Homily XV.

John i. 18

“No man hath seen God at any time; the Only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”

[1.] God will not have us listen to the words and sentences contained in the Scriptures carelessly, but with much attention. This is why the blessed David hath prefixed in many places to his Psalms the title “for understanding,”392   εἰς σύνεσιν מַשְׂכִּיל Maschil, σύνεσις, intellectus, et ut Hieron. reddit, eruditio, aliqui, erudiens, vel intellectum præstans. Lorin. in tit. Ps. 31 (32). and hath said, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law.” ( Ps. xxxii. 42, &c.; Ps. cxix. 18.) And after him his son again shows that we ought to “seek out wisdom as silver,393   Some mss. read “silver, and search for it as treasure; He would not have said Search, &c.” and to make merchandise of her rather than of gold.” ( Prov. ii. 4 and iii. 14 [partially quoted]; John v. 39.) And the Lord when He exhorts the Jews to “search the Scriptures,” the more urges us to the enquiry, for He would not thus have spoken if it were possible to comprehend them immediately at the first reading. No one would ever search for what is obvious and at hand, but for that which is wrapt in shadow, and which must be found after much enquiry; and so to arouse us to the search He calls them “hidden treasure.” ( Prov. ii. 4; Matt. xiii. 44.) These words are said to us that we may not apply ourselves to the words of the Scriptures carelessly or in a chance way, but with great exactness. For if any one listen to what is said in them without enquiring into the meaning, and receive all so as it is spoken, according to the letter, he will suppose many unseemly things of God, will admit of Him that He is a man, that He is made of brass, is wrathful, is furious, and many opinions yet worse than these. But if he fully learn the sense that lies beneath, he will be freed from all this unseemliness. ( Rev. i. 15.) The very text which now lies before us says, that God has a bosom, a thing proper to bodily substances, yet no one is so insane as to imagine, that He who is without body is a body. In order then that we may properly interpret the entire passage according to its spiritual meaning, let us search it through from its beginning.

“No man hath seen God at any time.” By what connection of thought does the Apostle come to say this? After showing the exceeding greatness of the gifts of Christ, and the infinite difference between them and those ministered by Moses, he would add the reasonable cause of the difference. Moses, as being a servant, was minister of lower things, but Christ being Lord and King, and the King’s Son, brought to us things far greater, being ever with the Father, and beholding Him continually; wherefore He saith, “No man hath seen God at any time.” What then shall we answer to the most mighty of voice, Esaias, when he says, “I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up” ( Isa. vi. 1 ); and to John himself testifying of Him, that “he said these things when he had seen His glory”? ( c. xii. 41.) What also to Ezekiel? for he too beheld Him sitting above the Cherubim. ( Ezek. i. and x.) What to Daniel? for he too saith, “The Ancient of days did sit” ( Dan. vii. 9.) What to Moses himself, saying, “Show me Thy Glory, that I may see Thee so as to know Thee.” ( Ex. xxxiii. 13 , partly from LXX.) And Jacob took his name from this very thing, being called394   γνωστῶς. “Israel”; for Israel is “one that sees God.”395   Augus. De Civ. Dei, lib. 16, 39. And others have seen him. How then saith John, “No man hath seen God at any time”? It is to declare, that all these were instances of (His) condescension, not the vision of the Essence itself unveiled. For had they seen the very Nature, they would not have beheld It under different forms, since that is simple, without form, or parts, or bounding lines. It sits not, nor stands, nor walks: these things belong all to bodies. But how He Is, He only knoweth. And this He hath declared by a certain prophet, saying, “I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes396   lit. “been likened.” by the hands of the prophets” ( Hos. xii. 10 ), that is, “I have condescended, I have not appeared as I really was.” For since His Son was about to appear in very flesh, He prepared them from old time to behold the substance of God, as far as it was possible for them to see It; but what God really is, not only have not the prophets seen, but not even angels nor archangels. If you ask them, you shall not hear them answering anything concerning His Essence, but sending up,397   al. “only singing.” “Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace, good will towards men.” ( Luke ii. 14.) If you desire to learn something from Cherubim or Seraphim, you shall hear the mystic song of His Holiness, and that “heaven and earth are full of His glory.” ( Isa. vi. 3.) If you enquire of the higher powers, you shall but find398   al. “they shall answer again.” that their one work is the praise of God. “Praise ye Him,” saith David, “all His hosts.” ( Ps. cxlviii. 2.) But the Son only Beholds Him, and the Holy Ghost. How can any created nature even see the Uncreated? If we are absolutely unable clearly to discern any incorporeal power whatsoever, even though created, as has been often proved in the case of angels, much less can we discern the Essence which is incorporeal and uncreated. Wherefore Paul saith, “Whom no man hath seen, nor can see.” ( 1 Tim. vi. 16.) Does then this special attribute399   ἐ ξαίρετον. belong to the Father only, not to the Son? Away with the thought. It belongs also to the Son; and to show that it does so, hear Paul declaring this point, and saying, that He “is the Image of the invisible God.” ( Col. i. 15.) Now if He be the Image of the Invisible, He must be invisible Himself, for otherwise He would not be an “image.” And wonder not that Paul saith in another place, “God was manifested in the Flesh” ( 1 Tim. iii. 16 ); because the manifestation400   al. therefore saith (Paul), “Who was manifested in the flesh,” for the manifestation, &c. took place by means of the flesh, not according to (His) Essence. Besides, Paul shows that He is invisible, not only to men, but also to the powers above, for after saying, “was manifested in the Flesh,” he adds, “was seen of angels.”

[2.] So that even to angels He then became visible, when He put on the Flesh; but before that time they did not so behold Him, because even to them His Essence was invisible.

