The 5th pastoral tour of Rev. The Metropolitan of Sweden Mr. Cleopas in Reykjavik, Iceland started on Friday, March 4, 2022, with a video call from Greece. During his visit to the Greek donut making hangout, one of its owners called his mother at Krokos, Kozani, who excitedly thanked His Excellency for the spiritual support of her son, but also to all our expatriate brothers, who are in the “great Greece”, outside the borders, everywhere, wishing properly, in view of Lent.

At the urging of Fr. Alexandros Loukatos, who accompanied the Bishop, to help, since the customers had filled the store, the young businessman gave an astonishing answer: “Even when you talk to me, you help me. It makes me feel good to speak, every once in a while, my language and to be among people I feel they support me”. 

A phrase that moved us, touched us, troubled us and we took it as a justification for our mission, our trip to the icy and snowy, but at the same time so warm and hospitable country. Our people need the presence of their clergy, their pastors, with a simple smile of support and companionship, with a heartfelt prayer that touches and stimulates mentally and spiritually, much more than wise words and substantiated advice.

A true companion and supporter of our expatriate and our Church in Reykjavik is admittedly the Honorary Ambassador of Greece to Iceland Mr. Rafn Alexander Sigurdsson, who received the two clergymen at the airport, organized their meetings with local authorities in time and undertook their travels in the city himself.

On the morning of Saturday, March 5, His Holiness paid a ceremonial visit to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Iceland, Mr. David Bartimej Tenser, at the premises of his Diocese in Reykjavik. The Metropolitan conveyed to Bishop David the cordial wishes of His Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew, and participated in the meeting held there, in view of the event for Peace in Ukraine, which was to take place the next day.

The meeting was also attended by Ad. Mr. Patrick Breen, Secretary of the Roman Catholic Bishop, Rev. Fr. Mr. Jacob Rolland, Protocycle of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Iceland, Rev. Fr. Mr. Arnaldur Máni Finnsson, Representative of the Lutheran Church of Iceland and Rev. Fr. Elder Timothy Zolotusky, Prelate of the Parish of St. Nicholas Reykjavik of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On Sunday, March 6, the Bishop celebrated the Divine Liturgy, which was performed in the chapel of Rev. Friðrik Friðriksson (FRIÐRIKSKAPELLA), with the participation of Fr. Alexandros Loukatos. At the end of the Eucharist, the Archbishop read the Catechism of the Ecumenical Patriarch, at the beginning of Holy and Great Lent, and blessed those present.

A reception was held, offered by the members of the Ecclesiastical Council of the Parish, to which the Bishop expressed his gratitude in public, as well as to Mr. Sigurdsson, for his full support in organizing all five of his pastoral visits to Reykjavik and committed to visit the Greek community again on the first weekend of June, with the tireless and dedicated collaborator of Fr. Alexandros.

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The thanksgiving meeting was also attended by Mr. Sigurdsson, Ad. Mr. Gunnthor Ingason, Edim. Mr. Evangelos Dimitropoulos, President of the Hellenic Association of Iceland, the former Panionios basketball player Mr. Fotis Lambropoulos and several members of the parish.

In the afternoon, His Holiness, kindly invited by the Lutheran Church of Iceland, attended the event for Peace in Ukraine, which took place at the Háteigskirkja Temple, where he spoke in English.

At the above event, the Metropolitan was accompanied by Fr. Alexandros Loukatos, Edim. Mr Sigurdsson and Mr Evangelos Kyrou, Elias Bravos and Evangelos Dimitropoulos. The event was prefaced by the Lutheran Bishop of Skalholt, Kristján Björnsson, and was attended by Bishop David Bartimej Tenser and Fr. Timothy Zolotusky.

In the evening of the same, accompanied by Fr. Alexander, Metropolitan Cleopas met with Evangelos Dimitropoulos, Evangelos Kyrou and Elias Bravo, where they had the opportunity to exchange views on the best possible cooperation between the parish and the association, for the benefit of the Greek community in Iceland, and launched the parish Facebook page, which was kindly created by Mr. Kyrou with Fr. Alexander.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/695862815109273/

On Holy Monday morning, the Archbishop returned to his Prefecture headquarters in Stockholm and Fr. Alexander to Oslo.

(The photographic material is an offer of Fr. Alexandros Loukatos and Messrs. Evangelos Kyrou and Elias Bravou)