The Holy Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia presents two important spiritual publications in Swedish, which make a substantial contribution to acquainting the Swedish-speaking readership with the life and teaching of two great figures of contemporary Orthodoxy; Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia and Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, of blessed memory.
The first publication is entitled Helige Porphyrios: liv och tankar and is the Swedish translation of the work The Life and Sayings of Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia. The first edition was published in 2014, while the third edition appeared in 2025.
The translation and foreword were prepared by Nun Christodouli, who is Swedish by birth and resides at a Monastery in Greece. The book presents the life, spiritual journey, and teachings of Saint Porphyrios, who began the ascetic life at a young age in Kavsokalyvia on Mount Athos, ministered for decades as a priest and spiritual father in Athens, and reposed on December 2, 1991. He was canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on November 27, 2013.
For many years, Nun Christodouli has offered a noteworthy body of translation work in service of Swedish-speaking Orthodox faithful. Among other works, she translated the Akathist Hymn into Swedish; it was published by the Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece on behalf of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden.
The second publication, released in 2026 by the Swedish publishing house Bokförlaget Krysalis, is entitled Om det andliga livet: Om lidelserna, om att aldrig förtvivla, och om bönen (“On the Spiritual Life: On the Passions, on Never Despairing, and on Prayer”). It comprises three spiritual texts by Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, of blessed memory, addressing fundamental themes of Orthodox spiritual life; liberation from the passions, hope and repentance, as well as prayer and inner peace.
Elder Aimilianos served as Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Simonopetra on Mount Athos from 1973 to 2000. He was also the founder of the Holy Convent of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Ormylia, Chalkidiki.
Through his teaching, spiritual guidance, and ascetic presence, he made a decisive contribution to the revival of contemporary Athonite monasticism. He reposed in the Lord on May 9, 2019.
The Swedish translation of the book was prepared by Mr. Antonios Antoniadis, a Greek-Swede, a resident of Uppsala, and an active member of the Parish of the Apostle Paul in Uppsala. His translation makes an important part of Elder Aimilianos’ precious spiritual legacy accessible to Swedish-speaking readers.
Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia warmly congratulates Nun Christodouli and Mr. Antonios Antoniadis and thanks them for their important work of translation, as well as for their valuable contribution to the ecclesiastical life and ministries of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden. He warmly recommends these two studies to the Orthodox reading public as valuable aids toward a deeper knowledge of Orthodox spirituality.
It is hereby clarified that the Holy Metropolis of Sweden has no financial or commercial interest in the promotion or distribution of these books. This announcement is solely honorary and ecclesiastical in character and is intended to recognize the contribution of two individuals who are closely connected with the ministry of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden.
