{"id":3393,"date":"2026-03-08T23:55:57","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/?p=3393"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:37:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T13:37:29","slug":"h-e-metropolitan-cleopas-of-swedens-sermon-on-the-second-sunday-of-great-lent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/h-e-metropolitan-cleopas-of-swedens-sermon-on-the-second-sunday-of-great-lent\/","title":{"rendered":"H.E. Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden\u2019s Sermon on the Second Sunday of Great Lent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

St. George Cathedral of Stockholm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, March 8, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, on the Second Sunday of Great Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, Greece. The Church places his memory during the sacred period of Great Lent to remind us of the true purpose of the spiritual struggle in which we are engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Gregory Palamas teaches us that the ultimate goal of the Christian life is union with God, what the Fathers call \u201ctheosis\u201d; participation in the divine life through grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Gregory defended the teaching of the Church that God truly reveals Himself to humanity. Although God’s essence remains beyond comprehension, His divine energies are truly experienced by those who purify their hearts. Through prayer, repentance, fasting, and humility, the faithful can experience the uncreated grace of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gospel reading today (Mark 2:1\u201312) tells us about the paralytic who was brought to Christ by his friends. Because of their faith and determination, they lowered him through the roof so that he could be healed. Seeing their faith, Christ first said something remarkable: \u201cSon, your sins are forgiven.\u201d Only afterward did He heal the man physically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fathers explain that Christ first heals the soul, because the healing of the soul is greater than the healing of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. John Chrysostom reminds us that sin is the deepest paralysis of the human person. When the soul is healed through repentance and forgiveness, the whole person is restored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The friends of the paralytic also teach us an important lesson. Their faith, perseverance, and love brought their friend to Christ. In the same way, we are called to help one another on the path of salvation. Through prayer for one another, through encouragement, and through acts of love, we carry our brothers and sisters before Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us therefore continue our Lenten journey, asking the prayers of St. Gregory Palamas that we may be granted purity of heart and the illumination of divine grace. Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St. George Cathedral of Stockholm Sunday, March 8, 2026 Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Today, on the Second Sunday of Great Lent, the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki, Greece. The Church places his memory during the sacred period of Great Lent to remind us of the true purpose of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[21,34,15],"tags":[22,24],"class_list":["post-3393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homilies","category-metropolitan","category-news","tag-homily","tag-st-georgios-cathedral-stockholm"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured-3.jpg?fit=2048%2C1042&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3496,"url":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/h-e-metropolitan-cleopas-homily-on-the-third-stanza-of-the-akathist\/","url_meta":{"origin":3393,"position":0},"title":"H.E. Metropolitan Cleopas\u2019 Homily on the Third Stanza of the Akathist, 13\/3\/2026","author":"mplexus","date":"March 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"[:en] St. George Cathedral of Stockholm Friday, March 13, 2026 Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, In the third stanza of the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos, the Church continues the angelic greeting that began at the Annunciation. After the Archangel\u2019s message to the Virgin, we behold the mystery\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Homilies"","block_context":{"text":"Homilies","link":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/category\/metropolitan\/homilies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured-8.jpg?fit=800%2C617&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured-8.jpg?fit=800%2C617&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured-8.jpg?fit=800%2C617&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured-8.jpg?fit=800%2C617&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1932,"url":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/h-e-metropolitan-cleopas-homily-on-the-entrance-of-the-theotokos-into-the-temple-and-the-nativity-of-chirst\/","url_meta":{"origin":3393,"position":1},"title":"H.E. Metropolitan Cleopas\u2019 Homily on the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple and the Nativity of Chirst","author":"mplexus","date":"November 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"[:en] St. George Cathedral of Stockholm Sunday, November 23, 2025 Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Let us reflect upon two radiant feasts that illuminate the entire mystery of salvation, the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple and the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. At\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Homilies"","block_context":{"text":"Homilies","link":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/category\/metropolitan\/homilies\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/featured-2.jpg?fit=800%2C352&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/featured-2.jpg?fit=800%2C352&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/featured-2.jpg?fit=800%2C352&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/featured-2.jpg?fit=800%2C352&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3092,"url":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/h-e-metropolitan-cleopas-of-swedens-presentation-at-the-9th-catechumens-meeting\/","url_meta":{"origin":3393,"position":2},"title":"H.E. Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden\u2019s presentation at the 9th Catechumens\u2019 meeting","author":"mplexus","date":"February 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"[:en] St. George Cathedral of Stockholm Thursday, February 19, 2026 Topic: From Triodion to Holy Week and Easter: A Journey of Repentance and Theosis The liturgical journey of the Orthodox Church from the Triodion to Great Lent, through Holy Week, and culminating in the radiant and life-giving Feast of Pascha\/Easter,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Catechumens"","block_context":{"text":"Catechumens","link":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/category\/ministries\/catechumens\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-5.jpg?fit=800%2C386&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-5.jpg?fit=800%2C386&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-5.jpg?fit=800%2C386&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-5.jpg?fit=800%2C386&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3719,"url":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/h-e-metropolitan-cleopas-of-swedens-homily-at-the-11th-catechumens-seminar\/","url_meta":{"origin":3393,"position":3},"title":"H.E. Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden\u2019s Homily at the 11th Catechumens\u2019 Seminar","author":"mplexus","date":"March 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"[:en] St. George Cathedral of Stockholm Thursday, March 26, 2026 Topic: The Orthodox Church Under Persecution;From the Apostolic Age to the Present Introduction Throughout its two thousand year history, the Orthodox Church has walked a path that is inseparable from sacrifice, suffering and witness. From the earliest days when the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Catechumens"","block_context":{"text":"Catechumens","link":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/category\/ministries\/catechumens\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured2-1.jpg?fit=800%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured2-1.jpg?fit=800%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured2-1.jpg?fit=800%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/featured2-1.jpg?fit=800%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3103,"url":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/chrismations-and-baptisms-at-the-st-george-cathedral-of-stockholm\/","url_meta":{"origin":3393,"position":4},"title":"Chrismations and baptisms at the St. George Cathedral of Stockholm","author":"mplexus","date":"February 27, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"[:en] On the weekend of February 21-22, 2026, we conducted 6 chrismations and 3 baptisms at the St. George Cathedral of Stockholm. A special blessing for our entry into Great Lent! [:el] \u03a4\u03bf \u03a3\u03b1\u03b2\u03b2\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03ba\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1\u03ba\u03bf, 21-22 \u03a6\u03b5\u03b2\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03b1\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 2026, \u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03ad\u03c3\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u039a\u03b1\u03b8\u03b5\u03b4\u03c1\u03b9\u03ba\u03cc \u039d\u03b1\u03cc \u0391\u03b3\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u0393\u03b5\u03c9\u03c1\u03b3\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a3\u03c4\u03bf\u03ba\u03c7\u03cc\u03bb\u03bc\u03b7\u03c2 6 \u03c7\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 3 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c0\u03c4\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2. \u039e\u03b5\u03c7\u03c9\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Ministries","link":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/category\/ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-6.jpg?fit=800%2C509&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-6.jpg?fit=800%2C509&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-6.jpg?fit=800%2C509&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-6.jpg?fit=800%2C509&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1324,"url":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/2nd-meeting-of-catechumens-at-st-george-cathedral-of-stockholm\/","url_meta":{"origin":3393,"position":5},"title":"2nd Meeting of Catechumens at St. George Cathedral of Stockholm","author":"mplexus","date":"October 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"[:en] On the evening of Thursday, October 2, 2025, His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia held the second meeting of the Catechumens of the Holy Metropolis of Sweden, at the facilities of St. George Cathedral of Stockholm (Birger Jarlsgatan 92, 11420 Stockholm). Metropolitan Cleopas once again was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Catechumens"","block_context":{"text":"Catechumens","link":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/category\/ministries\/catechumens\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/featured-1.jpg?fit=650%2C489&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/featured-1.jpg?fit=650%2C489&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gomos.se\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/featured-1.jpg?fit=650%2C489&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3393"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3408,"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3393\/revisions\/3408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gomos.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}