23 Απριλίου, 2024 - 11:24

H.E. Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden’s Homily at the St. Nicholas Finnish Parish of Stockholm Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women

Διαδώστε:

Dear Juka & Choir Members,
Dearly Beloved Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
CHRIST IS RISEN!

In the joy created in our souls by the Resurrection of the Lord, which you already celebrated, following the Julian Calendar, I am again in your midst, to commemorate the feast of the Myrrh-bearing women; Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome.

Love bearns their hearts and makes them defy the obstacles they were expecting to encounter. When they arrived at the tomb, they saw the heavy stone rolled aside and the tomb empty and they wondered, how was the stone moved, where are the seals of the tomb, where is Pilate’s guard?

And then, first they are informed by the mouth of the Angel the Resurrectional message. Unspeakable joy floods their hearts and “rejoicing” they preached to the Apostles that the Leader of our salvation has risen, slaying death, bestoying upon us eternal life and great mercy!

This joyful message of the Resurrection is being preached today by the Myrrh-bearing women, in such a tortured, desperate and frightened world that we live in and they call us to accept the message of the Resurrection again, with joy and rejoicing, and to experiense it, in order to meet the Risen Lord in person.

Our Lord’s sacrifice on the cross is universal, as is the message of the Resurrection, since the commandment of the God-Man to His disciples is clear: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.

This same message has been evangelized for centuries now by the Mother Church of Constantinople, which, from the unsleeping candle of the eternal Lantern/Phanarion, always illuminates the nations. The Church of Finland is also under the auspices of the Protothronos Church, as is the Parish of St. Nicholas here, since it belongs to our Metropolis.

For this reason, diversity is not an obstacle, but an occasion for cooperation, in the context of mutual respect. For this reason, many times, like His Eminence Archbishop Leo of Finland has urged you, and I emphasize the same from this position, once again, that our Cathedral is always at your disposal.

Especially now that its restoration is complete and all the facilities are renovated, accessible and usable, the invitation is always valid, just like when you had problems renewing the lease of the chapel, where you attend church services, I had extended an invitation to you to come in our Cathedral, I point out the same once again.

Of course, you will keep the language, the Church Typikon and everything that characterizes your traditions, as Orthodox Finns. This for us is not diversity, but a blessing and the possibility of worshiping the One and true God, for whose sacrifice no distinctions of color, gender, nationality or any other apply, but for all of us He was crusified and was risen, so that we could enjoy eternal life and His Kingdom.

I convey to all of you the Easter wishes of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, both to the Primate of the Church of Finland, His Eminence Archbishop Leo, as well as to the clergy and staff of the Finnish Church, so that the light of the Resurrection illuminates the lives and works of everyone and leads you to progress and prosperity.
Many thanks to Father Mikael for the Prayer Book (Ευχολόγιον) he was so kind to offer me, which he himself translated into Swedish. I wish him to continue this very important ministry, for the benefit of our Swedish-speaking brothers and sisters. AMEN!

Metropolisofsweden

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