Archbishop Anastasios of Albania was urgently taken into surgery on Friday afternoon. He is undergoing a gastrointestinal procedure performed by Dr. Stelios Kapiris, Director of the 3rd Surgical Clinic at Evangelismos Hospital.

It has been reported that the Archbishop suffered a gastrointestinal hemorrhage, which doctors at Evangelismos had been trying to address since his admission.

The 96-year-old hierarch had experienced a rapid decline in his health in recent hours. He was intubated and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.

The Archbishop has been hospitalized at Evangelismos since last Friday, after being urgently flown from Tirana to Athens on a Hellenic Air Force aircraft. He had initially been admitted to a clinic in Tirana on December 30 with a diagnosis of a seasonal viral infection. However, given his advanced age and pre-existing health conditions, the illness progressed into an infection accompanied by hemorrhaging. This led to the decision to transfer him to Athens, where he had previously been treated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The medical team at Evangelismos, led by Professor Anastasia Kotanidou, is well-acquainted with his medical history.

Initially, his condition was stable, his communication with his surroundings was good, and there was no need for intubation or ICU admission. However, the situation changed drastically in recent hours, and his condition is now considered critical.