By the grace of God and the blessings of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia made his fourth archpastoral visit to the city of Gothenburg on Sunday, September 18,to fulfill his pledge to appoint a full-time parish priest at the Holy Trinity Church in Gothenburg – the second largest parish in the Holy Metropolis of Sweden. Introducing the new priest, Rev. Presbyter Petros Moralis, to his congregation, Metropolitan Cleopas noted that he is a young, hardworking, and dynamic clergyman who is now being called to serve in his new pastoral duties with unrivaled enthusiasm and self-sacrifice, responding to the demands and challenges of the present day. Rev. Moralis previously served in the Holy Metropolis of Kilkis and is a graduate of the Ecclesiastical Academy of Thessaloniki. His record of pastoral service includes the construction of two churches, the formation of an ecclesiastical museum in the Holy Metropolis of Kilkis, and the complete renovation of two more churches.

The Metropolitan called upon Rev. Moralis to start up ministries serving people of all ages, with a particular emphasis on the youth, as well as to stress the benefits of regular church attendance, establish a religious instruction program, youth choir, music, dance, and theater groups, sports teams, a webpage, a strong and diversified social media presence, in addition to maintaining a database with updated information on members so as to utilize the talents of all constituents, regardless of age, background, or status. He also advised the newly appointed clergyman to forge a close collaboration with local ecclesiastical and civic authorities and officials, as well as with the local Greek School and Greek Community.

In his address, Rev. Moralis spoke of how moved he was by the warm welcome prepared for him and pledged his decisiveness to serve the Greek Diaspora with zeal and earn the trust of all, while building ministries and services for people of all ages.
A reception followed in the church hall, with a representative from the Church of Sweden’s Gothenburg Diocese, Diocesan Dean for the area of Hisingen Rt. Rev. Bengt Hensing, and popular Greek vocalist and performer Helena Paparizou – a member of the Holy Trinity Parish who hails from Gothenburg – in attendance.