Albania banned all religion in 1967, and the Orthodox Church was revived only in the early 1990s. The cathedral opened on 24 June 2012, marking twenty years since that revival and the election of Archbishop Anastasios, and in 2014 it was solemnly consecrated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, together with the heads of many Orthodox churches. It was designed by the New York architect Steven P. Papadatos.
The complex is built around a 32-metre dome and a slender 46-metre bell tower, and also includes the Chapel of the Nativity, a cultural centre, a library and a small museum. Step inside to admire the iconostasis and the spacious interior beneath the great dome. Dress modestly and keep quiet during services.
It is an easy and rewarding addition to any walk around Skanderbeg Square.
