Sermons 64
therefore from the beginning, for the reason that has been stated, and furthermore, having deceived man, because he was the Lord’s creation, he was le
from her 2.3.7 was born life and salvation for all those who believe in his name. Sin, therefore, which is Satan, already existed, as we said before,
he showed by making [her] disobey the commandment of God and through her deceiving Adam as through a similar vessel for he could not approach Adam op
a victory for these brings great shame to him. For it was not fitting for rational creatures to be simply idle like pieces of wood, but it was necessa
not completely turning away from the tribulations nor the pleasures of the world, but going back again to the things behind, they are shown not to be
being afflicted, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes of the earth, of whom the world was not worthy.” Do you see how for those who
will he fail to obtain the promise? Only be found in these things, when your soul is taken from the flesh, striving, being zealous, expecting the prom
sanctification of the spirit, through which they are led into the perfect working of the commandments of Christ and in another way through the resurr
and for this reason they fall. For man can also be led astray by his own and natural thoughts, being negligent or disdainful or 2.9.2 boasting or bein
sins against the body, that is, against his own wife. But in another, deeper way, into the spiritual: for your body is the Lord, as Paul says: “Now yo
of God then tabernacling in the bronze serpent, so those who have been bitten by the spiritual serpents of wickedness and wounded by the deadly poison
being sanctified, they proceed. Therefore, through those things by which the devil in the beginning defiled and brought death into the world, through
was rained down, the mountains skipped like rams, the hills leaped like lambs of the flock, the sea saw it and fled, being parted, the Jordan turned
the Word may reveal to it his own glory. Since, therefore, the soul by its own will has given itself over to the spirits of wickedness, it is led by t
But the soul mourns, lest having been defeated it should die again, and thus it makes progress on the way. And it is mournful, not receiving the glory
which is a fire 3.3.2 flaming. Let us therefore remember the one who said that: «flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God». For he who wish
coming into being and arriving at conceit and conceit is a veil for the soul and it cannot know itself. O the philanthropy of the great master, “who
and has not entered into the heart of man.” Such a one has armed himself according to the apostolic word, putting on the “breastplate of righteousness
the authority to do what he wishes without fear, the king seeks the steward: 1Where are you, to whom I entrusted my city? Why did you depart from me?
we are lifted up by the power of the adversary «like chaff,» but rather, having been united to the commandment, let us grow by an influx of the spirit
his wings and awaits the soul, when it might enter 3.6.2 and rest in his wings. For just as a bird is born a second time, first in a shell, then a sec
each one receives by choice, with God giving it to him. 4.2.1 Question. But since some, not having heard the word as they ought, but having heard from
the middle of the sea, just as your whole being is plunged down and becomes unseen, but the more it descends and enters into the depths, again this na
The lion lies in wait to shake, and Satan to destroy souls. 4.6.4 How, when the three children were in the fire, the Lord rejoiced and said to his ang
and makes her words divine, rational, heavenly, and teaches her true, undistracted, 4.7.2 untroubled prayer. But if, even when given to prayer, we wan
to some the sign of the cross through light and was fastened to the inner man. At other times again in prayer, the man has been as if in ecstasy and w
of much joy to appear as an innocent and simple child, and the man no longer condemns Greek or Jew or sinner or worldly person, but the inner man sees
You fast? I more so than you. Therefore, in these things I am greater than you I say then that one ought not to remain in these outward things, and t
clearly a heavenly power dwelt in 4.15.3 his body and through Moses performed such signs. How was David able, without a weapon, to join battle against
spirits, the Lord stripped off and put on the body having stripped off the principalities and the powers and he made that body a proper throne for h
evil is for the training of man. But evil is darkened and blinded and cannot see the pure and subtle nature of God. But if you say that Satan has his
The outer eyes see from afar the thorns and the cliffs and the pits, so also the mind, being swifter, foresees the arts and devices of the opposing po
disorderly, and as much as one is in the richness of grace and light, so much does one consider oneself poor and to have such a thought implanted in o
gives. Thus also God entrusts his own nature with his own precious things to the soul. 4.29.6 In the visible world, if there is a war (and the king co
evil. Therefore, those who are tickled together and take pleasure together within their heart commit fornication, and thus as the evil spreads they fa
are, making the soul eager, but these words themselves need deeds. For behold, the scriptures and the law and teachers and God speak words, so that th
of the transgression of the commandment had a certain image of the first man, but he did not have a heavenly soul nor a living divine image in himself
for Satan, thinking him to be a man, went away to tempt him and thought to mock his body, and he was found through this very body falling and being co