“How then,” asks some one, “did Christ say, ‘Despise not one of these little ones, for I tell you, that their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven’? ( Matt. xviii. 10.) Hath then God a face, and is He bounded by the heavens?” Who so mad as to assert this? What then is the meaning of the words? As when He saith, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” ( Matt. v. 8 ), He means that intellectual vision which is possible to us, and the having God in the thoughts; so in the case of angels, we must understand401   al. “many say.” that by reason of their pure and sleepless402   ἄ γρυπνον. nature they do nothing else, but always image to themselves God. And therefore Christ saith, that “No man knoweth the Father, save the Son.” ( Matt. x. 27.) What then, are we all in ignorance? God forbid; but none knoweth Him as the Son knoweth Him. As then many403   al. “many prophets.” have seen Him in the mode of vision permitted to them, but no one has beheld His Essence, so many of us know God, but what His substance can be none knoweth, save only He that was begotten of Him. For by “knowledge” He here means an exact idea and comprehension, such as the Father hath of the Son. “As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father.” ( c. x. 15.)

Observe, therefore, with what fullness404   περιουσίας, al. “exactness.” the Evangelist speaks; for having said that “no man hath seen God at any time,” he does not go on to say, “that the Son who hath seen, hath declared Him,” but adds something beyond “seeing” by the words, “Who is in the bosom of the Father”; because, “to dwell405   ἐ νδιαιτᾶσθαι. in the bosom” is far more than “to see.” For he that merely “seeth” hath not an in every way exact knowledge of the object, but he that “dwelleth in the bosom” can be ignorant of nothing. Now lest when thou hearest that “none knoweth the Father, save the Son,” thou shouldest assert that although He knoweth the Father more than all, yet He knoweth not how great He is, the Evangelist says that He dwells in the bosom of the Father; and Christ Himself declares, that He knoweth Him as much as the Father knoweth the Son. Ask therefore the gainsayer, “Tell me, doth the Father know the Son?” And if he be not mad, he will certainly answer “Yes.” Then ask again; “Doth He see and know Him with exact vision and knowledge? Doth He know clearly what He Is?” He will certainly confess this also. From this next collect the exact comprehension the Son has of the Father. For He saith, “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father” ( c. x. 15 ); and in another place, “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God.” ( c. vi. 46.) Wherefore, as I said, the Evangelist mentions “the bosom,” to show all this to us by that one word; that great is the affinity and nearness of the Essence, that the knowledge is nowise different, that the power is equal. For the Father would not have in His bosom one of another essence, nor would He have dared, had He been one amongst many servants, to live406   τρέφεσθαι, al. στρέφεσθαι, versari. in the bosom of his Lord, for this belongs only to a true Son, to one who has407   lit. “uses.” much confidence towards His Father, and who is in nothing inferior to Him.

Wouldest thou learn also His eternity? Hear what Moses saith concerning the Father. When he asked what he was commanded to answer should the Jews enquire of him, “Who it was that had sent him,” he heard these words: “Say, I AM hath sent me.” ( Ex. iii. 14.) Now the expression “I AM,”408   lit. “He Who Is.” Another reading of the passage is, “if he were asked…and should answer, he is bidden to say that, &c.” is significative of Being ever, and Being without beginning, of Being really and absolutely. And this also the expression, “Was in the beginning,” declares, being indicative of Being ever; so that John uses this word to show that the Son Is from everlasting to everlasting409   ἀ νάρχως καὶ ἀϊδίως. in the bosom of the Father. For that you may not from the sameness of name, suppose that He is some one of those who are made sons by grace, first, the article is added, distinguishing Him from those by grace. But if this does not content you, if you still look earthwards, hear a name more absolute than this, “Only-Begotten.” If even after this you still look below, “I will not refuse,” says he, (St. John,) “to apply to God a term belonging to man, I mean the word ‘bosom,’ only suspect nothing degrading.” Dost thou see the lovingkindness and carefulness of the Lord? God applies410   al. “allows to be applied.” to Himself unworthy expressions, that even so thou mayest see through them, and have some great and lofty thought of Him; and dost thou tarry below? For tell me, wherefore is that gross and carnal word “bosom” employed in this place? Is it that we may suppose God to be a body? Away, he by no means saith so. Why then is it spoken? for if by it neither the genuineness of the Son is established, nor that God is not a body, the word, because it serves no purpose, is superfluously thrown in. Why then is it spoken? For I shall not desist from asking thee this question. Is it not very plain, that it is for no other reason but that by it we might understand the genuineness of the Only-Begotten, and His Co-eternity with the Father?

[3.] “He hath declared Him,” saith John. What hath he declared? That “no man hath seen God at any time”? That “God is one”? But this all the other prophets testify, and Moses continually411   ἄ νω καὶ κάτω. exclaims, “The Lord thy God is one Lord” ( Deut. vi. 4 ); and Esaias, “Before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.” ( Isa. xliii. 10.) What more then have we learned from “the Son which is in the bosom of the Father”? What from “the Only-Begotten”? In the first place, these very words were uttered by His working; in the next place, we have received a teaching that is far clearer, and learned that “God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” ( c. iv. 24 ); and again, that it is impossible to see God; “that no man knoweth” Him, “save the Son” ( Matt. xi. 27 ); that He is the Father of the true and Only-Begotten; and all other things that are told us of Him. But the word “hath declared”412   ἐ ξηγήσατο. shows the plainer and clearer teaching which He gave not to the Jews only but to all the world, and established. To the prophets not even all the Jews gave heed, but to the Only-Begotten Son of God all the world yielded and obeyed. So the “declaration” in this place shows the greater clearness of His teaching, and therefore also He is called “Word,” and “Angel413   or, “Messenger.” of great Counsel.”414   μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελος. The LXX. version of the titles of Christ, Isa. ix. 6.

