Chapter XXIX.—Concerning the Descent to Hades.

The soul840    Cf. Ruf., Expos. Symbol. Apost.; Cassian, Contr. Nestor., bk. vi.; Cyril, Catech. 14. when it was deified descended into Hades, in order that, just as the Sun of Righteousness841    Mal. iv. 2. rose for those upon the earth, so likewise He might bring light to those who sit under the earth in darkness and shadow of death842    Is. ix. 2.: in order that just as He brought the message of peace to those upon the earth, and of release to the prisoners, and of sight to the blind843    Is. lxi. 1; St. Luke iv. 19., and became to those who believed the Author of everlasting salvation and to those who did not believe a reproach of their unbelief844    1 Pet. iii. 19., so He might become the same to those in Hades845    Iren., iv. 45; Greg. Naz., Orat. 42.: That every knee should bow to Him, of things in heaven, and things in earth and things under the earth846    Phil. ii. 10.. And thus after He had freed those who had been bound for ages, straightway He rose again from the dead, shewing us the way of resurrection.

Περὶ τῆς ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ καθόδου

Κάτεισιν εἰς ᾅδην ψυχὴ τεθεωμένη, ἵνα, ὥσπερ τοῖς ἐν γῇ ὁ τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἀνέτειλεν ἥλιος, οὕτω καὶ τοῖς ὑπὸ γῆν ἐν σκότει καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου καθημένοις ἐπιλάμψῃ τὸ φῶς: ἵνα, ὥσπερ τοῖς ἐν γῇ εὐηγγελίσατο εἰρήνην, αἰχμαλώτοις ἄφεσιν καὶ τυφλοῖς ἀνάβλεψιν, καὶ τοῖς πιστεύσασι γέγονεν αἴτιος σωτηρίας αἰωνίου, τοῖς δὲ ἀπειθήσασιν ἔλεγχος ἀπιστίας, οὕτω καὶ τοῖς ἐν ᾅδου: «ἵνα αὐτῷ κάμψῃ πᾶν γόνυ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων», καὶ οὕτω τοὺς ἀπ' αἰῶνος λύσας πεπεδημένους αὖθις ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀνεφοίτησεν ὁδοποιήσας ἡμῖν τὴν ἀνάστασιν.