life. Looking, therefore, and gazing upon the aforementioned foundation, we ought to rejoice, suffering with Christ, but to be grieved whenever we are
he might know God by word alone, but that he may have him in the heart with all sensation and knowledge. For great is your dignity, O man, surpassing
to be tempted? Answer. To those not yet perfected, satan mysteriously converses with the soul from within through wicked thoughts, but often he also a
a tear from the face of the soul and, having put away mourning through the Lord, took up joy and love. This is the measure of the perfect. 5.2.4 Chris
despise it, O man, but come to the contest and compete, so that you may be deemed worthy of the crown in deed and in truth. For there are many among u
and he spoke: why do you persecute me? and concerning the apostles it is written that they saw tongues of fire being distributed to them and the cr
DISCOURSE 6. 6.1.1 Concerning unclean thoughts, how they work in the heart. When you bend your knee in prayer and wish to send your mind to God, you f
in tribulation they pleased the Lord. Abraham, rich according to God and according to the world, he called himself earth and ashes. And David: a repr
my knees, I pray and am able to speak against sin, but when I am working or doing something else, I cannot speak against it, this person is an ordinar
some officials and rich and noble men, and these by their own will and choice may leave their wealth and offices and nobility and coming forward put o
truth. 6.6.3 Therefore, seek this rather: to have the love of God in a pure heart and in unfeigned faith. for such a one does not fall. To many who so
“the gift of the Holy Spirit” is given. 7.1.2 For it happens that there is a field that is labored upon and worked deeply, and another not so well-ten
piety and God receives him, but the nature of his hardness remains and God is well pleased in him. Another is of good character, gentle, good he give
Does he not know your thoughts, that he is seven thousand years old? But we do not say that he, before tempting the man, knows what the man wants to d
You outwardly keep your body from corruption and fornication, but inwardly you commit adultery before God and fornicate with your thoughts, 7.6.10 you
we no longer have need.2 The Lord has neither end nor comprehension, and Christians do not dare to say that we have comprehended, but humbled they ar
and to reason God gives you 7.9.2 pure prayer in spirit and in truth. But for the most part, the earth brings forth thorns of its own accord, and t
war with him in their thoughts. But those who have evil contrary to their choice, these are they who have the contrary power warring in their members
to condemn, and thus they fall into the lower parts of the earth. For the same serpent who cast out Adam through pride, who said that you will be,
7.14.5 Behold, how the rich man who sold his possessions fell, and the one who gave his body for martyrdom. 7.14.6 But a certain prudent ascetic, who
Are you a temple or a dwelling place, of God or of the devil? Of what treasure is the heart full, of grace or of Satan? For just as if there were a ho
and to travel the way of life in meekness and through these things one can acquire righteousness in himself and by 7.16.11 righteousness we mean the
gluttony, anger, pride, deceit, and many other things that follow these. Those who are zealous against these few things to resist each passion, to tur
let us be. If the feet of our heart are stained with envy or hatred or wrath or anger, with these we cannot enter into the bridal chamber and we will
but it makes a person think that his mind has been cleansed, and then brings the person into the conceit that: You are a perfect Christian. and after
I have said before, Satan makes an ambush, being inactive for certain times, so that he may cause the 8.2.4 man to think that he is henceforth pure an
Has the embryo in the womb already become a man? or has he who lays one stone of the foundation already finished the building? or has the seed that wa
truly before the ages and from the generations,” but in the last times made manifest at the appearance of Christ. For he was contemplating a mystery o
they wished to go they went, but where he who sits upon and directs knew and willed, so also here the same one holds the reins and leads, guiding with
He purifies it by the working of his power, taking away and destroying the evil passions in it and freeing it from the darkness of evil thoughts, and
receives condemnation. For the soul that wishes to live with God and to approach eternal enjoyment and rest and light must, as has been said before, c
stands only in its own nature, having received nothing from without, it is corrupted and perishes, in the same way also the soul, not being of the nat
speaking of the heavens and discoursing about the precious and glorious and divine and only very costly pearl, and teaching how one might obtain it, u
let her strive unto death, so that by conquering she may attain eternal life, according to our forerunner Christ, who gave himself even to death for u
the soul from the 10.2.4 spirits of wickedness, giving the law of the spirit in the heart. And again concerning the feast of the Passover and of the u
in their hearts, being occupied with nothing earthly or material, 10.3.5 but are wholly bound to that ineffable beauty completely. For just as if a nu
10.4.7 heavenly, being worshipped with the flesh. The Lord therefore redeemed all flesh through his own flesh, and all flesh that has believed and fol
of the Egyptians and was afflicted in clay and in brick for Pharaoh set over them taskmasters and foremen, so that they might do his works by force.
