Annales
God wills, the order of nature is overcome. For if the ends of the earth are in His hand, if He also established the pillars of the earth, as David sa
of Josephus for he, being a Jew full of darkness, did not wish to look up to the light. Hence, indeed, he also put the night before the day. And ther
This also happens from the movement of subterranean winds. For because of this, when great earthquakes are coming, there are no winds at that time, as
These things are so, and that the waters, just as some foundation, support the earth from beneath, the golden-mouthed John showed most clearly in the
being boiled and from there moderately assuaging the need for then, by receiving with sponges the vapors rising from there, they find a cure for thir
earth, that it might keep the laws of its creator, having passed through every form of growth, immediately brought its shoots to perfection. For the m
it is more pungent to the cultivated ones, and is sent out unobserved towards the wild ones. And by tying on unripe figs they cure the weakness of the
“Let the waters be gathered together,” for it says. And the sea being circumscribed within its borders is from the first decree. Pay attention, belove
acidic or oily, ashy, and whatever is of such a kind for all things partake of the quality from there, from the earth through which they both pass an
that a certain river encircles the whole earth concerning which scripture seems to me to have said that a river goes forth from Paradise, having pota
however of the fourth day, that is, before the discs were created, as Justin the philosopher and martyr of Christ says, and the rest of the list of th
they said the sun was twenty-seven times the size of the earth, but Anaxagoras said it was larger than the Peloponnese. And others again thought this
surpassing. So then, from this cause the phenomena in the air are also formed, as the sudden disturbances of the clouds, shaken and colliding with one
but to be well subordinated to all things. In addition to these things, the eclipsing moon also reveals to us another paradox, as the most divine Anas
indicates the greatest change in the weather. And those who have studied these things have observed many portents concerning the waxing or waning moon
it was right to pardon, but not to inflict scourges, as the golden-tongued John says. For in the discourses he set forth concerning fate, he also rela
introduced the radiance of stars upon these things. Let them speak folly about foolish things. For in all these things the cause is clear. If infants
it is, but it does not have the burning quality for its substance is fine. But it also passes through bodies quickly, for which reason it neither bur
in the island the day is eighteen hours, and the night is six hours. And not only is it six hours, but its darkness is not very deep, but such as what
And light is supplied to the moon by the sun, because the church and all the saints are also illuminated by Christ, the spiritual sun for from his f
and the catch is difficult for it because of the covering of its shell for nature has secured the tender part of the flesh with an unbreakable barrie
it bends its branches to the male, and how again it returns to an 71 upright shape as if having enjoyed the union, what hearing does it not fill with
to know concerning the fish. For the male and female swim separately, and do not have intercourse, but are born without seed from water and the breath
has been devised for those borne on the air. Pay attention, then. For the structure of seed-gathering birds is one kind, and that of flesh-eating ones
rejecting, because of the labor of feeding, disowning the one it bore. But the osprey does not allow this one to perish, but taking it up, raises it a
it perches on the trees, as if taught the teachings of Pythagoras. And how are an eagle's feathers destructive to the feathers of other eagles? These
For what reason is this marvelous sympathy of the pelican for its offspring? For the Lord, wishing from the beginning to prefigure all things concerni
for. For it is two-footed like a bird, but has a cloven hoof like a quadruped. But also none of the birds lays but a single egg, except only the cucko
For all things today happen by a natural law, but they received their impulse from there in the beginning. In this regard, the great Basil also says t
they know a remedy. And a leopard considers the gore of a wild goat to be salutary. And the winged hawk knows the juice of bitter-leaved lettuces as a
Basil the Great in his commentary on the prophet Isaiah says thus concerning these things: to the irrational animals He has given an easy means for li
And these things are in every way referred to the devil himself, who begins from a small thing, but ends in great things. For which reason also one of
Therefore it hides itself like one of the unarmed soldiers fearing to be drawn up for battle. But only the deer sheds its horns for the sake of benefi
We find Galen agreeing with this main point, and speaking thus word for word: And an ancient story also revealed to me that a certain ruler of uncomel
