John Chrysostom, Sermon Before Going into Exile

of the faith? For did we come here by human votes? For did a man lead us, that a man might overthrow us? I say these things not out of desperation, God forbid, nor boasting, but wishing to steady what is shaken among you. Since the city stood firm, the devil wished to shake the Church. O foul and utterly foul devil, you did not overcome walls, and you expect to shake the Church? For is the Church in walls? The Church is in the multitude of the faithful. Behold how many steadfast pillars, not bound by iron, but fastened by faith. I do not say that so great a multitude is more vehement than fire; but not even if there were one, would you have overcome. And you know what wounds the martyrs have inflicted upon you. Often a delicate, unmarried maiden entered; she was softer than wax, and she became more solid than a rock.

You flayed her sides, and you did not take her faith. The nature of the flesh grew weak, and the power of the faith was not overcome; the body was being spent, the spirit grew young; and the substance was being consumed, and reverence remained. You did not overcome one woman, and you expect to overcome so great a people? Do you not hear the Lord saying, "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them"? Where so great a people is bound fast by love, is he not present? I have his pledge; for do I trust in my own power? I hold his written promise. That is my staff, that is my security, that is for me a harbor 52.430 without waves. Even if the whole world is in turmoil, I hold the written promise; I read it (f. it); those letters are a wall and a security for me. What are these? "I am with you all the days until the end of the age." Christ is with me, and whom shall I fear? Even if waves be raised up against me, even if seas, even if the rages of rulers; to me all these things are more worthless than a spider's web. And if it were not for your love, I would not have refused to depart even today. For I always say, "Lord, thy will be done"; not what this one, and that one, but whatever you wish. This is my tower, this is for me an immovable rock; this is for me an unshakeable staff. If God wills this to happen, let it be. If he wills me to be here, I am grateful. Wherever he wills, I give thanks.

3. Let no one trouble you; attend to the prayers. The devil did these things

devil, that he might cut off the zeal for the litanies. But he does not succeed; but we have found you more zealous and more fervent. Tomorrow I will go out in procession with you. Or where I am, you are there also; where you are, there am I also; we are one body; the body is not separated from the head, nor the head from the body. We are separated by place, but united by love; not even death will be able to sever us. For even if my body should die, the soul lives, and remembers the people; you are my fathers; how can I forget you? you are my fathers, you are my life, you are my good repute. If you advance, I am well-reputed; so that for me life is a treasure that lies in your treasury. I am ready to be slaughtered ten thousand times for you (and I offer no favor, but also repay a debt; for the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep), and to be slaughtered ten thousand times, and to have ten thousand heads cut off. For me this death is a matter of immortality, for me these plots are an occasion for security. For am I plotted against on account of money, that I should be grieved? For am I plotted against on account of sins, that I should be pained? Because of the love for you; because I do all things, so that you may remain in safety, so that no one may enter the flock, so that the flock may remain whole. The cause of the struggles is sufficient for me as a crown. For what might I suffer on your behalf? You are my fellow citizens, you are my fathers, you are my brothers, you are my children, you are my limbs, you are my body, you are my light, or rather even sweeter than this light. For what does the sun's ray offer me such as your love does? The sun's ray helps me in the present life, but your love weaves a crown for me in the

