Description of the attraction
Church of Sts. Paul and Astia was built on the initiative and with funds provided by the Archbishop of Tirana, Durres and all of Albania Anastasius. The cornerstone was laid in November 1994, and construction work was completed in early 2002. In November 1999, Orthodox Christians welcomed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to this church on his first visit to Albania. On May 3, 2009, the temple was opened and consecrated; today it is one of the most impressive and beautiful religious buildings in the country.
The Apostle Paul and Saint Astius have always been popular Orthodox saints in the Durres community; several churches have been consecrated in their honor. This temple was erected opposite the place where the church of St. Spyridon was located (demolished in 1967) and the house of the metropolitan stood (now in ruins).
The architectural design of the temple was done by the archdiocese's technical service department, and the practical work was carried out by a local construction company. The church is designed like a domed basilica, two-story, with a gallery surrounding the perimeter. The area of the concrete foundation is 606 square meters, its volume is 6800 cubic meters. The highest of the domes is 17.75 meters, the height of the bell tower with an electronic control system is 19 meters.
Outside, the church is lined with white stone, arches made of decorative bricks accentuate the vaults and window openings. The roof is made of Byzantine tiles. From the inside, the church is adorned with artistic decorative bowls, pedestals, marble floors, columns and balconies. Part of the interior and furniture, the iconostasis, the episcopal throne are handmade by several masters from Pogradec. Some icons and frescoes were made in the iconographic studio of the Archdiocese, an analogue of the Psalter - in the Nazareth paper workshop.
On the ground floor there is a spiritual center for various events. It is equipped with a modern ventilation system, it includes a library, a hall, stages, a kitchen bar, an office, a waiting room, Sunday school rooms, games rooms, etc.
