The Holy Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia and its Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas, welcomed His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, yesterday afternoon, Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm.

Responding to the kind invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Martin Modéus of Uppsala and Primate of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, as well as that of His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas, Shepherd of the Scandinavian countries, His All-Holiness will honor with his esteemed presence the events organized for the Ecumenical Week.

The Ecumenical Patriarch will be a keynote speaker at three major events of the Lutheran Church. During His stay, He will also have the opportunity to offer His blessing at the official dinner and luncheons held in His honor by the Holy Metropolis.

Furthermore, He is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Swedish State Leadership, delegates from other Christian Denominations and Confessions, and to give His paternal blessing to the clergy and faithful of the Mother Church’s flock in Scandinavia.

It is noteworthy that this marks the third time during the tenure of His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas that the venerable Head of Orthodoxy visits the Holy Metropolis of Sweden.

The first Visit occurred in 2017, when, for the first time, an Ecumenical Patriarch visited Iceland, served as the keynote speaker at an environmental conference, and blessed the establishment of the local parish in honor of the Apostle Bartholomew.

The second Visit took place in 2019, when His All-Holiness visited Stockholm and blessed the commencement of the external restoration works of the St. George Cathedral, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden.

The current, third Visit will culminate on Sunday, August 24, 2025, with the Thyranoixia Service of the Saint George Cathedral of Stockholm, marking the completion of its internal restoration. His All-Holiness will then preside over the Divine Liturgy in Chorostasia.

Our prayer is that the Lord grant many years to the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Spiritual Father of millions of Orthodox faithful around the world, and bless Him with health and strength to continue fulfilling His manifold duties, bestowing His blessing for the progress of the scattered children of the Mother Church and for peace throughout the world!