Vasileios of Dryinoupolis

thumbBishop Vasileios of Dryinoupolis (; 1858-1936; born Vasileios Papachristou, Βασίλειος Παπαχρήστου) was a Greek metropolitan bishop, scholar, important figure of the Northern Epirus movement and member of the provisional Government of Northern Epirus.

Scholar and religious figure His family originated from the village of Hormovë which was destroyed by the Ottoman Albanian ruler Ali Pasha at the end of the 18th century. Vasileios was born in Labovë e Kryqit (Labovë of the Cross) in Gjirokastër District (in present-day southern Albania) at 1858. He studied theology at the Halki seminary. Later in 1909, he was appointed metropolitan bishop of Argyrokastron (full title Argyrokastro, Dryinopolis, Delvino, Himara and Pogoni; encompassing modern southwest Albania), centred in Gjirokastër. There he continued his activity with the foundation of various educational, religious and cultural institutions in the area. Following the Greco-Turkish War, Northern Epirus was acquired by Albania in 1921, further preventing his return.