and he says these things. But I for my part dismiss this, that the eyes send forth a poisoned dart, as something vulgar and introduced into the women'
and they name such a thing 'theriac' because of the flesh of wild beasts, and because such a thing is very suitable for the bites of snakes. A certain
and the lions, fleeing the sun's rays, hide unwillingly throughout the whole day for if this were not so, perhaps by walking about unhindered in the
but the female no longer. But also castrated swine do not have tusks, because they change their nature toward the feminine for the females of these a
of the season, so that it may couple with the male. But the she-bear is also in danger when giving birth. While in labor at night, she looks to the st
in Libya. But in winter, because of the conditions, it drinks. Whatever, at any rate, is customary there, these animals, having arrived in other place
it happens for, he says, it came forth from the earth with its soul itself for, he says, Let the earth bring forth a living soul. But man alone ha
The Lord, having risen from the dead, breathed on the disciples and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.' For he did not forbear to show us again as partak
in like manner with the remaining, it is disposed together with each of the senses. According to this, John of Damascus also said that the more irrati
But it is not in the whole body, but is gathered in some part of it. Therefore it is necessary that the remaining parts become dead for what is soull
inherent cowardice. But if the dry element prevails, it begets a certain sober and vigilant man. On which account a certain wise man, whose name was H
they partake of the earth and of the quality of the places through which they pass, and for this reason they have both their taste and quality altered
able to do what is commanded for he says, “mighty in strength, doing his word.” But also in every sacred ordering, the superior orders have the illum
and they preside over nations and places, as they were appointed by the creator. That these things are so, the most holy Germanus among the patriarchs
of creation He conceives and makes the angelic and heavenly powers, as He alone knows.” But also Severus, yes, and Diodorus and the great Amphilochius
bodies, it clearly shows the difference in worth.” Pay attention, beloved. God, wishing to honor man, first plants a paradise, and thus places him in
sounded a melody, but when it finds wide-bored flutes, then it displayed all its art, so also the soul, as Gregory the Theologian relates in his metri
you may eat of the food in paradise, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat of it for in the day that you eat of it, you
that that body of Adam in a certain way did not suffer, being superior to all corruption, the golden-mouthed John 166 will teach you more fully and cl
honoring him with immortality. For even if he was not ignorant of his transgression that would happen not long after, yet since he does not wish to co
continual, as the golden-tongued one says if therefore God in the beginning bestowed upon man the enjoyment of eternal life, as the great Basil says
in his discourse on the exile of Adam will solve this difficulty for you, saying thus: “Adam transgressed the commandment, he ate from that which he w
And rather, the divine fathers say that the resurrection from the dead promises us nothing other than the restoration of the fallen to their original
somewhat similarly to us, (being indeed superior to all kinds of passions), it appears by all means that he was also a partaker of immortality, as the
was, since how was evil destined to remain immortal, if man was not also destined to live with immortality after the deceit, just as before? It was th
Therefore it is worthy for you to consider also concerning that plant, that is, the tree of knowledge, if indeed we also have some disagreement arisin
they entered into life, as the account, having already come to it, has made known, it is altogether apparent that before sin man did not have that whi
he was in danger. Pay attention, therefore, beloved, and do not be carried away by those who attempt to meddle in the divine economies. 193 For the be
likened and divided according to this difference of forms, 196 having been constructed last.” And not only these things, but this divine man also brin
this is not so. And it is clear from what the prophet David says: Do not be like the horse and the mule, 199 which have no understanding. Besides, i
but 2 the Creator to guard the race of men by the oversight of angels, so that using violence and tyranny, attacking invisibly, he might not fearlessl
God alone. and be persuaded by the divine David who says thus to God: you alone know the hearts.» But these things, beloved, the account has run thr
he mocks also those who say that paradise is in heaven and spiritual. For if it were above, the rivers would be said to come down, not indeed to go ou
