Orationes forenses et acta

 Each one of you has received benefits from him, that having set this forth here with goodwill toward him you might sway the votes, and by showing favo

 Having beset it and stirred herself up to be divinely inspired and worked herself into a bacchic frenzy. now, that the many are deceived by this, i do

 Of her, nor anything else of the things forbidden to me, but which are proclaimed and honored by them. for someone might perhaps excuse him for the fi

 To be enumerated? for divination is for the time being sufficient. but i think, if this had happened before, he would have nobly recorded these things

 Of the difference of theurgies, at the end he adds: one must remove in advance all obstacles to the visitation of the gods and impose a total tranqui

 In these matters i would gladly ask of you, whether it is permitted for a priest to be initiated into such mysteries and to be deemed worthy of such r

 Immediately, therefore, all blushed, or rather, indeed, they shouted with their voices and condemned the leaders of the impiety and named their writin

 Has he discerned? but if indeed the part of the synod has not joined with the senate council nor with the chosen of the nazirites—for this part was no

 Aristotle's theology and the psychogony of plato and the new numbers and the remodeling of doctrines and the expense of the divisible, who of all ever

 What argument is left to you concerning this, or how is it that you dispute with one another over matters of such importance and postpone the decision

 And i gladly admire in you the encomium of the good man in your memorandum. for where he holds on to the whole and bears the burden of common cares, y

 All those, with whom we disagree, have advocated for confusions or divisions. for what do matter and ideas have in common with our doctrines? but sinc

 And of the one who is lifted up and of the one seated on it. know the cherubic and seraphic wings, the perfection of their number, the symbolic coveri

 They have shaken. for if they happened to be uninitiated in our doctrines and completely uninstructed in the mysteries of the spirit, perhaps, having

 For he who receives a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, from the contrary and greater, he who receives an impious man will receive the punishme

 He has despised all things equally, although the law, standing as it were at his ears, cried out: let no one teach or learn profane things. and agai

 He both strung together and vomited up, this twenty-third writing he thinks, or rather he places it between those who were then in every way our own p

 Depicting the madness of nestorian rage. i have left it to you to compare it with the dogmas of the massalians. i brought forth to them from the inner

 The patriarch has acted impiously, clearly and openly. and it is not permitted for any of you who wish, nor for those zealous on his behalf, to defend

 And having brought over certain forces from the west, he stirred them up for war, and they come face to face with each other from both sides. and a fi

 Delaying he is persuaded and is moderate and descends with them. and he dares against two emperors, of whom the one the imperial court held, adorned w

 Being torn apart. but pilate sat judging my divinely-moved emperor, the lord's anointed, who was being considered, not hesitating, not washing his han

 To kill the emperor, unless he came down quickly and bowed his head to him, but he, fearing the tyrannical cruelty and cowering lest he suffer anythin

 An innovative rank and would come to be below. there, then, the morning star raged against the first goodness, but here the evening star has attacked

 Demonic in his life. but again i have turned to you, the judges, and again i ask: has anything been dared by this man or not? you will surely say the

 Then failing to achieve their purpose, they chose to strike and kill. is it not clear to all that, while digging through and breaking into the houses

 Ruin, if he should object saying that he neither urged these things nor wished them, but even punished many of those who dared with all punishments, w

 In the parts on the right, somewhere near the entrance, but you have immediately ascended into heaven on earth itself, as if considering it a terrible

 Disregarding the divine temples, he was destroying them? and he did not cease, piling one on top of another and making them abandoned ruins. for not o

 Leaning together walls collapsed together with their icons and statues. and everything was as if in a great earthquake, the air being darkened, the e

 And the remains of the apostle luke are burned by fire and reduced to dust. i fear that the bodies of martyrs also lay here. i am afraid that some of

 I shall grant you this also. he had no need, it is true, of the burial robes. i admit it, since they had all already decayed. but he did have need of

 Let us not even examine the scene after that, but let these things be considered by him as theaters and hunts. but where the mercy-seat is, and around

