On Sunday, May 18, 2025, the faithful gathered at St. George Cathedral in Stockholm were uplifted by a moving sermon from Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden, as he reflected on the powerful Gospel passage of the Samaritan Woman (John 4:5–42), celebrated on the Fifth Sunday of Pascha.
Opening his homily with the joyful Paschal greeting, “Christ is Risen!,” Metropolitan Cleopas invited the congregation to contemplate the profound meaning of the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well—a meeting he described as “not incidental – it is providential, and it speaks to the deep thirst of the human soul for truth and life eternal.”
Drawing on the rich commentary of the Church Fathers, he noted:
“Jesus, being tired from His journey, sat thus by the well.” (John 4:6)
“Saint Augustine says: ‘The Creator of the universe, tired in the flesh, seeks rest beside a well. He who formed the oceans is thirsty.’ This reveals the kenosis, the self-emptying of the Son of God, but His thirst is not merely physical. He thirsts for the salvation of the Samaritan woman, and through her, for all who would believe.”
Quoting St. Cyril of Alexandria, the Metropolitan continued: “The living water is none other than the Spirit Himself, through whom Christ refreshes souls that believe in Him.”
He emphasized the transformative dialogue that takes place between Christ and the woman, recalling the Lord’s revealing words: “You have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband.” (John 4:18)
Yet, as Metropolitan Cleopas stressed, Christ does not shame her.
“St. Photios the Great teaches that Christ does not shame her, but calls her to repentance. The revelation of sin is not for condemnation but for healing.”
In a powerful moment of spiritual symbolism, he highlighted the woman’s gesture of leaving her water jar behind:
“The jar is symbolic of her former life: earthly, burdensome, and now left behind for a higher calling. Thus, the Samaritan woman becomes Saint Photini, equal to the Apostles.”
Concluding his sermon, Metropolitan Cleopas urged the faithful to emulate her response:
“Let us imitate Saint Photini. Let us leave behind the jars of sin and self-interest, and go forth to proclaim the Risen Lord, with lives transformed by grace. Amen!”
Read the full sermon:
Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Lord,
Christ is Risen! Today, on this Fifth Sunday of Pascha, the Church brings before us the luminous encounter between the Lord and the Samaritan woman, at Jacob’s well. This meeting is not incidental – it is providential, and it speaks to the deep thirst of the human soul for truth and life eternal.
The Gospel begins: “Jesus, being tired from His journey, sat thus by the well.” (John 4:6) Saint Augustine says: “The Creator of the universe, tired in the flesh, seeks rest beside a well. He who formed the oceans is thirsty. This reveals the kenosis; the self-emptying of the Son of God, but His thirst is not merely physical. He thirsts for the salvation of the Samaritan woman, and through her, for all who would believe.”
St. Cyril of Alexandria writes: “The living water is none other than the Spirit Himself, through whom Christ refreshes souls that believe in Him.”At first, the woman is skeptical, but slowly, through the Lord’s gentle dialogue, her heart is opened. He reveals her hidden life: “You have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband.” (John 4:18)
St. Photios the Great teaches that Christ does not shame her, but calls her to repentance. The revelation of sin is not for condemnation but for healing.Remarkably, this woman -who came to the well alone, possibly out of shame- leaves her water jar behind and runs to the town proclaiming Christ. The jar is symbolic of her former life: earthly, burdensome, and now left behind for a higher calling. Thus, the Samaritan woman becomes Saint Photini, equal to the Apostles.
At the end of the passage, the townspeople proclaim: “We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
The Gospel which began with a single woman at a well ends with an entire village coming to faith. Such is the power of grace, when it meets a heart willing to respond.
Let us imitate Saint Photini. Let us leave behind the jars of sin and self-interest, and go forth to proclaim the Risen Lord, with lives transformed by grace. Amen!
