Homily VI.

Titus iii. 8–11

“These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject. Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

Having spoken of the love of God to man, of His ineffable regard for us, of what we were and what He has done for us, he has added, “These things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works”; that is, Discourse of these things, and from a consideration of them exhort to almsgiving. For what has been said will not only apply to humility, to the not being puffed up, and not reviling others, but to every other virtue. So also in arguing with the Corinthians, he says, “Ye know that our Lord being rich became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Cor. viii. 9.) Having considered the care and exceeding love of God for man, he thence exhorts them to almsgiving, and that not in a common and slight manner, but “that they may be careful,” he says, “to maintain good works,” that is, both to succor the injured, not only by money, but by patronage and protection, and to defend the widows and orphans, and to afford a refuge to all that are afflicted. For this is to maintain good works. For these things, he says, are good and profitable unto men. “But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain.” What do these “genealogies” mean? For in his Epistle to Timothy he mentions “fables and endless genealogies.” (1 Tim. i. 4.) [Perhaps both here and there glancing at the Jews, who, priding themselves on having Abraham for their forefather, neglected their own part. On this account he calls them both “foolish and unprofitable”; for it is the part of folly to confide in things unprofitable.73    B., Colb., and Old Lat. omit the part in brackets.] “Contentions,” he means, with heretics, in which he would not have us labor to no purpose, where nothing is to be gained, for they end in nothing. For when a man is perverted and predetermined not to change his mind, whatever may happen, why shouldest thou labor in vain, sowing upon a rock, when thou shouldest spend thy honorable toil upon thy own people, in discoursing with them upon almsgiving and every other virtue? How then does he elsewhere say, “If God peradventure will give them repentance” (2 Tim. ii. 25.); but here, “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth, being condemned of himself”? In the former passage he speaks of the correction of those of whom he had hope, and who had simply made opposition. But when he is known and manifest to all, why dost thou contend74    πυκτεύεις. in vain? why dost thou beat the air? What means, “being condemned of himself”? Because he cannot say that no one has told him, no one admonished him; since therefore after admonition he continues the same, he is self-condemned.

Ver. 12. “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus; be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis.” What sayest thou? After having appointed him to preside over Crete, dost thou again summon him to thyself? It was not to withdraw him from that occupation,75    σχολῆς. but to discipline him the more for it. For that he does not call him to attend upon him, as if he took him everywhere with him as his follower, appears from what he adds:

“For I have determined there to winter.”

Now Nicopolis76    Montfaucon mentions two of this name in Thrace. Mr. Greswell takes this to be in Epirus. is a city of Thrace.

Ver. 14. “Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.”

These were not of the number to whom Churches had been intrusted, but of the number of his companions. But Apollos was the more vehement, being “an eloquent man, and mighty in the Scriptures.” (Acts xviii. 24.) But if Zenas was a lawyer, you say, he ought not to have been supported by others. But by a lawyer here is meant one versed in the laws of the Jews. And he seems to say, supply their wants abundantly, that nothing may be lacking to them.

Ver. 14, 15. “And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful. All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith.”

That is, either those that love Paul himself,77    He means, perhaps, that “in faith” (which has not the article) may be applied to this. or those men that are faithful.

“Grace be with you all. Amen.”

How then dost thou command him to stop the mouths of gainsayers, if he must pass them by when they are doing everything to their own destruction?78    B. makes “When they undoing everything for mischief,” part of the answer, omitting “their own,” and adding αὐτόν in the sense of ultro. Other copies vary. He means that he should not do it principally for their advantage, for being once perverted in their minds, they would not profit by it. But if they injured others, it behooved him to withstand and contend with them; and manfully await79    περιίστασθαι, or as B. περιίστασο. Ed. Par. proposes προσίστασθαι, “to resist,” but needlessly. them, but if thou art reduced to necessity, seeing them destroying others, be not silent, but stop their mouths, from regard to those whom they would destroy. It is not indeed possible for a zealous man of upright life to abstain from contention, but so do as I have said. For the evil arises from idleness and a vain philosophy, that one should be occupied about words only. For it is a great injury to be uttering a superfluity of words, when one ought to be teaching, or praying, or giving thanks. For it is not right to be sparing of our money but not sparing of our words; we ought rather to spare words than our money, and not to give ourselves up to all sorts of persons.

What means, “that they be careful to maintain good works”? That they wait not for those who are in want to come to them, but that they seek out those who need their assistance. Thus the considerate man shows his concern, and with great zeal will he perform this duty. For in doing good actions, it is not those who receive the kindness that are benefited, so much as those who do it that make gain and profit, for it gives them confidence towards God. But in the other case, there is no end of contention: therefore he calls the heretic incorrigible. For as to neglect those for whom there is a hope of conversion is the part of slothfulness, so to bestow pains upon those who are diseased past remedy is the extreme of folly and madness; for we render them more bold.

“And let ours,” he says, “learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” You observe that he is more anxious for them than for those who are to receive their kindnesses. For they might probably have been brought on their way by many others, but I am concerned, he says, for our own friends. For what advantage would it be to them, if others should dig up treasures,80    He probably means their own stores. and maintain their teachers? This would be no benefit to them, for they remained unfruitful. Could not Christ then, Who with five loaves fed five thousand men, and with seven loaves fed four thousand, could not He have supported Himself and His disciples?

