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	[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:Albanian OC]]		[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:Albanian OC]]

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Reflections */

2021-08-16T21:06:16Z

Reflections

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[[File:Bishop-Ilia-(Katre) 1.jpg]]

'''Bishop Ilia (Katre) of Philomelion (1937-__)'''

Ilia may be spelt Ilya, Elias, Elijah.

==Historical background==

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania Albania] is a country which is neighbour to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece Greek], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Serbia Serbian], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Montenegro Montenegran] and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Macedonia Macedonian] territories. There are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_language Albanian]-speaking people who live in each of the other countries nearby.

The ancient people of Albania were the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illyrians Illyrians], and their [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_languages Indo-European] distinct language is generally considered to be either [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illyrian_languages Illyrian] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thracian_language Thracian] in its historical foundation. Its people were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians] from early Christian times. Along with other peoples, they were a part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman Empire] until the [http://historymedren.about.com/library/text/bltxtalbania5.htm Ottoman conquest]. As with other peoples, some of the people became [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islam Muslim].

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christianity] was all but wiped out during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Socialist_Republic_of_Albania communist period] (1945-1991), but the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] has quickly revived since then, and particularly under the strong spiritual leadership of [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Anastasios_(Yannoulatos)_of_Albania Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and Albania].

==Early life of Ilia Katre==

In 1937, Ilia Katre was born in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sault_Ste._Marie,_Michigan Sault Ste. Marie], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan Michigan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States USA], to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanians Albanian] immigrant parents who had arrived in the USA in 1920.

During his youth, Ilia attended the [http://www.stgeorgessm.mi.goarch.org/ Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George] in Sault Sainte-Marie. It was the example of the parish there that influenced his decision to become a priest.

During this period, he learned and mastered both the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_language Albanian] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language Greek] languages while he completed his secondary education.

By 10 September, 1950, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople] had ordained [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Mark_(Lipa)_of_Levka Bishop Mark (Lipa)] to be Titular Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levka Levka] and Bishop of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Albanian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_America Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America] (which he organised under the Church of Constantinople in [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America]). It was to this diocese (headquartered in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Boston South Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts]) that Ilia belonged.

Although Ilia chose to serve in the Albanian Church, on the advice of his father, he trained to serve both Albanian and Greek Churches. This advice was later to be very useful.

==Higher education==

Although Ilia wished to serve the Albanian community, he decided to pursue a theological education at the [http://www.hchc.edu/ Holy Cross Theological Seminary] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookline,_Massachusetts Brookline], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Massachusetts Massachusetts], which would enable him also to serve the Greek community. He graduated from Hellenic College (Holy Cross) in 1961 with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Arts B.A. degree].

==Marriage, 1961==

In 1961, he married Helen Sotira. In due course, they received from the Lord 2 children : Sotir Mark and Eugenia.

==Ordinations, 1961==

In 1961, after the marriage, Ilia Katre was ordained to the Holy [https://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate], and then to the Holy [https://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood].

==Pastoral service ; further education ; pastoral assignments==

Priest Ilia Katre was assigned to the [http://www.holytrinityalbanianorthodoxchurch.org/ Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox Church] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts].

'''Further study'''

After having served at Holy Trinity Church until 31 August, 1983, Father Ilia again enrolled at Holy Cross Seminary, where he received the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Divinity Master of Divinity degree] in 1986.

He then also accepted an assignment as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_(education) Dean] of Student Affairs at [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Cross_Greek_Orthodox_School_of_Theology_(Brookline,_Massachusetts) Hellenic College and Holy Cross Seminary] in Brookline, Massachusetts. He served in this capacity until 1988.

During all this time, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Presbytera] (Prifteresha) Helen Sotira served as librarian at the Hellenic College for 22 years.

'''Saint John Greek Orthodox Church, Las Vegas, 1988'''

In 1988, Priest Ilia Katre was assigned to be the pastor of [http://www.vegasgreekorthodox.com/ Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas Las Vegas], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada Nevada]. During his years of service at Saint John’s Church, he was involved in the construction of a new Temple, a community centre, and an administration building for that community. He served in this parish until 2002.

'''Attempts to restore the Church of Albania, 1990'''

The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Albanian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_America Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America] played a crucial role in the re-establishment of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Albania Church of Albania]. In 1990, when the Ecumenical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch, Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)] was visiting [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America], the diocesan clergy and laity petitioned him to prepare a plan for the restoration of the Church of Albania. Such a concern had earlier occupied the attention of [[Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]] (who was of Albanian descent).

In 1991-1992, Father Ilia was twice sent to Albania by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_Bartholomew_I_of_Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew I (Archontonis)] to assist in the re-organisation and re-building of the Albanian Church that had been effectively destroyed while the country was under [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Socialist_Republic_of_Albania communist rule].

==Bereavement, 2001==

On 19 October, 2001, Presbytera Helen Sotira, reposed in the Lord in Las Vegas, at the age of 62.

