On Friday, June 11, 2010, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Representative of the Orthodox Church in America, with the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH of All America and Canada, and by the kind invitation of the Rector of the Orthodox Seminary of the Autonomous Finnish Orthodox Church, Archpriest Rauno Pietarinen, participated in the opening of the nationwide gathering of Finnish Orthodox Church “kirkkopaivat” or conference in Joensuu, Finland.
According to the information distributed by the organizers of the conference and as listed on the official website, “the theme of the event is “Church -the Hope of Creation”. The theme has also an ecological aspect which is taken into account for example in the selection of local food. “Kirkkopaivat” will be one of the biggest events organized by the Finnish Orthodox Church this millennium.”
After registration was completed, Father Zacchaeus joined the other participants in a tour of the Orthodox Seminary which was led by its Rector. Later that evening, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, joined His Eminence, Archbishop LEO of Karelia and All Finland, other hierarchs of the Finnish Orthodox Church, and other guests in welcoming His All Holiness, Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW of Constantinople upon arrival by airplane in the town.
