Riga, September 15, 2025
The Greek outlet Romfea notes that the chair for Met. Alexander of Riga was noticeably empty. Photo: Romfea
On September 13, during the second day of his visit to Latvia, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople participated in an ecumenist service at the Lutheran Riga cathedral.
The service was attended by newly elected leader of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Archbishop Rinalds Grants and his predecessor, honorary Archbishop Janis Vanags, head of the Latvian Roman Catholic Church Archbishop-Metropolitan Zbigniew Stankiewicz, Baptist community pastor Kaspar Stern, and others.
Representatives of the Latvian Orthodox Church were notably absent from the service, reports the Telegram channel Voice of Orthodoxy LV.
The number of lay worshippers in the cathedral could be counted on one hand, according to the Latvian outlet.
Patriarch Bartholomew delivered a speech dedicated to the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council. In conclusion, he expressed gratitude to Lutheran Archbishop Rinalds “for his fraternal invitation and warm hospitality” and added:
We cordially thank the esteemed representatives of other Churches, whose presence honors us and confirms our common aspiration for rapprochement and cooperation. Finally, we thank all of you, the devoted people of God, for your participation and your prayer, which is the driving force of all church work.
During his meeting with Saeima Speaker Daiga Mierina the previous day, the Patriarch of Constantinople had stated that his visit “has important significance for discussing the situation of the Orthodox community in Latvia” and was “an opportunity to renew historical ties and cooperation with the Constantinople Patriarchate for the benefit of both believers and society as a whole.”
However, in the end, Pat. Bartholomew did not meet with any local representatives of Orthodoxy.
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