At the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Sunday, December 11, 2022, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia spoke to the congregation regarding the reading of the day from the Gospel according to St. Luke, which is dedicated to a fundamental event in the life of the faithful – participation in the sacramental life of the Church, where they partake in the body and blood of Christ.
The Metropolitan noted that the participation of a number of young people in the Divine Liturgy, including many young couples, was an especially promising message. He then presented the Stockholm Cathedral’s youth musical troupe, featuring talented young men and women who undertook the initiative to present a Christmas concert featuring traditional pieces.
Metropolitan Cleopas thanked Mr. Nikolaos Kitsios for continuing to aid the ministry of the Holy Metropolis, despite his professional and family obligations, and applying modern technology to live stream the Divine Liturgy, local Church podcasts, and various youth events.
He also expressed his warm thanks to the performers presenting the concert, including the conductor Ms. Niki Throumbari, Ms. Joanna Demosthenous (piano), Mr. Isaac Isaksson (violin), Mr. Christos Petrou (guitar), Ms. Iliana Antoniou (drums), and the members of the choir Mlles. Hariklia Panteli and Elpida Rerra, and Messrs. Georgios Dougas and Konstantinos Pantekidis.
After congratulating the young performers, the Metropolitan asked the congregation to save the date for the next concert, which will be held on the Sunday of St. Thomas, April 23, 2023, where the Cathedral musical group will present a Paschal concert on the feast day of the church’s patron saint.
A reception followed at the Museum of Hellenic-Christian Heritage in honor of the members of the musical troupe, where Metropolitan Cleopas once again congratulated them and wished them a Merry Christmas filled with the blessings of the Savior who was born in a manger for our salvation.
