On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, accompanied by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis, participated in the sessions of the Christian Council of Churches in Sweden, held at its headquarters in Stockholm.

One of the main items on the agenda was the review of the conclusions from the recently celebrated “Ecumenical Week,” held in August under the theme “A Time for the Peace of God.” The highlight of that week was the presence and keynote address of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who was the principal guest and speaker at the major events.

These celebrations took place exactly 100 years after the International Christian Conference on “Life and Work,” organized in Stockholm, in 1925, by Lutheran Archbishop Nathan Söderblom, who was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1930.

That historic gathering was attended by Patriarch Photios Peroglou of Alexandria and Metropolitan Germanos Strenopoulos of Thyateira and Great Britain, who represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Metropolitan Cleopas thanked the Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, His Eminence Martin Modéus, whom he congratulated together with his worthy colleagues, including Dr. Sofia Camnerin, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Churches, and the Very Reverends Peter Lindvall, Jonas Thorängen, and Fredrik Lidé.

As a token of gratitude for the excellent cooperation and support offered by the Lutheran Church of Sweden and the Christian Council of Churches, during the official reception and hospitality of His All-Holiness and his entourage, Metropolitan Cleopas presented flowers and an icon of Saint George. The gift served as a memento of the recent Thyranoixia Service at the Saint George Cathedral of Stockholm, which took place on Sunday, August 24, 2025, officiated by His All-Holiness, the Spiritual Leader of the world’s approximately 300 million Orthodox Christians.

He also offered  a copy of his most recent study, dedicated to his first predecessor, the late Metropolitan Polyefktos (Finfinis), entitled “Polyefktos Finfinis, Metropolitan of Sweden and All Scandinavia, 1969–1974.”

Both gifts were publications of the “Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece,” which were made possible through the generosity of its Director General His Excellency Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanarion.

Following this, participants in the Council’s sessions were divided into groups and given fifteen minutes to collaborate and reflect on how the “Ecumenical Week” had impacted the hearts of those who took part, as well as the Churches they represented.

After the group discussions, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas took the floor, underlining the importance of inner peace as a divine gift, as well as the need to cultivate it through spiritual struggle and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

He highlighted the significance of celebrating such a week as a means of fostering unity, solidarity, and collaboration among Christian Churches and their faithful.

Finally, he endorsed the proposal of the previous speakers to prepare and publish a commemorative edition on the “Ecumenical Week.”

This publication will not only include photographs but also the keynote addresses, events, and a list of participants and contributors, so that the profound Christian values of peace, coexistence, and solidarity may be shared, particularly with younger generations, and the generations to come.

Also, on the morning of Saturday, September 20, 2025, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, accompanied by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis, parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint George in Stockholm, and responding to the kind and honorable invitation of the Board of Directors of the Greek School of Stockholm, celebrated the service of the Blessing of the Waters, marking the beginning of the lessons and the school year 2025–2026.

Addressing the three hundred children present, the Metropolitan encouraged them to take joy in attending a Greek school. He reminded them that the Greek language is a treasure, through which our culture, our ancestors, and our Church continue to speak.

He invited them, alongside their studies, to cultivate virtue, love, cooperation among themselves, and prayer. In his remarks, he made special reference to Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis, the Wonderworker.
Turning next to the fifteen teachers of the School, he emphasized that their efforts are doubly precious, since they not only impart knowledge but also keep alive the Greek flame and help the children feel close to their homeland and their Church.

Finally, thanking the President of the School, the Honorable Mr. Dimitrios Siotis, and the Members of the Board of Directors, he offered as a blessing and keepsake his most recent study entitled “Polyevktos Finfinis, Metropolitan of Sweden and All Scandinavia, 1969–1974”, published by the Apostolic Diaconate of the Church of Greece and presented before His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on August 23, 2025.

To the children and their parents, he distributed as a blessing a commemorative gift from the recently celebrated opening of the doors of a church, bearing the image of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer. This was also graciously offered to the Holy Metropolis of Sweden by His Grace Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanarion, General Director of the said ecclesiastical organization.

The event concluded with coffee and refreshments in the School cafeteria, generously offered by Mr. Georgios Prokos, a Member of the aforementioned Board of Directors.