Since then we have been vouchsafed a larger and more perfect teaching, God having no longer spoken by the prophets, but “having in these last days spoken to us by His Son” ( Heb. i. 1 ), let us show forth a conversation far higher than theirs, and suitable to the honor bestowed on us. Strange would it be that He should have so far lowered Himself, as to choose to speak to us no longer by His servants, but by His own mouth, and yet we should show forth nothing more than those of old. They had Moses for their teacher, we, Moses’ Lord. Let us then exhibit a heavenly wisdom415   φιλοσοφίαν. worthy of this honor, and let us have nothing to do with earth. It was for this that He brought His teaching from heaven above, that He might remove our thoughts thither, that we might be imitators of our Teacher according to our power. But how may we become imitators of Christ? By acting in everything for the common good, and not merely seeking our own. “For even Christ,” saith Paul, “pleased not Himself, but as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached Thee fell on Me.” ( Rom. xv. 3; Ps. lxix. 9.) Let no one therefore seek his own. In truth, a man (really) seeks his own good when he looks to that of his neighbor. What is their good is ours; we are one body, and parts and limbs one of another. Let us not then be as though we were rent asunder. Let no one say, “such a person is no friend of mine, nor relation, nor neighbor, I have nought to do with him, how shall I approach, how address him?” Though he be neither relation nor friend, yet he is a man, who shares the same nature with thee, owns the same Lord, is thy fellow-servant, and fellow-sojourner,416   ὁ μόσκηνος, “tent-fellow.” for he is born in the same world. And if besides he partakes of the same faith, behold he hath also become a member of thee: for what friendship could work such union, as the relationship of faith? And our intimacy one with another must not be such nearness only as friends ought to show to friends, but such as is between limb and limb, because no man can possibly discover any intimacy greater than this sort of friendship and fellowship.417   al. “care.” As then you cannot say, “Whence arises my intimacy and connection with this limb?” (that would be ridiculous;) so neither can you say so in the case of your brother. “We are all baptized into one body” ( 1 Cor. xii. 13 ), saith Paul. “Wherefore into one body?” That we be not rent asunder, but preserve the just proportions of that one body by our intercourse and friendship one with another.

Let us not then despise one another, lest we be neglectful of ourselves.418   al. “let us then so care for our neighbors, as not neglecting each his own flesh.” “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it.” ( Eph. v. 29.) And therefore God hath given to us but one habitation, this earth, hath distributed all things equally, hath lighted one sun for us all, hath spread above us one roof, the sky, made one table, the earth, bear419   ἀ νῆκεν. food for us. And another table hath He given far better than this, yet that too is one, (those who share our mysteries understand my words,) one manner of birth He hath bestowed on all, the spiritual, we all have one country, that in the heavens, of the same cup drink we all. He hath not bestowed on the rich man a gift more abundant and more honorable, and on the poor one more mean and small, but He hath called all alike. He hath given carnal things with equal regard to all,420   ὁ μοτίμως. and spiritual in like manner. Whence then proceeds the great inequality of conditions