Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden delivered a heartfelt homily on the Sunday of All Saints at St. George Cathedral in Stockholm on June 7, 2026, emphasizing that holiness is the calling of every Christian and the living fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work in the Church.
Addressing the faithful, Metropolitan Cleopas noted that the Church celebrates all the saints—known and unknown, from every age and walk of life—on the first Sunday after Pentecost to demonstrate the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in human lives.
“The saints are the living proof that the grace of the Holy Spirit transforms human beings and leads them to holiness and union with God,” he said.
The Metropolitan stressed that the saints are not honored because of extraordinary human abilities, but because of their unwavering love for Christ, their repentance, perseverance through trials, and faithfulness to God. He reminded the congregation that the saints are not distant figures of the past but examples showing that divine grace can work in every person.
Quoting the words of Scripture, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), Metropolitan Cleopas underlined that holiness is not reserved for a select few but is the vocation of every baptized Christian.
“The purpose of our life is not simply to be good people according to worldly standards, but to become transformed by the grace of God and to reflect the image of Christ in our lives,” he said.
Referring to the teaching of Saint John Chrysostom, he encouraged the faithful not only to honor the saints with words but also to imitate their virtues in daily life.
The Metropolitan also highlighted the witness of contemporary saints, including Saint Paisios of Mount Athos, Saint Porphyrios, Saint Sophrony of Essex, Saint Tikhon, Saint Gerasimos, and Saint Ephraim of Mount Athos. Their lives, he noted, demonstrate that sanctity did not end with the early centuries of Christianity but continues to flourish in every generation.
Concluding his homily, Metropolitan Cleopas called upon the faithful to deepen their prayer, strengthen their faith, and grow in love for God and their neighbor.
“May we always remember that the goal of the Christian life is not merely earthly success, but participation in the holiness and eternal life of God,” he said.