is able to put forth beautiful and flowering branches, when the bitter winters of the ignorance of darkness and of the great blindness from shameful d
of him with all his people and having gone out against them, he was hastening to destroy them. And when they were already about to join battle and had
of the darkness and of the all-devouring fire. 11.3.5 These are mysteries of the soul, truly taking place in a person who is zealous to come to the pr
her and lengthens her to an endless and immeasurable growth, until she becomes his worthy and blameless bride. For first he begets her through himself
garment of salvation. For if someone stands in his own righteousness alone, not receiving the righteousness of God which is the Lord, who became for
because he could not see to come to the Lord, but sent his voice as a swifter messengerfor he said: 'Son of David, have mercy on me'and thus believing
and being poor and naked in the world and starving, having nothing, he is able to acquire nothing, his poverty holding him fast but for the one who h
and having found salvation and eternal life in him, then we may be able to benefit others as much as is possible, bringing forth from the inner treasu
united and mingled in communion, then the soul itself will also be counted worthy to become spirit, being mingled with the spirit, then it becomes who
despised, having within the precious pearl. since there are others resembling whitewashed tombs, which outwardly are painted and very beautiful, but
to use a sword and to cut out the child, and so it is found proceeding from death to death and from darkness to darkness, thus also understand in the
arrows and their victory becomes eternal. But the wise who indeed subtly seek the word flee the war and do not advance, and are found behind those who
but an eagle or some other high-flying creature flies up from the earth with great force, but when it reaches a height, it is in great calm and rest a
planted and watered from it bear fruit and bring forth fragrance. and again he says rivers from his belly will flow. The righteous therefore are ca
they are destroyed by evil spirits, just as there the animals coming out of the fire die, just as the fish out of the waters, just as four-footed anim
and are considered full of stench, because of the true and ineffable beauty of the spiritual light and the glory and the wealth of the heavenly goods,
to direct himself, so that the whole care and seeking and distraction and occupation of the mind may be about the seeking and possession of the intell
may we become and be deemed worthy to enjoy together with Christ for all ages, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen. 16.t.1 HOMILY 16. 16.1.1 The perfe
Men do not immediately attain this measure, except with labor and discipline and much struggle. 16.1.8 For there are many with whom grace is present,
are concerned with how they may be in harmony with God, while others are zealous to benefit other souls and endure labor for them 16.2.4 so again, the
who has never tasted the quality of honey and describes to others about 16.3.2 its sweetness. Such are those who speak about perfection and sanctifica
to obtain salvation. Just as, then, in visible things you have renounced for the outward man and fed the poor and scattered your possessions, so you m
the Lord rests, and each day as today, beginning Christianity, become more humble before the Lord and more in need than all men, and hold yourselves a
For just as in war those who kill their opponents shout with a loud voice at the same time as they strike with the sword, in order to frighten and ins
Just as if there were a very large tree, having many branches and twigs and dry sticks and the rest of its physical structure, and it has its roots in
Scripture says: rejoice in him with trembling and again: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling and elsewhere: do not be haughty, bu
of God rather choosing, according to the apostolic word, than to have the fleeting enjoyment of sin and having become a fugitive from Egypt, he who
we will be proven athletes of Christ and will perfectly obtain for ourselves the participation of his grace, and having acquired sanctification and pu
on the sea, although favorable winds are moving it, is under fear, lest ever before the harbor, contrary winds having been stirred up, it might be sub
he is mocked by those who are in safety and enclosed in a safe and unassailable shelter, since he is unable to leap upon or break through, and again t
But their mind is set on a harbor of rest and on an age free from all evil there they have their aim always and their purpose, although evil from wit
the Spirit of God, and thus after these things for the body to be glorified along with it. For God, from now on clothing the soul with glory and causi
casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.” 18.6.8 For these things, entering as in a desert,
is incomprehensible and indescribable, so also the mind is borne everywhere and is present where it has not been, and if it should wish, it goes away
they are like those who build a house without a foundation. For indeed the Maccabees, having contended greatly and having shown nobility magnanimously
serving acceptably and having dedicated himself to the Lord, let him bear all the afflictions that happen, enduring them nobly and readily, always loo
travels blamelessly and well, is deemed worthy to enter into the very rest of the fullness of grace, having been completely delivered from the very he
wishing, himself not having previously known war. So also in the spiritual realm, the one who explains the word of God and is set over souls ought to
with the virtues of the Spirit and pitch its tent and make its dwelling with it, then prayers and worship in spirit and in truth are performed unceasi
comes and is seized by an insatiable fullness of divine love, having partaken of so much goodness and joy and of the ineffable peace of the Godhead. 2
having and expecting him to come and dwell in us, we shall obtain those things which he promised to give “to those who love him,” which neither eye ha
and wicked masters, and there having spent his 22.1.6 substance with harlots and living wastefully and feeding swine. But calling himself the bread of
having turned back and beseeched the Lord who appeared to her through his grace, she is ashamed against what good she previously plotted and was insub
For if you wish to understand accurately the nature of human weakness and its proneness to turn to the worse, and how humanity could not be healed wit
what is born of the Spirit is one spirit,” and again elsewhere: “Father, 22.2.11 just as you and I are one, so also may these be one in us.” For if th
making through the economy of the visible creation For when bread was lacking in the desert where there was a great crowd, by his goodness the Lord m
by long-suffering and patience are not deprived of what they desire, how much more we, standing at the door of the heavenly and compassionate and true
the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.” For the gates are for uprooting and overturning the foundation of the house, so also the evil one at
sin having been brought down from the transgression of the first man, Christ came to redeem it, the promised king came to build Jerusalem and the fall
