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. ==Northern Epirus struggle (1913-1916)==