The Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos and Greek Independence Day celebrated by Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden in Västerås

On Sunday, 23 March 2025, the celebration of the Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos and the National Holiday of 1821 took place at the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Oslo.

Also, the same celebration was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, with the participation of Archimandrite Bartholomew Iatridis, Pastor of the St. George Cathedral of Stockholm, and Economos George Arvanitidis, Pastor of the Saints Demetrios and Nestor Parish in Örebro, Sweden.

The Divine Liturgy was held at the Gideonsbergskyrkan Lutheran Church in Västerås, on Saturday, 29 March 2025.

A five-member choir of young people, under the direction of Ms. Iliana Antoniou, one of the most active members of the youth group of the Stockholm Cathedral, chanted the hymns of the day.

Former member of the Swedish Parliament and an active political figure of the Västerås Municipality, Mr. Roger Haddad, attended the Divine Liturgy. The Metropolitan warmly thanked him for his honoured presence.

In his speech, the Hierarch of the Mother Church in the Northern Lands referred to the dual celebration and expressed his gratitude to the clergymen who served with him, the choir members, the congregation, and especially to Britt Marie Zotos, who worked hard for the preparation and the reception that followed in the adjacent church hall.

In the church’s fellowship hall, His Eminence had the opportunity to engage with members of the local Greek community of Västerås, to whom he promised to celebrate the next Divine Liturgy there during the Paschal period. To this end, he encouraged Fr. George, whose parish is only an hour’s drive from Västerås, to increase the celebration of Holy Services in the area.

Afterwards, Mr. Roger Haddad hosted His Eminence and Fr. Bartholomew at his home, where his wife and one of their daughters warmly welcomed the two clergymen and offered them a meal. Mr. Haddad then escorted them to the train station, and in the afternoon, the Metropolitan returned to the Headquarters of His Eparchy, in Stockholm, escorted by his entourage.

Source: Metropolis of Sweden