in life? From the avarice and pride of the wealthy. But let not, brethren, let not this any longer be; and when matters of universal interest and more pressing necessity bring us together, let us not be divided by things earthly and insignificant: I mean, by wealth and poverty, by bodily relationship, by enmity and friendship; for all these things are a shadow, nay less substantial than a shadow, to those who possess the bond of charity from above. Let us then preserve this unbroken, and none of those evil spirits421   al. “passions.” will be able to enter in, who cause division in so perfect union;422   al. “union with Him.” to which may we all attain by the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost, be glory, now and ever, and world without end. Amen.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙΕʹ. Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε πώποτε: ὁ μονογενὴς Υἱὸς, ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ Πατρὸς, ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγή σατο. αʹ. Τῶν ὀνομάτων καὶ τῶν ῥημάτων τῶν ἐν ταῖς Γραφαῖς κειμένων, οὐχ ἁπλῶς ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπακούειν βούλεται, ἀλλὰ μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς συνέσεως. Διὰ τοῦτο ὁ μὲν μακάριος Δαυῒδ πολλαχοῦ τῶν Ψαλμῶν προέγραφε τῶν ἑαυτοῦ τὸ, Εἰς σύνεσιν, καὶ ἔλεγεν: Ἀποκάλυψον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, καὶ κατανοήσω τὰ θαυμάσια ἐκ τοῦ νόμου σου. Μετὰ δὲ τοῦτον καὶ ὁ τούτου παῖς ὑποτιθεὶς δείκνυσιν, ὅτι δεῖ καθάπερ ἀργύριον ἐκζητεῖν τὴν σοφίαν: μᾶλλον δὲ ὑπὲρ χρυσίον αὐτὴν ἐμπορεύεσθαι. Καὶ ὁ Κύριος δὲ τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις παραινῶν τὰς Γραφὰς ἐρευνᾷν, ἐπὶ πλέον ἡμᾶς εἰς ζήτησιν ἐνάγει. Οὐκ ἂν γὰρ οὕτως εἶπεν, εἴ γε αὐτόθεν καὶ ἐκ πρώτης αὐτὰς καταλαβεῖν δυνατὸν ἦν τῆς ἀναγνώσεως. Τὸ γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ κείμενον, καὶ πρόχειρον, οὐδείς ποτ' ἂν ἐρευνήσαιτο, ἀλλὰ τὸ συνεσκιασμένον, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς εὑρισκόμενον τῆς ζητήσεως. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ θησαυρὸν κεκρυμμένον αὐτὰς εἶναί φησι, πρὸς τὴν ζήτησιν ἡμᾶς διεγείρων. Ταῦτα δὲ ἡμῖν εἴρηται, ἵνα μὴ ἁπλῶς μηδὲ ὡς ἔτυχε προσβάλλωμεν τοῖς τῶν Γραφῶν ῥήμασιν, ἀλλὰ μετὰ ἀκριβείας πολλῆς. Εἰ μὲν γὰρ ἀνεξετάστως τις ἐπακούσειε τῶν λεγομένων ἐν αὐταῖς, καὶ δέξαιτο πάντα οὕτως ὡς εἴρηται κατὰ τὸ γράμμα, πολλὰ τὰ ἄτοπα ὑποπτεύσει περὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ ἄνθρωπον αὐτὸν εἶναι, καὶ ἀπὸ χαλκοῦ συνεστάναι, καὶ ὀργίλον, καὶ θυμώδη, καὶ πολλὰ ἔτι τούτων χείρονα περὶ αὐτοῦ δέξεται δόγματα. Εἰ δὲ τὸν νοῦν τὸν ἐν τῷ βάθει κείμενον καταμάθοι, πάσης ταύτης ἀπαλλαγήσεται τῆς ἀτοπίας. Ἐπεὶ καὶ τὸ νῦν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀνάγνωσμα κόλπον φησὶ τὸν Θεὸν ἔχειν, ὅπερ σωμάτων ἐστιν ἴδιον. Ἀλλ' οὐδεὶς οὕτω μέμηνεν, ὥστε σῶμα ὑποπτεῦσαι τὸν ἀσώματον εἶναι. Ἵν' οὖν ἀξίως τῆς πνευματικῆς ἐννοίας τὸ πᾶν ἐκλάβωμεν, φέρε ἄνωθεν τὸ χωρίον διερευνησώμεθα. Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε πώποτε. Ἐκ ποίας ἐπὶ τοῦτο ἦλθεν ἀκολουθίας ὁ Εὐαγγελιστής; Δείξας πολλὴν τῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ δωρεῶν τὴν ὑπερβολήν, ὡς εἶναι τὸ μέσον ἄπειρον τούτων τε καὶ τῶν διὰ Μωϋσέως οἰκονομηθέντων, θέλει λοιπὸν καὶ αἰτίαν εὔλογον τῆς διαφορᾶς εἰπεῖν. Ἐκεῖνος μὲν γὰρ ὑπηρέτης ὢν, ταπεινοτέρων γέγονε πραγμάτων διάκονος: οὗτος δὲ Δεσπότης, καὶ βασιλεὺς, καὶ βασιλέως Υἱὸς ὢν, τὰ πολλῷ μείζονα ἡμῖν ἐκόμισε, συνὼν ἀεὶ τῷ Πατρὶ, καὶ ὁρῶν αὐτὸν διηνεκῶς. Διὸ καὶ οὕτως ἐπήγαγε λέγων: Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε πώποτε. Τί οὖν ἐροῦμεν τῷ μεγαλοφωνοτάτῳ Ἡσαΐᾳ λέγοντι: Εἶδον τὸν Κύριον καθήμενον ἐπὶ θρόνου ὑψηλοῦ καὶ ἐπηρμένου; τί δὲ τῷ Ἰωάννῃ προσμαρτυροῦντι αὐτῷ ὅτι ταῦτα εἶπεν, ὅτε εἶδε τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ; τί δὲ τῷ Ἰεζεκιήλ; καὶ γὰρ καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τῶν Χερουβὶμ καθήμενον αὐτὸν ὁρᾷ: τί δὲ καὶ τῷ Δανιήλ; καὶ γὰρ καὶ οὗτός φησιν: Ὁ Παλαιὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐκάθητο: τί δὲ καὶ αὐτῷ τῷ Μωϋσεῖ λέγοντι: Δεῖξόν μοι τὴν δόξαν σου ὅπως γνωστῶς ἴδω σε; Ὁ δὲ Ἰακὼβ καὶ ἀπὸ τούτου τὴν προσηγορίαν ἔλαβεν, Ἰσραὴλ ἐπικληθείς: Ἰσραὴλ γὰρ ὁ τὸν Θεὸν ὁρῶν ἐστι. Καὶ ἕτεροι δὲ αὐτὸν ἑωράκασι. Πῶς οὖν ὁ Ἰωάννης εἶπε, Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε πώποτε; Δηλῶν ὅτι πάντα ἐκεῖνα συγκαταβάσεως ἦν, οὐκ αὐτῆς τῆς οὐσίας γυμνῆς ὄψις. Εἰ γὰρ αὐτὴν ἑώρων τὴν φύσιν, οὐκ ἂν διαφόρως αὐτὴν ἐθεάσαντο. Ἁπλῆ γάρ τις καὶ ἀσχημάτιστος αὕτη, καὶ ἀσύνθετος, καὶ ἀπερίγραπτος, οὐ κάθηται, οὐδὲ ἕστηκεν, οὐδὲ περιπατεῖ. Ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα σωμάτων. Πῶς δέ ἐστιν, αὐτὸς οἶδε μόνος. Καὶ τοῦτο διὰ προφήτου τινὸς ὁ Θεὸς καὶ Πατὴρ ἐμφαίνων ἔλεγεν: Ἐγὼ ὁράσεις, φησὶν, ἐπλήθυνα, καὶ ἐν χερσὶ προφητῶν ὡμοιώθην: τουτέστι, Συγκατέβην, οὐ τοῦτο ὅπερ ἤμην ἐφάνην. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἔμελλεν αὐτοῦ ὁ Υἱὸς δι' ἀληθινῆς σαρκὸς φανήσεσθαι ἡμῖν, ἄνωθεν αὐτοὺς προεγύμναζεν ὁρᾷν τοῦ Θεοῦ τὴν οὐσίαν, ὡς αὐτοῖς δυνατὸν ἦν ἰδεῖν. Ἐπεὶ αὐτὸ ὅπερ ἐστὶν ὁ Θεὸς, οὐ μόνον προφῆται, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἄγγελοι εἶδον, οὔτε ἀρχάγγελοι: ἀλλ' ἐὰν ἐρωτήσῃς αὐτοὺς, ἀκούσῃ περὶ μὲν τῆς οὐσίας οὐδὲν ἀποκρινομένους, Δόξα δὲ ἐν ὑψίστοις, μόνον ᾄδοντας, τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία. Κἂν παρὰ τῶν Χερουβὶμ ἢ τῶν Σεραφὶμ ἐπιθυμήσῃς τι μαθεῖν, τὸ μυστικὸν τοῦ ἁγιασμοῦ μέλος ἀκούσῃ, καὶ ὅτι Πλήρης ὁ οὐρανὸς, καὶ ἡ γῆ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ. Ἂν τὰς ἀνωτέρω δυνάμεις ἐξετάσῃς, οὐδὲν ἄλλο εὑρήσεις, ἢ ὅτι ἓν ἔργον αὐταῖς ἐστι, τὸ αἰνεῖν τὸν Θεόν: Αἰνεῖτε γὰρ αὐτὸν, φησὶ, πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις αὐτοῦ. Μόνος οὖν αὐτὸν ὁρᾷ ὁ Υἱὸς, καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον. Ἡ γὰρ κτιστὴ φύσις ἅπασα πῶς καὶ ἰδεῖν δυνήσεται τὸν ἄκτιστον; Εἰ γὰρ ἁπλῶς τῆς ὁποιασοῦν ἀσωμάτου δυνάμεως, καίτοι γε γενητῆς οὔσης, οὐ δυνάμεθα δέξασθαι θεωρίαν σαφῆ, καὶ τοῦτο πολλάκις ἐπὶ τῶν ἀγγέλων ἐδείχθη: πολλῷ μᾶλλον τῆς καὶ ἀσωμάτου καὶ ἀγενήτου οὐσίας. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ ὁ Παῦλός φησιν, Ὃν εἶδεν οὐδεὶς ἀνθρώπων οὐδὲ ἰδεῖν δύναται. Ἆρ' οὖν τῷ Πατρὶ μόνῳ τὸ ἐξαίρετον τοῦτο πρόσεστι, τῷ δὲ Υἱῷ οὐκέτι; Ἄπαγε: ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ. Ὅτι δὲ καὶ αὐτῷ, ἄκουε Παύλου τοῦτο δηλοῦντος, καὶ λέγοντος: Ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ Θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου. Ὁ δὲ τοῦ ἀοράτου εἰκὼν ὢν, καὶ αὐτὸς ἀόρατος: ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν εἴη εἰκών. Εἰ δὲ ἀλλαχοῦ φησι, Θεὸς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκὶ, μὴ θαυμάσῃς: ὅτι ἡ φανέρωσις διὰ τῆς σαρκὸς, οὐ μὴν κατὰ τὴν οὐσίαν γέγονεν. Ἐπεὶ ὅτι καὶ αὐτὸς ἀόρατος οὐ μόνον ἀνθρώποις, ἀλλὰ καὶ ταῖς ἄνω δυνάμεσι, δείκνυσιν ὁ Παῦλος. Εἰπὼν γὰρ, ὅτι Ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκὶ, ἐπήγαγεν, ὅτι Ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις. βʹ. Ὥστε καὶ τοῖς ἀγγέλοις τότε ὤφθη, ὅτε σάρκα περιεβάλετο: πρὸ τούτου δὲ οὐχ ἑώρων αὐτὸν οὕτως, ἐπειδὴ καὶ αὐτοῖς ἀόρατος ἡ οὐσία ἦν. Καὶ πῶς, φησὶν, ὁ Χριστὸς εἶπε, Μὴ καταφρονήσητε ἑνὸς τῶν μικρῶν τούτων: λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν, ὅτι οἱ ἄγγελοι αὐτῶν διαπαντὸς βλέπουσι τὸ πρόσωπον τοῦ Πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς; Τί γάρ; καὶ πρόσωπον ὁ Θεὸς ἔχει, καὶ ἐν οὐρανοῖς περιγέγραπται; Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἄν τις οὕτω μανείη, ὥστε ταῦτα εἰπεῖν. Τί ποτ' οὖν ἐστι τὸ λεγόμενον; Ὥσπερ ὅταν λέγῃ: Μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν Θεὸν ὄψονται: τὴν κατὰ διάνοιαν ὄψιν φησὶ, τὴν ἡμῖν δυνατὴν, καὶ τὴν ἔννοιαν τὴν περὶ Θεοῦ: οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἰπεῖν ἐστιν, ὅτι διὰ τὴν καθαρὰν αὐτῶν καὶ ἄγρυπνον φύσιν οὐδὲν ἕτερον, ἀλλ' ἢ τὸν Θεὸν ἀεὶ φαντάζονται. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ αὐτὸς πάλιν φησὶν, Οὐδεὶς γινώσκει τὸν Πατέρα, εἰ μὴ ὁ Υἱός. Τί οὖν; πάντες ἐν ἀγνοίᾳ ἐσμέν; Μὴ γένοιτο: ἀλλ' οὕτως οὐδεὶς οἶδεν ὡς ὁ Υἱός. Ὥσπερ οὖν εἶδον αὐτὸν οἱ πολλοὶ κατὰ τὴν ἐγχωροῦσαν αὐτοῖς ὄψιν, τὴν δὲ οὐσίαν οὐδεὶς ἐθεάσατο: οὕτω καὶ νῦν ἴσμεν πάντες μὲν τὸν Θεὸν, τὴν δὲ οὐσίαν οὐδεὶς οἶδεν ὅ τί ποτέ ἐστιν, εἰ μὴ μόνος ὁ γεννηθεὶς ἐξ αὐτοῦ. Γνῶσιν γὰρ ἐνταῦθα τὴν ἀκριβῆ λέγει θεωρίαν τε καὶ κατάληψιν, καὶ τοσαύτην ὅσην ὁ Πατὴρ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ Παιδός. Καθὼς γὰρ γινώσκει με ὁ Πατὴρ, κἀγὼ γινώσκω τὸν Πατέρα. Διὸ καὶ ὁ Εὐαγγελιστὴς ὅρα μεθ' ὅσης φθέγγεται τῆς περιουσίας. Εἰπὼν γὰρ, ὅτι Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε πώποτε, οὐκ εἶπεν, ὅτι ὁ Υἱὸς ἰδὼν ἐξηγήσατο, ἀλλ' ἕτερόν τι πλέον τοῦ ἰδεῖν ἔθηκεν, εἰπὼν, ὅτι Ὁ ὢν ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τοῦ Πατρός. Τοῦ γὰρ ἰδεῖν τὸ καὶ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ ἐνδιαιτᾶσθαι πολλῷ πλέον ἐστίν. Ὁ μὲν γὰρ ἁπλῶς ὁρῶν, οὐ πάντως ἀκριβῆ τοῦ φαινομένου τὴν γνῶσιν ἔχει: ὁ δὲ τοῖς κόλποις ἐνδιατρίβων, οὐδὲν ἀγνοήσειέ ποτε. Ἀκούων οὖν, ὅτι Οὐδεὶς γινώσκει τὸν Πατέρα, εἰ μὴ ὁ Υἱὸς, ἵνα μὴ λέγῃς, ὅτι εἰ πλέον ἁπάντων οἶδε τὸν Πατέρα, ἀλλ' οὐχ ὅσος ἐστὶν οἶδε: διὰ τοῦτο ὅ τε Εὐαγγελιστὴς ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ αὐτὸν διαιτᾶσθαι τοῦ Πατρὸς λέγει, αὐτός τε ὁ Χριστὸς τοσοῦτον αὐτὸν εἰδέναι φησὶν, ὅσον ὁ Πατὴρ τὸν Υἱόν. Ἐρώτησον οὖν τὸν ἀντιλέγοντα: Ἆρά γε, εἰπὲ, γινώσκει τὸν Υἱὸν ὁ Πατήρ; Καὶ ἐρεῖ πάντως, ἂν μὴ μαίνηται, ὅτι Ναί. Μετὰ τοῦτο κἀκεῖνο ἐρώμεθα πάλιν αὐτόν: Τί δὲ, ἀκριβῆ τινα ὅρασιν καὶ γνῶσιν αὐτὸν ὁρᾷ καὶ γινώσκει, καὶ τοῦτο ὅπερ ἐστὶν οἶδε σαφῶς; Καὶ πάντως καὶ τοῦτο ἐρεῖ. Ἀπὸ γοῦν τούτου λοιπὸν συνάγαγε τὴν ἀκριβῆ τοῦ Υἱοῦ περὶ τοῦ Πατρὸς κατάληψιν. Αὐτὸς γὰρ εἶπεν, ὅτι Ὡς γινώσκει με ὁ Πατὴρ, οὕτω καὶ ἐγὼ αὐτὸν γινώσκω: καὶ ἀλλαχοῦ, Οὐχ ὅτι Θεόν τις ἑώρακεν, εἰ μὴ ὁ ὢν ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Διὰ τοῦτο, ὅπερ ἔφην, καὶ ὁ Εὐαγγελιστὴς τοῦ κόλπου μέμνηται, πάντα διὰ τοῦ ἑνὸς ῥήματος τούτου ἡμῖν ἐμφαίνων, ὅτι πολλὴ τῆς οὐσίας ἡ συγγένεια καὶ ἡ ἑνότης, ὅτι ἀπαράλλακτος ἡ γνῶσις, ὅτι ἴση ἡ ἐξουσία. Οὐ γὰρ τὸν ἑτερούσιον ἐν τοῖς κόλποις ἂν ἔσχεν ὁ Πατήρ: ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἂν αὐτὸς ἐτόλμησε, δοῦλος ὢν καὶ τῶν πολλῶν εἷς, ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ στρέφεσθαι τοῦ Δεσπότου: τοῦτο γὰρ υἱοῦ γνησίου μόνον καὶ πολλῇ τῇ παῤῥησίᾳ πρὸς τὸν γεγεννηκότα χρωμένου, καὶ οὐδὲν ἔλαττον ἔχοντος. Βούλει καὶ τὸ ἀΐδιον μαθεῖν; Ἄκουσον τί φησιν ὁ Μωϋσῆς περὶ τοῦ Πατρός. Ἐρωτήσας γὰρ, εἰ ἐρωτηθείη παρὰ τῶν Αἰγυπτίων, τίς ὁ ἀπεσταλκὼς αὐτὸν εἴη, τί ποτε δὴ καὶ ἀποκρίνηται πρὸς αὐτοὺς, κελεύεται εἰπεῖν, ὅτι Ὁ ὢν ἀπέσταλκέ με. Τὸ δὲ, Ὁ ὢν, τοῦ ἀεὶ εἶναι σημαντικόν ἐστι, καὶ τοῦ ἀνάρχως εἶναι, καὶ τοῦ ὄντως