Sophianos
Encyclopedia
Bishop Sophianos of Dryinoupolis (died 1711) was a religious figure and orthodox missionary in Ottoman Epirus
.
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
. In 1672 he founded a Greek school in the local monastery of Saint Athanasios.
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. Although uncanonized, he is considered a saint in his village.
Because of his pious character he was respected and honored by both Christians and Muslims. Sophianos is considered the predecessor of Cosmas of Aetolia in the region.
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
.
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
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. In 1672 he founded a Greek school in the local monastery of Saint Athanasios.
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
Pogon, Albania
Pogon is a municipality in the Gjirokastër District, Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. It consists of seven villages: Poliçan, Skore, Hllomo, Sopik, Mavrojer, Çatistë and Selckë, of which Poliçan is the administrative center. Greek is widely spoken in the villages.Historically each village of...
) where he taught religion and letters to the village children. Although uncanonized, he is considered a saint in his village.
Because of his pious character he was respected and honored by both Christians and Muslims. Sophianos is considered the predecessor of Cosmas of Aetolia in the region.