On the First Sunday of Lent, March 9, 2025, Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and all Scandinavia, assisted by Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. George in Stockholm.
According to the liturgical custom of the day, the Divine Liturgy was preceded by a procession of sacred icons within the Cathedral, led by the choir, many children and a 25-member delegation of students from the 1st General Lyceum of Kifisia, accompanied by their teachers, Mr. Nikolaos Fountas, Mathematician, Mrs. Theodosia Kavarnou, Philologist, Vice Principal of the 1st General Lyceum of Kifisia, and Mrs. Panagiota Tsentouros, Philologist.
At the end, the Metropolitan gave a timely speech on the various messages of the day and greeted the students of the 1st General Lyceum of Kifisia. With an appropriate motto, he spoke about spiritual oxygen, referring to the importance of prayer as spiritual oxygen, as emphasized by St. Maximos the Confessor, and its significance for spiritual life.
He congratulated the children who, instead of visiting other tourist attractions in Stockholm, took part in the solemn liturgy of this significant day in which Orthodoxy is proclaimed and the veneration of sacred icons and respect for the figures depicted in them are restored.
He urged the youth to have vision in their lives, not to be satisfied with mediocrity, but to strive for excellence and to give their best for our homeland.
He also thanked the accompanying teachers and presented the study to Mr. Fountas: “The Missionary Service of Archimandrite Evsebios Vitti in Scandinavia, 1965-1980”, published by the Apostolic Ministry of the Church of Greece, for the school library. He also asked the teachers to convey his respect and love to the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kyrillos of Kifisia, Amaroussion, Oropos and Marathon, and to the Honorable Mayor of Kifisia, Mr. Vasileios Xypolitas.
Mr. Fountas then presented to the Hierarch the Greek-English edition of the volume of the Municipality of Kifisia: “Kifisia, Views of the History of the City and Municipality – Archival Documents”.
The day ended with a blessing for the remainder of Holy and Great Lent, a traditional Lenten refreshment at the Museum of Hellenic Christian Heritage, located in the premises of the aforementioned Cathedral, and an enthusiastic dialogue between the visiting students and the Metropolitan about their visions and thoughts for their future academic pursuits.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
