Theodoret of Cyrus, On the Holy Trinity

28. Recapitulation of the faith. Therefore that the nature of the Trinity is one

we believe, one substance known in three properties, the authority undivided, the kingdom indivisible, one Godhead and Lordship. For thus a monad is shown in the identity of the substance, and the Trinity is known not in bare names, but in the hypostases. For we do not speak of one thing with three names according to the contraction and confusion of Sabellius and Photinus and Marcellus; nor three of a different kind and of a different substance, unequal and unlike, set over one another, measured and weighed by mind and tongue, according to the division and alienation and impious meddling of Arius; but three hypostases, and one nature of the Trinity: incorporeal, immutable, unchangeable, unending, immortal, infinite, incorruptible, uncircumscribed, uncontained, invisible, indistinct, unutterable, ineffable, incomprehensible, unattainable, inconceivable, life itself, intelligible light, a fount of good things, a treasury of wisdom, the creator of all things, governing all things, wisdom guiding the vessel of creation. This is the faith we hold; for this we were taught by the theological men. But to those who argue from syllogisms, let us say: That is your portion, that is your lot, but our portion is the Lord, whom following, we will not abandon the right 75.1189 way; for we also have the divine Scripture teaching us; therefore we cry out rightly: "Your law is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths." Illuminated by this light, let us recognize the footsteps of the fathers who have gone before, let us follow them until we all arrive at the resurrection of the dead in Christ Jesus the Lord, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen.

ΚΗʹ. Ἀνακεφαλαίωσις τῆς πίστεως. Τοίνυν μίαν τῆς Τριάδος τὴν φύσιν εἶναι

πιστεύο μεν, μίαν οὐσίαν ἐν τρισὶν ἰδιότησιν γνωριζομένην, τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἀμέριστον, τὴν βασιλείαν ἀδιαίρετον, μίαν θεότητά τε καὶ κυριότητα. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ μονὰς ἐν τῷ ταὐτῷ τῆς οὐσίας δείκνυται, καὶ ἡ Τριὰς οὐκ ἐν ψιλοῖς τοῖς ὀνόμασι, ἀλλ' ἐν ταῖς ὑποστάσεσι γνω ρίζεται. Οὐ γὰρ ἓν λέγομεν τριώνυμον κατὰ τὴν τοῦ Σαβελλίου καὶ Φωτεινοῦ καὶ Μαρκέλλου συναίρεσίν τε καὶ σύγχυσιν· οὐ τρία ἀλλόφυλά τε καὶ ἑτεροού σια, ἄνισα καὶ ἀνόμοια, ἀλλήλων ὑπερκείμενα, νῷ καὶ γλώττῃ μετρούμενά τε καὶ ταλαντευόμενα. κατὰ τὴν Ἀρείου διαίρεσίν τε καὶ ἀλλοτρίωσιν καὶ δυσσεβῆ πολυπραγμοσύνην· ἀλλὰ τρεῖς μὲν τὰς ὑποστάσεις, μίαν δὲ τῆς Τριάδος τὴν φύσιν ἀσώματον, ἄτρεπτον, ἀναλλοίωτον, ἀτελεύτητον, ἀθάνατον, ἄπειρον, ἄφθαρτον, ἀπερίγραπτον, ἀπερίληπτον, ἀόρατον, ἀσαφῆ, ἄῤῥητον, ἄφραστον, ἀκατάληπτον, ἀνέφικτον, ἀπερινόητον, αὐτοζωὴν, φῶς νοερὸν, πηγὴν ἀγαθῶν, θησαυρὸν σοφίας, δημιουργὸν τῶν ὄλων, κυβερνῶσαν τὰ πάντα, σοφίαν ἰθύνουσαν τὸ τῆς κτίσεως σκάφος. Ταύτην τὴν πίστιν κατέχομεν· ταύτην γὰρ παρὰ τῶν θεολόγων ἀνδρῶν ἐδιδάχθημεν. Πρὸς δὲ τοὺς ἀπὸ συλλογισμῶν διαλεγομένους, εἴπωμεν· Ἐκείνη σου ἡ μερὶς, ἐκεῖνος ὁ κλῆρος, ἡμῶν δὲ μερὶς Κύριος, ᾧ ἀκολουθοῦντες, τὴν ὀρθὴν 75.1189 ὁδὸν οὐ καταλείψομεν· ἔχομεν γὰρ καὶ τὴν θείαν Γραφὴν διδάσκουσαν· διὸ βοῶμεν εἰκότως· «Λύχνος τοῖς ποσί μου ὁ νόμος σου, καὶ φῶς ταῖς τρίβοις μου.» Τούτῳ τῷ φωτὶ περιλαμπόμενοι, τῶν προωδευκότων πατέρων τὰ ἴχνη γνωρίσωμεν, ἐκείνοις ἀκολουθήσωμεν μέχρις ἂν καταντήσωμεν οἱ πάντες εἰς τὴν ἐξανάστασιν τῶν νεκρῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Ἀμήν.