Bishop Maximos of Melitini officiated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen in Paris on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, accompanied by Protopresbyter Panagiotis Xenitelias and Presbyter Anton Gelyasov.
In his sermon, the Bishop referred to the evangelical pericope of the day as well as to the Fourth Ecumenical Council and the heresies that threatened the Church at that time.
Among other things, he stated, “The Lord teaches that all who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit are His disciples and shine forth as the lamp in the darkness.”
As Christians, we have a duty to enlighten our fellow human beings with the light of Christ’s Resurrection, to become one with Him.
If we are enlightened, as Saint Gregory the Theologian writes, then we can transmit this light of Christ to our fellow human beings. Thus, our virtuous life can be based not only on good deeds and good will but also on good faith. And the Lord tells you that until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
So the right faith is the one that blesses our charities and philanthropy, otherwise, our good struggles can be seen as acts of activism and volunteerism but not Christian. Righteousness in faith cultivates all Christian virtues and leads us after a struggle on the path of enlightenment.”