Moral. For what reason then was He maintained by women? For women, it is said, followed Him, and ministered unto Him. (Mark xv. 41.) It was to teach us from the first that He is concerned for those who do good. Could not Paul, who supported others by his own hands, have maintained himself without assistance from others? But you see him receiving and requesting aid. And hear the reason for it. “Not because I desire a gift,” he says, “but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (Philip. iv. 17.) And at the beginning too, when men sold all their possessions and laid them at the Apostles’ feet, the Apostles, seest thou, were more concerned for them than for those who received their alms. For if their concern had only been that the poor might by any means be relieved, they would not have judged so severely of the sin of Ananias and Sapphira, when they kept back their money. Nor would Paul have charged men to give “not grudgingly nor of necessity.” (2 Cor. ix. 7.) What sayest thou, Paul? dost thou discourage giving to the poor? No, he answers; but I consider not their advantage only, but the good of those who give. Dost thou see, that when the prophet gave that excellent counsel to Nebuchadnezzar, he did not merely consider the poor. For he does not content himself with saying, Give to the poor; but what? “Break off thy sins by almsdeeds,81    E.V. “righteousness.” and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.” (Dan. iv. 27.) Part with thy wealth, not that others may be fed, but that thou mayest escape punishment. And Christ again says, “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor…and come and follow Me.” (Matt. xix. 21.) Dost thou see that the commandment was given that he might be induced to follow Him? For as riches are an impediment, therefore he commands them to be given to the poor, instructing the soul to be pitiful and merciful, to despise wealth, and to flee from covetousness. For he who has learnt to give to him that needs, will in time learn not to receive from those who have to give. This makes men like God. Yet virginity, and fasting, and lying on the ground, are more difficult than this, but nothing is so strong and powerful to extinguish the fire of our sins as almsgiving. It is greater than all other virtues. It places the lovers of it by the side of the King Himself, and justly. For the effect of virginity, of fasting, of lying on the ground, is confined to those who practice them, and no other is saved thereby. But almsgiving extends to all, and embraces the members of Christ, and actions that extend their effects to many are far greater than those which are confined to one.

For almsgiving is the mother of love, of that love, which is the characteristic of Christianity, which is greater than all miracles, by which the disciples of Christ are manifested. It is the medicine of our sins, the cleansing of the filth of our souls, the ladder fixed to heaven; it binds together the body of Christ. Would you learn how excellent a thing it is? In the time of the Apostles, men selling their possessions brought them to them, and they were distributed. For it is said, “Distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” (Acts iv. 35.) For tell me how, setting aside the future, and not now considering the kingdom that is to come, let us see who in the present life are the gainers, those who received, or those who gave. The former murmured and quarreled with each other. The latter had one soul. “They were of one heart, and of one soul,” it is said, “and grace was upon them all.” (Acts iv. 32.) And they lived in great simplicity.82    Edd. ὠφελείας, “utility,” which makes little sense. B. τῆς ἀφελείας, which agrees with ἀφελότητι, Acts ii. 46. Dost thou see that they were gainers even by thus giving? Tell me now, with whom would you wish to be numbered, with those who gave away their possessions, and had nothing, or with those who received even the goods of others?

See the fruit of almsgiving, the separations and hindrances were removed, and immediately their souls were knit together. “They were all of one heart and of one soul.” So that even setting aside almsgiving, the parting with riches is attended with gain. And these things I have said, that those who have not succeeded to an inheritance from their forefathers may not be cast down, as if they had less than those who are wealthy. For if they please they have more. For they will more readily incline to almsgiving, like the widow, and they will have no occasion for enmity towards their neighbor, and they will enjoy freedom in every respect. Such an one cannot be threatened with the confiscation of his goods, and he is superior to all wrongs. As those who fly unincumbered with clothes are not easily caught, but they who are incumbered with many garments and a long train are soon overtaken, so it is with the rich man and the poor. The one, though he be taken, will easily make his escape, whilst the other, though he be not detained, is incumbered by cords of his own, by numberless cares, distresses, passions, provocations, all which overwhelm the soul, and not these alone, but many other things which riches draw after them. It is much more difficult for a rich man to be moderate and to live frugally, than for the poor, more difficult for him to be free from passion. Then he, you say, will have the greater reward.—By no means.—What, not if he overcomes greater difficulties?—But these difficulties were of his own seeking. For we are not commanded to become rich, but the reverse. But he prepares for himself so many stumbling-blocks and impediments.

Others not only divest themselves of riches, but macerate their bodies, as travelers in the narrow way. Instead of doing this, thou heatest more intensely the furnace of thy passions, and gettest more about thee.83    Two mss. have the middle voice. Go therefore into the broad way, for it is that which receives such as thee. But the narrow way is for those who are afflicted and straitened, who bear along with them nothing but those burdens, which they can carry through it, as almsgiving, love for mankind, goodness, and meekness. These if thou bearest, thou wilt easily find entrance, but if thou takest with thee arrogance, a soul inflamed with passions, and that load of thorns, wealth, there is need of wide room for thee to pass, nor wilt thou well be able to enter into the crowd without striking others, and coming down upon them on thy way. In this case a wide distance from others is required. But he who carries gold and silver, I mean the achievements of virtue, does not cause his neighbors to flee from him, but brings men nearer to him, even to link themselves with him.84    Edd. συνδιαζῶντας, “to spend their lives with”; but New Par. from Colb. συνδυάζοντας, and so B. But if riches in themselves are thorns, what must covetousness be? Why dost thou take that away with thee? Is it to make the flame greater by adding fuel to that fire? Is not the fire of hell sufficient? Consider how the Three Children overcame the furnace. Imagine that to be hell. With tribulation were they plunged into it, bound and fettered; but within they found large room; not so they that stood around without.

Something of this kind even now will be experienced, if we will manfully resist the trials that encompass us. If we have hope in God, we shall be in security, and have ample room, and those who bring us into these straits shall perish. For it is written, “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein.” (Ecclus. xxvi. 27.) Though they bind our hands and our feet, the affliction will have power to set us loose. For observe this miracle. Those whom men had bound, the fire set free. As if certain persons were delivered up to the servants of their friends, and the servants, from regard to the friendship of their master, instead of injuring them, should treat them with much respect; so the fire, when as it knew that the Three Children were the friends of its Lord, burst their fetters, set them free, and let them go, and became to them as a pavement, and was trodden under their feet. And justly, since they had been cast into it for the glory of God. Let us, as many of us as are afflicted, hold fast these examples.

