Paisi of Albania


Paisi
Archbishop of Albania
Installed25 August 1949
Term ended4 March 1966
PredecessorChristopher
SuccessorDamian
Previous post(s) Metropolitan of Korçë (1947-1949)
Personal details
Born
Pashko Vodica

1881
Died4 March 1966(1966-03-04) (aged 84–85)
Tirana, People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Signature

Archbishop Paisi (Albanian: Kryepeshkop Paisi; secular name Pashko Vodica; 1881 – 4 March 1966) was the Primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, holding the title Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and all Albania, from his installation on August 25, 1949, until his death on March 4, 1966.

Paisi, who was formerly the Bishop of Korçë and had joined the communist-led National Liberation Front during World War II, succeeded Archbishop Kristofor Kisi. Archbishop Kisi was forcibly deposed by Albania's communist regime in August 1949, and Paisi's subsequent appointment to lead the Church received strong support from the state authorities. Following Archbishop Paisi's death, he was succeeded by Archbishop Damian Kokoneshi in April 1966.

Archbishop Paisi was the father of Josif Pashko, who became a high-ranking official in the Albanian communist government..