resting. 24.1.15 Glory to his compassion and to his infinite mercy, because he so loved the race of men, deeming us worthy of his kingdom unto the age
being enticed by the world as with some mire or mud and being anointed with a covering of the passions hidden within and defiling herself, so to speak
by motions the invisible robbers of the evil spirits watch for the improvident and unguarded and heedless soul, so that on what are like the roads of
of Christ,» according to the voice of the blessed apostle, which is the complete redemption from the passions and the most full and active indwelling
becomes liable to eternal judgment because of his unguarded and pleasure-loving choice, because having begun to be healed from the grievous sickness o
having established. 26.1.8 For the apostle also says: Let us go out to him outside the 26.1.8 camp. How then shall we go out and how shall we obtain
to depart from the body, as his own rays are taken up together by the spiritual sun of righteousness into the kingdom of the heavens, and as his own m
to carry with them. But here, if Christians acquire any achievements and store up spiritual wealth in the living earth of the heart, when they depart
the blessed apostle commands. This is the spirit of the world, from which we pray to be delivered. This is the veil of darkness lying upon the heart,
the law of the passions written in the heart, that is, the very energy of evil, which is the sin that hinders the soul and prevents it from entering i
And at the resurrection He raises the body also and will deem it worthy of immortal glory. For the soul then put on the garment of death, sin, and was
with unveiled face to behold the glory of God, being under the bonds of wickedness and not yet freed 28.2.2 from the slavery of sin. But now those who
expecting in spirit and in truth according to the evangelical tradition of the Lord 29.1.2 they offer worship to the Holy Trinity. Therefore, they o
crying out to him day 29.1.10 and night.” But if there is need of silence, awaiting in desire and travail of mind the assistance of grace, and through
by the prophet: As a bridegroom rejoices over a bride, so the Lord will rejoice over you. 29.2.4 But let us take an example also from the visible wo
of her body in sanctification and purity. And thus when it has dwelt in her, all purity and sanctification and virtue and understanding and knowledge
of the heavens, in the Jerusalem above, of which he has now received the pledge of the inheritance, until he lays aside the body, that is, he comes
upon him, testing the love and faith of his will, he himself more keenly and more laboriously and more unsparingly always seeking and demanding the gi
for a long time showing love to him from his whole heart, he sets his eye on him for good things and establishes him as a steward and ruler in his hou
if they show zeal for love and fulfill the measure of their debt. 31.3.1 But on the other side, for those whom grace meets beforehand and who quickly
of priesthood, of the holy place, of kings) and because of her insensibility He left her in her ancient impurity and dishonor, taking from her the gif
he had the Lord either through the learning of the scriptures, that is, according to his intellect and understanding and discernment, or according to
though you are able to do what is required for the kingdom and gift of God, God will not accept you nor will he rejoice over you as one who has not de
desiring, and He does not reject, may it not be so, but is long-suffering, testing our patience only let us be found until the end, not giving up at
they may save For the way of Christianity is thus. For where the Holy Spirit and the truth are, there follows persecution and struggle. You see the p
to appraise because he is infinite. Therefore Christians abominate the glorious things of the earth and see them as dung in comparison to that majesty
An active power of the spirit, ministering in full assurance in the heart. For as many as are sons of the light and of the kingdom and ministers of th
being simple, it is seized all lambs are of the same nature. the dove is guileless and pure all doves are of the same nature. but man is not so. one
to delight in poverty instead of wealth, in fasting instead of luxury, in dishonor and disgrace instead of glory. But again, if they fall into gloriou
that the store-chambers and the bed-chambers and the dining-rooms and the porches of the heart be rebuilt and built up again and made ready. For do no
but has his soul dishonored and despised and is poor in spirit and abominable to himself, he is stolen by wickedness and does not know it, and if he p
of the law of the spirit (that is, except through Jesus Christ), they are not able to be freed from evils and to escape from the dominion of the devil
of spiritual light, of a kingdom, of another age and of divine power, they are as if disgusted and despondent, not being able to receive the word of G
was it given? to whom does the Lord say: Come, you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. to whom does He say: Come after me, and I
they are different and they work in many ways, and grace itself is transformed in many ways. There is, therefore, a greater measure of grace, when it
unclean spirits, lying in wait, feed on you and choke the soul and carry it away as spoil and lead it astray from God. For they are tireless, readily
something has been counterfeited, which, if not the experienced, the inexperienced cannot distinguish, so it is also in the spiritual realm. Many who
a beginning having been made for man, not to see his master and to do the things pleasing to him, but to be in the darkness of sin and to work the wil
the brokenhearted and the lame and the blind and the deaf in soul the Lord came and was crucified and died, that he might raise up and heal the souls
The word of the Lord approaches each one in proportion. To the extent one masters it, to that extent he is mastered by it and to the extent one keeps
I will ask a marvelous thing: if it has not entered into the heart of man, how do you yourselves know these things, especially since you confessed i
does scripture command every person to do this? Answer. We have said before, that man has aptitude by nature, and God seeks this. Therefore he command
considering it the master's economy. Therefore they had 36.2.4 an inward good will towards all. For when they heard the Lord saying: “Forgive, and it
of the spirit and to enter whence we were cast out, and for the future to turn away from the anger-producing serpent and vainglorious counselor, the s
he says, who has known the mind of the Lord? but He Himself says: How often I would have gathered your children, and you were not willing. So from
through wonders, through prophets, then incarnate through a virgin, through living together, through torments, through reproaches, then through death
taking a good deed as a pretext, even one from God, they then, by making full use of what is just, bring about the opposite (the opposite of glory bei
to serve, God and mammon. For by 38.2.6 whatever one is overcome, to this he is enslaved. For it is necessary to pass beyond the spiritual force
39.τ.1 DISCOURSE 39. 39.1.1 There are three manifold virtues that precede purity: truth of every kind, self-control, and endurance of things that come
is produced, and experience through purification of the heart, and purification through long-suffering, and long-suffering through fasting and prayer.
