Patriarch Bartholomew took part in an “ecumenical service” at the Lutheran Cathedral in Riga

On September 13, as part of the visit of the head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to Latvia, Patriarch Bartholomew took part in an “ecumenical service” at the Lutheran Dome Cathedral in Riga. Representatives of the Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches took part in the event. At the same time, representatives of the Latvian Orthodox Church were absent. This was reported by the Telegram channel Voice of Orthodoxy LV.

It is reported that the event was also attended by the newly elected leader of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Archbishop Rinalds Grants, and his predecessor, Honorary Archbishop Janis Vanags, the head of the Latvian Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop-Metropolitan Zbigniew Stankevich, the pastor of the Baptist community, Kaspars Sterns, and others.

In turn, representatives of the Latvian Orthodox Church were not seen at this “service.”

Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a speech (sermon) dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council. In conclusion, he expressed his gratitude to Lutheran Archbishop Rinalds “for his fraternal invitation and warm hospitality” and added: “We sincerely thank the distinguished representatives of other Churches, whose presence honors us and confirms our common desire for rapprochement and cooperation. Finally, we thank all of you, the faithful people of God, for your participation and your prayers, which are the driving force behind all church activity.”

We recall that on August 25, 2025, an ecumenical “service” “Time of God’s Peace” was held at Uppsala Cathedral (Sweden), dedicated to the centenary of the closing of the “Life and Work” assembly in Stockholm in 1925, led by the then Archbishop Nathan Söderblom. The event was attended by Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, along with Lutheran women “bishops” and representatives of other religious movements. The head of the Phanar was accompanied by members of the episcopate and clergy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.