On Sunday, July 13, 2025, Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia delivered a sermon at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Winnipeg, Canada. The occasion was the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council.
Archbishop Ilarion of Winnipeg and Bishop Andriy of Toronto were present, as were the faithful of the Ukrainian parishes under the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Canada. The sermon was delivered with the blessing of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Referring to the apostolic reading from St. Paul’s epistle to Titus, Metropolitan Cleopas emphasized the profound connection between divine teaching and the lives of the holy fathers. “The Apostle to the Gentiles insists on sound doctrine—on the authentic teaching of the faith. Just like the Fathers of Chalcedon, they do not express personal opinions, but affirm the faith that has been handed down.”
Quoting St. Basil the Great, he reminded the faithful that “There is no new teaching in the Church, but only the tradition of the truth,” stressing that the Orthodox faith is a “way of life” that bears fruit in love, humility, and action, not a system of ideas.
Metropolitan Cleopas also highlighted the sanctity of the Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, noting that they were not merely “dogmatic theologians,” but saints—humble, merciful men devoted to prayer and acts of love. He invoked the words of St. John Chrysostom: “Faith without works is like the faith of the unbeliever!”
In an era when spiritual life is often reduced to “doctrinal disputes lacking love and discernment,” His Eminence called on the faithful to follow the example of the Fathers who “spoke the truth in humility, lovingly seeking to correct heretics rather than drive them away with harshness.”
In a fatherly and instructive tone, he reminded us that today’s Feast of the Holy Fathers is not just a dogmatic commemoration, but also a call to authentic faith, active love, and spiritual fruitfulness. This is per the words of the Lord: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8).
Read below Metropolitan Cleopas’ sermon:
Your Eminence Archbishop Ilarion of Winnipeg,
Your Grace Bishop Andriy of Toronto,
Very Reverend Grand Archimandrite Fr. Iakovos,
Reverend Brothers and Concelebrants,
Honored Chanters & Musicians,
Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Beloved children,
With the blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew -whose Patriarchal prayers and blessings I convey along with Fr. Iakovos, to all of you, the faithful children of the Mother Church- I humbly take the opportunity to thank His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Winnipeg for the honorable invitation to speak -to share with you a few reflections on today’s Epistle reading from the Apostle Paul’s Letter to Titus.
Though it may appear to be a pastoral passage, it is, in fact, deeply connected with the essence of today’s feast. It presents to us the spirit of the Holy Fathers of the Church: discernment, truth, love, and action.
The Apostle to the Nations emphasizes the “faithful word”; that is, the authentic teaching of the faith. Like the Fathers of Chalcedon, he does not offer opinions, but confirms the faith that was delivered to us.
As St. Basil the Great says: “There is no new teaching in the Church,” but only “tradition” of the truth. Right belief is not an ideology, but a way of life.
Apostle Paul stresses that those who believe in God must lead in good works. This reminds us that the Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council were not merely theologians, but saints—humble, merciful, devoted to prayer and acts of love.
St. John Chrysostom observes: “Faith without works resembles that of an unbeliever!”
Later in the Epistle, Apostle Paul urges us not to waste ourselves in fruitless disputes that do not save. How timely his words are—especially in our era, when even within the Church we sometimes risk replacing the spiritual life with “dogmatic disputes,” devoid of love and discernment.
St. Maximus the Confessor said: “Not everyone who speaks correctly also acts correctly,” and emphasized that truth without humility can become hardness and blindness.
St. Paul does not speak with harshness. He does not say to persecute the heretic but to admonish him. If, after two attempts, he does not correct himself, then “reject him”; that is, do not share in his delusion.
This is exactly what the Fathers of the Council did. With love, they were looking to correct the heretics, but when they saw that they persisted in their error, they were compelled to cut them off, for the protection of the flock.
As St. Cyprian of Carthage said: “Someone cannot have God as Father, who does not have the Church as Mother.”
The ultimate aim of Apostle Paul is fruitfulness. We are not interested in winning arguments, but in bearing the fruits of spiritual life. True faith bears fruit in humility, love, sacrifice, and communion with Christ, who said: “By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” (John 15:8)
Today’s Apostolic reading reminds us that the feast of the Holy Fathers is not merely a dogmatic commemoration but a calling; to preserve the Orthodox faith with purity and humility, to avoid fruitless discussions that damage unity, and to strive for fruitfulness in Christ, just as the Fathers did with their lives and virtues.
Please pray, Your Eminence, that God may grant us the wisdom of the Fathers, their discernment, and their holiness, so that we may live out our faith, not only in words but also in good works. Amen!
