Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden Visits Boston as a Guest Speaker

STOCKHOLM — To commemorate the 100 th  anniversary of the establishment of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston held a two-
day conference on site at its facilities entitled “The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
at 100 Years.”

At the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the
aforementioned academic institution, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All
Scandinavia participated in the conference as a guest speaker, delivering his presentation
entitled “The Making of Archbishop Iakovos: How His Diakonia as a Priest Shaped His Archi
episcopacy,” on Friday, October 7, 2022.
The presentation was based on a study Metropolitan Cleopas wrote in November 2012 during
his ministry as Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral of Boston
entitled Dean James A. Coucouzes as a Model of Priesthood: Archbishop Iakovos’ Ministry at
 the Annunciation Cathedral of New England (1942-1954).
At the end of his speech, the Metropolitan congratulated the conference organizers V. Rev.
Archimandrite Dr. Anton Vrame and Dr. James Skedros, while offering copies of his study on
Archbishop Iakovos to Archbishop Elpidophoros, Holy Cross President Mr. George M.
Cantonis, Dr. James Skedros, and Prof. Alexander Kitroeff of Haverford College.
On Sunday, October 9 th  Metropolitan Cleopas celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Boston
Cathedral. During his address, he thanked His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros for
inviting him to participate in the conference as a guest speaker, as well as His Eminence
Metropolitan Methodios of Boston with whose canonical permission he celebrated the Divine
Liturgy together with the Dean of the Cathedral Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. Athanasios Tsininis
and Fr. Vasilios, a clergyman visiting from Greece. The hymns of the day were chanted by
three Holy Cross students.
After first speaking to the Sunday School students, Metropolitan Cleopas expressed his
gratitude to the members of the Annunciation Cathedral for the love they showed him from
the start of his ministry there until today, offered them copies of his chronicle of the
Patriarchal Visit to Stockholm, congratulated the new Dean of the Cathedral Fr. Athanasios
on his recent appointment, wished the former Dean Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. Demetrios Tonias
a speedy recovery, and delivered a sermon on the day’s Gospel reading.
A reception followed on site at the Cathedral, which was graciously offered by the Ladies
Philoptochos Society and the parish council.
Metropolitan Cleopas left Boston that afternoon to return to his see in Stockholm.
 
Photo credit: Mr. Alex Mavradis