the freedom of will given to us by the one who created us, so that it might be in our power both to desire the better things and to abstain from the w
conceived and born in sins, was estranged from the womb and went astray from the belly, since sin reigned from Adam until the coming of Christ, even o
vine and breada rock, on the one hand, because of His unshakable and unapproachable strength, a door, on the other hand, because He is the entrance to
The apostle says: be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new man, which is created according to God, and again: though our outward
in Christ the age», so that having been made familiar with the divine power, where the sanctuary of God is, we might stand without fear before his tri
we have fallen into temptations, for to those afflicted concerning the soul, he says: God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond wh
a difference of activity, from the habit of evil men it learned to do evil, which therefore the will later multiplied in whatever way, so to speak, th
having loved all things, consecrating themselves as little ones to him and having endured in every struggle for the sake of the kingdom, but the sloth
to be blinded, they do not see the one shining on them, but those who see, see the light clearly because their eyes are open, so also the light of God
superior, but all are from one nature and from the same disk of the sun, so also the saints who are born of the divine Spirit and are children of God
they trample upon the adversary. For it is written: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” For the God-fearing are lords of all, and they despise
is the last a beginner. again, there, when he becomes first, then he becomes a leader and when he becomes a ruler, he takes for himself the one who si
the reasonings of God are at work. But those who have been trained in the mysteries of Christianity and have grown old in them are not surprised by an
We ought to offer up and reveal our thoughts to our master Christ, the knower of hearts, whether we are in evils or in rest, and to have hope and conf
of that mystery to consider kings and rulers and wise men and officials as the least. and after times and hours things change, so that in truth he con
“Satan has asked to sift you as wheat but I have prayed to my Father, that your faith may not fail 48.1.5”. For the word and sentence spoken to Cain
are bound in the world and in earthly bonds, not possessing the heavenly rest and peace of the spirit in their heart, since they did not ask it from G
some earthly love. 48.3.1 For those who truly wish to go through to the end in a good way of life ought not to willingly accept and mix another desire
is formed, so adultery, so theft, so covetousness, so drunkenness, so love of power, so vainglory, so 48.3.9 jealousy, so love of money, and whatever
is deemed worthy for by his own will, having loved in truth, he is helped by the Lord to attain eternal life. 48.4.5 But that we may show from clear
eagerly he offered him up, having divested himself of him and truly denied himself he demonstrated that besides God he loved nothing else through the
and the glory and the restoration of heavenly good things, just as in wheat cast into the earth or in a tree that is grafted and passes through a cert
in the resurrectionfor thus to all God-loving souls (that is, to true Christians) the first month is Xanthicus, which is April, which is the day of th
they will be deemed worthy of those eternal goods of the spirit and will be mingled with that glory, of which their souls have received the experience
his laxity and sloth. But if he does not pay attention well and rightly with his eye, he will fall 49.1.4 both into cliffs and ravines or, being subme
with fear and trembling working out his own salvation and with all attention passing through the snares and thorns and mire of this world and not beco
unfallen, conducting ourselves in all his commandments, we shall not be able to attain the heavenly kingdom. 49.2.7 But I wish to speak a certain subt
of the Godhead, truly «what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man», all the things that the Spirit of the Lord become
will seem superfluous to them because they have been conquered by heavenly longing and have been united by the wound and by divine love. For there the
giving us over completely to wickedness and to the deceit of the world, nor allowing us to perish, through much kindness and 49.4.8 longsuffering watc
having come a long way, he adds sin upon sin and joins carelessness to carelessness and builds stumbling block upon stumbling block, he fills the meas
of one and to sobriety 49.6.4 he converted the one who had been driven to such madness. how much more a soul that is turning to him and seeking mercy
having lived in the world. Glory to his compassions and to his infinite mercy now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 50.t.1 HOMILY 50. 50.1.1
of our nature, in the house of the soul, darkened by the passions, so that in this way the terrible darkness of sin may be driven out from the human s
for a faithful soul, he will dissolve all hardness and every evil and foreign passion and restore it to the ancient nobility of the purity of virtues.
