With great solemnity and emotion, the official reception of Bishop‑Elect Bartholomew of Elaia took place on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at the St. George Cathedral in Stockholm, in the presence of clergy and a large gathering of faithful from the Holy Metropolis of Sweden.
Addressing the congregation, Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden spoke with warmth and spiritual depth, saying:
“With profound joy and gratitude to God, we gather today to extend our heartfelt congratulations to His Grace, Bishop-Elect Bartholomew of Elaia of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, on the occasion of his worthy election.”
He emphasized that the election was “not only a great honor bestowed upon his person, but also a recognition of his long-standing, faithful, and sacrificial service to the Church,” noting that Bishop-Elect Bartholomew has served “with zeal, humility, and genuine pastoral love.”
Metropolitan Cleopas highlighted the significance of episcopal ministry, stressing: “The episcopal ministry is a high calling and a sacred responsibility. The bishop is called to be a shepherd, a teacher of truth, a guardian of unity, and a living witness of Christ’s love in the world.”
He concluded with prayers for strength and wisdom, expressing confidence that the new bishop would fulfill his ministry “for the glory of God and the edification of His Holy Church.”
In his response, Bishop-Elect Bartholomew spoke with deep gratitude and emotion, reflecting on the moment of his election: “The feelings that overwhelm me are many, above all the surprise I felt upon hearing of my election to the episcopacy.”
Referring to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Metropolitan of Sweden, he described his election as one that “reveals the mystery of ecclesial continuity, in which the grace of the Holy Spirit does not abolish human weakness, but heals and renews it.”
He further underlined that this act constitutes “a living testimony of the paternal responsibility of the bishop, who becomes the model of the flock and the guarantor of ecclesial order and communion.”
Concluding his address, Bishop-Elect Bartholomew set forth the spirit in which he hopes to serve:
“I pray to the Lord that the spirit of humility, obedience, and sacrificial love may never depart from me, so that my ministry may become not a work of authority, but a cruciform witness and an offering to the Church.”