τῆς πίστεως; Μὴ γὰρ ἀνθρωπίναις ψήφοις ἐνταῦθα ἤλθομεν; μὴ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος ἤγαγεν, ἵνα ἄνθρωπος καταλύσῃ; Ταῦτα λέγω οὐκ ἀπονοούμενος, μὴ γένοιτο, οὐδὲ ἀλαζονευόμενος, ἀλλὰ τὸ ὑμῶν σεσαλευμένον στηρίξαι βουλόμενος. Ἐπειδὴ ἔστη ἡ πόλις, Ἐκκλησίαν ὁ διάβολος ἠθέλησε σαλεῦσαι. Μιαρὲ καὶ παμμίαρε διάβολε, τοίχων οὐ περιεγένου, καὶ Ἐκκλησίαν προσδοκᾷς σαλεῦσαι; Μὴ γὰρ ἐν τοίχοις ἡ Ἐκκλησία; Ἐν τῷ πλήθει τῶν πιστῶν ἡ Ἐκκλησία. Ἰδοὺ πόσοι στῦλοι ἑδραῖοι, οὐ σιδήρῳ δεδεμένοι, ἀλλὰ πίστει ἐσφιγμένοι. Οὐ λέγω ὅτι τοσοῦτον πλῆθος πυρὸς σφοδρότερον· ἀλλ' οὔτε, εἰ εἷς ἦν, περιεγένου. Καὶ οἶδας, οἷά σοι τραύματα παρέσχον οἱ μάρτυρες. Εἰσῆλθε πολλάκις κόρη ἁπαλὴ ἀπειρόγαμος· κηροῦ ἦν ἁπαλωτέρα, καὶ πέτρας ἐγένετο στερεωτέρα.

Τὰς πλευρὰς αὐτῆς ἔξεες, καὶ τὴν πίστιν αὐτῆς οὐκ ἔλαβες. Ἠτόνησε τῆς σαρκὸς ἡ φύσις, καὶ οὐκ ἀπηγορεύθη τῆς πίστεως ἡ δύναμις· ἐδαπανᾶτο τὸ σῶμα, ἐνεανιεύετο τὸ φρόνημα· ἀνηλίσκετο δὲ ἡ οὐσία, καὶ ἔμενεν ἡ εὐλάβεια. Γυναικὸς οὐ περιεγένου μιᾶς, καὶ τοσούτου περιγενέσθαι δήμου προσδοκᾷς; Οὐκ ἀκούεις τοῦ Κυρίου λέγοντος, Ὅπου δύο ἢ τρεῖς εἰσι συνηγμένοι εἰς τὸ ὄνομά μου, ἐκεῖ εἰμι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν; Ὅπου τοσοῦτος δῆμος ἀγάπῃ ἐσφιγμένος, οὐ πάρεστιν; Ἔχω αὐτοῦ ἐνέχυρον· μὴ γὰρ οἰκείᾳ δυνάμει θαῤῥῶ; Γραμματεῖον αὐτοῦ κατέχω. Ἐκεῖνό μοι βακτηρία, ἐκεῖνό μοι ἀσφάλεια, ἐκεῖνό μοι λιμὴν 52.430 ἀκύμαντος. Κἂν ἡ οἰκουμένη ταράττηται, τὸ γραμματεῖον κατέχω· αὐτῷ (f. αὐτὸ) ἀναγινώσκω· τὰ γράμματα ἐκεῖνα τεῖχος ἐμοὶ καὶ ἀσφάλεια. Ποῖα ταῦτα; Ἐγὼ μεθ' ὑμῶν εἰμι πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος. Χριστὸς μετ' ἐμοῦ, καὶ τίνα φοβηθήσομαι; Κἂν κύματα κατ' ἐμοῦ διεγείρηται, κἂν πελάγη, κἂν ἀρχόντων θυμοί· ἐμοὶ ταῦτα πάντα ἀράχνης εὐτελέστερα. Καὶ εἰ μὴ διὰ τὴν ὑμετέραν ἀγάπην, οὐδὲ σήμερον ἂν παρῃτησάμην ἀπελθεῖν. Ἀεὶ γὰρ λέγω, Κύριε, τὸ σὸν θέλημα γενέσθω· μὴ ὅ τι ὁ δεῖνα, καὶ ὁ δεῖνα, ἀλλ' εἴ τι σὺ βούλει. Οὗτος ἐμοὶ πύργος, τοῦτο ἐμοὶ πέτρα ἀκίνητος· τοῦτο ἐμοὶ βακτηρία ἀπερίτρεπτος. Εἰ βούλεται ὁ Θεὸς τοῦτο γενέσθαι, γινέσθω. Εἰ βούλεται ἐνταῦθα εἶναί με, χάριν ἔχω. Ὅπου βούλεται, εὐχαριστῶ.

