Your Eminence Archbishop Benjamin,
Reverend Members of the Clergy,
Honored dignitaries and distinguished guests,
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! – CHRIST IS RISEN!
I am humbled to join you this evening, at the gracious invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin, as we celebrate the conferral of this royal commendation by the King of Sweden and special medal upon him by the Royal Patriotic Society “Kungliga Patriotiska Sällskapet” in
recognition of his many achievements and seminal ministry to the Syriac-Aramean Community and Swedish society in general.
I would like to begin by publicly conveying the personal blessings and congratulations of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Archbishop Benjamin for his decades of inspired ministry and for the reception of this award, which he so worthily receives this evening,
as well as to all the members of the Syriac-Aramean Community who rejoice in this honor bestowed upon their spiritual father.
From the very first moment I arrived here, eight years ago, to assume my archpastoral ministry in Scandinavia, Archbishop Benjamin embraced me with brotherly love, providing his manifold support and sagacious counsel. I continually rely on his invaluable experience, wisdom, and
fraternal friendship, and therefore, I join you today with feelings of true heartfelt gratitude and happiness, to rejoice in this well-deserved recognition bestowed upon a dear brother, Archbishop Benjamin.
The reputation of today’s honoree precedes him. Over the decades, he has achieved a long list of distinguished accomplishments. Archbishop Benjamin is a model religious leader, who works tireless to offer an archpastoral ministry that has made a seminal contribution to the edification
of his flock, but also positively impacted all of Swedish society through his benevolent work and unwavering support of the ecumenical movement and religious dialogue.
Consecrated to the episcopacy in 1996, Archbishop Benjamin has over 25 years of archpastoral service, during which time he has spearheaded the truly impressive outreach efforts, growth, and progress of the Syriac-Aramean Community, providing a sterling example for many other
prelates in the Kingdom of Sweden.
His inspired ministry speaks for itself and offers a clear representation of the many services he has offered his flock and eparchy as an offering of spiritual fragrance to Christ our Lord. During his tenure, numerous new churches and parishes were founded, thus expanding the Christian
faith and spreading the word of the Gospel, while he has also ordained many new members of the clergy to serve the ever-growing needs of his Archdiocese.
Archbishop Benjamin is also actively engaged in inter-denominational and inter-faith dialogue. He has served two terms as Chairman of the Swedish Christian Council and has been a leading voice in defending the rights of Christians worldwide – especially vulnerable ethnic Christian
minorities in the Middle East who have sadly become the victims of brutal persecutions.
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As the current Vice-President of the Conference of European Churches, I can readily attest to Archbishop Benjamin’s ever-present concern and tireless efforts to promote mutual respect, support, and collaboration among the various Christian denominations and communities in
Sweden and other parts of Europe. His longstanding experience, including ministry in three continents, extensive academic studies and knowledge of several languages, as well as his impeccable record of service, speak for themselves, which is why we are quick to heed his advice and carefully consider his wise words. His voice is one of unconditional Christian love, sagacious spirituality, self-sacrifice, and tireless labor on behalf of the ministry entrusted to him. I can also bear witness to this in my capacity as the Ecumenical Patriarch’s Exarch in Scandinavia. Since my election in 2014, the doors to Archbishop Benjamin’s office have always been open to me, and he has always provided his brotherly support in abundance and Christian cheerfulness, aiding the Metropolis of Sweden in various manners.
He graciously welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at his headquarters in Södertälje and at the Mor Afrem Cathedral during the latter’s official Patriarchal Visit in September of 2019, as well as my Humility and the clergymen serving under me on many occasions, and supported the initiatives of our Metropolis as if they were being undertaken by his own Archdiocese. I am truly grateful to call him a fellow prelate, brother in Christ, and coworker in the Lord’s vineyard. As you can see, his sterling archpastoral service, dedication, and contribution to
Swedish society as a whole, render him a most deserving recipient of His Majesty’s commendation, and I extend my warmest congratulations on this God-pleasing initiative and decision.
This commendation has special significance for another reason as well – the crucial junction in the course of human events in which we now find ourselves. For Scandinavia in particular, in addition to the political and economic challenges facing us from the international showdown that
is coming to a head, this also means the influx of thousands of refugees arriving from war-torn Ukraine. That is why the conferral of today’s award on Archbishop Benjamin is particularly symbolic, inasmuch as he has dedicated himself and continuously displayed his commitment
throughout the decades to the fruitful collaboration between the Christian Communities all across Scandinavia.
Now, perhaps more than ever before, this unity and collaboration will be needed to face the challenges that lie ahead. According to the organization Open Doors USA, it is estimated that in the year 2021, 360 million Christians lived in countries where persecution was “significant.”
Roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped. In addition, more than 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed. These figures do not represent isolated incidents. They are routinely
repeated year after year, making Christianity the world’s most persecuted religion, nearly two millennia after its establishment! Now, with fighting in Ukraine, these figures are certain to grow even larger.
It becomes evident that martyrdom is not something that was limited to the early years of Christianity, but continues up until today. This is precisely why the need for dialogue and cooperation amongst Christian denominations, as well as between religions, is so crucially important!
Toward this end, we must consider ourselves fortunate that we live in a peaceful, democratic, and hospitable nation like Sweden, which contributes to regional stability and stands out for its awareness and sensitivity on so many different international and domestic issues. Our leaders and our society are informed and sensitized, and does its utmost to translate these feelings of equity and justice into action.
Ours is a nation that we can be proud to live in and serve. It allows us to develop our ministry unfettered, supports us in our noble cause, and welcomes in people who are fleeing from war, oppression, poverty, natural disasters, and so many other adversities in search of a better life and
brighter tomorrow. It is with the help of these civic virtues, instilled and promoted by the authorities of this great nation, that model clergymen like Archbishop Benjamin and all the other dedicated clergy and laity in this room are able to minister to society, with the aim of serving all
those in need and working toward the greater good.
I began my speech by conveying the blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Please allow me to conclude by offering some final thoughts regarding the interest and initiatives of Orthodox Christianity’s senior-most see – the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and its current occupant Patriarch Bartholomew – in support of the Ecumenical Dialogue. Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated the 30 th anniversary of his election to the ancient see of Constantinople, where he serves as the senior prelate and spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, just a few short months ago in October 2021.
Throughout his three decades of ministry at the helm of the Venerable Center of Orthodoxy, he has ceaselessly stressed the importance of dialogue as the only viable and truly effective way to resolve problems in politics, religion, world affairs, and society in general. During this time, he
has served as a living paradigm for the value of dialogue, as a bridge to unite the citizens of the world, a tool to promote international collaboration, mutual respect, and common initiatives among the world’s religions, and as a tangible mechanism to secure the peaceful coexistence of
people all across the globe.
With these things in mind, I would like to underscore that when you are blessed to enter into dialogue and undertake common initiatives with dynamic and creative churchmen like His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin, success, growth, and development are a foregone conclusion!
Every time you leave a discussion, you come away feeling enriched, because of the invaluable knowledge, steady friendship, and unwavering support imparted unto you by your interlocutor.
Having spoken to you about all the challenges and tribulations facing us – as citizens of the world and as Christians in particular – I end with a reference to the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who posited that it is impossible for individual citizens to be prosperous when their
city is in danger, arguing that only when the common good of society is served, can individual citizens hope to be safe and prosper.
In our case, our city, our nation, and the Christian faith are certainly collectively stronger and more prosperous through the tireless work of Archbishop Benjamin, and therefore, we as individuals owe him a heartfelt expression of appreciation and gratitude, along with our warmest
congratulations. Άξιος! –
May God show you to be continually worthy! Thank you.