But behold, they were delivered from their affliction, you say, and we are not. True, they were delivered, and justly; since they did not enter into that furnace expecting deliverance, but as if to die outright. For hear what they say: “There is a God in Heaven, Who will deliver us. But if not, be it known unto thee, O King, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Dan. iii. 17, 18.) But we, as if bargaining on the chastisements of the Lord, even fix a time, saying, “If He does not show mercy till this time.” Therefore it is that we are not delivered. Surely Abraham did not leave his home expecting again to receive his son, but as prepared to sacrifice him; and it was contrary to his expectation that he received him again safe. And thou, when thou fallest into tribulation, be not in haste to be delivered,85    Two mss. quote Ecclus. ii. 2, “Make not haste in time of trouble.” prepare thy mind for all endurance, and speedily thou shalt be delivered from thy affliction. For God brings it upon thee for this end, that He may chasten thee. When therefore from the first we learn to bear it patiently, and do not sink into despair, He presently relieves us, as having effected the whole matter.

I should like to tell you an instructive story, which has much of profit in it. What then is it? Once, when a persecution arose, and a severe war was raging against the Church, two men were apprehended. The one was ready to suffer anything whatever; the other was prepared to submit with firmness to be beheaded, but with fear and trembling shrunk from other tortures. Observe then the dispensation towards these men. When the judge was seated, he ordered the one who was ready to endure anything, to be beheaded. The other he caused to be hung up and tortured, and that not once or twice, but from city to city. Now why was this permitted? That he might recover through torments that quality of mind which he had neglected, that he might shake off all cowardice, and be no longer afraid to endure anything. Joseph too, when he was urgent to escape from prison, was left to remain there. For hear him saying, “Indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews; but do thou make mention of me to the king.” (Gen. xl. 14, 15.) And for this he was suffered to remain, that he might learn not to place hope or confidence in men, but to cast all upon God. Knowing these things therefore let us give thanks to God, and let us do all things that are expedient for us, that we may obtain the good things to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom to the Father be glory, with the Holy Ghost, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ Ϛʹ. Καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες τῷ Θεῷ. Ταῦτά ἐστι καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔρεις καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιίστασο: εἰσὶ γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. Αἱρετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν νουθεσίαν καὶ δευτέραν παραιτοῦ: εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος, καὶ ἁμαρτάνει ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος. αʹ. Εἰπὼν περὶ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίας καὶ περὶ τῆς ἀφάτου αὐτοῦ περὶ ἡμᾶς κηδεμονίας, καὶ τίνας ὄντας ἡμᾶς τίνας εἰργάσατο, ἐπήγαγε καί φησι: Καὶ περὶ τούτων βούλομαί σε διαβεβαιοῦσθαι, ἵνα φροντίζωσι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι οἱ πεπιστευκότες τῷ Θεῷ: τουτέστι, ταῦτα διαλέγεσθαι, καὶ ἀπὸ τούτων προτρέπειν ἐπὶ ἐλεημοσύνην. Οὐ γὰρ μόνον πρὸς ταπεινοφροσύνην ἡμῖν τὰ εἰρημένα ἁρμόσει, καὶ πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐπαίρεσθαι καὶ ὀνειδίζειν ἑτέροις, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν τὴν ἄλλην ἀρετήν. Οὕτω γοῦν καὶ πρὸς Κορινθίους διαλεγόμενος φησί: Γινώσκετε ὅτι ὁ Κύριος ἐπτώχευσε πλούσιος ὢν, ἵνα ἡμεῖς τῇ ἐκείνου πτωχείᾳ πλουτήσωμεν. Ἐννοήσας τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν κηδεμονίαν καὶ τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν αὐτοῦ φιλανθρωπίαν, ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλεημοσύνην αὐτοὺς προτρέπει, οὐχ ἁπλῶς οὐδὲ παρέργως: ἀλλὰ τί; Ἵνα φροντίζωσι, φησὶ, καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι: τουτέστι, καὶ ἀδικουμένοις βοηθεῖν, μὴ χρήμασι μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ προστασίαις, καὶ χήραις ἐπαμύνειν καὶ ὀρφανοῖς, καὶ πάντας τοὺς κακῶς πάσχοντας ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ καθιστᾷν: τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι, Καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι. Ταῦτα γάρ ἐστι, φησὶ, καλὰ καὶ ὠφέλιμα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Μωρὰς δὲ ζητήσεις καὶ γενεαλογίας καὶ ἔρεις καὶ μάχας νομικὰς περιίστασο: εἰσὶ γὰρ ἀνωφελεῖς καὶ μάταιοι. Τί ποτε βούλονται αἱ γενεαλογίαι; καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἐν τῇ πρὸς Τιμόθεον Ἐπιστολῇ τίθησι τοῦτο λέγων: Μύθους καὶ γενεαλογίας ἀπεράντους. Τάχα καὶ ἐνταῦθα καὶ ἐκεῖ αἰνιττόμενος Ἰουδαίους, οἳ μέγα φρονοῦντες ἐπὶ τῷ πρόγονον ἔχειν τὸν Ἀβραὰμ, τῶν καθ' ἑαυτοὺς ἠμέλουν. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ μωρὰς αὐτὰς καλεῖ καὶ ἀνωφελεῖς: μωρίας γὰρ ἐπὶ ἀνωφελέσι πράγμασι τὸ θαῤῥεῖν. Ἔρεις δὲ, φησὶ, τὰς πρὸς τοὺς αἱρετικοὺς, ἵνα μὴ κάμνωμεν εἰκῆ, ὅταν μηδὲν ᾖ κέρδος: τὸ γὰρ τέλος αὐτῶν οὐδέν. Ὅταν ᾖ τις διεστραμμένος, καὶ μηδ', ἂν ὁτιοῦν γένηται, προῃρημένος μεταθέσθαι τὴν γνώμην, τίνος ἕνεκεν εἰκῆ κάμνεις κατὰ πετρῶν σπείρων, δέον πονεῖν τὸν καλὸν τοῦτον πόνον εἰς τοὺς σοὺς τὰ περὶ ἐλεημοσύνης αὐτοῖς διαλεγόμενος καὶ τῆς ἄλλης ἀρετῆς; πῶς οὖν ἑτέρωθί φησι, Μή ποτε δῷ αὐτοῖς ὁ Θεὸς μετάνοιαν, ἐνταῦθα δὲ, Αἱρετικὸν ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν νουθεσίαν καὶ δευτέραν παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐξέστραπται ὁ τοιοῦτος, καὶ ἁμαρτάνει ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος; Ἐκεῖ μὲν περὶ τῆς τῶν ἐλπίδα ἐχόντων διορθώσεώς φησι, καὶ περὶ τῶν ἀντιδιατιθεμένων ἁπλῶς: ὅταν δὲ δῆλος ᾖ πᾶσι καὶ φανερὸς, τίνος ἕνεκεν πυκτεύεις εἰκῆ; τί τὸν ἀέρα δέρεις; Τί ἐστιν, Ὢν αὐτοκατάκριτος; Οὐ γὰρ ἔχει εἰπεῖν, ὅτι οὐδεὶς εἶπεν, οὐδεὶς ἐνουθέτησεν. Ὅταν οὖν μετὰ τὴν παραίνεσιν ὁ αὐτὸς ἐπιμένῃ, αὐτοκατάκριτος γίνεται. Ὅταν πέμψω Ἀρτεμᾶν πρὸς σὲ ἢ Τυχικὸν, σπούδασον ἐλθεῖν πρός με εἰς Νικόπολιν. Τί λέγεις; ἐπιστήσας αὐτὸν τῇ Κρήτῃ, πάλιν καλεῖς πρὸς σεαυτόν; Οὐκ ἀπάγων αὐτὸν τῆς σχολῆς ἐκείνης, ἀλλὰ πλέον ῥυθμίζων. Ὅτι γὰρ οὐχ ὥστε περιάγειν αὐτὸν καὶ πανταχοῦ ἔχειν ἀκολουθοῦντα καλεῖ πρὸς ἑαυτὸν, ἄκουσον τί φησιν: Ὅτι ἐκεῖ κέκρικα παραχειμάσαι. Ἡ δὲ Νικόπολις τῆς Θρᾴκης ἐστί. Ζηνᾶν τὸν νομικὸν καὶ Ἀπολλὼ σπουδαίως πρόπεμψον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ: αὐτοὶ δὲ οὐδέπω τῶν ἐγχειρισθέντων ἦσαν, ἀλλὰ τῶν συνόντων αὐτῷ: σφοδρότερος δὲ ἦν ὁ Ἀπολλὼς, δυνατὸς ὢν ἐν ταῖς Γραφαῖς, καὶ ἀνὴρ λόγιος. Εἰ τοίνυν νομικὸς ἦν