The Metropolitan of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Gjirokast\u00ebr, His Grace Dimitrios, passed away on the evening of June 28.<\/p>\n
The news was announced by the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania through a post on its official Facebook page, stating: \u201cHis Grace had been hospitalized at the General University Hospital of Ioannina due to a respiratory infection and endocarditis, but despite doctors\u2019 efforts, he passed away from multiple organ failure.\u201d<\/p>\n
His Grace, Metropolitan of Gjirokast\u00ebr, Dimitrios, was born in Serres, Greece, in September 1940. He completed his theological studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.<\/p>\n
His life was marked by unwavering devotion to the Church. He was a member of the monastic brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai (Egypt), where he became a monk in 1974. There, he worked in the fields of paleography and the systematization of ancient manuscripts, which are among the monastery\u2019s most valuable treasures.<\/p>\n
He joined the missionary activity of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania from its early beginnings, following the arrival of Archbishop Anastas in August 1991. From the fall of 1994, he served as Protosyngellos of the Metropolis of Gjirokast\u00ebr.<\/p>\n
His election to the throne of the Metropolis of Gjirokast\u00ebr took place on November 11, 2006, by the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, following the Clergy-Laity General Assembly, which had approved the Church Statute. He was ordained bishop on November 16, 2006, at the Annunciation Cathedral in Tirana, while his enthronement ceremony was held on November 26, 2006, in Gjirokast\u00ebr, at the Holy Church of the Archangels.<\/p>\n
During his 19-year service as Metropolitan, His Grace made a vital contribution to the revival of the Orthodox Church in southern Albania. Tirelessly and with great love, he led his flock spiritually, building churches, promoting catechism and philanthropic activity, and strengthening the spiritual life of believers. He was known for his deep knowledge of Orthodox Tradition and biblical education, serving as a steadfast support for his diocese.<\/p>\n
He also served for a long time as Vice President of the \u201cSpirit of Love\u201d Educational Foundation, founded by the late Archbishop Anastas, contributing significantly to the development and progress of Orthodox education.<\/p>\n
A memorial service (Trisagion) for the repose of his soul was held at the chapel of the Holy Archbishopric in Tirana.<\/p>\n
The funeral service will take place at the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Gjirokast\u00ebr on July 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrecious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful ones.\u201d (Psalm 116:15)<\/p>\n
May his memory be eternal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Metropolitan of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Gjirokast\u00ebr, His Grace Dimitrios, passed away on the evening of June 28. The news was announced by the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania through a post on its official Facebook page, stating: \u201cHis Grace had been hospitalized at the General University Hospital of Ioannina due to a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":79570,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[153,1803],"tags":[243,151],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n