The [http://archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-orthodox-lay-persons Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-person] were offered at Saint John the Baptist Church in Las Vegas.

After the funeral services, her body was transferred to be [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130765390/helen-katre interred at] the [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1662/riverside-cemetery Riverside Cemetery] in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan.

Presbytera Helen was survived by her husband, and by her daughter, Eugenia Kourlos of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston] ; her son, Mark of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reno Reno] ; her mother, Dhimitra Sotira of Las Vegas ; her sisters, Dora Jorgavan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis St. Louis], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Missouri-state Missouri], and Antoinette Wadlow of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson,_Nevada Henderson], Nevada ; her brother, George Sotira of Las Vegas, and 2 grandchildren.

'''Election to become a bishop, 2002'''

In 2002, Father Ilia was elected by the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] to become a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop].

==Episcopal ordination, 2002==

On 12 May, 2002, he was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul Istanbul]), [https://www.britannica.com/place/Turkey Turkey], by [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bartholomew-I Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)], together with [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anthony_(Gergiannakis)_of_San_Francisco Metropolitan Anthony (Georgiannakis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco San Francisco] ; [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Meliton_(Karas)_of_Philadelphia Metropolitan Meliton (Karas)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ala%C5%9Fehir Philadelphia] (Fehir), and [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2594%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BC%25D0%25B8%25D1%2582%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9_(%25D0%259A%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BC%25D0%25BC%25D0%25B0%25D1%2582%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581)&prev=search&pto=aue Metropolitan Demetrius (Kommatas)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivas Sebastē].

==Episcopal service==

At the episcopal ordination, Bishop Ilia (Katre) was given the title "Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ak%C5%9Fehir Philomelion]" (now called "Akşehir", a former city and diocese in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Anatolia_Region Central Anatolia], Turkey), and he was assigned to lead the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Albanian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_America Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America].

In 2004, Bishop Ilia was transferred by Patriarch Bartholomew to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_Albania Church of Albania], to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Omophorion omophor] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anastasios_(Yannoulatos)_of_Albania Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos)] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Tirana Tirana] ([https://www.britannica.com/place/Albania Albania]), who then assigned Bishop Ilia to be the Dean of the [http://orthodoxalbania.org/old/index.php/eng/homepage/social-projects/111-arsimi-dhe-edukimi/144-the-theological-academy-resurrection-of-christ-in-st-saint-vlash-durres Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_Vlash Saint Vlash’s Monastery] near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durr%C3%ABs Durrës], Albania. During this time, he expanded, strengthened, and lengthened the course to a full 4-year programme. After serving as dean for 3 years, Bishop Ilia returned to the omophor of the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, and he continued his service as ruling bishop of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_America Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America].

In [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in 2006, Bishop Ilia accepted under his omophor the Albanian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Eastern_Orthodox_churches_in_Toronto#OCA_-_Archdiocese_of_Canada Mission of Saint Astius] in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/toronto Toronto], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. This mission had previously been established and served by a priest of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Archdiocese of Canada] (OCA) who had subsequently been deposed from the Holy Priesthood. In addition, under his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Omophorion omophor], the Albanian Diocese made an outreach to new communities in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal Montréal], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C. Washington] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore Baltimore].

[[File:Ilia (Katre) of Philomelion 2008 in Toronto 3.png]] '''Bishop Ilia serving in Toronto at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 2008'''

From December, 2010, Bishop Ilia also served as acting [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Abbot abbot] of the [http://www.stirene.org/ Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Queens Astoria], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens Queens], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York], until proper order had been restored.

'''Elevation to metropolitan, 2019'''

In 2019, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] elevated Bishop Ilia (Katre) to the dignity of [https://www.britannica.com/topic/metropolitan metropolitan], and his title was adjusted from "Titular Bishop of Philomelion" to "Titular Metropolitan of Philomelion". It was decided to give this dignity to Metropolitan Ilia because of the significance of his many contributions to the Church of Constantinople (particularly in the USA), to the Church of Albania (including the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America) and elsewhere.

[[File:Metropolian Ilia serving in Chicago 1.png]] '''Metropolitan Ilia serving in Chicago'''

— Bishop of Philomelion 2002-2019. Preceded by : ___.

— Metropolitan of Philomelion 2019-___. Succeeded by : ___.

— Bishop of the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America 2002-2019. Preceded by : [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Mark_(Lipa)_of_Levka Bishop Mark (Lipa)] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Stephen_(Lasko)_of_Boston Bishop Stephen (Lasko)].

— Metropolitan of the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America 2019-____. Succeeded by : ___.

==Reflections==

Metropolitan Ilia (Katre) spent many years of labour (from when he was yet a priest) in supporting the attempts to restore the Church of Albania after its destruction by the communist government.