The ruler of all things has granted you the rational faculty, so that, using the spirited faculty also as an ally, you may nobly resist the irrational
animals and man. Therefore, the stars do not change our minds, nor do they lead around man, who is in the image of God, like some slave. For they woul
of specific kinds of healthy place and likewise of suitable foods and drinks. But behold the wisdom of God, beloved, if we might touch a little on phy
extending the dryness of the brain according to nature, is accustomed to cause such symptoms. For this reason, it is necessary for those so disposed t
but to those who believe. And Cain, beloved, sinned more than Adam. and this is clear from the curse of God that came upon them. for in Adam's case,
called among them the Anabation, containing what Paul saw at the time when he ascended into the third heaven. Such is the book among them, because the
God, comforting Enoch, translated him, the great Athanasius in his discourse on the ascension clearly declared thus: death indeed entered through diso
they are beautiful, they took for themselves wives from all whom they chose. And the Lord God said, ‘My spirit shall not abide in these men, because t
Truly the Lord of all, Christ, also to us, what he said to the Jews, when boasting they said, We are of our father Abraham. For just as he said to t
and for the nurslings of piety to offer him sacrifices, He commanded that more of the clean be kept, the three pairs for the increase of the species,
however a tower was built, O and B being the leaders of the construction. Therefore, according to these, the division of tongues also happened, there
among men. He was the first to take upon himself the name of divinity. But also Ninus, his son, is said to have been the first of the Assyrians to rei
humility, when someone yields the first place to another, just as Abraham does, so that he might not dispute with Lot and his shepherds whereupon Lot
to take her, being most comely, for the fellowship of marriage, especially since she was said to be Abraham's sister. For if Josephus says Sarah was A
For this reason God said after the sacrifice, “Know for certain that your seed shall be a sojourner in a land not their own, and they shall afflict th
a priest and not according to the order of Aaron? Since, therefore, another priesthood was to come, it was absolutely necessary for another polity to
in every way the angels first ascend, and through them our petitions, and then in this way the divine gifts descend from above to us. For on this acco
of Josephus for in the prophecy such a saying is not found written. And so much concerning these things. And after these things Sardanapalus ruled ov
However, Philip, having become king of Macedonia and having subdued Thessaly, founds a city in it and calls it Thessalonica. After him, Alexander. Whe
But further inland are men who eat men. It is the law for Chaldeans to marry their mothers and to defile their nieces. Among the Agilaeans, the women
By night, Pharaoh sees two visions. The wise men of the Egyptians are perplexed by these. Joseph is called, with the cupbearer having urged this. The
He granted to him. Therefore, the halves of 170 happen to be 85. From this, therefore, all the years of Job are found to be 255. But if scripture says
they raise for themselves secretly then Amram, fearing he would be discovered, made a basket of papyrus and sealed it with pitch, places the child in
it changes, but in the case of Pharaoh, into a serpent, so that by its size it might strike them with terror. And it is clear that this was a true sig
He removed the dog-fly from Pharaoh, and he did not want to send them away. The fifth plague, the destruction of the four-footed animals. Behold, fo
he promised to let the people go, but when he released him from the torments, he was hardened. Which indeed the scripture, indicating this, said: *But
they brought forth frogs, but they were not able to rid the houses of the Egyptians of them. And while for the chastising of the Egyptians, it was gra
he was saying that the Lord fasted. 296 In addition to these things, you must know that even if someone uses sin for the sake of some supposed advanta
in the spirit of worship in his book, he says these things also, that Israel, having stumbled, wandered for forty years in the wilderness for God swo
to see such a thing. For what reason? Because it was a transgression of the law. For teaching them to live free from cares, he promised to provide the
an idol and a likeness For the likeness is a likeness of something, whether of a land animal or a sea creature or a bird, but the idol, according to
seizing the foxes when the crops were flourishing, and having attached lit torches to their tails, he let them go into the fields of the Palestinians,
Samson acquired, it is not worth passing over. For since the Israelites, having served the foreigners for a period of forty years, had completely forg
ate honey, which bees had made in a dead lion? and how did God comfort him when he was thirsty through an unclean and blood-stained jawbone, if the ra
