His Grace, Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Archbishop Dhimitri, passes away

2025-06-28 22:57:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Orthodox Church announces with deep sorrow the repose in the Lord of His Grace, the Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, our brother and co-priest, Bishop Dhimiti. During the last period, His Grace was hospitalized at the General University Hospital of Ioannina, due to a respiratory infection and endocarditis. Despite the efforts of the doctors, His Grace was unable to overcome the disease and fell asleep in the Lord today, June 28, 2025, at 8:30 p.m., as a result of the insufficient functioning of many organs.

His Grace, Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Monsignor Dhimitri, was born in Serres, Greece, in September 1940. He completed his studies at the Faculty of Theology of the "Aristotle" University of Thessaloniki, where he graduated.

His life was characterized by complete devotion to the Church. He was a member of the monastic brotherhood of the Graceful Monastery of Saint Catherine in Mount Sinai (Egypt), where he became a monk in 1974. In this monastery, he worked in the field of paleography and the systematization of old manuscripts, which constitute one of the most famous treasures of this monastery. He joined the missionary activity of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania from its first steps, after the arrival of Archbishop Anastasios in August 1991. From the autumn of 1994 he served as Protosingjel of the Metropolis of Gjirokastra.

His Grace's election to the throne of the Metropolitanate of Gjirokastra took place on 11 November 2006, by the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, following the General Clergy-Laity Assembly, which approved the Statute of the Church. He was consecrated bishop on 16 November 2006, in the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Tirana, while his enthronement ceremony took place on 26 November 2006 in Gjirokastra, in the Holy Church of the Archangels.

During his tenure as Metropolitan, His Grace made a significant contribution to the revival of the Orthodox Church in Southern Albania. With tireless zeal and great love, he spiritually guided his flock for 19 years, building churches, developing catechism and philanthropic activity, as well as strengthening the spiritual life of the faithful. He was distinguished by his deep knowledge of the Orthodox Tradition and his biblical formation, being a reliable support for the flock of his eparchy. For a long period, he served with dedication as Vice-President of the “Spirit of Love” Educational Foundation founded by the late Archbishop Anastasios, contributing substantially to the development and advancement of Orthodox education.

In the chapel of the Holy Archbishopric of Tirana, a service of repose (trisaia) was held for the repose of his soul in the tents of the righteous.

The funeral service will be held at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Gjirokastra, on July 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM./CNA