope of Rome) were preferred over the Orthodox. After the victory of the Albanian Labor Party (Communists), its leader, Enver Hoxha, instituted a policy of exterminating all religious beliefs in his country (in 1967, all religions were outlawed). The Bylaws adopted in 1950 continue to define the life of the Albanian Church. I am not sure if the following point remains valid: “On par with the development of religious feeling,” Paragraph Four reads, “The Orthodox Autocephalous Albanian Church must instill in believers a sense of devotion to the power of the people of the People’s Republic of Albania, as well as a sense of patriotism and the desire to strengthen national unity. Therefore, all priests and employees of the Church must be Albanian citizens, honest, loyal to the people and the Motherland, enjoying all civil rights.” The church endured extreme persecution under the Communist dictator Enver Hoxha. Albania became the only country in the world where practicing religion became a crime. Clergy were killed and imprisoned, and hundreds of churches were demolished. The primatial see of Tirana and Durrës was vacant from 1967–1992, when it was filled by Metropolitan Anastasios, a highly regarded missionary who has spearheaded the church’s revival after the fall of communism.
Sources: Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos, “Albania,” Pravoslavnaia Entsiklopedia. K.E. Skurat, “Albanskaia Pravoslavnaia Tserkov’,” [The Orthodox Church of Albania], Pravoslavnaia Entsiklopedia. Monk Benjamin, “Letopis' tserkovnykh sobytii Pravoslavnoi Tserkvi nachinaia s 1917 goda” [Timeline of the Church Events Starting With 1917.] Part IV: 1950-1960, Historical Studies of the Russian Church Abroad. | 