 Seeing what was happening was exulting and rejoicing, like of old the whelp of the beast, i mean the one from isauria. but you consider for me what a

 Fire was burning us and the zeal of the lord was consuming us, long ago the man would have perished, or rather, he would not even have had access to t

 To me the macedonian, to the right the spear, at a walk the half-file leader, captain, wheel around. and nothing new nor incredible for one who has

 I pray with the high priest, but the mixture and the sheath which has grown with us turns the mind, being raised aloft, back toward itself. therefore

 He would trace his genealogy from cronus and rhea and from those even further back, i mean hericapaeus and phanes and that orphic night and he traced

 And the same color over all, none of which moved or influenced him? but never to converse even with the more divine words nor to unroll any tablet, th

 The emperor's treasury is not supplied only from mines nor from the recesses of the earth, nor do tributes alone fill it, nor contributions from land

 And to speak of the audacity, or rather—but how could i speak, intertwining things?—and the diligently pursued plot, through which almost everything w

 Granting that you may meet with more benevolent judges above. and then the drink of deposition here will truly appear to you as a purification. and ma

 Suspicious to many. but if he has nothing in common with the one he has chosen to accuse, nor has anything come between them, it is somehow still unac

 They anticipate my tongue, scattering against me the things they did wrong on account of their own greed, and i confidently awaited the court, as one

 To vote against a priest on the spot the penance exceeds all punishment the examination and the penance must proceed canonically. and, as it seems,

 Of the whole age, an unbeliever, so that i may speak truly, to believe against a believer? for this would be far from reason and thought. for where we

 But i, but what might i say about this? he living the life of a private citizen, but i clothed in the high-priestly vestment. and such a man is agains

 With misfortunes and your example, for the sake of argument, let someone come forward as a condemned man to have his neck cut. and let the sword be ha

 Do you receive? for the pardon testifies that the deposition did not seem so even to himself. for if, according to you, it is like a cutting off, what

 Is the cause the comparison of the matter to a beheading? for from this, one absurdity having been granted, these many nonsensical things were consequ

 An evil tale about me for years, leave me to my former wounds, do not card new ones upon me. so may the lord heal you, if indeed there is anything in

 This is the law of accusation and defense, and from this the precise examination of matters is found. but he introduced a new kind of writing into the

 Of voice, for not even this is unworthy of the art, and with a rhythmic turn of the tongue, you perhaps might only approach him, you who indeed gaped

 Has been debarred from studies? but for you in deep old age, what share is there of education? who of all people has known you, as far as i know, afte

 Which they say came into being of their own accord. but these things are not acceptable to you, and for this reason we shall laugh at you again, havin

 Ever, not in courts, not in counsels, not in public, not in private. for this was not even without accusation, but the speech had some defense. from w

 And the nature of fire did not burn, and the steep rock sent forth springs, and the wood here sweetened the bitterness, and there lightened the heavy

 Did he transcend this time? and it is likely, o best one, for christ possessed a nature more free even according to human standards. whether, then, th

 From himself, having allotted a great portion of reason to his soul this man, therefore, having long ago established for himself a little adopted dau

 A contest, but more brilliant was the victory of elpidius, and he went away having overcome the vestarches by all votes and crowning himself with the

 Receiving. when the most compassionate soul heard this supplication, since she also knew the circumstances concerning the bestarches, and that for man

 I will let my tongue go from forbidden deeds. and first i shame myself relating unspeakable and improper things, since i will also become a stumbling

 The amounts owed will be reckoned against each other, and the fine will be reckoned to elpidios in place of the protospatharios's fee, and the protosp

 Having received a seaside property from him, i give back to him in exchange a mainland one as a permanent dwelling by gift. but the kalai property was

 Most complete, not measured by time, not defined by partial successions nor by these alienations or those, but eternal, sufficient for all successions

 Indicating by the documents, which it is also necessary to go through in order. and so that we may make the summaries concise, and not, by going throu

 At that time for the ruler to ratify to her through a gift of a golden bull the property which he had previously granted to the man, not having been i