of Artaxerxes. This Mordecai, being in the king's court and having heard two eunuchs plotting against the king, reported this to him and they were de
dead, you did not escape my notice when you were doing good, but I was with you. And now God has sent me to heal 321 you and your daughter-in-law Sara
He was of the tribe, the son of Kish, who was also excellent in form and great in body. He lost his father's donkeys, and comes to the prophet Samuel
God said, and taking the holy oil go to Bethlehem to Jesse, and anoint one of his sons as king.” He comes, therefore, and when all the other sons of J
He accepts neither the first as impious, nor again the second for if a demon had appeared, it would not have uttered true words. Therefore God himsel
Achitophel persuades him to go in to his father’s concubines, then he counsels him to set out with an army against David. But not being heeded because
a day, and the one who leaped out against enemies would not have stopped unless he had killed nine hundred. For they were so bold that even three of t
for so many years, so that, having grown weary with the wandering in the mountains, they might love the one place, Jerusalem. And these things you wil
was driven out from there. and that this was made clear by means of a certain vessel placed there, full of water for such water was disturbed when th
to the idols of all his wives. From which the transgressor Julian was also moved 346 to say that you should not call Solomon wise, as the great Cyril
in this place, your body shall not enter the tomb of your fathers.” For which reason, while returning, he is killed by a lion on the road. And the bea
Ahab was not immediately punished because of his compunction. But God also delivered into the hands of this Ahab Ben-hadad, who was besieging Samaria
having brought it down from above, he burned them. But here, those who accuse the prophet of cruelty accuse God for all things are through him. So a
the Lord has planned to destroy you.’” For he met his end in like manner to his father. And the divine scripture praises Uzziah “for,” it says, “he w
rather his own arrogance. For which he is disciplined by the Lord, being subjected to a rotting of the foot and He gives him a sign that he will not
and a dreamer of dreams for a dream is from Zeus.” Pay attention, therefore, that through such flight of birds and through the liver of sheep and thr
the rest in repentance, and corrected his past deeds. And he sinned so greatly against God that the most divine Anastasius said thus: If God saved Man
Those who were building the temple were Zerubbabel and Joshua the son of Jozadak, and this temple, this second building, was built in 46 years because
wise men but they swear they know nothing. And the prophet Daniel is summoned for the prophetic power in him had already become manifest, when he bo
were known by their end. And after Artaxerxes, another Artaxerxes, and until Darius, the son of Arsames, whom Alexander deposed, destroying the kingdo
they called him this from to revere, as someone venerable. Caesar, after defeating his opponents, and Antony himself in a naval battle, held all the
I have made it solid. And in addition to these, I wish many to clap their hands at my end, as at the end of a mime and some actor.” But he surely said
being fed with milk and the growth of His body from infancy to its proper size for according to the blessed Paul, He was tried in all our things exce
brought [them] to Jerusalem, it would not have descended from on high and stood over the child that had been born, it would not have vanished afterwar
Cyril says that the male is formed in 40 days, while the female requires 80 days for its passage into the human form. And since the male for the sake
he considers it to be accomplished by the power and wisdom of God. And this is what the Lord said to Paul: My grace is sufficient for you, for my pow
The women who anointed the Lord with myrrh are three in all. For one is she who is in John and this one is honorable, and the sister 399 of Lazarus.
the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it? Therefore, having bound Jesus, they led him away to Annas first, and there he is judged. H
And less from what will now be said to you. That day in the evening of which the Passover was sacrificed, they are accustomed to call both the day of
cross there the lamb, here the Christ there the unleavened bread, here the bread.» These things have been inscribed for you in summary, as you see
to those in bonds, 'Come forth,' and to those in darkness, 'Be revealed.' And at the sixth hour, as the scriptures say, the Lord is crucified, and at
a race falls under the rule of the Ro-mans. For this reason, they also bring the Lord before Pilate, who had obtained the governorship over them, not
baptized. If therefore He took on our whole nature, it is clear that He also refashioned our whole nature. Rightly therefore the burial of the Lord wa