ἐκεῖνος, οὐκ ἔδει παρ' ἑτέρων αὐτὸν, φησὶ, τρέφεσθαι. Ἀλλὰ νομικὸν ἐνταῦθά φησι τὸν τῶν Ἰουδαϊκῶν νόμων ἔμπειρον: ὡσεὶ ἔλεγεν, Ἐν πάσῃ ἀφθονίᾳ αὐτοὺς κατάστησον, ἵνα μηδὲν αὐτοῖς λείπῃ. Μανθανέτωσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ἀσπάζονταί σε οἱ μετ' ἐμοῦ πάντες: ἄσπασαι τοὺς φιλοῦντας ἡμᾶς ἐν πίστει. Ἤτοι τοὺς αὐτὸν φιλοῦντάς φησιν, ἢ τοὺς πιστοὺς ἄνδρας. Ἡ χάρις μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν. Ἀμήν. Πῶς οὖν αὐτῷ κελεύεις τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας ἐπιστομίζειν, εἰ περιιστάναι τούτους δεῖ, ὅταν ἐπὶ λύμῃ πάντα ποιῶσιν ἑαυτῶν; Φησὶ δὲ προηγουμένως ἐπὶ τῷ ἐκείνων κέρδει μηδέποτε τοῦτο ποιεῖν: οὐδὲ γὰρ ἂν κερδάνειάν ποτε, ἅπαξ διεστραμμένοι τὴν γνώμην. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἑτέροις λυμαίνοιντο, διεστάναι χρὴ καὶ μάχεσθαι, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς ἀνδρείας περιίστασθαι: εἰ δὲ εἰς ἀνάγκην κατασταίης, ὁρῶν ἑτέρους διαφθειρομένους, μὴ σίγα, ἀλλ' ἐπιστόμιζε, τῶν μελλόντων ἀπόλλυσθαι κηδόμενος. Ὅλως δὲ οὐκ ἔστι τὸν σπουδὴν ἔχοντα καὶ βίον ὀρθὸν, μάχης ἀνέχεσθαι. Πλὴν, ὡς εἶπον, οὕτω ποίει: ἀπὸ γὰρ ἀργίας καὶ τῆς περιττῆς φιλοσοφίας τὸ πρᾶγμα γίνεται, τὸ περὶ τὰ ῥήματα ἠσχολῆσθαι μόνον. Καὶ γὰρ περιττὰ φθέγγεσθαι πολλὴ ζημία, δέον ἢ διδάσκειν, ἢ εὔχεσθαι, ἢ εὐχαριστεῖν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ χρημάτων μὲν φείδεσθαι ὀφείλομεν, ῥημάτων δὲ οὔ: ἀλλὰ μάλιστα τούτων ἢ ἐκείνων, καὶ μὴ ἁπλῶς πᾶσιν ἑαυτοὺς ἐκδιδόναι. Τί ἐστιν, Ἵνα φροντίζωσι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι; Ἵνα μὴ περιμένωσι τοὺς δεομένους ἐλθεῖν πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ περιεργάζωνται τοὺς δεομένους τῆς αὐτῶν βοηθείας: ὁ γὰρ φροντίζων, οὕτω φροντίζει: οὕτω γὰρ μάλιστα καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σπουδῆς τοῦτο ἐργάσεται. Καὶ γὰρ ἐν οἷς εὖ ποιεῖ, οὐ τοῖς πάσχουσι τοσοῦτον, ὅσον τοῖς εὖ ποιοῦσι πρόσοδον καὶ κέρδος φέρει τὸ γινόμενον: παῤῥησίαν γὰρ δίδωσιν αὐτοῖς πρὸς τὸν Θεόν. Ἐκεῖ δὲ τῆς μάχης τέλος οὐδέν. Τὸν ἀδιόρθωτον οὖν λέγει αἱρετικόν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ τὸ τοὺς ἐλπίδας ἔχοντας μεταβολῆς παρορᾷν, νωθείας: οὕτω τὸ τοὺς ἀνίατα νοσοῦντας θεραπεύειν, ἀνοίας καὶ τῆς ἐσχάτης παραπληξίας θρασυτέρους γὰρ ἐργαζόμεθα ἐκείνους. Μανθανέτωσαν δὲ, φησὶ, καὶ οἱ ἡμέτεροι καλῶν ἔργων προΐστασθαι εἰς τὰς ἀναγκαίας χρείας, ἵνα μὴ ὦσιν ἄκαρποι. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι αὐτῶν φροντίζει μᾶλλον, ἢ τῶν λαμβανόντων; Ἐνῆν γὰρ ἴσως πολλαχόθεν τούτους προπέμψαι, ἀλλὰ τῶν ἡμετέρων, φησὶ, φροντίζω. Τί γὰρ ὄφελος, εἰπέ μοι; Εἰ γὰρ θησαυροὺς ἀνορύττοντες ἔτρεφον τοὺς διδασκάλους ἕτεροι, τούτοις οὐδὲν οὐδέπω κέρδος ἦν: ἄκαρποι γὰρ ἔμενον. Τί οὖν, εἰπέ μοι; οὐκ ἠδύνατο ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ ἀπὸ πέντε ἄρτων πεντακισχιλίους, καὶ ἀπὸ ἑπτὰ τετρακισχιλίους θρέψας, θρέψαι ἑαυτὸν καὶ τοὺς συνόντας αὐτῷ; τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν ὑπὸ γυναικῶν ἐτρέφετο (Ἠκολούθουν γὰρ αὐτῷ, φησὶ, γυναῖκες, αἵτινες διηκόνουν αὐτῷ); Διδάσκων ἡμᾶς ἄνωθεν ὅτι τῶν οὗ ποιούντων φροντίζει. Οὐκ ἠδύνατο ὁ Παῦλος ὁ καὶ ἑτέροις ἐπαρκῶν διὰ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ χειρῶν, μηδαμόθεν λαμβάνειν; Ἀλλ' ὁρᾷς αὐτὸν καὶ λαμβάνοντα καὶ αἰτοῦντα: καὶ ἄκουσον, διὰ τί: Ζητῶ γὰρ, φησὶν, οὐ τὸ δόμα, ἀλλὰ τὸν καρπὸν τὸν πλεονάζοντα εἰς λόγον ὑμῶν. Καὶ παρὰ τὴν ἀρχὴν δὲ, ὅτε τὰ αὑτῶν ἅπαντα πιπράσκοντες