 But the rest testified that they themselves were not present at such a sale, but had heard from the subscribing witnesses in the confirmatory document

 He marveled at our western setting sun as a morning sunrise, and with the unspeakable pangs of his soul he discerned the ineffable will of god concern

 On both sides the gift is valid for those who received it from there. for the estate was perhaps of the daughters of nicholas’s wife through paternal

 Harmony, who of all could dissolve such a great bond, or rather these wonderful and in reality altogether indissoluble connections? for the first and

 He has made known by an agreement to whom indeed you also entrusted everything under oath and, whatever they themselves should do, you have promised

 Emperor of the romans, doukas. konstantinos, in christ the god faithful emperor of the romans, doukas. ioannes, most humble archbishop of constantinop

and to speak of the audacity, or rather—but how could I speak, intertwining things?—and the diligently pursued plot, through which almost everything would have been corrupted and destroyed, I do not say when the offense had happened—may I not be so mad—but when the despotic head acted as general again and organized a new army against your reverend and sacred head? Do you wish, then, to bring up this great topic as well and to overwhelm the whole priestly assembly? But you seem to me not to be very eager about this, nor to wish to bring a deposition against the high priest from this. And as it seems to me, you would not have convened the council concerning this matter at all, if your reverence for the divine did not agitate and divide you and lay hold of the very marrow of your soul, on the grounds that the great high priest and victim is not worthy of the patriarchate, because of the ways in which he has first acted impiously against God, and then indeed has raged against His saints. For on these grounds you have brought together these many and divine high priests and you ask a question both simple and noble at the same time: which I myself taking up, just as indeed for you in other matters too, have moved my tongue to speak. From you who are gathered I ask thus: whether does it seem to you, with such charges having been brought against the high priest and having been so confessed—so that I may not say proven—of impiety, of profanation, of tyranny, of lawlessness against the sacred houses, that this man ought to approach God and the bema again and be deemed worthy of the divine inner sanctuaries and mysteries—and you pardon everything for the act of impiety—or to undergo deposition and to fall from the dignity of the high priesthood? If you say the first, give me your vote in writing, so that the emperor may have this defense when he is judged by the ultimate accounting and is bitterly examined concerning this. And let the church be opened again to the Hellenic companies and to the oracles and to the tripods, so that there may be for us a second spirit opposed to the first and divine one. But if none of you would grant this, let each of you confidently and all together vote for the deposition of the high priest. In response to these things, if anyone should say anything else, such as that one ought to accuse in this way or that, and that the accuser must provide security concerning the argument, and the other things, they are all cold and weak. For I, whoever I may be, have represented the voice of all and have interpreted the very tongue of the ruler. And he it is who is contending for glory and who puts this final question to you, reasoning with two and unmediated options, so that you may grant one of the two and not take refuge in another. The argument, then, has reminded you only of the charges and, as if those were a given, it has spoken to you, but it seeks a decision about what it has asked; and it is necessary that you, having resolved these things, relieve the emperor of his care for divine matters. But I, though I have more to say against the high priest, hold my tongue. For the most gentle emperor does not permit me. For it is necessary even for accusers to spare some things, so that they may not seem to be making the accusation from hatred rather than truth. And so I, for my part, have concealed for his sake many of the more unseemly things. And I have neither exposed your former life, O you admirable one, nor whence you came to the high priesthood and on what sort of promises, nor all the things that are rumored about you after these events. For indeed not the greater part of your secrets has been made public now, but as a favor to you I have let them remain as they were done. But do not be hateful toward me nor be hostile, if the emperor has instituted such a council against you, and I, having gathered the voices of all into my one tongue, have made this accusation. For I have shown you the stains, so that you might wash yourself clean. And it were better, O best of men, to fall from the priesthood here than from the kingdom there. For you do not also lose God by laying aside the dignity, but a penalty