with full assurance of the mind and of the thoughts, with the whole disposition of the soul, he ascends into heaven, being led by the Spirit, and ther
that those who war against and fight with these are completely defeated by the Christians. 50.3.1 See what worth and power these possess, even if they
plagues upon them and subjected them in every way, until he handed them over to the sea and caused them to be drowned, because they had acted against
the breastplate of righteousness. above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming darts of the evil on
greater progress day by day they come. But these measures are different from those of one who has a beginning in warfare. For if he does not have the
and being humbled in their mind, neither being hungry for the perfect measure of dispassion nor waiting with all diligence and faith to be completely
of the church passes away at the consummation, and the rational and intellectual substance of the inner man remains, into which the whole economy and
the visible church unless first the readings and the psalmody and the gathering of the people and the whole sequence of the ecclesiastical rule are c
the soul, having turned back again, may walk uprightly towards the pleasing of the Spirit, repenting in all humility and confession, and then again it
a heavenly image into humanity. 53.1.6 And just as the fire formed the golden vessels and they became an idol, so also the Lord, just as he imitates t
to go out from the world and to be poor in all visible things and not to have earthly care, but by night and day to stand at the door and to wait expe
53.3.2 Thus is the redemption. The Lord comes to Death and speaks with him and commands him to cast out the souls from Hades and from death and to giv
that entering into the depth of the watery gulf he might dive down there and bring up the one who has been plunged down and drowned and is among terri
in exile, in affliction, in petition to God, knocking on the door with shamelessness. For just as the body is near to the soul, so the Lord is nearer
heart for out of it are the issues of life,” and again, “for perverse thoughts separate from God,” because she is the bride of the great king, Christ
the blackness of blood and the remaining impurity and has skillfully made them pure and bright, 54.3.4 they do not write the laws of God in them. But
is made like to those deemed worthy of the revelation of light, as through a revelation of a similar light. For also: «Satan transforms himself into a
but it gives back all things to God, because all its good practices happen to be His, as Abraham says he is earth and ashes before Him, and it is not
preserves the love owed to him in the manner it ought to be, behold, that poor and needy woman becomes mistress of all her husband's possessions. For
your ears and a beryl on your forehead and you became renowned among all nations. you ate fine flour and honey and oil and later you forgot my good de
you were made worthy of the grace of God, and not to live with and be nourished by a scornful mind, so that thus, having conducted ourselves pleasingl
by the spirits of wickedness. For they contend against the soul that seeks God and cast various afflictions upon it in order to hinder it from etern
is pounded, and the more it is tested, the purer and more suitable it becomes, so also the God-loving soul, entering into many trials and temptations
to escape 55.3.5 the coming Gehenna and to attain the kingdom, let them endure to suffer the afflictions here, brought on through the temptations of t
to attain in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 55.4.5 Amen. For in the spiritual contest the victory over t
of the heavens,” and, “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Let him always have before his eyes the Lord’s humility and way of life and conduct,
to all the ways of the Lord, to every practice of virtue and of good and noble conduct, to every way of life of goodness, to all humility of meekness
now we are not able to do with force, may He teach us to do with truth, without toil and without force, bowels of compassion, kindness, and all the co
by the consolation of the grace of which he was deemed worthy, he lay on his back, relaxed from the strain and zeal of a continuous and uninterrupted
with a human face to the worthy eternally and immortally and indestructibly 58.1.3 to be illuminated. For he says: But we all (that is, those born
unceasingly by the heavenly light of the Spirit, from now on, the worthy and truth-loving souls, and having been deemed worthy henceforth to have the
we may reign with Christ in eternal and ineffable rest for ever and ever. Amen. 59.t.1 DISCOURSE 59. 59.1.1 Those who have withdrawn from the world an
running unceasingly and relentlessly towards perfection. For those who practice their crafts through long-suffering and patience, little by little, pa
is carried away, nor does he recognize that there is another struggle and boxing and war within. For would that, when someone, having struggled, rouse
should he attempt to wage war, let the man not depart from hope in the Lord, but let him cling more closely each time to the only one who is good and
with things, such as some desire of the world or vain glory or some shameful gain? For whatever thing of this age one loves, and to whatever worldly a
Let us be eager, therefore, to always live in the commandments of the Lord, as hoping to receive the inheritance of such great goods, and let us alway
and 61.1.5 being well-pleased with his grateful servants. Thus from the beginning man has suffered for God fashioned him with his own hands, a glorio
and as many as believed in him and fled to him for refuge were delivered and every soul that believes and prays to him and recognizes its own captivit
the true mother, the heavenly grace, the Holy Spirit, lamented the captivity of mankind, those who were under the evil ruler and terribly bound in dar
of yourself 62.1.10 begin with wisdom and virtue. Neither be contentious toward friends, nor 62.1.11 a mocker against them and a jester. Strongly shun
of God let the one who loves God strive, that he may also love his 62.1.27 neighbor. Let him be humble before God and men, always paying attention to
