Theofan, without an archdiocesan nomination and under the cloud of Communist influence, the Albanian Orthodox Church consecrated his successor, Bp.

Stephen (Lasko) [ru], who was not accepted throughout the archdiocese and who likewise could not gain canonical recognition by the other Orthodox jurisdictions in North America.

The situation was further irritated by the complete public suppression of all religious communities in Albania, with only the most stalwart Orthodox believers maintaining a clandestine liturgical life.

In 1990, the Diocesan clergy and laity petitioned the ecumenical patriarch, Demetrios, during his visit to North America, to prepare a plan for the restoration of the Albanian Orthodox Church.

In 1991, the (then) protopresbyter Ilia Katre, who had served for many years as dean of students at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, took up residence in Albania, organized and opened the Resurrection of Christ Seminary with the blessing of the newly arrived patriarchal exarch, Anastasios.