καὶ θρασύτητα ἐξειπεῖν, ἢ μᾶλλον-ἀλλὰ πῶς ἂν εἴποιμι περιπλέκων; -καὶ δισπουδασμένην ἐπιβουλήν, δι' ἣν μικροῦ δεῖν ἅπαντα ἂν διέφθαρτο καὶ ἠφάνιστο, οὐ λέγω γενομένου τοῦ ἀτοπήματος-μὴ οὕτω μανείην-ἀλλὰ τῆς δεσποτικῆς κεφαλῆς στρατηγησάσης αὖθις καὶ νέον συγκροτησάσης στρατόπεδον ἐπὶ τὴν σὴν σεβασμίαν καὶ ἱερὰν κεφαλήν; βούλει γοῦν καὶ τοῦτο τὸ μέγα κινῆσαι κεφάλαιον καὶ πάντα κατακλύσαι τὸν ἱερατικὸν σύλλογον; ἀλλά μοι ἔοικας οὐ πάνυ τι περὶ τούτου σπουδάζειν οὐδ' ἐντεῦθεν ἐθέλειν ἐπενεχθῆναι τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ καθαίρεσιν. ὡς δέ μοι δοκεῖς, οὐδ' ἂν ὅλως τὸ περὶ τούτου συνέδριον συνεκρότησας, εἰ μή σε ἡ περὶ τὸ θεῖον εὐλάβεια διῄρει καὶ κατεμέριζε καί σου τῶν μυελῶν καθήπτετο τῆς ψυχῆς, ὡς οὐκ ἀξίου τοῦ πατριαρχείου τυγχάνοντος τοῦ μεγάλου ἀρχιερέως καὶ θύματος, ἐφ' οἷς πρῶτον κατὰ θεοῦ ἠσέβηκεν, εἶτα δὴ καὶ κατὰ τῶν ἐκείνου ἁγίων λελύττηκεν. ἐπὶ τούτοις γὰρ τοὺς πολλοὺς τούτους καὶ θείους ἀρχιερεῖς συνηγήοχας καὶ ἁπλοῦν ἅμα καὶ γενναῖον ἐρώτημα ἐρωτᾷς· ὃ δὴ αὐτὸς ὑποκρινάμενος, ὥσπερ δή σοι καὶ πρὸς τἆλλα, τὴν ἐμὴν ὑπεκίνησα γλῶτταν. Τῶν συνειλεγμένων ὑμῶν πυνθάνομαι οὑτωσί· πότερον ὑμῖν δοκεῖ, τοιούτων ἐπενηνεγμένων τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ ἐγκλημάτων καὶ οὕτω διωμολογημένων, ἵνα μὴ ἀποδεδειγμένων ἐρῶ, ἀσεβείας, καθοσιώσεως, τυραννίδος, τῆς ἐπὶ τοὺς ἱεροὺς οἴκους παρανομίας, δεῖ τοῦτον αὖθις προσιέναι θεῷ καὶ τῷ βήματι καὶ τῶν θείων ἀξιοῦσθαι ἀδύτων καὶ μυστηρίων-καὶ συγχωρεῖτε πάντα τῷ ἀσεβήματι-ἢ τὴν καθαίρεσιν ὑποστῆναι καὶ τοῦ τῆς ἀρχιερωσύνης ἐκπεσεῖν ἀξιώματος; εἰ μὲν τὸ πρῶτον ἐρεῖτε, δότε μοι τὴν ὑμετέραν ψῆφον ἐν γράμμασιν, ἵν' ἔχοι ταύτην ἀπολογίαν ὁ βασιλεὺς πρὸς τὸν πρῶτον λόγον κρινόμενος καὶ πικρῶς περὶ τούτου ἐξεταζόμενος. καὶ ἀνεῴχθω πάλιν ἡ ἐκκλησία ταῖς Ἑλληνικαῖς συμμορίαις καὶ τοῖς χρησμοῖς καὶ τοῖς τρίποσιν, ἵν' ᾖ καὶ δεύτερον ἡμῖν πνεῦμα τοῦ πρώτου καὶ θείου ἀντίθετον. εἰ δ' οὐδεὶς ἂν ὑμῶν τοῦτο