63.t.1 HOMILY 63. 63.1.1 The word of truth preached by the spiritual preachers of the truth is preached and spoken to the children of the kingdom, as
conduct and work and manner of life according to her own will, but when she is joined and has fellowship with her husband, she is then under the will
poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” having spoken of poverty, He immediately signified also the kingdom. For this soul is deemed wor
This one is sought also by those who have need of him, as he himself said: “Those who are 63.3.8 strong have no need of a physician, but those who are
the Lord blessed, and there was a superabundance and many multitudes were satisfied, how much more this soul, which is now in straits and great afflic
you act unbecomingly.2 These things the Lord always cries out in each of us and preaches through his spiritual heralds, our physician, the bridegroom
disease, and the joy of the Lord 64.1.7 is not in them on account of the swelling of conceit. For the care of the inner man is the destruction of the
but an eagle or some other high-flying creature flies up from the earth with great force, but when it reaches a height, it is in great calm and rest and freedom from care, so also the soul, having taken the wings of the spirit, first wars against its enemies and struggles, being helped by the wings from above. But when it comes to a height or greatness and richness of grace, it rests without care and without fear in the air of the divinity. But when the bird falls again to the earth, it is oppressed by all, whether beasts or men; for the nature of wings on the earth happens to be useless, so also the soul strengthened by the Holy Spirit, if it moves about in the upper air of the spirit, is fearless and without care; but if it is occupied with earthly things and distractions and bonds, it is easily held by the spirit of darkness and by the beasts, the opposing powers. For the nature of the Holy Spirit does not delight in pursuing earthly and material things. Just as a certain king writes letters, to whom he wishes to grant codicils and his own gifts, having written that, "1Hasten quickly to come to me, so that you may receive royal gifts from me."2 and if they do not go and receive them, they have gained nothing by reading the letters, but rather they are also causes of death, for not wanting to go and be deemed worthy to receive royal honors from the king's hand, so also God the king sent the divine scriptures like letters to men, making clear through them that, having besought God and believed, they should ask and receive a heavenly gift from the substance of the divinity; for he himself said: 'that you may become partakers of the divine nature'. And if a man does not approach and ask and receive, he has gained nothing by reading the divine scriptures, but rather he is also liable to death, because from the heavenly king he did not want to seek and receive the gift of eternal life, without which it is impossible to obtain immortal life. It is good always to fear the Lord and not to trust in oneself in every way, so that one may not sink down badly. knowing that he is doing something well, which is not as he thinks. For 'there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end leads to the bottom of hades,' according to the scripture. Rather, therefore, let him always beseech God, that he may become his guide and way and mind and discernment and interpreter, and until he finds Christ in himself, let him not trust himself at all. As when someone is found in the peril of a ship and takes some of the ship's tackle in order to be saved, and has no concern for the things in the ship because of fear of the sea, so the Christian, for God's sake, ought always to fear and not be contemptuous. Let him, therefore, who wishes to be saved, strive for what God wants. For this is the will of God: to love God and to strive to love one's neighbor. Let him therefore be humble before God and men, and let him always pay attention to his heart and resist evil thoughts. And when one pays attention there, he must always be in fear and be loving and humble; and such a one has the care of how he will please the Lord and fights against the old man. But the one who is without care has a perishing heart, and this one stands in the old state, has not yet begun to struggle and does not know how to fight. It is good, therefore, always to be in fear and to seek understanding and help from the Lord, so that one may be able to be saved through the Lord. There is 'a fountain from the house of the Lord,' according to the prophet, and above it are trees and their leaves do not wither and the fragrance does not fail. A certain mystery lies in this main point. The living fountain from the house of the Lord is the Lord, becoming in your heart a living fountain. For to the Samaritan woman he said: 'whoever drinks of the water that I will give,' 'it will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life'. Do you see that there is a living fountain that gives life to the heart? The trees that stand over it are the righteous, who
δὲ ἀετὸς ἢ ἄλλο τι ὑψιπετὲς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς μετὰ πολλῆς βίας ἵπταται, ἐπὰν δὲ εἰς ὕψος γένηται ἐν πολλῇ γαλήνῃ καὶ ἀναπαύσει καὶ
ἀμεριμνίᾳ ἐστίν, οὕτω καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ λαβοῦσα τὰ πτερὰ τοῦ πνεύματος πρῶτον πολεμεῖ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς αὐτῆς καὶ βιάζεται βοηθουμένη
ὑπὸ τῶν ἄνω πτερύγων. ὅταν δὲ εἰς ὕψος ἢ μέγεθος καὶ πλοῦτον τῆς χάριτος γένηται, ἀμερίμνως καὶ ἀφόβως ἐν τῷ ἀέρι τῆς θεότητος
ἀναπαύεται. ἐπὰν δὲ πάλιν εἰς γῆν καταπέσῃ τὸ ὄρνεον, πιέζεται ὑπὸ πάντων εἴτε θηρίων εἴτε ἀνθρώπων· φύσις γὰρ πτερῶν ἐπὶ
γῆς ἀεργὴς τυγχάνει, οὕτω καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ ἡ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἁγίῳ ἐρρωμένη, ἐὰν εἰς τὸν ἄνω ἀέρα τοῦ πνεύματος διακινῇ, ἄφοβος καὶ
ἀμέριμνός ἐστιν· ἐὰν δὲ εἰς τὰ γήϊνα καὶ εἰς περισπασμοὺς καὶ δεσμοὺς ἀσχοληθῇ, εὐχερῶς κατέχεται ὑπὸ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ σκότους
καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν θηρίων, τῶν ἐναντίων δυνάμεων. ἡ γὰρ φύσις τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου οὐχ ἥδεται μεταδιώκειν γήϊνα καὶ ὑλικὰ πράγματα.