ἐτίθεσαν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων, ὁρᾷς τοὺς ἀποστόλους αὐτῶν φροντίζοντας μᾶλλον, ἢ τῶν λαμβανόντων; Εἰ γὰρ ὁπωσδήποτε μόνον τῶν πενήτων ἐφρόντιζον, οὐδένα ἂν λόγον ὑπὲρ τῆς Σαπφείρας καὶ τοῦ Ἀνανία ἐποιήσαντο, ἡνίκα ἐνοσφίσαντο τὰ χρήματα, οὐκ ἂν διετάξατο Παῦλος λέγων: Μὴ ἐκ λύπης, ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης. Τί λέγεις, Παῦλε; ἐμποδίζεις τοῖς πένησιν; Οὒ, φησίν: οὐ γὰρ τὸ ἐκείνων ὁρῶ, ἀλλὰ τὸ τῶν διδόντων. Ὅρα δὲ καὶ τὸν προφήτην, ἡνίκα τῷ Ναβουχοδονόσορ συνεβούλευε τὴν ἀρίστην ἐκείνην γνώμην, οὐχὶ τῶν πενήτων μόνον φροντίζοντα: οὐ γὰρ εἶπε, Δὸς τοῖς πένησιν ἁπλῶς, ἀλλὰ τί; Τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου ἐν ἐλεημοσύναις λύτρωσαι, καὶ τὰς ἀδικίας σου ἐν οἰκτιρμοῖς πενήτων. Κένωσον τὰ χρήματα, φησὶν, οὐχ ἵνα ἕτεροι τραφῶσι μόνον, ἀλλ' ἵνα ἀπαλλαγῇς αὐτὸς τῆς τιμωρίας. Καὶ πάλιν ὁ Χριστός: Πώλησόν σου τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, καὶ δὸς πτωχοῖς, καὶ δεῦρο ἀκολούθει μοι. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι κἀκεῖ διὰ τὴν ἀκολούθησιν τοῦτο ἐπετάγη; Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐμπόδιόν ἐστι τὰ χρήματα, διὰ τοῦτο διδόναι πένησιν ἐπέταξε, παιδεύων τὴν ψυχὴν ἐλεήμονα εἶναι καὶ οἰκτίρμονα, παιδεύων χρημάτων καταφρονεῖν, παιδεύων πλεονεξίας ἀφίστασθαι. Ὁ γὰρ παιδευόμενος τῷ μὴ ἔχοντι δοῦναι, παιδευθήσεται τῷ χρόνῳ καὶ μὴ λαμβάνειν ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχόντων. Τοῦτο ὁμοίους ποιεῖ τῷ Θεῷ. Καίτοι γε ἡ παρθενία χαλεπώτερον αὐτῆς πόνον ἔχει, καὶ ἡ νηστεία καὶ τὸ χαμευνεῖν: ἀλλ' οὐδὲν οὕτως ἰσχυρὸν καὶ δυνατὸν πρὸς τὸ σβέσαι τῶν ἁμαρτημάτων ἡμῶν τὴν πυρὰν, ὡς ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη: πάντων αὕτη μείζων ἐστὶ, παρ' αὐτὸν ἵστησι τὸν βασιλέα τοὺς αὐτῆς ἐραστάς: καὶ μάλα εἰκότως. Παρθενία μὲν γὰρ καὶ νηστεία καὶ χαμευνία περὶ τὸν ποιοῦντα ἵσταται μόνον, ἕτερον δὲ ἔσωσεν οὐδένα: ἡ δὲ ἐλεημοσύνη εἰς πάντας ἐκτείνεται, καὶ τὰ μέλη περιπλέκεται τοῦ Χριστοῦ: πολὺ δὲ τῶν εἰς τὸν ἕνα περιισταμένων τὰ πρὸς πολλοὺς ἐκτεινόμενα κατορθώματα μείζονα. γʹ. Αὕτη γὰρ μήτηρ ἀγάπης ἐστὶν, ἀγάπης τῆς τὸν Χριστιανισμὸν χαρακτηριζούσης, τῆς τῶν σημείων ἁπάντων μείζονος, δι' ἧς οἱ μαθηταὶ φαίνονται τοῦ Χριστοῦ: αὕτη φάρμακόν ἐστι τῶν ἡμετέρων ἁμαρτημάτων, σμῆγμα τοῦ ῥύπου τῆς ἡμετέρας ψυχῆς, κλῖμαξ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἐστηριγμένη: αὕτη τοῦ Χριστοῦ τὸ σῶμα συνδεῖ. Βούλεσθε μαθεῖν ὅσον ἀγαθὸν αὕτη ἐστίν; Ἐπὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων πάντες τὰ ἑαυτῶν πωλοῦντες ἔφερον πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἃ καὶ διεδίδοτο: Διεδίδοσαν γὰρ, φησὶν, ἑκάστῳ, καθότι ἄν τις χρείαν εἶχεν. Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι, καὶ χωρὶς τῶν μελλόντων (μήπω γὰρ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας νῦν κινήσωμεν. ἀλλ' ἐν τῷ παρόντι ἴδωμεν) τίνες κερδαίνουσιν, οἱ λαμβάνοντες, ἢ οἱ δόντες; Ἐκεῖνοι μὲν γὰρ ἐγόγγυζον, καὶ διεπληκτίζοντο πρὸς ἀλλήλους: οὗτοι δὲ εἶχον ψυχὴν μίαν: Ἦν γὰρ, φησὶν, ἁπάντων ἡ καρδία καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ μία, καὶ χάρις ἦν ἐπὶ πάντας αὐτοὺς, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς ὠφελείας διῆγον. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι καὶ ἐντεῦθεν ἐκεῖνοι ἐκέρδαινον; Εἰπὲ δή μοι, τίνων ἂν ἠθέλησας εἶναι, τῶν τὰ αὐτῶν ῥιπτούντων καὶ οὐδὲν ἐχόντων, ἢ τῶν καὶ τὰ ἑτέρων λαμβανόντων; Ὅρα τὸν καρπὸν τῆς ἐλεημοσύνης: τὰ διαφράγματα καὶ τὰ κωλύματα ἀνῃρέθη, καὶ εὐθέως συνήφθησαν αὐτῶν αἱ ψυχαί: Πάντων ἦν ἡ καρδία καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ μία. Ὥστε καὶ χωρὶς τῆς ἐλεημοσύνης τὸ τὰ χρήματα κενοῦν πολὺ ἔχει τὸ κέρδος. Ταῦτα δέ μοι εἴρηται, ἵνα οἱ κλῆρον παρὰ προγόνων μὴ διαδεξάμενοι, μὴ ἀλγῶσι μηδὲ κατηφιῶσιν, ὡς ἔλαττον τῶν πλουτούντων ἔχοντες: μείζονα γὰρ ἔχουσιν, ἂν ἐθέλωσι. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ πρὸς ἐλεημοσύνην μετὰ πλείονος ἥξουσι τῆς εὐκολίας, καθάπερ ἡ χήρα, καὶ τῆς πρὸς τὸν πλησίον ἔχθρας οὐδεμίαν ἕξουσιν ἀφορμὴν, καὶ πάντων ἔσονται ἐλευθερώτεροι: οὐδεὶς ἀπειλῆσαι δυνήσεται τῷ τοιούτῳ δήμευσιν, ἀλλ' ἔστιν ἀνώτερος τοῦ παθεῖν κακῶς. Καὶ καθάπερ τοὺς γυμνοὺς φεύγοντας οὐδεὶς ἂν ταχέως κατάσχοι, τῶν δὲ πολλὰ περιβεβλημένων καὶ ἐπισυρομένων ῥᾳδίως ἄν τις ἐπιλάβοιτο: οὕτω καὶ ὁ πλούσιος, καὶ ὁ πένης ἐστίν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ, κἂν ἁλῷ, εὐκόλως διαδρᾶναι δυνήσεται: ὁ δὲ, κἂν μὴ κατασχεθῇ, τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ σχοινίοις συμποδίζεται, φροντίσι μυρίαις, ἀθυμίαις, ὀργαῖς, παροξυσμοῖς. Ταῦτα πάντα καταχωννύει τὴν ψυχήν: καὶ οὐ ταῦτα μόνα, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ, ἅπερ ἀπὸ τοῦ πλούτου ἐπισυρόμεθα. Καὶ γὰρ μετριάζειν δυσκολώτερον τὸν πλούσιον ἢ τὸν πένητα, καὶ ἐν εὐτελείᾳ ζῇν, καὶ θυμοῦ ἀπηλλάχθαι δυσκολώτερον τοῦτον ἢ ἐκεῖνον. Οὐκοῦν πλείονα, φησὶν, ἕξει μισθόν; Οὐδαμῶς. Διὰ τί, εἴ γε τὰ δύσκολα κατορθοῖ; Ὅτι αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ τὰς δυσκολίας ἐπενόησεν: οὐ γὰρ ἐπιτέτακται πλουτεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὐναντίον: ἑαυτῷ δὲ μυρία σκάνδαλα καὶ κωλύματα κατασκευάζει. Ἄλλοι δὲ οὐ μόνον τὰ χρήματα ἀποτίθενται, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ σώματος τὸ πλέον κατατήκουσιν, ὡς στενὴν ὁδεύοντες ὁδόν: σὺ δὲ οὐ τοῦτο μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὔξεις τὴν κάμινον τῶν παθῶν, καὶ ἕτερα περιβάλλεις. Οὐκοῦν εἰς τὴν εὐρύχωρον ἄπιθι: ἐκείνη γάρ ἐστιν ἡ τοὺς τοιούτους δεχομένη: ἡ δὲ στενὴ τοὺς θλιβομένους, τοὺς ἐστενωμένους, τοὺς οὐδὲν βαστάζοντας, ἀλλ' ἢ ταῦτα τὰ φορτία, ἃ δι' αὐτῆς κομίζεσθαι δυνατὸν, ἐλεημοσύνην, φιλανθρωπίαν, χρηστότητα, ἐπιείκειαν. Ἂν ταῦτα βαστάζῃς, εὐκόλως δυνήσῃ εἰσελθεῖν: ἂν δὲ ἀπόνοιαν καὶ φλεγμονὴν ψυχῆς, καὶ τὸ τῶν ἀκανθῶν φορτίον, τὸν πλοῦτον, πολλῆς σοι δεῖ τῆς εὐρυχωρίας. Οὐδὲ γὰρ εἰς τὸν ὄχλον ἐμβῆναί σοι δυνατὸν, ὥστε μὴ ἑτέρους πλήττειν ἄνωθεν ἐπιφερόμενον, ἀλλ' ἔδει πολλῆς διαστάσεως ἐνταῦθα. Ὁ μέντοι ἀποφέρων χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον, τὰ τῆς ἀρετῆς λέγω κατορθώματα, οὐ μόνον φεύγοντας οὐκ ἔχει τοὺς πλησίον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πλησίον γινομένους καὶ συνδυάζοντας. Πλὴν εἰ ὁ πλοῦτος αὐτὸς ἄκανθά ἐστι, τί ἡ πλεονεξία; τίνος ἕνεκεν ταύτην ἀπάγεις ἐκεῖ; ἵνα μείζονα τὴν φλόγα ἐργάσῃ, φορτία ὑποτιθεὶς τῷ πυρί; οὐ γὰρ ἀρκεῖ τὸ τῆς γεέννης πῦρ; Ἐννόησον οἱ τρεῖς παῖδες πῶς περιεγένοντο τῆς καμίνου: ἐκείνην νόμισον γέενναν εἶναι: μετὰ θλίψεως ἐνέπεσον εἰς αὐτὴν δεδεμένοι καὶ συμπεπεδημένοι: ἀλλὰ πολλὴν εὗρον ἔνδον τὴν εὐρυχωρίαν: ἀλλ' οὐχ οἱ ἔξωθεν περιεστῶτες. δʹ. Τοιοῦτόν τι ἔσται καὶ νῦν, ἐὰν βουλώμεθα γενναίως καὶ ἀνδρείως ἵστασθαι πρὸς τοὺς ἐπαγομένους πειρασμούς: ἂν εἰς τὸν Θεὸν ἔχωμεν τὰς ἐλπίδας, ἐσόμεθα μὲν ἡμεῖς ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ καὶ εὐρυχωρίᾳ, οἱ δὲ ἐμβάλλοντες ἡμᾶς ἀπολοῦνται: Ὁ γὰρ ὀρύσσων βόθρον, φησὶν, ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς αὐτόν. Κἂν