He said divided, because a fire appeared descending in a single form, then it was divided among the apostles. But that fire was not the Spirit itsel
According to some historians, and especially Hippolytus of Thebes, seven years passed after the resurrection of the Lord from the dead, and the protom
he anointed himself, and did not use a bath. To him alone it was permitted to enter the holy places and to pray on behalf of the people, so that from
to be spiritually initiated into divine things. But if you also seek to learn of the resurrections from the dead, how many they are and whose they are
of the seventy themselves, a company was gathered around that sacred place of the Theotokos, and that during it all the disciples scattered throughout
and an example. A certain wounded man was lying down, and a multitude of flies was drawing blood from his wounds. And a certain man passing by attempt
mourning for his parents mourned for him when he was murdered.” But if the creature foreknew, much more the creator himself, even if that madman, fro
and from there depriving the innocent of life. And the Romans turned away from him so much that they even once rose up to kill him. And when Nero lear
proclaimed him victor, he was angry against that one. This Titus was so ambitious that he would even say, No one seeing the emperor ought to return g
being designated Aelia, and he arranged for the city to be called so from that time on however, Hadrian also greatly favored the servants of the Word
seeking. And often, even when he was sleeping, Origen's father would kiss his chest as if full of the divine spirit, and he blessed himself for his go
having been appointed presbyters and deacons, they brought other unsealed children to him, and he baptized the children with sea water. Therefore Alex
Know, beloved, that, as the chronicler John Skylitzes says, George, who was also the syncellus of the most holy patriarch Tarasios, began the chronogr
of the emperor, having been besieged by the Romans and having endured the war for three years, it was later captured, after the necessities had failed
In Sardica a council is convened by 341 fathers, confirming the holy symbol and Sardica is what is now called Triaditza. The great Constantine later
Constantius his son, 23 years. This one was forcing the patriarch Alexander to receive Arius into communion. Which indeed would have happened, if divi
of Julian. It appears therefore from this that Julian, passing through, neither found the great Basil as high priest, nor did he threaten him and 472
When Gratian, wanting to clothe him in purple for having conquered the Goths, could not find one of his size because he was broad-shouldered, except t
In this temple, there was a wooden image suspended without support for because of the iron bars fixed around it, that is, the wooden image, and the m
without trial, having persecuted Christ along with him. But the blessed John departed this life, having kept the faith and strengthened those who were
to his three sons he left all his property, but concerning this one he said: To Athenais my most beloved daughter I leave 100 coins for her fortune
He sees Marcian sleeping and enjoying the shade from an eagle. He marvels at the event, judges the man to be divine and worthy of the Roman empire. Th
he is overcome by Zeno, who had returned again from Isauria, and having been shut up in a strong little tower with his wife and remaining without prov
After Anastasius, Justin the Thracian for 9 years. In his reign a star appeared in the sky above the bronze gate of the palace, for 26 days, and a mos
I wish to give it for free for the sake of a reward and a memorial, but otherwise, no.” And this is the treasury, along with Saint Peter. Another hous
corpses. And so great was the multitude of the dying that the emperor had a thousand biers made 500 for the purpose of carrying them away. And not onl
theologian of Constantinople and Damasus pope of Rome, who anathematized Macedonius for blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and with him Sabellius and Apolli
Justin his nephew [succeeded] Justinian for 13 years. This man, having built a palace outside the city and a harbor in the city itself, called the one
Phocas who was on guard in Dyrrachium, and who came to the emperor himself for the sake of receiving the monthly rations for his fellow-soldiers and w
he went away. And because he did not carry off Heraclius himself there with the others, he strips off his hide. And the ambassadors are secured in ter
they secretly worship. And it is clear from their prayer for they say thus ‘ala ala oua koubar ala,’ that is, God, God is greater, and the great one,
will cut him off. Justinian learns these things, flees from there, goes to the Bulgarians, and binds them with lavish promises. Whence also with an in
happened to be at a certain spring for the sake of refreshment at which he also promised with an oath to repay them. Whence also these men came to hi
hour the deacon read the prayer over the tomb, the brother was miraculously freed from the bond. And how much power the bond imposed by priests has, i
