In an atmosphere of heartfelt emotion and reverence, the fortieth-day memorial for the late Metropolitan Dimitrios of Gjirokastër was solemnly held on Sunday, August 3, at the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Gjirokastër. His legacy was honored with the message that he will remain unforgettable — a hierarch who passed through this world quietly, yet meaningfully.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Archbishop Ioannis of Albania. At its conclusion, the memorial service was chanted, with the Archbishop leading the prayers.
Concelebrating with him were Metropolitan Nikolaos of Apollonia and Fier, currently serving as locum tenens of the Metropolis of Gjirokastër; Metropolitan Astios of Berat; Metropolitan Nathaniel of Amantia, a longtime close associate of the late hierarch; and Bishop Anastasios of Kruja. Clergy from the Metropolis of Gjirokastër also participated, while a large number of Orthodox faithful from the surrounding region gathered in prayer and remembrance.
In a brief but moving address, Archbishop Anastasios spoke of Metropolitan Dimitrios’s deep spirituality, his unshakable faith, and his tireless pastoral and missionary dedication.
Following the memorial, the Archbishop, accompanied by members of the Holy Synod and clergy, visited the resting place of the late Metropolitan Dimitrios in the courtyard of the Pilgrimage Shrine of Saint Paraskevi in Terihat, where a trisagion memorial service was held at his grave.
By Fr. Elias Makos
