Short Biography of His Eminence Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Dhimitrios
His Eminence, Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Dhimitrios (Sinaites), born Dimitrios Dikmpasanis, son of Apostolos, was born in Nea Iraklia, Serres, in 1940. He completed his general education in the city of Serres and later studied Theology at the Faculty of Theology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from which he graduated in 1968.
From 1969 to 1971, he taught Catechetics at the Rapid Clerical Training Seminary in Tinos, from 1971 to 1974 at the Middle Clerical School of Tinos, and later taught Religious Studies at the historic Ambeteios School in Cairo (1974-1975).
In 1975, he began residing at the Holy Monastery of Sinai, where he was tonsured a monk in 1978. He was later ordained a deacon by His Eminence, Archbishop of Sinai, Damian, on January 7, 1988, and a priest one week later. From 1990 to 2006, he served as the abbot of the Metochion of Saint Catherine’s Monastery of Sinai in Ioannina, where in 1991, he met then-Bishop of Androussa, Anastasios, who was serving as the Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Albania.
In February 1992, he was invited by Archbishop Anastasios to teach the Old Testament at the Clerical Seminary of Durrës until its relocation to Saint Vlash, where it was transformed into the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, where he briefly continued teaching. From 1993 to 2006, he served as Protosingelos of the Holy Metropolis of Gjirokastra, while Archbishop Anastasios was its locum tenens.
In 2011, after a unanimous decision of the Holy Synod and approval from state authorities, he was elected Metropolitan of Gjirokastra. His ordination took place on November 16, 2011, in the Annunciation of the Theotokos Cathedral in Tirana, conducted by Archbishop Anastasios, Metropolitan of Korça, Joani, and Metropolitan of Berat, Ignatios.
In addition to native Greek language, Metropolitan Dhimitrios also speaks Arabic.
His Eminence, Metropolitan of Gjirokastra, Dhimitrios passed away in the lord on 28 June 2025.