On the morning of Saturday, September 20, 2025, Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, accompanied by Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis, parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint George in Stockholm, and responding to the kind and honorable invitation of the Board of Directors of the Greek School of Stockholm, celebrated the service of the Blessing of the Waters, marking the beginning of the lessons and the school year 2025–2026.
Addressing the three hundred children present, the Metropolitan encouraged them to take joy in attending a Greek school. He reminded them that the Greek language is a treasure, through which our culture, our ancestors, and our Church continue to speak.
He invited them, alongside their studies, to cultivate virtue, love, cooperation among themselves, and prayer. In his remarks, he made special reference to Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis, the Wonderworker.
Turning next to the fifteen teachers of the School, he emphasized that their efforts are doubly precious, since they not only impart knowledge but also keep alive the Greek flame and help the children feel close to their homeland and their Church.
Finally, thanking the President of the School, the Honorable Mr. Dimitrios Siotis, and the Members of the Board of Directors, he offered as a blessing and keepsake his most recent study entitled “Polyevktos Finfinis, Metropolitan of Sweden and All Scandinavia, 1969–1974”, published by the Apostolic Diaconate of the Church of Greece and presented before His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on August 23, 2025.
To the children and their parents, he distributed as a blessing a commemorative gift from the recently celebrated opening of the doors of a church, bearing the image of Saint George the Trophy-Bearer. This was also graciously offered to the Holy Metropolis of Sweden by His Grace Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanarion, General Director of the said ecclesiastical organization.
The event concluded with coffee and refreshments in the School cafeteria, generously offered by Mr. Georgios Prokos, a Member of the aforementioned Board of Directors.
