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melodies. What then is, On the cymbal of significance? It speaks of the psalms thus. For they did not simply play on the cymbals, nor simply play on the lyre, but as was possible, they indicated the meanings both through the cymbals, and through the trumpets, and through the psalms of the lyre; and in these things there was for them a zeal and a labor that brought great profit. Let every breath praise the Lord. For since he has called those from heaven, since he has roused the people, since he has set in motion all the instruments, he proceeds then to all of nature, calling every age to the melody, old men, men, youths, adolescents, women, all who inhabit the world, and from here now laying down beforehand the seeds of the New Testament for those extended everywhere on earth. Let us therefore praise God continually, let us not cease giving thanks for all things, both in words and in deeds. For this is our sacrifice and offering, this the best liturgy and one resembling the angelic states. And if we remain thus hymning him, we shall both complete the present life without stumbling and enjoy the good things to come; may it be granted to all of us to obtain them, by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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μελῳδίας. Τί δέ ἐστιν, Ἐν κυμβάλῳ σημασίας; Τοὺς ψαλμοὺς οὕτω φησίν. Οὐ γὰρ ἁπλῶς ἐκυμβάλιζον, οὐδὲ ἁπλῶς ἐκιθάριζον, ἀλλ' ὡς οἷόν τε ἦν, καὶ διὰ τῶν κυμβάλων, καὶ διὰ τῶν σαλπίγγων, καὶ διὰ τῶν τῆς κιθάρας ψαλμῶν τὰς σημασίας ἐνδεικνύμενοι· καὶ ἦν αὐτοῖς εἰς ταῦτα σπουδὴ καὶ πόνος πολὺ τὸ κέρδος φέρων. Πᾶσα πνοὴ αἰνεσάτω τὸν Κύριον. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐκάλεσε τοὺς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐπειδὴ διήγειρε τὸν δῆμον, ἐπειδὴ τὰ ὄργανα ἅπαντα ἐκίνησεν, εἰς τὴν φύσιν πᾶσαν ἐκβαίνει λοιπὸν, πᾶσαν ἡλικίαν εἰς τὴν μελῳδίαν καλῶν, πρεσβύτας, ἄνδρας, νέους, ἐφήβους, γυναῖκας, ἅπαντας τοὺς τὴν οἰκουμένην οἰκοῦντας, καὶ ἐντεῦθεν ἤδη προκαταβαλλόμενος τῆς Καινῆς ∆ιαθήκης τὰ σπέρματα τοῖς πανταχοῦ γῆς ἐκτεταμένοις. Αἰνῶμεν τοίνυν τὸν Θεὸν διηνεκῶς, μὴ διαλείπωμεν ὑπὲρ ἁπάντων εὐχαριστοῦντες, καὶ διὰ ῥημάτων, καὶ διὰ τῶν πραγμάτων. Αὕτη γὰρ ἡμῶν θυσία καὶ προσφορὰ, αὕτη λειτουργία ἀρίστη καὶ ταῖς ἀγγελικαῖς πολιτείαις ἐοικυῖα. Κἂν διαμείνωμεν οὕτως αὐτὸν ἀνυμνοῦντες, καὶ τὸν παρόντα βίον ἀπροσκόπως ἀνύσομεν, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων ἀπολαυσόμεθα ἀγαθῶν· ὧν γένοιτο πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐπιτυχεῖν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.