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Because the priesthood of the Gospel is believed to be according to the order of Melchizedek, and not according to the order of Aaron; and it is not written that Melchizedek had a wife. Necessarily, therefore, also the bishops who serve as priests according to his order do not take wives.

QUESTION 41. (820)

For what reason is it the custom of the Church, in the prothesis of the precious body and blood of the Lord, to set out unequal numbers of breads and chalices?

Answer. All things performed in the Church have a supernatural meaning. And because according to

exception these symbols are mysteries and images of the divine substance; and this is uncompounded; but all creation is compounded; but only, as has been said, the holy Trinity is simple and uncompounded; for this reason, therefore, the Church sets out unequal numbers of breads and chalices, characterizing the Divine in these things.

QUESTION 43.

What do Garizin and Bal mean? Answer. Garizin is interpreted as circumcision; and Bal, as a lump of dough. In the lump of dough, therefore, of the

gentile portion that has been purified, our Lord Jesus Christ establishes an altar.

QUESTION 44.

What are Chavones, Cana, Galilee, Doeg and Aermon. Answer. Chavones are interpreted as windows. Cana (821) is interpreted as possession; and Galilee

revelation (rolling away). Doeg the Syrian is the proud thought. Aermon is interpreted as the turning away of beasts. And they say that the river Jordan is born from there. And through these it signifies the grace of holy baptism.

QUESTION 45.

What is that which is said in the Psalms, "Be still, and know that I am God?" Answer. There are six kinds of leisure, which if we accomplish, we are able to know God. The first is of the

activity of sin; the second, of an inflammatory diet; the third, of the manner of intercourse with those who live unguardedly; the fourth, of the unsuitable occupation for the life according to God; the fifth, of a slandered existence that distracts the mind with many things; the sixth, not to have one's own will at all. And this is both renunciation and submission, the true and according to God.

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Ἐπειδή ἡ τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου ἱερωσύνη κατά τήν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ γενέσθαι πιστεύεται, καί οὐ κατά τήν τάξιν Ἀαρών· Μελχισεδέκ δέ, γυναῖκα ἐσχηκέναι οὐκ ἀναγέγραπται. Ἀναγκαίως ἄρα καί οἱ κατά τήν αὐτοῦ τάξιν ἱερατεύοντες ἐπίσκοποι γυναῖκας οὐ προσίενται.

ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΜΑ΄. (820)

Τίνος χάριν ἐν τῇ προθέσει τοῦ τιμίου σώματος καί αἵματος τοῦ Κυρίου, τούς ἄρτους καί τά ποτήρια ἀνίσους προτιθεῖν ἔθος τῆς Ἐκκλησίᾳ;

Ἀπόκρισις. Πάντα ὑπερφυῆ λόγον ἔχουσι τά ἐν τῇ Ἐκκλησίᾳ τελούμενα. Ἐπειδή δέ κατ᾿

ἐξαίρετον τά σύμβολα ταῦτα τῆς θείας οὐσίας εἰσί μυστήρια καί ἀπεικονίσματα· ἔστι δέ αὕτη ἀσύνθετος· πᾶσα δέ κτίσις σύνθετός ἐστι· μόνη δέ, ὡς εἴρηται, ἡ ἁγία Τριάς ἁπλῆ καί ἀσύνθετος· διά τοῦτο οὖν ἄνισα προτίθησιν ἡ Ἐκκλησία τούς ἄρτους καί τά ποτήρια, τό Θεῖον ἐν τούτοις χαρακτηρίζουσα.

ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ ΜΓ΄.

Τί σημαίνει τό Γαριζίν, καί τό Βάλ; Ἀπόκρισις. Γαριζίν ἑρμηνεύεται περιτομή· Βάλ δέ, φύραμα. Ἐν τῷ φυράματι οὖν τῆς

ἐθνικῆς μερίδος τῆς καθηραμένης, πήγνυσι θυσιαστήριον ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστός.

ΕΡΩΤΗΣΙΣ Μ∆΄.

Τί Χαυῶνες, Κανά, Γαλιλαία, ∆ωήκ καί Ἀερμών. Ἀπόκρισις Χαυῶνες θυρίδες ἑρμηνεύονται. Κανά (821) ἑρμηνεύεται κτῆσις· Γαλιλαία δέ

ἀποκάλυψις (ἀποκύλισις). ∆ωήκ ὁ Σύρος, ὁ ὑπερήφανός ἐστι λογισμός. Ἀερμών ἑρμηνεύεται ἀποστροφή θηρίων. Φασί δέ τόν Ἰορδάνη ποταμόν ἐκεῖθεν γεννᾶσθαι. Σημαίνει δέ διά τούτων, τήν χάριν τοῦ ἁγίου βαπτίσματος.

ΕΡΩΤΗΣΣ ΜΕ΄.

Τί ἐστι τό ἐν Ψαλμοῖς εἰρημένον, "Σχολάσατε, καί γνῶτε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμί ὁ Θεός;" Ἀπόκρισις. Ἕξ εἰσι σχολαί, ἅστινας κατορθοῦντες, Θεόν ἐπιγνῶναι δυνάμεθα. Πρώτη ἡ τῆς

ἁμαρτίας ἐνεργείας· δευτέρα, ἡ τῆς ἐξαπτικῆς διαίτης· τρίτη, ἡ τοῦ τύπου τῆς ἐπιμιξίας τῶν ἀφυλάκτως βιούντων· τετάρτη, ἡ τοῦ ἀπροσφόρου ἐπιτηδεύματος τοῦ κατά Θεόν βίου· πέμπτη, ἡ τῆς ὑπάρξεως τῆς διαβεβλημένης καί εἰς πολλά περισπώσης τόν νοῦν· ἕκτη, τό μή ἔχειν καθόλου ἴδιον θέλημα. Καί τοῦτό ἐστι καί ἀποταγή καί ὑποταγή ἡ ἀληθινή καί κατά Θεόν.