εἶναι καὶ κυρίως. Τοῦτο καὶ τὸ, Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν, ἐμφαίνει, τοῦ ἀεὶ εἶναι δηλωτικὸν ὄν. Τούτῳ δὴ οὖν ἐνταῦθα κέχρηται τῷ ῥητῷ ὁ Ἰωάννης, δεικνὺς ὅτι ἀνάρχως καὶ ἀϊδίως ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τοῦ Πατρός ἐστιν ὁ Υἱός. Ἵνα τοίνυν μὴ διὰ τὴν τοῦ ὀνόματος κοινωνίαν ἕνα τινὰ τῶν χάριτι γενομένων υἱῶν εἶναι νομίσῃς αὐτὸν, πρῶτον μὲν πρόσκειται τὸ ἄρθρον διαιροῦν αὐτὸν τῶν κατὰ χάριν. Εἰ δὲ μὴ τοῦτο ἀρκεῖ σοι, ἀλλ' ἔτι κάτω κύπτεις, τούτου κυριώτερον ἄκουε ὄνομα τὸ, Μονογενής. Εἰ δὲ καὶ μετὰ τοῦτο πάλιν κάτω βλέπεις, οὐ παραιτήσομαί πως καὶ ἀνθρωπίνην τινὰ ῥῆσιν εἰπεῖν περὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, τὴν τοῦ κόλπου λέγω, μόνον ἵνα μηδὲν ὑποπτεύσῃς ταπεινόν. Εἶδες φιλανθρωπίαν καὶ κηδεμονίαν Δεσπότου; Ἀνάξια ῥήματα περιτίθησιν ἑαυτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, ἵνα κἂν οὕτω διαβλέψῃς, καὶ μέγα τι καὶ ὑψηλὸν ἐννοήσῃς: καὶ σὺ κάτω μένεις; Εἰπὲ γάρ μοι: τίνος ἕνεκεν ὁ κόλπος ἐνταῦθα παρείληπται, τὸ παχὺ τοῦτο ὄνομα καὶ σαρκικόν; ἵνα σῶμα τὸν Θεὸν ὑποπτεύσωμεν; Ἄπαγε, οὐδαμῶς, φησί. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν εἴρηται; Εἰ γὰρ μήτε ἡ γνησιότης τοῦ Υἱοῦ παρίσταται διὰ τούτου, μήτε τὸ μὴ σῶμα εἶναι τὸν Θεὸν, περιττῶς προσέῤῥιπται τὸ ῥητὸν, οὐδεμίαν χρείαν πληροῦν. Τίνος οὖν ἕνεκεν εἴρηται; οὐ γὰρ ἀποστήσομαί σου τοῦτο πυνθανόμενος. Οὐκ εὔδηλον ὅτι οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἢ ἵνα μὴ ὑπολάβωμεν δι' αὐτοῦ, ἀλλ' ἢ τὸ γνήσιον τοῦ Μονογενοῦς, καὶ τὸ συναΐδιον τῷ Πατρί; Ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο, φησί. Τί ἐξηγήσατο; Ὅτι Θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακε πώποτε: ὅτι εἷς ἐστιν ὁ Θεός. Ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ προφῆται, καὶ Μωϋσῆς ἄνω καὶ κάτω βοᾷ: Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου, Κύριος εἷς ἐστι: καὶ ὁ Ἡσαΐας: Ἔμπροσθέν μου οὐκ ἐγένετο ἄλλος Θεὸς, καὶ μετ' ἐμὲ οὐκ ἔστιν. γʹ. Τί οὖν πλέον ἐμάθομεν παρὰ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, ὡς ἐν τοῖς κόλποις ὄντος τοῖς πατρικοῖς; τί παρὰ τοῦ Μονογενοῦς; Ὅτι πρῶτον μὲν καὶ αὐτὰ ταῦτα τῆς ἐνεργείας ἐστὶ τῆς ἐκείνου: ἔπειτα, πολλῷ τρανοτέραν ἐδεξάμεθα τὴν διδασκαλίαν, καὶ ἔγνωμεν ὅτι πνεῦμα ὁ Θεὸς, καὶ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτὸν, ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ δεῖ προσκυνεῖν: καὶ ἔτι αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ὅτι Θεὸν ἰδεῖν ἀδύνατον, καὶ ὅτι οὐδεὶς αὐτὸν γινώσκει, εἰ μὴ ὁ Υἱός: καὶ ὅτι ὁ Πατήρ ἐστι γνησίου Μονογενοῦς: καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ὅσα περὶ αὐτοῦ διελέχθη. Τὸ δὲ, Ἐξηγήσατο, τὴν τρανοτέραν καὶ σαφεστέραν δείκνυσι διδασκαλίαν, ἢν οὐ πρὸς Ἰουδαίους μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς ἅπασαν ἐποιήσατο τὴν οἰκουμένην καὶ κατώρθωσε. Τοῖς μὲν οὖν προφήταις οὐδὲ Ἰουδαῖοι πάντες προσεῖχον: τῷ δὲ Μονογενεῖ τοῦ Θεοῦ πᾶσα ἡ οἰκουμένη καὶ εἶξε καὶ ἐπείσθη. Ἡ τοίνυν ἐξήγησις ἐνταῦθα τὸ σαφέστερον τῆς διδασκαλίας δηλοῖ: διὸ καὶ Λόγος λέγεται, καὶ Μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελος. Ἐπεὶ οὖν καὶ μείζονος καὶ τελειοτέρας κατηξιώθημεν τῆς διδασκαλίας, οὐκ ἔτι διὰ προφητῶν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τοῦ Υἱοῦ λαλήσαντος ἡμῖν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπ' ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων, πολλῷ μείζονα καὶ ἀξίαν πολιτείαν ἐπιδειξώμεθα τῆς τιμῆς. Καὶ γὰρ ἄτοπον, αὐτὸν μὲν καταβῆναι τοσοῦτον, ὡς μηκέτι διὰ τῶν δούλων ἡμῖν ἐθέλειν διαλέγεσθαι, ἀλλὰ δι' ἑαυτοῦ: ἡμᾶς δὲ τῶν προτέρων μηδὲν ἐπιδείξασθαι πλέον. Ἐκεῖνοι