A new chapel dedicated to the Holy Forty Martyrs was inaugurated in Saranda inside the Cathedral Church of Saint Charalambos.
The ceremony was presided over by Metropolitan Nathanael of Gjirokastër, with clergy of the Metropolis participating.
In his remarks, Metropolitan Nathanael noted that the Holy Forty Martyrs — the group of Christian soldiers martyred in Sebaste of Asia Minor — are closely connected with the history of the city of Saranda and the early Christian tradition of the region.
The city itself derives its name from the historic sixth-century Byzantine Monastery of the Holy Forty Martyrs, located on a hill overlooking Saranda. Although the monastery now lies in ruins, with collapsed walls and damaged frescoes, the Metropolitan emphasized that the spiritual legacy of Christianity remains alive in the sacred site.
He also referred to the long-standing efforts of the Orthodox Church to restore the monastery, noting that despite legal recognition of Church ownership for many years, the property has still not been officially returned by the state. The surrounding areas, he added, were illegally granted to private individuals during the post-communist period in Albania.
Meanwhile, during the Metropolis’ regular weekly vigil service, the memory of Saint Michael, Bishop of Synada, was also honored. Metropolitan Nathanael presided over the vigil and spoke about the saint’s life, stressing that his example should inspire believers toward faith and spiritual devotion.
During the service, the young Kyriakos Kotsa from Dervitsani was tonsured as a reader, while a fellowship meal prepared by the faithful followed the vigil. The worship gatherings of the Metropolis of Argyrokastro continue to strengthen the spiritual life of the faithful and remind them of the eternal values of the Christian faith.
Fr. Ilias Makos
