Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia made a statement regarding the current situation concerning the Panagia Parish in Borås.
In particular, the Metropolitan states “Due to the lack of cooperation with the Metropolis, the local Priest has been suspended until further notice.
The Metropolis however remains committed to providing Holy Sacraments and church Holy Services to its flock.
It is therefore with sadness that we have to inform that the Divine Liturgy planned for Sunday, February 11, 2024, unfortunately, could not be held.
As it is well known, the Metropolis had announced that the Divine Liturgy would be celebrated in the Parish of Borås, by the V. Rev. Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis, who traveled from Stockholm to Borås for this purpose.
Unfortunately, he was not allowed access to the Panagia Chapel, which resulted in that the planned Liturgy could not be held. We find this sad and regrettable.
However, this does not in anyway deter our determination to continue to send Priests, on a regular basis to Borås, in order to perform Holy Sacraments for the Parish and celebrate the Divine Liturgy, for the benefit of the faithful.
We, therefore, implore the responsible individuals to give access to the Chapel, so that we can continue to build spiritually and develop pastorally the Parish together, for the future.
A Parish within the Orthodox Church cannot exist on its own – it always has to be part of the Church, according to the Church Holy Canons.
This is nothing uniq – it is the same practice within the Orthodox Church, throughout the world, and for the other Christian denominations.
As with every previous case, with God’s help, the Metropolis will continue to attend to the pastoral and spiritual needs of her flock.
We remain committed to this, as we continue to work for a swift resolve of the current situation in Borås, and above all, to perform Holy Sacraments and celebrate the Divine Liturgy, for the good of our faithful in Borås, on a regular basis.
Already, this Saturday, a baptism will be conducted by the V. Rev. Archimandrite Sosipatros Stefanoudis, albeit regrettably, in another Church and not at the Panagia Chapel, since access to our Chapel was not allowed again.
We look forward to continue serving all our parishes and parishioners of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia”.
