Final Farewell to the Late Metropolitan Andreas of Konitsa
The funeral service of the late Metropolitan Andreas, formerly of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani, and Konitsa, was held on 6 April 2025, at the Pilgrimage Church of Saint Kosmas of Aetolia in Konitsa. The beloved hierarch fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, 5 April 2025, at the age of 86.
The farewell was marked by a profound sense of mourning and gratitude, as clergy from across the country, local authorities, and a multitude of faithful of all ages gathered to honor the memory of a devoted shepherd.
Presiding over the funeral service was His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Xanthi, who represented the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens. Concelebrating hierarchs included Metropolitans Kallinikos of Kastoria, Antonios of Glyfada, Christodoulos of Avlonos, Nektarios of Corfu, Epiphanios of Mantineia, Kallinikos of Arta, Kyrillos of Kifisia, David of Grevena, Athanasios of Sisanion and Siatista, and Serapion of Paramythia, along with former Metropolitan Ignatios of Arta.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate was represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Theologos of Serres and Nigrita.
Following the funeral service, the procession of the late Metropolitan’s body passed through the streets of Konitsa in a final farewell. The burial took place at the Church of the Archangels in Goura, Aedonochori, Konitsa.
Biography of the Late Metropolitan Andreas
Born as Andreas Trembelas in Patras in 1939.
He graduated from the Theological School of Athens in 1963. He was ordained a deacon in 1968 and a presbyter in 1969.
He served as a preacher in the Metropolis of Dryinoupolis from 1967 (initially as a layman, then as a deacon, and later as a presbyter and archimandrite) until 1995.
On January 25, 1995, he was elected Metropolitan of Dryinoupolis with 32 votes, with fellow candidates Archimandrite Chrysostomos Koutoulakis (31 votes) and Ierotheos Petridis (4 votes).
He was ordained Metropolitan of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani, and Konitsa on January 28, 1995.
On March 10, 2025, he was relieved of his duties due to health reasons.
Photographs and source: epirus-tv-news.gr
