Religion and diplomacy intersected in Vilnius earlier this week as the Patriarchal Exarchate of Lithuania opened its doors to senior foreign ministry advisers from the Nordic and Baltic NB8 nations. The gathering brought together specialized envoys to examine the intersection of faith communities, human rights, and regional security amid ongoing geopolitical turmoil in Eastern Europe.
Diplomatic Delegations Convene in Vilnius
The October 16 meeting at the Exarchate headquarters welcomed a delegation of diplomats and religious freedom experts from across Northern and Eastern Europe. Bishop Panaretos of Tamisos, Patriarchal Exarch of Lithuania, alongside clergy members including Chancellor Archpriest Vitalijus Mockus, Secretary Fr Gintaras Sungaila, and Fr Jeremijas Jurčenko, who provides pastoral care to the Ukrainian community, hosted the visiting dignitaries.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: "A living reflection of ancient struggles for the spiritual freedom of the person, we discern today in the persons and the ministry of the clergy of our newly-established Exarchate in Lithuania." https://t.co/K7SKcXMUgH pic.twitter.com/QhSLbe0awa
The visiting contingent featured diplomatic figures, including Kattri-Helina Põld, Senior Counsellor in the Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Pekka Kosonen, Ambassador for Peace Mediation. Latvia was represented by Ineta Celmina, Counsellor in the Policy Planning Group, while Norway dispatched Ambassador Christian Øystein Lyngroth, Special Envoy. Freedom of religion or belief was represented by Ambassador Christian Kamill of Sweden, along with Ambassador Louise Auken Wagner and Maria-Louise Mwakitalu Bonnevie from Denmark.
Lithuania’s domestic diplomatic corps was also represented. The state delegation was composed of intern Gintė Paliakaitė, Ambassador-at-Large Irena Skullerud—tasked with advancing human rights and democracy—and Ambassador Artūras Gailiūnas, who serves as a Senior Adviser within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Strategic Management and Analysis Department.
Addressing Geopolitical Realities and Regional Security
Discussions touched on the regional situation, specifically Russia’s war against Ukraine and the use of religion for political ends. Bishop Panaretos emphasized that the Christian faith cannot be invoked to justify aggression or hatred. He argued that the Church’s response must be primarily pastoral, founded on hospitality, solidarity, and care for people.
This dialogue follows a gathering on September 17, when a Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Trinapolis, Vilnius. Presided over jointly by Archbishop Elia of Helsinki and All Finland alongside Bishop Panaretos, the religious service featured several notable attendees: Artūras Gailiūnas representing the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; General Superintendent Raimondas Stankevičius of the Evangelical Reformed Church of Lithuania; Bishop Mindaugas Sabutis of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania; Auxiliary Bishop Arūnas Poniškaitis representing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vilnius; and Monsignor Laurentiu Dancuta on behalf of the Apostolic Nuncio.
Highlighting the shared heritage of regional Orthodox communities during the September liturgy, Archbishop Elia pointed out that exactly one hundred years separate the establishment of the Exarchate of Lithuania from the tomos granted to the Church of Finland. Recalling the flight of the monks of Valaam across the ice of Lake Ladoga in February 1940 during the Winter War, Archbishop Elia remarked that the Orthodox churches of the Baltic region are sister churches.
| Delegation / Nation | Key Representatives Present | Primary Diplomatic Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic-Baltic (NB8) | Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania | Religion and diplomacy advisers |
| Ecclesiastical Authority | Bishop Panaretos of Tamisos, Archbishop Elia of Helsinki | Pastoral care and ecumenical solidarity |
| Key State Ministries | Artūras Gailiūnas (Lithuania), Kattri-Helina Põld (Estonia) | Strategic analysis, human rights, and Eastern European affairs |
Bridging Pastoral Mission and State Institutions
The Vilnius discussions focused on the work of the Exarchate, which operates under the spiritual and canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Bishop Panaretos detailed the Exarchate’s work to strengthen parishes, organize worship and pastoral care in different languages, and charitable initiatives.
The Exarchate has maintained ties with the Roman Catholic Church in Lithuania, which has opened the doors of its churches to the Exarchate. By fostering mutual trust, solidarity, and the ability to foster peaceful relationships, the meetings in Vilnius provided an opportunity to discuss the role of religious communities in strengthening freedom of religion, social cohesion, and mutual understanding.