Ὥσπερ βασιλεύς τις γράφει ἐπιστολάς, οἷς βούλεται κωδικέλλους καὶ δωρεὰς ἰδίας χαρίσασθαι, γράψας ὅτι "1ταχέως σπουδάσατε
ἐλθεῖν πρός με, ἵνα λάβητε παρ' ἐμοῦ δωρεὰς βασιλικάς."2 καὶ ἐὰν μὴ ἀπέλθωσι καὶ λάβωσιν, οὐδὲν ὠφελήθησαν ἀναγνόντες τὰς
ἐπιστολάς, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ θανάτου αἴτιοί εἰσι, μὴ θελήσαντες ἀπελθεῖν καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς βασιλέως τιμὰς βασιλικὰς καταξιωθῆναι λαβεῖν,
οὕτω καὶ τὰς γραφὰς τὰς θείας ὥσπερ ἐπιστολὰς ἀπέστειλεν ὁ βασιλεὺς θεὸς τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, δηλῶν δι' αὐτῶν, ἵνα παρακαλέσαντες
τὸν θεὸν καὶ πιστεύσαντες αἰτήσωσι καὶ λάβωσι δωρεὰν ἐπουράνιον ἐκ τῆς ὑποστάσεως τῆς θεότητος· αὐτὸς γὰρ εἶπεν· «ἵνα γένησθε
κοινωνοὶ θείας φύσεως». καὶ ἐὰν μὴ προσέλθῃ καὶ αἰτήσῃ καὶ λάβῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, οὐδὲν ὠφελήθη ἀναγνοὺς τὰς θείας γραφάς, μᾶλλον
δὲ καὶ θανάτου ἔνοχός ἐστιν, ὅτι παρὰ βασιλέως οὐρανίου οὐκ ἠθέλησε ζητῆσαι καὶ λαβεῖν δωρεὰν ζωῆς αἰωνίου, ἧς ἄνευ ἀδύνατόν
ἐστι ζωῆς ἀθανάτου τυχεῖν. Καλὸν τὸ φοβεῖσθαι ἀεὶ τὸν κύριον καὶ μὴ ἐμπιστεύειν ἑαυτῷ κατὰ πάντα τρόπον, ἵνα μὴ βυθισθῇ τις
κακῶς. εἰδὼς ὅτι καλῶς ποιεῖ τί, ὃ οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς νομίζει. «ἔστι» γὰρ «ὁδὸς ἣ δοκεῖ ὀρθὴ εἶναι παρὰ ἀνδρί, τὰ μέντοι τελευταῖα
ἔρχεται εἰς πυθμένα ᾅδου» κατὰ τὴν γραφήν. μᾶλλον οὖν ἀεὶ τὸν θεὸν παρακαλείτω, ἵνα γένηται αὐτοῦ ὁδηγὸς καὶ ὁδὸς καὶ νοῦς
καὶ διάκρισις καὶ ἑρμηνευτής, καὶ ἕως οὗ εὕρῃ τὸν Χριστὸν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, ὅλως μὴ ἐμπιστεύσῃ ἑαυτῷ. ὡς ὅταν τις εὑρεθῇ ἐν κινδύνῳ
πλοίου καὶ λάβῃ τὶ τῶν σκευῶν τοῦ πλοίου, ἵνα διασωθῇ καὶ οὐ μέλλει αὐτῷ περὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ διὰ τὸν φόβον τῆς θαλάσσης,
οὕτως ὁ Χριστιανὸς διὰ τὸν θεὸν ἀεὶ ὀφείλει φοβεῖσθαι καὶ μὴ καταφρονεῖν. ὁ θέλων σωθῆναι ἀγωνίσηται τοίνυν τί θέλει ὁ θεός.
τοῦτο γάρ ἐστι τὸ θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ τὸ ἀγαπᾶν τὸν θεὸν καὶ βιάζεσθαι ἀγαπᾶν καὶ τὸν πλησίον. ἤτω οὖν ταπεινὸς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ
καὶ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ προσεχέτω ἀεὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ καὶ ἀνθιστάσθω τοῖς κακοῖς διαλογισμοῖς. καὶ ὅταν ἐκεῖ τις προσέχῃ, ἀεὶ δεῖ
αὐτὸν καὶ ἐν φόβῳ εἶναι καὶ ἀγαπητικὸν καὶ ταπεινόν· καὶ μέριμναν δὲ ἔχει ὁ τοιοῦτος, πῶς ἀρέσει τῷ κυρίῳ καὶ ἀντιπολεμεῖ
τῷ παλαιῷ ἀνθρώπῳ. ὁ δὲ ἀμεριμνῶν ἀπολλυμένην ἔχει τὴν καρδίαν, καὶ οὗτος ἐν τῇ παλαιότητι ἕστηκεν, οὔπω ἤρξατο ἀγωνίζεσθαι
καὶ πολεμεῖν οὐκ οἶδε. καλὸν οὖν τὸ ἀεὶ ἐν φόβῳ εἶναι καὶ ζητεῖν σύνεσιν καὶ βοήθειαν παρὰ κυρίου, ἵνα δυνηθῇ τις σωθῆναι
διὰ τὸν κύριον. Ἔστι «πηγὴ ἐξ οἴκου κυρίου» κατὰ τὸν προφήτην καὶ ἐπάνω αὐτῆς δένδρα καὶ τὰ φύλλα αὐτῶν οὐ μαραίνονται καὶ
ἡ εὐωδία οὐκ ἐκλιμπάνει. μυστήριόν τι ἔγκειται εἰς τὸ κεφάλαιον τοῦτο. ἡ πηγὴ ἡ ζῶσα ἐξ οἴκου κυρίου ὁ κύριός ἐστιν, ἐν τῇ
καρδίᾳ σου γινόμενος πηγὴ ζῶσα. τῇ γὰρ Σαμαρείτιδι ἔλεγεν· «ὃς πίῃ ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατος οὗ ἐγὼ δώσω», «γενήσεται αὐτῷ πηγὴ ὕδατος
ἁλλομένου εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον». ὁρᾷς ὅτι ἔστι πηγὴ ζῶσα ἡ ζωοποιοῦσα τὴν καρδίαν; τὰ δένδρα τὰ ἐφεστῶτα ἐπ' αὐτῆς οἱ δίκαιοί
εἰσιν, οἱ
