Sophianos of Dryinoupolis

Bishop Sophianos of Dryinoupolis (died 1711) was a Greek religious figure and Orthodox missionary in Ottoman Epirus around the turn of the 18th century.

Biography

He was probably born in the village of Polytsani, in the Pogon region.[1]

At the time he became Bishop of Dryinoupolis (modern southwest Albania) the religious composition of the region was changing due to massive conversions to Islam.[2]

In 1672 he founded a Greek school in the local monastery of Saint Athanasios.[3] In recognition of the danger that Christian religion was shrinking, Sophianos resigned his bishopric and became a wandering missionary, preaching from village to village.

Sophianos' last days were spent in the monastery of Saint Athanasios in his hometown Polican (Pogon) where he taught religion and letters to the village children. Because of his pious character he was respected and honored by both Christians and Muslims. As a missionary, Sophianos is considered the forerunner of Cosmas of Aetolia in the region.[1]

Bishop Sophianos died on 26 November 1711 AD.[1] Although uncanonized, he is considered a saint in his village.[4]

References
  1. (in Greek) Άγιος Σοφιανός επίσκοπος Δρυϊνουπόλεως καί Αργυροκάστρου. Ορθόδοξος Συναξαριστής. 26 November 2013.
  2. Badlands, borderlands: a history of Northern Epirus/Southern Albania. Tom Winnifrith. Duckworth, 2002 ISBN 0-7156-3201-9
  3. Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization. M. V. Sakellariou. Ekdotike Athenon, 1997. ISBN 960-213-371-6. p. 316
  4. Albania's Captives. Pyrrus Ruches. Argonaut, Chicago 1965. p. 33
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