In 1991, the (then) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archpriest#Eastern_Christianity Protopresbyter] Ilia Katre, who had served for many years as dean of students at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, took up residence in Albania. He organised and opened the [https://orthodoxalbania.org/2020/en/2012/10/16/the-theological-academy-resurrection-of-christ-in-st-saint-vlash-durres-2/ Resurrection of Christ Seminary] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durr%C3%ABs Durrës] with the blessing of the newly arrived patriarchal [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch exarch], Anastasios.

[[File:Resurrection of Christ Orthodox Theological Academy Durres Durres.jpg]] '''Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, Durrës, Albania'''

Father Ilia also directed the enthronement of [https://orthodoxalbania.org/2020/en/2020/04/04/biographical-sketch-of-archbishop-anastasios/ Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos)] as Archbishop of All Albania in August, 1992.

Persons and delegations from the North American diocese made major financial contributions to the Church of Albania, and they also applied political pressure on the government for the return of confiscated property to the Church.

In 2002, Bishop Ilia returned to Albania to lead the seminary for 3 years, during which he expanded, strengthened, and lengthened the course to a full 4-year programme.

Bishop Ilia was a representative of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania at the [https://ecumenism.net/docu/orthodox-romancatholic.php Orthodox-Roman Catholic Dialogue] in July, 2000, and at the [https://ecumenism.net/docu/anglican-orthodox.php#:~:text=Anglican%20-%20Orthodox%20dialogue%20began%20in%201973%2C%20when,1984%20brought%20its%20second%20phase%20to%20a%20conclusion. Orthodox-Anglican Dialogue] in June, 2005.

[[File:Bishop-Ilia-Katre.jpg]] '''Bishop Ilia (Katre)'''

==Writings==

[https://stnicholasalbanianchicago.org/thealbanianorthodoxchurch “The Albanian Orthodox Church”]

==References==

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Ilia_(Katre)_of_Philomelion Orthodoxwiki biography]

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2598%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B8%25D1%258F_(%25D0%259A%25D0%25B0%25D1%2582%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5)&prev=search&pto=aue Russian Wikipedia biography]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20140221234947/http:/mgatours.com/html/bishop_ilia_katre.html Brief biography of Bishop Ilia]

'''Additional information :'''

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

[http://www.orthodoxia.ch/en/name/742/show Wyrwoll, Nikolaus ed., “Orthodoxia 2014-2015" (Regensburg : Ostkirchliches Institut, 2015). ISBN 978-7245-1959-1.]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Orthodox_Church Wikipedia article about Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Albania Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Albania]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anastasios_(Yannoulatos)_of_Albania Orthodoxwiki biography about Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasios_of_Albania Wikipedia biography of Archbishop Anastasios (Yannoulatos) of Albania]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodoxy_in_Albania Wikipedia article about Orthodoxy in Albania]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_America Wikipedia article about the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Albanian_Orthodox_Diocese_of_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America]

[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bartholomew-I Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[[Metropolitan Theophan (Noli)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Stephen_(Lasko)_of_Boston Bishop Stephen (Lasko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Mark_(Lipa)_of_Levka Bishop Mark (Lipa)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anthony_(Gergiannakis)_of_San_Francisco Metropolitan Anthony (Georgiannakis)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Meliton_(Karas)_of_Philadelphia Metropolitan Meliton (Karas)]

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2594%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BC%25D0%25B8%25D1%2582%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9_(%25D0%259A%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BC%25D0%25BC%25D0%25B0%25D1%2582%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581)&prev=search&pto=aue Metropolitan Demetrius (Kommatas)]

[http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/otherpatriarchal/alb/index_html Greek Orthodox Archdiocese listing]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_America_Albanian_Archdiocese Wikipedia article about the Albanian Archdiocese (OCA)]

[https://lasvegassun.com/news/2002/jul/31/columnist-elizabeth-foyt-bishop-katre-to-leave-las/ 2002 article about the transfer of Bishop Ilia (Katre} from Las Vegas to New York]

[https://www.hchc.edu/ Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Cross_Greek_Orthodox_School_of_Theology_(Brookline,_Massachusetts) Orthodoxwiki article about the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology]

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130765390/helen-katre Findagrave reference for Helen Sotira Katre]

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=http://www.stirene.org/&prev=search&pto=aue Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou in Astoria, New York]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_Vlash Saint Vlash’s Monastery near Durrës, Albania]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20140222055759/http://www.goarch.org/news/goa.news30 Ecumenical Patriarchate elects Bishop for Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America (8 May, 2002)]

[https://www.vegasgreekorthodox.com/our-history Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Las Vegas, Nevada]

[http://www.holytrinityalbanianorthodoxchurch.org/ Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox Church, Boston, Massachusetts]

[https://stnicholasalbanianchicago.org/ Saint Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, Chicago, Illinois]

Please send your suggestions, additions, corrections or contributions to this address :

info@orthodoxcanada.ca

[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:Albanian OC]]

Bishop Ilia (Katre) - Revision history

Vladyka Seraphim at 00:31, 3 July 2024

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Reflections */