Vasileios of Dryinoupolis


Bishop Vasileios of Dryinoupolis was Greek metropolitan bishop, scholar, important figure of the Northern Epirus movement and member of the provisional Government of Northern Epirus that struggled against annexation of his homeland to the newly established Principality of Albania.

Scholar and religious figure

His family originated from the village of Hormovë which was destroyed by the Ottoman Albanian ruler Ali Pasha at the end of the 18th century. Vasileios was born in Labovë e Kryqit in Gjirokastër District at 1858. He studied theology at the Halki seminary.
Later he was appointed professor at the Zographeion College in Qestorat where he taught Theology, Greek, Turkish, Latin and French. During the same time he was appointed at the local metropolitan bishopric of Argyrokastron and Dryinopolis. In 1888 he was appointed professor the Greek Gymnasium in Serres, Macedonia and in 1890 in Adrianople. In 1895 he ascented to the post of Megas Protosyncellus of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
In 1897 he was appointed metropolitan bishop of Belegrada, where he contributed to the foundation of several Greek schools and the one religious seminary in Berat. Vasileios also offered on annual base scholarships to students that came from poor families, with complete coverage of their living costs.Later in 1909 he was appointed metropolitan bishop of Argyrokastron, centrered in Gjirokastër. There he continued his activity with the foundation of various educational, religious and cultural institutions in the area.

Northern Epirus struggle (1913-1916)

He became one of the protagonists and a local hero during the struggle against annexation of the area to the newly established Principality of Albania. In February 1914 Vasileios together participated in the declaration of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus and signed the declaration of Autonomy as a member of the provisional Government under Georgios Christakis-Zografos. In the following months he was named Minister of Justice and Religion.
In September 1916, Italian troops entered the region, closed down all Greek institutions to expelled Vasileios to Greece.Vasileios protested to the Greek Prime Minister, Eleftherios Venizelos, against his unprovoked expulsion. Following the Greco-Turkish War, Northern Epirus was acquired by Albania in 1921, further preventing his return.