judged. Then, when the land in Mesopotamia was split open, a mule was brought forth, signifying an attack of enemies with a human voice. And then a ce
in his chronological work says these things concerning this. Two accounts are told: for one says that Saint Euphemia was handed over to the fire by Co
534 being sent into exile, he stood upright and was making a greeting toward someone. And having been asked what this was, and toward whom he was maki
delightful and sweet-sounding. But he also constructed golden trees, in which all sorts of birds sitting poured forth a honey-sweet melody. A certain
the young man also appears, shows his wisdom, is admired. He is asked if any others of this kind are found in the reigning city. And al-Ma'mun, having
Leo, as we said above, cut down and spent [the cost of the trees] in which sparrows, sitting, chirped by means of a device, and likewise also the lion
neighboring the great city of Adrianople, and was once taken captive as a slave by the Bulgars. Having therefore fled from there, he comes to Byzantiu
arranging 550 a house of prayer. Therefore, after renovating many other things, Basil also cleaned out a certain cistern, which the emperor Heraclius
Then they also receive a high priest, divine signs having occurred beforehand for the holy gospel is given over to fire, but is not burned. After thi
of the Mother of God. And staring, he spoke thus to him: Let not the name deceive you, O Constantine, nor think because of this to rule the Romans. F
a certain Tryphon, so that he might manage the throne until Theophylact should come of the required age. But when the stated time which he had set was
Theophylaktos, being sixteen years old when he uncanonically took over the reins of the church, left nothing undone that he did not handle in the wors
feats of valor against them that it was not possible even to describe them in words for he had subdued almost the entire east. On account of which, t
son, riding on horseback in the field and playing with his own cousin Pleuses, was struck unintentionally with a spear and died. When the marriage was
Phokas, having learned this and being not a little displeased, both heaped insults on Bourtzes and relieved him of his command. From this, therefore,
they shook off. Therefore the emperor will go out against them, and will go as far as Damascus, and having restored all things well by both persuasion
to the Bulgarians. But Samuel, being unable to oppose him openly, decided to fortify the land of the Bulgarians with ditches and fences, even though h
The first was tonsured for Constantine, but the third refused. Therefore he is joined to the second, who was called Zoe, and thus he is proclaimed emp
to pay tributes. And so Theophylaktos the protospatharios, the Athenian, was sent, and he confirmed the treaties. At that time, around the second hour
in the solitude he tried her chastity, 587 and when he did not persuade her, he then brought violence to bear. But she, having drawn the man's dagger,
to hinder him in 590 whatever and however he might wish to act. And first he got the Orphanotrophos out of the way, and likewise deprived Constantine,
she wanted Constantine called Artoclines for he was also handsome in appearance, and it was said that he was intimate with her. But his wife, not out
in the East revolts occur, and Leo Tornikios the patrician, the general in Iberia, is accused of tyranny. Therefore he is relieved of his command and
life) they bring her into the palace and proclaim her empress. For which reason, sending men, they arrested the first minister in Thessalonica. And fr
he did not wish to surrender, for which reason he was utterly destroyed. The emperor encamped at Libitzos, and since a great rain and snowstorm broke
with they themselves being overcome by plague and famine through divine providence. And these things happened in the sixth year of the reign of Consta
he learns of the situation in the east, and marches against the Turks, and coming to Sebasteia and arriving from this place and that, he set up great
to John the Caesar and to his sons and to the others, whoever thought the same things. And at that time they indeed sent the empress into exile agains
having set up a warehouse and monopoly at Rhaedestus, so that from this he acquired for the emperor Michael the epithet Parapinakes, it is said, becau
named, cut off a part of it and three girdles. 618 Then, indeed, then Botaneiates, learning of the entry of the Komnenoi, departs from the palace, and
A nation from the west takes the kingdom in order to cross over from there to the east. A divine sign foretold their movement for an infinite multitu
of the Romans. But the emperor, not being able to campaign himself since he was bedridden, sends out an army whose commander was Eustathios Kamytzes,
