Bishop Panteleimon of Argyrokastro (July 9, 1890 - May 24, 1969), also known as Christos Kotokos, was a clergyman, theologian, scholar and one of the leading figures of Northern Epirus' Hellenism in the post-war period.

Biography
College and early career
He was born in Korytovo and attended schools in his homeland. It is claimed that as a teenager he took part in the Macedonian struggle. In 1906, at the request of his relative, Metropolitan Stefanos of Mithymnia, he went to study at the Theological School in Halki, graduating in 1913. He later returned to his homeland and taught religion and history as a teacher at the Bagios Gymnasium in Korytovo. He remained in this position until 1920, when the Albanian authorities banned the gymnasium. Panteleimon, however, remained in Korytovo, where he developed activities in cultural, political, religious and educational affairs and served as a preacher in the town's church. Meanwhile, he joined the Greek army in 1915 as a preacher in the 46th regiment occupying the city of Korytsa.

In 1923 and 1929, he was persecuted for refusing to recognize the autocephaly of the Albanian Orthodox Church because of the incorrect manner, in what way It became autocephalous. From 1931 to 1937, he studied law and political science at the University of Athens.

In addition to Greek, he was fluent in English, German, Russian, Italian, Turkish, French and Albanian.

Bishop of Argyrokastro
In 1937, under an agreement between the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Kotokos, by then a theologian, was ordained first as a priest and then as Metropolitan of Argyrokastro, a position he held until the withdrawal of Greek troops from the region after the Greek-Italian War and the German invasion of Greece (April 1941), when he was forced to leave Argyrokastro with Greek troops.

During his tenure, he was known for his actions against the infiltration of the Union into Albania in August 1939, his efforts to raise the morale of the Greek minority, and his tendency to prevent mixed marriages between Orthodox Christians and Muslims. At the same time, he sought to secure the considerable ecclesiastical and monastic assets of his diocese, restored used church books, established new ones churches, translated various works of ecclesiastical writers into Albanian, collected various manuscripts and relics with a view to creating a church museum, and established women's orthodox association.

For his activities on behalf of the Greek minority, Panteleimon was already characterized as a man of Greek propaganda, and as a result was placed under surveillance by Albanian authorities.

In Greece
W czasie okupacji uczestniczył w organizacjach szpiegowskich Narodowego Ruchu Oporu. W 1943 r. został przewodniczącym „Centralnego Komitetu Walki Północnego Epiru” (funkcję tę pełnił do śmierci), a w 1945 r. „Centralnego Komitetu Praw Greckich”. 18 listopada 1945 r. w kontekście sprawy Epiru Północnego zorganizował w Atenach masową demonstrację z udziałem od 100 do 150 tys. osób, a 21 czerwca 1946 r. uczestniczył w podobnym wiecu w Salonikach. Za jego działania w kwestii Epiru Północnego kontrolowany przez rząd synod hierarchii Kościoła Prawosławnego Albanii w lipcu 1945 roku oskarżył Panteleimona o zdradę i jednocześnie usunął go ze stanowiska biskupa Argyrokastro. Na domiar złego władze albańskie nałożyły również karę więzienia na jego brata.

In 1946, Panteleimon took part in the International Peace Conference in Paris, and in 1947 in the UN General Assembly. as an auxiliary member of the Greek delegation. At the same time, in addition to the Northern Epirus issue, he also dealt with the Cyprus issue. From 1954 until his death, he served as chairman of the board of the Halych Theological Society. He was also a member of the Parnassus Literary Society, the Greek Archaeological Society and the Society of Greek Writers.

His various studies on religious and historical topics were published in magazines and newspapers. He was awarded the Order of the Phoenix for his services.

Death
Panteleimon died on May 24, 1969 in Athens. His funeral was held two days later in the presence of many people and dignitaries, including Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Theophylactos Papaconstantinou, representatives of the armed forces, Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos I, etc. In fact, a military detachment and a military orchestra did the honors.

Donations and benefits
Panteleimon, on February 27, 1968, through his private will, donated his personal library to the Society for Continental Studies. He was thus recognized as a benefactor and benefactor of the EHM. To honor Panteleimon's religious, national and spiritual activities, EHM erected a bust of him in a park in Ioannina.