Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and all Scandinavia, along with Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. George in Stockholm on the First Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2025.
The liturgical custom of the day included a procession of sacred icons within the Cathedral, led by the choir, children, and a delegation of students from the 1st General Lyceum of Kifisia, accompanied by their teachers.
Metropolitan Cleopas delivered a speech on the importance of prayer as spiritual oxygen, drawing inspiration from St. Maximos the Confessor. He commended the students for participating in the liturgy and encouraged them to strive for excellence and vision in their lives.
He expressed gratitude to the teachers and presented a study to Mr. Fountas for the school library. He also extended his respects to Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kifisia and the Mayor of Kifisia.
The day concluded with blessings for Holy and Great Lent, a Lenten refreshment at the Museum of Hellenic Christian Heritage, and a dialogue between the students and Metropolitan about their academic pursuits.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
