BOSTON – Titular Metropolitan Ilias of Filomilion died on Friday October 7 in Las Vegas at the age 85. He was a hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in charge of the Albanian-speaking communities in the United States.

His death was particularly saddening because the week prior to his passing he was in Boston visiting the Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox parish in Boston, Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology, and also Metropolitan Methodios of Boston.

Visitation was held on Monday, October 10 from in the Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox in South Boston, MA, and on October 12 at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in, Las Vegas, Nevada. The funeral services on October 13, including the Divine Liturgy, were officiated by Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and interment was at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in the family plot.

Metropolitan Ilias was from the married clergy. He was the husband of the late Helen (Sotira) Katre; beloved father of Sotir Mark Katre, Eugenia Kourlos and her husband Christos; loving grandfather of Gabriel (Connor), Dhimitra, and Ilia.

He worked for a number of years at Hellenic College with the late Fr. Dean and professor Nomikos Vaporis, at Holy Cross Press and also the bookstore. He also served for many months as deputy abbot of the Chrysovalantou Monastery in Astoria after the departure of Metropolitan Paisios of Tyana and the late Bishop Vikentios of Apameia.

His wife Helen worked for a number of years at Holy Cross library with the late Fr. Timothy Andrews. After her death in 2001 he became a monk and on May 10, 2002 the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected him titular Bishop of Filomilion. On October 3, 2019 the Phanar elevated hm to titular Metropolitan of Filomilion.

Metropolitan Ilias was for many years a reader of both publications of the National Herald, the Greek and English editions.

Archbishop Elpidophoros issued the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of my beloved brother in Christ Metropolitan Ilia of Philomilion. He was an exemplary hierarch, a man of deep faith who never ceased answering the Church’s call to service. He was an ardent supporter of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he spent much time celebrating services and mentoring the future clergymen of our Church. His passing is a significant loss for Orthodoxy in America. May his memory be eternal!”