that a certain river encircles the whole earth; concerning which scripture seems to me to have said that a river goes forth from Paradise, having potable and sweet water. This is divided into four heads, that is, into four rivers. And if you seek the reason why the rainwater that comes to us corrupts so much, and this though the sun filters the finest part and draws it up, behold we add this for you as well. The nature of these waters is of a very mixed sort; for the sun draws it up from all liquids. The irregularity, therefore, is easily set in motion, 35 and tends more quickly toward some corruption. Furthermore, the heaviest part of what was drawn up is brought down again, since what is heavy is accustomed to be borne downwards; but the finest part of the exhalation became the nature of spirit. And so much for these things. On the fourth day, having made the luminaries, He set them in the firmament itself. But when you hear "luminaries," consider them to be nothing other than light-receiving vessels. For God, having taken that light which was brought forth on the first day, and having distributed it to all the luminaries, even if it does not seem so to the golden-tongued John concerning these things, placed it as in lamps so as to shine upon the earth. For this divine man, in his fifth discourse on the Hexaemeron, used such words concerning this: "You have seen the wisdom of the Creator. He spoke only, and this wondrous element was brought forth, I mean the sun. For He calls this the great luminary, and says that it was made to rule the day; for this makes the day brighter. For this reason also He created it on the fourth day, lest you think that it constitutes the day. For there were three days before its creation, but the Lord willed also through this to make the light of day brighter." Pay attention, beloved. For here the most divine John 36 seems to say that the light brought forth on the first day is one thing, and that on the fourth another, much brighter than the former. But Basil the Great, in his sixth discourse concerning the luminaries, not to mention the other holy fathers, makes the argument concerning this more clearly, and says, "If the generation of light already took place, how is the sun said to be made for shining? Then, indeed, the very nature of light was brought forth, but now this solar body has been prepared to be a vehicle for that first-born light. For as fire is one thing and a lamp another, the one having the power of giving light, the other made to display it to those who need it, so also now the luminaries have been constructed as a vehicle for that most pure, sincere, and immaterial light." But also, going on, he explains thus word for word. "And let the sun be for the rule of the day. How then," he says, "does the sun have rule of the day? Because carrying the light in itself, whenever it rises above the horizon, it provides day, having dispersed the darkness, so that one would not err in defining day to be the air illuminated by the sun." Clearly, then, the great one here showed that only light-receiving vessels, but not indeed light [were made] on the fourth day. And they were brought forth in any case to receive that first light 37 and to shine upon the earth. And God did this so that that first-born light, having been divided, as Theodoret says, among both the small and great luminaries, might send forth a radiance commensurate with the sight of living creatures. For if this were not so, the living creatures, though having eyes, would not have borne the excess of the light. And Basil the Great confirms these things, saying, "The sun is beautiful, that is, the solar disk, in which, as in a certain lamp, that first-born light was deposited, and beautiful also because of its symmetry; for neither through its fineness does the fire pass out and burn everything, nor through its thickness does it transmit its energy to us in a duller way." Before
ὅτι τὴν γῆν ἅπασαν οἷά τις κυκλοῖ ποταμός· περὶ οὗ εἰρηκέναι μοι δοκεῖ ἡ γραφὴ ὅτι ποταμὸς ἐκπορεύεται ἐκ τοῦ Παραδείσου,
πότιμον καὶ γλυκὺ ὕδωρ ἔχων. οὗτος εἰς τέσσαρας ἀρχάς, τουτέστιν εἰς τέσσαρας ποταμούς, διαιρεῖται. εἰ δὲ καὶ τὴν αἰτίαν ἐπιζητεῖς
δι' ἣν τὰ προσγενόμενα ἡμῖν ὀμβριμαῖα ὕδατα κατὰ τοσοῦτον σήπεται, καὶ ταῦτα τοῦ ἡλίου διηθοῦντος τὸ λεπτότατον καὶ ἀνάγοντος,
ἰδοὺ καὶ ταύτην σοι προστίθεμεν. πολυμιγεστάτη τῶν ὑδάτων τούτων ἡ φύσις ἐστίν· ἐκ πάντων γὰρ τῶν ὑγρῶν ἀνάγει ὁ ἥλιος. ἡ
τοίνυν ἀνωμαλία εὐκίνητος, 35 καὶ πρός τινα φθορὰν θᾶττον ὁρᾷ. ἔτι γε μην τὸ βαρύτατον τοῦ ἀναχθέντος αὖθις κατάγεται, ἐπεὶ
τὸ βαρὺ πρὸς τὸ κάταντες εἴωθε φέρεσθαι· τὸ δὲ λεπτότατον τῆς ἀναθυμιάσεως πνεύματος φύσις ἐγένετο. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν εἰς τοσοῦτον.
Τῇ δὲ τετάρτῃ ἡμέρᾳ τοὺς φωστῆρας ποιήσας ἐν αὐτῷ τῷ στερεώματι ἔθετο. φωστῆρας δὲ ἀκούων μηδὲν ἑτερον ἢ φωτοδόχα τούτους
ἀγγεῖα εἶναι νόμιζε. τὸ γὰρ φῶς ἐκεῖνο τὸ κατά γε τὴν πρώτην ἡμέραν παραχθὲν λαβὼν ὁ θεός, καὶ διανείμας αὐτὸ τοῖς φωστῆρσι
πᾶσιν, εἰ καὶ τῷ χρυσορρήμονι Ἰωάννῃ τὰ περὶ τούτων οὐχ οὕτω δοκεῖ, καθάπερ λύχνοις ἐνέθηκεν ὥστε φαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. ὁ γὰρ
θεῖος οὗτος ἀνὴρ ἐν τῷ εἰς τὴν ἑξαήμερον πέμπτῳ λόγῳ αὐτοῦ τοιαῖσδε περὶ τούτου κέχρηται συλλαβαῖς εἶδες σοφίαν τοῦ δημιουργοῦ.
