Your Eminence Archbishop Julio of Orange,
Your Eminence Cardinal Anders of Stockholm,
Your Grace Bishop Anba Abakir,
Your Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Elaia,
Reverend Members of the Clergy,
Your Excellencies,
Honorable Members of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic Apostolic Church,
Esteemed Guests,
Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,
Christ is Risen!
On the joyous and historic occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the transfer of the Cathedral of Saint George in Stockholm to the Holy Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia, I wish to address you all with sentiments of the deepest and heartfelt gratitude for your honorary presence today, especially the Honorable Members of the Board of Trustees of the Catholic Apostolic Church.
It is with profound appreciation that we recall your generous and noble offering of this sacred Cathedral, a gift which has become a spiritual home, a beacon of Orthodox witness, and a place of prayer, hope, and pastoral ministry for countless faithful throughout Scandinavia.
This act of Christian love and ecclesial goodwill stands as a luminous example of fraternity and mutual respect in Christ.
At the same time, we gratefully remember your most benevolent ministry in offering other holy churches, including the Metropolitan Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Oslo and the Church of Saint George of Ioannina, in Roskilde, Denmark.
These sacred spaces have greatly strengthened the liturgical, pastoral, and missionary presence of our local Church.
Furthermore, we express our sincere and enduring gratitude for your unwavering moral and financial support throughout the years.
Your continuous encouragement has sustained the missionary efforts of our Metropolis, supported the ministry of our clergy, and contributed significantly to the growth and stability of the Orthodox presence in this region.
On behalf of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden and All Scandinavia, and personally as its Metropolitan, I offer to you our heartfelt thanks and abiding appreciation. We pray that the Lord, Who is rich in mercy, may abundantly bless you, your families and Community, for your generosity and reward your love for His Church.
May this blessed anniversary further deepen the bonds of goodwill and Christian fellowship that unite us. Amen!
