Enthronement of the New Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, His Grace Nathanael/ Strong Call: Let's Build Bridges, Not Walls

2025-09-20 13:01:00, Aktualitet CNA

Enthronement of the New Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, His Grace Nathanael/ Strong

With spiritual joy and full of emotion, the enthronement of His Grace, Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Nathanael, took place today at noon, at 11:00, at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Gjirokastra.

The Enthronement Service took place in the presence of His Beatitude, Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania, Bishop Ioannis, members of the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, Metropolitans from Greece, representatives of local authorities, numerous clergy from across the country and beyond, and a large number of believers, who filled the church to capacity.

His Grace Nathanael was unanimously elected Metropolitan of Gjirokastra by the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, under the presidency of His Beatitude Archbishop Joan, on September 16, 2025. Until his election, His Grace had been serving as the Titular Metropolitan of Amantia since 2016. He was also for many years the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod and responsible for the care of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana.

In his enthronement speech, the new Metropolitan expressed deep gratitude and reverence to God, who has worthy him to take on the pastoral responsibility of the historic Metropolis of Gjirokastra. “I come as a shepherd and a deacon, and not as a leader and ruler. I do not come with big words, but with the deep desire to listen, to help, to build together a Church that inspires with the love of Christ and the wisdom of our Fathers,” he emphasized, recalling his 20-year service as a priest in that area, from 1991 to 2012.

The new Metropolitan referred extensively to the historical and spiritual heritage of Gjirokastra, emphasizing that “Gjirokastra is not simply a beautiful city with stones and a castle, but a holy place where history and faith are intertwined.” He recalled the passing of Saint Cosmas through the area and made references to many saints and martyrs associated with the Metropolis, including Saint Sophron, Metropolitan of Drinopol and Gjirokastra, the martyr saints Therin and Donat who were martyred in Butrint, the Monk Niphon of Lukova Kafsokaliviti, the young Martyr Christ the Gardener from Përmet, and the Monk Gerasim Mikragjananitis from Dhroviani.

Metropolitan Nathanail also referred to the unforgettable Archbishop Anastasios, from whom he received the episcopal rank in 2012, revealing that three months before his death, the late Archbishop had confessed to him his desire to pastor the Holy Metropolis of Gjirokastra. “I firmly believe that he is spiritually among us and rejoices, praying from heaven for his spiritual children,” he said with emotion. He also thanked the late Metropolitan of Berat, Ignatius, and of Gjirokastra, Dhimmitris, who also wished to have a successor.

His Beatitude, Archbishop Joan, in his greeting, praised the over 30-year contribution of the new Metropolitan to the Church of Albania, underlining that he came to Gjirokastra in 1991 "in the most difficult period of rebuilding our Church from the ruins of atheism."

The Archbishop emphasized His Grace Nathanael's tireless work in reorganizing the destroyed parishes in the villages of Gjirokastra, Tepelena, Përmet, Saranda and Himara, as well as his important contribution to education as a teacher at the "Holy Cross" Church Lyceum of Gjirokastra.

"Your ability to attract young people to the Church was extraordinary. With your word, your personal example and fatherly love, you managed to bring many young people into the life of the Church. Some of them today serve as clergy, teachers, catechists or even simply as very active believers," underlined Bishop Joani.

His Grace, Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Nathanael (Stergiu), was born in Taksiarha, Trikala, in 1957. He graduated from the “Athoniadha” high school on Mount Athos in 1978 and from the Faculty of Theology of the “Aristotle” University of Thessaloniki in 1982. He was tonsured a monk at the Graceful Monastery of the Great Lavra of Mount Athos in 1979; he was ordained a deacon in 1982 and a priest in 1987 by His Grace, Bishop of Rodostoli, Chrysostomos, his spiritual father, whom he thanked especially in his speech, for the spiritual guidance and hierapostolic zeal that inspired him.

In his enthronement speech, the new Metropolitan called for unity and cooperation, emphasizing:

“I cannot fulfill this mission without you. The Church is one body. I invite all of you, clergy and laity, to join in a new spirit of service. Let us build bridges, not walls.” Recognizing the contemporary challenges of the area, such as youth emigration, economic hardship, and growing secularism, His Holiness pledged to be close to every believer, “with sensitivity and justice,” to listen to the voices of the young, the elderly, the poor, and the forgotten.

The enthronement of Metropolitan Nathanail marks a new era for the historic Metropolis of Gjirokastra, with the hope of continuing and strengthening the work of spiritual renaissance that began after the fall of the atheist regime, a work in which he himself has actively participated since the first days of his presence in Albania./ CNA