Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro visits Orthodox Church of Albania

September 7, 2026 · 1 min read

Metropolitan Joanikije II of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church visited the Metropolis of Gjirokastër in southern Albania.

On Sunday, September 6, 2026, Metropolitan Joanikije presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Gjirokastër, with Metropolitan Nathanael of Gjirokastër prayerfully attending the service.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the two Metropolitans exchanged gifts and reflected on the longstanding and close spiritual relations between the Orthodox Churches of Albania and Serbia.

Metropolitan Joanikije and Metropolitan Nathanael subsequently visited the pilgrimage Church of Saint Paraskevi in Terihat, near Gjirokastër.

Fr. Ilias Makos

Source: Orthodox Times · Read the full story →

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ვახტანგ დოლიძე

It is good that the two metropolitans celebrated the liturgy together in the Girkastra Cathedral. Exchanging gifts and going to church on Friday in Terrihat shows that the relationship is really alive. I hope that such visits will come to us as well.

Юлія Марченко

Glad to see how two metropolitans served together in the Resurrection Cathedral in Ghirokastra. Exchanging gifts and going together to the church of Saint Paraskeva in Terihati is a really good sign of a living relationship. I hope that someday such guests will appear in Odessa.

Богдан Гончар

It is good that Metropolitan Ioanikiy served in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Girokastra together with the local people. Exchange of gifts and a trip to the church of St. Paraskeva in Terihati is truly human, when brothers do not only pay lip service. Maybe someday someone from Serbia will visit us in Odesa for fishing after the service.

Соломія Ткаченко

I'm glad you mentioned Girokastra and the joint service — I saw a photo of the Resurrection Cathedral, there's such a warm atmosphere there. We also have guests from Serbia in Kharkiv, last year one priest came for the feast of the throne. And in Odessa, it would really be good if such visits happened more often, especially to the churches near the sea.

Наталія Марченко

Glad you mentioned Girokastra, Solomia. We also had a Serbian priest in Poltava a few years ago for a church holiday in the Spassky Cathedral, he brought icons from Kosovo. And in Odessa, the sea could really be a good reason for such meetings, so that people could communicate more.

Василь Олійник

I am happy with you, Julius, for the joint service in Hyrokastra - I saw how they exchanged gifts after the liturgy, it was a really warm gesture. We also have Serbian guests in Poltava region, last year one hieromonk came fishing with our father. And in Odessa, which church do you visit most often?

Світлана Коваленко

I am glad that a Serbian priest also came to Poltava with Kosovo icons - we had a similar one in Kharkiv at the intercession in the Intercession Church, people talked about it for a long time afterwards. As for Odesa and the sea, indeed, water somehow more easily gathers people for joint prayer, right? Have you been to such a sea service?

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