δοίη, θαρρούντως ἕκαστος ὑμῶν καὶ κοινῇ πάντες καθαίρεσιν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως ψηφίσασθε. ἐπὶ τούτοις εἴ τι ἄλλο τις φαίη, ὡς οὕτως ἢ ἐκείνως ἐχρῆν κατηγορεῖν καὶ ὡς χρὴ διδόναι τὸν κατηγοροῦντα τὴν περὶ τὸν λόγον ἀσφάλειαν καὶ τἆλλα, ψυχρὰ πάντα καὶ ἀσθενῆ. ἐγὼ μὲν γάρ, ὅστις δ' ἂν ὦ, τὴν τῶν ἁπάντων ὑπεκρινάμην φωνὴν καὶ αὐτὴν δὲ τὴν τοῦ κρατ οῦντος γλῶτταν ἡρμήνευκα. οὗτος δ' ἐστὶν ὁ περὶ τῆς δόξης διακρινόμενος καὶ τὴν τελευταίαν ταύτην ὑμῖν ἐπάγων ἐρώτησιν, δυσὶ καὶ ἀμέσοις διαλεγόμενος τμήμασιν, ἵνα θάτερον τῶν δυοῖν δοίητε καὶ μὴ πρὸς ἕτερον καταφύγητε. ὁ γοῦν λόγος τῶν μὲν ἐγκλημάτων ὑμᾶς ἀνέμνησε μόνων καὶ ὡσπερεὶ δεδομένων ἐκείνων διείλεκται πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ζητεῖ δὲ περὶ ὧν ἠρώτηκε· καὶ χρὴ ταῦτα διαλυσαμένους ὑμᾶς τῆς περὶ τὰ θεῖα φροντίδος ἀπαλλάξαι τὸν αὐτοκράτορα. Ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ πλείω ἔχων ἐρεῖν κατὰ τοῦ ἀρχιερέως ἐπέχω τὴν γλῶτταν. οὐ γάρ με καὶ ὁ πραότατος ἀφίησι βασιλεύς. δεῖ γὰρ καὶ κατηγοροῦντας ἐνίων φείδεσθαι, ἵνα μὴ φαίνοιντο ἐξ ἀπεχθείας μᾶλλον ἢ ἀληθείας τὴν κατηγορίαν ποιούμενοι. κἀγὼ γοῦν αὐτῷ πολλὰ τῶν ἀτοπωτέρων ἀπεκρυψάμην. καὶ οὔτε σοι τὸν πρῴην βίον διήλεγξα, ὦ θαυμάσιε σύ, οὔτε ὅθεν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχιερωσύνην ἐλήλυθας καὶ ἐφ' οἵοις τοῖς ἐπαγγέλμασιν οὔθ' ὁπόσα σοι μετὰ ταῦτα διαθρυλλεῖται. καὶ γὰρ οὐ τὰ πλείονά σοι τῶν ἀπορρήτων δεδημοσίευται νῦν, ἀλλά σοι χαριζόμενος ἀφῆκα μένειν, ὡς ἐτελέσθησαν. σὺ δέ μοι μὴ ἀπεχθάνου μηδὲ δυσμενῶς ἔχε, εἴ γέ σοι τοιοῦτον συνέδριον ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς ἐνεστήσατο, ἐγὼ δὲ τὰς ἁπάντων συνειληφὼς φωνὰς ἐν μιᾷ τῇ ἐμῇ γλώττῃ ταυτηνὶ τὴν κατηγορίαν πεποίημαι. ἔδειξα γάρ σοι τοὺς σπίλους, ἵνα σαυτὸν ἀποπλύνειας. καὶ κρεῖσσον ἦν, ὦ βέλτιστε, ἐνταῦθα τῆς ἱερατείας πεσεῖν ἢ ἐκεῖσε τῆς βασιλείας. οὐ γὰρ καὶ θεὸν ἀπολλύεις ἀποτιθέμενος τὸ ἀξίωμα, ἀλλὰ δίκην