μὲν οὖν Μωϋσέα, ἡμεῖς δὲ τὸν Μωϋσέως Δεσπότην διδάσκαλον ἔχομεν. Οὐκοῦν ταύτης τῆς τιμῆς ἀξίαν φιλοσοφίαν ἐπιδειξώμεθα, καὶ μηδὲν ἔχωμεν κοινὸν πρὸς τὴν γῆν. Διὰ γὰρ τοῦτο ἡμῖν ἄνωθεν ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν διδασκαλίαν ἐκόμισεν, ἵνα ἐκεῖ μεταστήσῃ τὴν διάνοιαν, ἵνα μιμηταὶ τοῦ διδασκάλου γενώμεθα κατὰ δύναμιν τὴν ἡμετέραν. Καὶ πῶς, φησὶν, ἔστι μιμητὰς γενέσθαι τοῦ Χριστοῦ, εἰς τὸ κοινωφελὲς ἅπαντα πραγματευομένους, καὶ μὴ τὰ ἑαυτῶν ζητοῦντας. Καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς, φησὶν, οὐχ ἑαυτῷ ἤρεσεν, ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται: Οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπ' ἐμέ. Μηδεὶς τοιγαροῦν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ζητείτω. Οὕτω γάρ τις τὸ ἑαυτοῦ ζητεῖ, ἂν τὸ τοῦ πλησίον σκοπῇ: καὶ γὰρ τὰ ἐκείνων ἡμέτερα. Σῶμά ἐσμεν ἓν, καὶ ἀλλήλων μέρη καὶ μέλη. Μὴ τοίνυν ὡς διεσπασμένοι διακεώμεθα, μηδὲ λεγέτω τις: Ὁ δεῖνά μοι φίλος οὐκ ἔστιν, οὐδὲ συγγενὴς, οὐδὲ γείτων, οὐδὲ ἔχω τι κοινὸν πρὸς αὐτόν: πῶς προσελεύσομαι; πῶς διαλέξομαι; Εἰ γὰρ καὶ μὴ συγγενὴς, μηδὲ φίλος ἐστὶν, ἀλλ' ἄνθρωπός ἐστι, τῆς αὐτῆς σοὶ μετέχων φύσεως, τὸν αὐτὸν ἔχων Δεσπότην, ὁμόδουλος καὶ ὁμόσκηνος: ἐν γὰρ τῷ αὐτῷ γέγονε κόσμῳ. Εἰ δὲ καὶ τῆς πίστεως μετέχει τῆς αὐτῆς, ἰδού σοι καὶ μέλος γέγονε. Ποία γὰρ φιλία τοσαύτην ἕνωσιν ἐργάσασθαι δύναιτ' ἂν, ὅσην τῆς πίστεως ἡ συγγένεια; Οὐ γὰρ ὅσην φίλους πρὸς φίλους ἐπιδείκνυσθαι χρὴ τὴν ἐγγύτητα, καὶ τοσαύτην ἡμᾶς ἔχειν δεῖ τὴν πρὸς ἀλλήλους οἰκείωσιν: ἀλλ' ὅσην μέλος πρὸς μέλος. Τούτου γὰρ τοῦ τρόπου τῆς φιλίας καὶ κοινωνίας ἄλλην μείζονα οἰκείωσιν οὐκ ἄν τις εὕροι ποτέ. Ὥσπερ οὖν οὐκ ἂν δύναιο λέγειν: Πόθεν μοι οἰκειότης καὶ ἐγγύτης πρὸς αὐτόν; καταγέλαστον γὰρ τοῦτο: οὕτως οὐδὲ περὶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ δυνήσῃ τοῦτο εἰπεῖν. Οἱ γὰρ πάντες εἰς ἓν σῶμα ἐβαπτίσθημεν, φησί. Διατί εἰς ἓν σῶμα; Ὥστε μὴ διεσπάσθαι, ἀλλὰ τῇ πρὸς ἀλλήλους συνόδῳ καὶ φιλίᾳ σώματος ἑνὸς ἀκολουθίαν διατηρεῖν. Μὴ δὴ καταφρονήσωμεν ἀλλήλων, ἵνα μὴ ἑαυτῶν ὑπερίδωμεν. Οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σάρκα ἐμίσησε, φησὶν, ἀλλ' ἐκτρέφει καὶ θάλπει αὐτήν. Διὰ τοῦτο οἰκίαν μίαν τοῦτον ἡμῖν τὸν κόσμον ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς, πάντα ἐξίσου διένειμεν, ἕνα ἀνῆψε πᾶσιν ἥλιον, ἕνα ἐξέτεινεν ὄροφον, τὸν οὐρανὸν, μίαν ἀνῆκε τράπεζαν, τὴν γῆν. Ἔδωκε καὶ ἑτέραν ταύτης πολλῷ μείζονα τράπεζαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ταύτην μίαν: ἴσασιν οἱ συμμύσται τὸ λεγόμενον: ἕνα τρόπον γεννήσεως ἅπασιν ἐχαρίσατο τὸν πνευματικόν: μία πᾶσι πατρὶς, ἡ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς: ἐκ τοῦ ποτηρίου τοῦ αὐτοῦ πάντες πίνομεν. Οὐ τῷ μὲν πλουτοῦντι πλέον καὶ τιμιώτερον, τῷ πένητι δὲ εὐτελέστερον καὶ ἔλαττον ἐχαρίσατο, ἀλλὰ πάντας ἐξίσης ἐκάλεσε: τὰ σαρκικὰ ὁμοτίμως, τὰ πνευματικὰ ὁμοίως παρέσχε. Πόθεν οὖν ἡ ἀνωμαλία πολλὴ κατὰ τὸν βίον; Ἐκ τῆς τῶν πλουτούντων πλεονεξίας τε καὶ ἀλαζονείας. Ἀλλὰ μὴ, ἀδελφοὶ, μηκέτι ταῦτα γενέσθω, μηδὲ τῶν καθολικῶν καὶ ἀναγκαιοτέρων εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ συναγόντων ἡμᾶς, ἀπὸ τῶν γηΐνων καὶ εὐτελῶν διαιρώμεθα, πλούτου λέγω, καὶ πενίας, καὶ συγγενείας σωματικῆς, καὶ ἔχθρας καὶ φιλίας. Ταῦτα γὰρ πάντα σκιὰ, καὶ σκιᾶς εὐτελέστερα, τοῖς τὸν σύνδεσμον ἔχουσι τῆς ἀγάπης ἄνωθεν. Τοῦτον οὖν φυλάττωμεν ἀῤῥαγῆ, καὶ οὐδὲν ἐπεισελθεῖν δυνήσεται τῶν πνευμάτων τῶν πονηρῶν καὶ διαιρούντων τὴν τοσαύτην ἕνωσιν: ἧς γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, δι' οὗ καὶ μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἡ δόξα, ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.