On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 6, 2025, Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia delivered a moving homily at St. George’s Cathedral in Stockholm, focusing on the life and repentance of St. Mary of Egypt, whose memory the Orthodox Church honors on this day.
Addressing the faithful in attendance, Metropolitan Cleopas reflected on the profound transformation of St. Mary, presenting her life as a testament to divine grace and the boundless mercy of God.
“On this blessed Fifth Sunday of Lent,” he began, “the Church remembers the life and repentance of St. Mary of Egypt, an example of profound transformation through grace, a story of radical conversion.”
The Metropolitan recounted how St. Mary began her life “in sin, living a life of sensuality,” yet through divine intervention and her own deep repentance, “her heart was transformed.” He continued: “She went from a life of immorality to one of asceticism and holiness, spending the rest of her years in the desert, in repentance, prayer, and fasting.”
Offering spiritual encouragement to the faithful, Metropolitan Cleopas emphasized that St. Mary’s story is a reminder “that no matter how far we may have fallen, no matter the depth of our sin, God’s mercy is greater. His forgiveness is boundless, and there is always an opportunity for renewal and redemption.”
He then invited the congregation to examine their own spiritual journey during the Lenten season. “As we reflect on the life of St. Mary today, we are invited to turn our attention to our own lives and ask ourselves: How has this Lenten season affected me?” he posed.
Highlighting the deeper meaning of the fast, he stated: “The fast is not merely about abstaining from food; it is about abstaining from sin, from selfishness, from pride, and from all the things that separate us from God and our neighbor.”
Concluding his homily, Metropolitan Cleopas urged the faithful to prepare their hearts for the coming Feast of Pascha: “Are we preparing ourselves to encounter the living Christ on Pascha? May the prayers of St. Mary of Egypt, and the grace of this holy season, help us to answer ‘yes’ with all our hearts, as we strive toward the glorious Feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. Amen.”
Read the homily below:
Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this blessed Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Church remembers the life and repentance of St. Mary of Egypt, an example of profound transformation through grace, a story of radical conversion. She began her life in sin, living a life of sensuality, but, by the grace of God, her heart was transformed. She went from a life of immorality to one of asceticism and holiness, spending the rest of her years in the desert, in repentance, prayer, and fasting. Her story serves as a reminder to us that no matter how far we may have fallen, no matter the depth of our sin, God’s mercy is greater. His forgiveness is boundless, and there is always an opportunity for renewal and redemption.
As we reflect on the life of St. Mary today, we are invited to turn our attention to our own lives and ask ourselves: How has this Lenten season affected me? The fast is not merely about abstaining from food; it is about abstaining from sin, from selfishness, from pride, and from all the things that separate us from God and our neighbor.Are we preparing ourselves to encounter the living Christ on Pascha? May the prayers of St. Mary of Egypt, and the grace of this holy season, help us to answer “yes” with all our hearts, as we strive toward the glorious Feast of the Lord’s Resurrection. Amen!