γʹ. Μηδεὶς ὑμᾶς θορυβείτω· ταῖς εὐχαῖς προσέχετε. Ταῦτα ἐποίησεν ὁ

διάβολος, ἵνα ἐκκόψῃ τὴν σπουδὴν τὴν περὶ τὰς λιτανείας. Ἀλλ' οὐ προχωρεῖ αὐτῷ· ἀλλὰ σπουδαιοτέρους ὑμᾶς καὶ θερμοτέρους εὑρήκαμεν. Αὔριον εἰς λιτανεῖον ἐξελεύσομαι μεθ' ὑμῶν. Ἢ ὅπου ἐγὼ, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐκεῖ· ὅπου ὑμεῖς, ἐκεῖ κἀγώ· ἓν σῶμά ἐσμεν· οὐ σῶμα κεφαλῆς, οὐ κεφαλὴ σώματος χωρίζεται. ∆ιειργόμεθα τῷ τόπῳ, ἀλλ' ἡνώμεθα τῇ ἀγάπῃ· οὐδὲ θάνατος διακόψαι δυνήσεται. Κἂν γὰρ ἀποθάνῃ μου τὸ σῶμα, ζῇ ἡ ψυχὴ, καὶ μέμνηται τοῦ δήμου· ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ πατέρες· πῶς ὑμῶν δύναμαι ἐπιλαθέσθαι; ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ πατέρες, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ ζωὴ, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ εὐδοκίμησις. Ἐὰν ὑμεῖς προκόψητε, ἐγὼ εὐδοκιμῶ· ὥστε ἐμοὶ ζωὴ πλοῦτος ἐν τῷ ὑμετέρῳ κεῖται θησαυρῷ. Ἐγὼ μυριάκις ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν σφαγῆναι ἕτοιμος (καὶ οὐδεμίαν χάριν παρέχω, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὀφειλὴν ἀποδίδωμι· Ὁ γὰρ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ τίθησιν ὑπὲρ τῶν προβάτων), καὶ σφαγῆναι μυριάκις, καὶ μυρίας κεφαλὰς ἀποτμηθῆναι. Ἐμοὶ ὁ θάνατος οὗτος ἀθανασίας ὑπόθεσις, ἐμοὶ αἱ ἐπιβουλαὶ αὗται ἀσφαλείας ἀφορμή. Μὴ γὰρ διὰ χρήματα ἐπιβουλεύομαι, ἵνα λυπηθῶ; μὴ γὰρ δι' ἁμαρτήματα, ἵνα ἀλγήσω; ∆ιὰ τὸν ἔρωτα τὸν περὶ ὑμᾶς· ἐπειδὴ πάντα ποιῶ, ὥστε ὑμᾶς ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ μεῖναι, ὥστε μηδένα παρεισελθεῖν τῇ ποίμνῃ, ὥστε μεῖναι ἀκέραιον τὸ ποίμνιον. Ἡ ὑπόθεσις τῶν ἀγώνων ἀρκεῖ μοι εἰς στέφανον. Τί γὰρ ἂν πάθοιμι ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν; Ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ πολῖται, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ πατέρες, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ ἀδελφοὶ, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ τέκνα, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ μέλη, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ σῶμα, ὑμεῖς ἐμοὶ φῶς, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ τοῦ φωτὸς τούτου γλυκύτεροι. Τί γὰρ τοιοῦτον παρέχει μοι ἡ ἀκτῖνα οἷον ἡ ὑμετέρα ἀγάπη; Ἡ ἀκτῖνα ἐν τῷ παρόντι με βίῳ ὠφελεῖ, ἡ δὲ ὑμετέρα ἀγάπη στέφανόν μοι πλέκει ἐν τῷ