τὰς χεῖρας δήσωσι, κἂν τοὺς πόδας, ἡ θλῖψις λῦσαι δυνήσεται. Ὅρα γὰρ τὸ θαυμαστόν: οὓς ἔδησαν ἄνθρωποι, τούτους ἔλυσε τὸ πῦρ. Καθάπερ γὰρ εἴ τις παραδοίη τινὰς τοῖς οἰκέταις τῶν φίλων, οὗτοι δὲ τὴν φιλίαν αἰδούμενοι τοῦ δεσπότου, οὐ μόνον αὐτοῖς οὐ λυμαίνονται, ἀλλὰ καὶ πολλῆς μεταδιδόασι τιμῆς: οὕτω καὶ τὸ πῦρ, ἐπειδὴ ἐπέγνω ὅτι φίλοι τοῦ Δεσπότου αὐτοῦ εἰσιν οἱ παῖδες ἐκεῖνοι, καὶ διέῤῥηξεν αὐτῶν τὰ δεσμὰ, καὶ ἔλυσεν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀφῆκε, καὶ ἔδαφος αὐτοῖς ἐγίνετο, καὶ κατεπατεῖτο ὑπ' αὐτῶν, εἰκότως: ὑπὲρ γὰρ τῆς δόξης ἐνεβέβληντο τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὅσοι ἐν θλίψεσίν ἐσμεν, ταῦτα κατέχωμεν τὰ ὑποδείγματα. Ἀλλ' ἰδοὺ, φησὶν, ἐκεῖνοι ἀπηλλάγησαν τῆς θλίψεως, ἡμεῖς δὲ οὔ. Καὶ εἰκότως, ἐπειδὴ οὐχ οὕτως ἐνέβησαν εἰς τὴν κάμινον ἐκεῖνοι, ὡς ἀπαλλαγησόμενοι, ἀλλ' ὡς τεθνηξόμενοι τέλεον: ἄκουε γὰρ αὐτῶν λεγόντων: Ἔστι Θεὸς ἐν οὐρανοῖς, ὃς ῥύσεται ἡμᾶς: καὶ ἐὰν μὴ, γνωστὸν ἔστω σοι, βασιλεῦ, ὅτι τοῖς θεοῖς σου οὐ λατρεύομεν, καὶ τῇ εἰκόνι τῇ χρυσῇ, ᾗ ἔστησας, οὐ προσκυνοῦμεν. Ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς πραγματευόμενοι τοῦ Θεοῦ τὰς παιδείας, καὶ χρόνον ὁρίζομεν λέγοντες: Ἐὰν μέχρι τοσοῦδε μὴ ἐλεήσῃ. Διὰ τοῦτο οὐκ ἀπαλλαττόμεθα. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ Ἀβραὰμ οὐχ ὡς σῶον ληψόμενος τὸν υἱὸν, οὕτως ἀπήρχετο, ἀλλ' ὡς σφαγιάσων: καὶ παρὰ προσδοκίαν σῶον ἔλαβε. Καὶ σὺ ὅταν ἐμπέσῃς εἰς θλῖψιν, μὴ ταχύνῃς, μὴ σπεύσῃς ἀπαλλαγῆναι, παρασκεύασον τὴν διάνοιάν σου πρὸς πᾶσαν ὑπομονὴν, καὶ ἀπαλλαγήσῃ ταχέως τῆς θλίψεως: διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ ἐπάγει αὐτὴν ὁ Θεὸς, ἵνα παιδεύσῃ. Ὅταν οὖν ἐκ προοιμίων παιδευθῶμεν φέρειν, καὶ μὴ ἀλύωμεν, ἀνίησι λοιπὸν, ὡς τοῦ παντὸς κατωρθωμένου. Βούλομαί τι διήγημα πρὸς ὑμᾶς εἰπεῖν χρήσιμον, καὶ πολλὴν ἔχον τὴν ὠφέλειαν. Τί δὲ τοῦτό ἐστι; Διωγμοῦ ποτε κατειληφότος, καὶ πολέμου σφοδροῦ κατὰ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας ἀναῤῥιπισθέντος, δύο τινὲς συνελήφθησαν ἄνδρες: καὶ ὁ μὲν ἕτοιμος ἦν πᾶν ὁτιοῦν παθεῖν, ὁ δὲ πρὸς μὲν τὸ ἀποτμηθῆναι τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ αὐτὸς ἕτοιμος καὶ γενναῖος, πρὸς δὲ τὰς ἄλλας βασάνους δεδοικὼς καὶ τρέμων. Ὅρα τοίνυν τὴν οἰκονομίαν: Ἐπειδὴ ἐκάθισεν ὁ δικαστὴς, τὸν μὲν ἕτοιμον ὄντα πᾶν ὁτιοῦν παθεῖν, ἐκέλευσεν ἀποτμηθῆναι τὴν κεφαλήν: ἐκεῖνον δὲ ἀναρτήσας κατέξαινε, καὶ οὐχ ἅπαξ οὐδὲ δεύτερον, ἀλλὰ πάσας περιάγων τὰς πόλεις. Τί δήποτε τοῦτο συνεχωρήθη; Ἵνα τὸ ἠμελημένον αὐτοῦ τῆς διανοίας ἀνακτήσηται διὰ τῶν βασάνων, ἵνα τὴν δειλίαν πᾶσαν ἐκβάλῃ, ἵνα μηκέτι ᾖ δεδοικὼς μηδὲ ὀκνῶν μηδὲ τρέμων πρὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα. Καὶ Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὅτε μάλιστα ἠπείγετο ἐξελθεῖν, τότε μάλιστα ἐναπέμεινεν: ἄκουε γὰρ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος, Κλοπῇ ἐκλάπην ἐκ γῆς Ἑβραίων: καὶ, Μνήσθητί μου, φησὶ, πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα. Διὰ τοῦτο ἐναπέμεινεν, ἵνα μάθῃ ὅτι οὐ χρὴ θαῤῥεῖν, οὐδὲ ἐπελπίζειν ἀνδράσιν, ἀλλὰ τὸ πᾶν ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν ῥίπτειν. Ταῦτα οὖν εἰδότες, χάριν ὁμολογῶμεν τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ πάντα πράττωμεν τὰ πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον: ἵνα τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν ἐπιτύχωμεν, ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἡ δόξα, σὺν τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.