On Pentecost Sunday, June 16, 2019, Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and all Scandinavia ordained Maxime Francois Lesage to Deacon in St. George Cathedral in Stockholm.
This day coincides with the 5th anniversary of Metropolitan Cleopas enthronement and the 30th anniversary of his ordination, during the 50th anniversary celebrations since the founding of the Metropolis of Sweden and the 130th anniversary of the construction of the Stockholm Cathedral.
Metropolitan Cleopas expressed the joy of his entire province because, with the ordination of Maxime Lesage, the 13th new clergyman of the last five years is added to the priesthood of the historic province of the Ecumenical Throne in Scandinavia.
Addressing the candidate deacon, the Metropolitan of Sweden stated inter alia that “your work will be the ecclesialisation of the problems and needs of the people, as well as their spiritual support. Set as a criterion and rule in your life the love of God, and not what people think, nor the formalism and the fanaticism of the distorters of faith.”
The Ambassador of Greece to Sweden, Mr. Andreas Fryganas, attended the Divine Liturgy and congratulated Metropolitan Cleopas on the anniversary of his enthronement.