Sarandë, Albania, March 12, 2026
Photo: Diocese of Gjirokastër
A historical moment occurred on March 8, when a hierarch of the Albanian Orthodox Church served at the ruins of the Monastery of the Forty Martyrs in Sarandë, southern Albania.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanail of Gjirokastër led the solemn celebration of Great Vespers on Sunday night, joined by clergy and faithful. It was the first hierarchical service held at the site in decades, the diocese reports.
The last hierarch to serve there was His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon who served as the ruling hierarch of Gjirokastër in 1937–1941.
The Monastery of the Forty Martyrs is a ruined Orthodox monastery situated on a hill above the coastal city of Sarandë. Built around the 6th century AD, it is considered one of the most significant early Christian and Byzantine monuments in the region, and for at least a millennium it served as a major pilgrimage destination in the Ionian Sea area.
It’s particularly noted for its ancient catacombs. The city of Sarandë itself takes its name from the monastery—derived from the Greek Agioi Saranta, meaning “Forty Saints.”
During the People’s Republic of Albania (1944–1991), the site was repurposed as a military installation. Today, only portions of the side walls of its basilica-type church remain standing.
The service marks a significant moment in the religious life of the local Orthodox community. “The Holy Monastery of the Forty Martyrs stands as a precious testimony to the Christian faith in the region,” the diocese writes.
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