Chapter II.

What those who were to be initiated promised on entering the Church, of the witnesses to these promises, and wherefore they then turned themselves to the East.

5. After this the Holy of holies3    “Holy of holies,” a figurative name given to the baptistery. Comp. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Cat. Lect. XIX. 11; and with this whole treatise the last four Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem in this series, Vol. VII. p. 144 ff. was opened to you, you entered the sanctuary of regeneration; recall what you were asked, and remember what you answered. You renounced the devil and his works, the world with its luxury and pleasures. That utterance of yours is preserved not in the tombs of the dead, but in the book of the living.

6. You saw there the deacon, you saw the priest, you saw the chief priest [i.e. the bishop]. Consider not the bodily forms, but the grace of the Mysteries. You spoke in the presence of the angels, as it is written: “For the priest’s lips keep knowledge, and they seek the law at his mouth, for he is the angel of the Lord Almighty.”4    Mal. ii. 7.There is no place for deception nor for denial. He is an angel who proclaims the kingdom of Christ and eternal life. He is to be esteemed by you not according to his appearance, but according to his office. Consider what he delivered, reflect upon the rule of life he gave you, recognize his position.

7. You entered, then, that you might discern your adversary, whom you were to renounce as it were to his face, then you turned to the east; for he who renounces the devil turns to Christ, and beholds Him face to face.

CAPUT II.

Quid initiandi Ecclesiam ingressi promiserint, quibusve coram testibus, et quamobrem se converterint ad 0390B orientem?

5. Post haec reserata tibi sunt sancta sanctorum, ingressus es regenerationis sacrarium: repete quid interrogatus sis, recognosce quid responderis. Renuntiasti diabolo et operibus ejus, mundo et luxuriae 0391A ejus ac voluptatibus. Tenetur vox tua, non in tumulo mortuorum, sed in libro viventium.

6. Vidisti illic levitam, vidisti sacerdotem, vidisti summum sacerdotem. Noli considerare corporum figuras, sed mysteriorum gratiam. Praesentibus angelis locutus es, sicut scriptum est: Quia labia sacerdotis custodiunt scientiam, et legem exquirunt ex ore ipsius; quoniam angelus est Domini omnipotentis (Malac. II, 7). Non est fallere, non est negare: angelus est qui regnum Christi et vitam aeternam annuntiat. Non specie tibi 327 aestimandus sit, sed munere. Quid tradiderit considera, usum ejus expende, et statum ejus agnosce.

7. Ingressus es igitur ut adversarium tuum cerneres, cui renuntiandum in os putaris: ad 0391B orientem converteris; qui enim renuntiat diabolo, ad Christum convertitur, illum directo cernit obtutu.