εἶπε μόνον, καὶ παρήχθη τὸ στοιχεῖον τοῦτο τὸ θαυμαστόν, ὁ ἥλιος λέγω. τοῦτον γὰρ καλεῖ φωστῆρα μέγαν, καὶ φησὶν αὐτὸν εἰς
ἀρχὰς τῆς ἡμέρας γεγενῆσθαι· οὗτος γὰρ φαιδροτέραν τὴν ἡμέραν ἀπεργάζεται. διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τῇ τετάρτῃ αὐτὸν ἐδημιούργησεν, ἵνα
μὴ νομίσῃς τοῦτον συνιστᾶν τὴν ἡμέραν. ἐγένοντο μὲν γὰρ τρεῖς ἡμέραι, αἱ πρὸ τῆς τούτου δημιουργίας, ἐβουλήθη δὲ ὁ δεσπότης
καὶ διὰ τούτου φαιδρότερον τὸ φῶς τῆς ἡμέρας ἐργάσασθαι.» πρόσεχε, ἀγαπητέ. δοκεῖ γὰρ ἐνταῦθα ὁ θειότατος Ἰωάννης 36 ἄλλο
λέγειν εἶναι φῶς τὸ κατὰ τὴν πρώτην ἡμέραν παραχθὲν καὶ ἕτερον τὸ κατὰ τὴν τετάρτην, πολλῷ τοῦ προτέρου λαμπρότερον. ἀλλ'
ὁ μέγας Βασίλειος ἐν τῷ περὶ φωστήρων ἕκτῳ λόγῳ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ λέγω τοὺς ἄλλους ὁσίους πατέρας, σαφέστερον τὸν περὶ τούτου
λόγον ποιεῖ, καί φησιν εἰ καὶ προελήφθη τοῦ φωτὸς ἡ γένεσις, πῶς ὁ ἥλιος πάλιν εἰς φαῦσιν λέγεται γεγονέναι; τότε μὲν οὖν
αὐτὴ τοῦ φωτὸς ἡ φύσις παρήχθη, νῦν δὲ τὸ ἡλιακὸν τοῦτο σῶμα ὄχημα εἶναι τῷ πρωτογόνῳ ἐκείνῳ φωτὶ παρεσκεύασται. ὡς γὰρ ἄλλο
τὸ πῦρ καὶ ἄλλο ὁ λύχνος, τὸ μὲν τὴν τοῦ φωτίζειν δύναμιν ἔχον, τὸ δὲ παρεμφαίνειν τοῖς δεομένοις πεποιημένον, οὕτω καὶ τῷ
καθαρωτάτῳ ἐκείνῳ καὶ εἰλικρινεῖ καὶ ἀΰλῳ φωτὶ ὄχημα νῦν οἱ φωστῆρες κατεσκευάσθησαν.» ἀλλὰ καὶ παρακατιὼν οὕτω κατὰ ῥῆμα
διέξεισι. καὶ ἔστω ὁ ἥλιος εἰς ἐξουσίαν τῆς ἡμέρας. πῶς οὖν ἔχει,» φησίν, τὴν ἐξουσίαν τῆς ἡμέρας ὁ ἥλιος; ὅτι τὸ φῶς ἐν ἑαυτῷ
περιφέρων, ἐπειδάν ποτε τὸν ὁρίζοντα ὑπεράρῃ, ἡμέραν παρέχει διαλύσας τὸ σκότος, ὥστε οὐκ ἄν τις ἁμάρτῃ ἡμέραν ὁρισάμενος
εἶναι τὸν ὑπὸ τοῦ ἡλίου πεφωτισμένον ἀέρα.» σαφῶς μὲν οὖν ἐνταῦθα ὁ μέγας ἔδειξεν ὅτι φωτοδόχα μόνον ἀγγεῖα, μὴ μέντοι γε
δὴ καὶ φῶς κατὰ τὴν τετάρτην ἡμέραν. παρήχθησαν δὲ πάντως ἐπὶ τὸ δέξασθαι τὸ φῶς ἐκεῖνο τὸ πρῶτον 37 καὶ φαίνειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
τοῦτο δὲ πεποίηκεν ὁ θεός, ἵνα καταμερισθέν, ὥς φησι Θεοδώρητος, εἰς δέ γε καὶ τοὺς μικροὺς καὶ μεγάλους φωστῆρας τὸ πρωτόγονον
ἐκεῖνο φῶς αἴγλην ἐκπέμπῃ ταῖς τῶν ζώων ὄψεσι σύμμετρον. εἰ μὴ γὰρ τοῦτο ἦν, οὐκ ἂν ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντα τὰ ζῶα τὴν ὑπερβολὴν
τοῦ φωτὸς ἤνεγκεν. ἐπιβεβαιοῖ ταῦτα καὶ ὁ μέγας Βασίλειος λέγων καλὸς μὲν ὁ ἥλιος, τουτέστιν ὁ δίσκος ὁ ἡλιακός, ἐν ᾧ ὥσπερ
λύχνῳ τινὶ τὸ πρωτόγονον ἐκεῖνο ἐναπετέθη φῶς, καλὸς δὲ καὶ διὰ τὴν συμμετρίαν αὐτοῦ· οὔτε γὰρ διὰ τὴν ἐκείνου λεπτότητα τὸ
πῦρ παρεξέρχεται καὶ καταφλέγει πάντα, οὔτε διὰ τὴν αὐτοῦ παχύτητα πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀμβλυτέραν τὴν αὐτοῦ παραπέμπει ἐνέργειαν.» Πρὸ
