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(381) But they do not want to suffer these things, as he suffered, and they refuse to become partakers of the glory of God by refusing to suffer, as he suffered, and they wish, alas, for honor from men rather and willingly choose separation from God. But, O my Christ, deliver those who trust in you from defiled vainglory and pride and make them partakers of your sufferings and of your glory and deem us worthy to be inseparable from you both now and unto the ages of ages to come. Amen.

ΝΓ'.

The discourse according to the dialect of God and of the father of the discourses; and how, illumined by the Holy Spirit, this divine father spoke with God and by him was initiated into things both divine and human. (382)

See my affliction, O Christ, see my despondency, see also my poverty. See my weakness and have mercy on me, O Word! Shine upon me now as of old and illumine my soul; enlighten my eyes to see you, the light of the world, the joy, the gladness, eternal life, the delight of the angels, you who are the kingdom of the heavens and paradise, the crown of the righteous and judge and king. Why do you hide your face? Why are you separated from me, my God, you who never wish to be separated (383) from those who love you? Why do you flee me, why do you burn me, why do you cut and crush me? You know that I love you

256

(381) ταῦτα δ᾿ οὐ βούλονται παθεῖν, ὡς ἔπαθεν ἐκεῖνος, καί παραιτοῦνται μέτοχοι δόξης Θεοῦ γενέσθαι τῷ παραιτεῖσθαι τό παθεῖν, ὡς ἔπαθεν ἐκεῖνος, καί θέλουσιν, οἴμοι, τιμήν μᾶλλον τήν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων καί χωρισμόν ἀπό Θεοῦ ἑκουσίως αἱροῦνται. Ἀλλ᾿, ὦ Χριστέ μου, λύτρωσαι τούς εἰς σέ πεποιθότας κενοδοξίας μιαρᾶς καί ὑπερηφανίας καί συμμετόχους ποίησον παθῶν σου καί τῆς δόξης καί καταξίωσον ἡμᾶς ἀχωρίστους σου εἶναι νῦν τε καί εἰς τούς μέλλοντας αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

ΝΓ'.

Κατά διάλεκτον Θεοῦ καί τοῦ πατρός τῶν λόγων ὁ λόγος˙ καί ὅπως ὑπό τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος ἐλλαμπόμενος ὁ θεῖος οὗτος πατήρ ὡμίλει Θεῷ καί ὑπ᾿ ἐκείνου ἐμυσταγωγεῖτο τά θεῖά τε καί ἀνθρώπινα. (382)

Ἴδε μου, Χριστέ, τήν θλῖψιν, ἴδε μου τήν ἀθυμίαν, ἴδε μου καί τήν πτωχείαν. Ἴδε τήν ἀσθένειάν μου καί οἰκτείρησόν με, Λόγε! Λάμψον μοι καί νῦν ὡς πάλαι καί καταύγασον ψυχήν μου˙ φώτισον τούς ὀφθαλμούς μου τοῦ ὁρᾶν σε, φῶς τοῦ κόσμου, τήν χαράν, τήν εὐφροσύνην, τήν ζωήν τήν αἰωνίαν, τήν τρυφήν τήν τῶν ἀγγέλων, βασιλείαν οὐρανῶν τε καί παράδεισόν σε ὄντα, στέφανον τόν τῶν δικαίων καί κριτήν καί βασιλέα. Τί τό πρόσωπόν σου κρύπτεις; Τί χωρίζῃ μου, Θεέ μου, ὅς οὐ θέλεις χωρισθῆναι (383) πώποτε τῶν σέ φιλούντων; Τί με φεύγεις, τί με καίεις, τί με τέμνεις καί συντρίβεις; Οἶδας, ὅτι ἀγαπῶ σε