Metropolitan Cleopas Addressed the New Archbishop of Uppsala at His Installation

On Sunday, December 4, 2022, at 11 a.m., the official installation of the new Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, H.E. Martin Modéus, took place in the historic Uppsala Cathedral, in the presence of the King and Queen of Sweden and several State and Religious Leaders, from all over the world.

The said ceremony was attended by H.E. Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, who spoke at the official luncheon that followed, at the premises of the Uppsala Castle.

In his speech, His Eminence stated the following: “We have gathered inside the Uppsala Castle, to celebrate the installation of the new Archbishop of Uppsala, a dear Brother in Christ and distinguished clergyman, His Eminence Martin Modéus.

Allow me to begin by formally conveying the warmest congratulations and best wishes of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, on this auspicious occasion.

At the same time, I would like to take this opportunity to echo those sentiments and wishes to Archbishop Martin and his beloved family, speaking on behalf of the local Orthodox Church here in Scandinavia.

Rest assured, Your Eminence, that you can count on the full support and friendship of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia, and that our spiritual initiatives are wholeheartedly directed toward the fruitful continuation of dialogue between our Churches and the earnest cooperation that should exist among Christian brethren. I look forward to collaborating with you on projects and initiatives aimed at benefiting society and promoting the greater good.

As we gather here today, warmed by the happiness of today’s occasion and the approaching holidays, I pray that the impending celebration of the Lord’s Nativity according to the flesh and the dawn of the new year will bode auspiciously on the commencement of your new ministry and continually luminate your path.

Congratulations, and as we say in Greek “Axios!” – may God always show you worthy of the high office which He has entrusted unto you.”