Encomium in sanctam Mariam deiparam

Encomium on Holy Mary the Theotokos.

Bright for us is the discourse, and filled with grace, since the synod of the Holy Fathers is also splendid. For indeed, while I was in great sorrow because of the lawless blasphemy of Nestorius, they aroused this much-agitated and multifaceted and angelic and heavenly theater. These are the teachers of piety, the pillars and roofs of the faith, the unshakable towers, the harbors that bring calm, the faithful and prudent stewards, the wise master-builders, who lead an ethereal voyage and an angelic life upon earth, the tent-companions of the prophets, and enthroned with the apostles, and protectors of the holy Churches, the avengers of the foul blasphemy, the wise helpers of our poverty, or rather our praise, who hold the eloquent and godlike throne of the high priesthood, who pour forth honey-sweet streams, the spiritual orators of the wisdom of God, who have walked the four corners of the inhabited world with tireless journeying, whom neither burning heat, nor the expanses of the sea, 77.1032 nor the wild fury of raging waves, nor stormy billows cast into hesitation, but leaping with faith-bearing steps they have come here, having left behind all hesitation through longing, or rather fear of the Lord, and having taken up the cross as wise avengers of the Theotokos Mary, they have arrived here. Therefore, taking courage in their holy prayers, let us greet this city with a few words, and so I will extend my discourse to the praises of the Theotokos.

Hail, O city of the Ephesians, or rather, sea-spectacle, because instead of earthly harbors, angelic and heavenly harbors have come to you. Hail, boast of the Asian diocese, for you are built round about with holy temples like precious pearls, and now you are sanctified, being trodden by the feet of many holy Fathers and patriarchs. For truly both the gates, and the streets, and the harbors are blessed by the visit of the holy Fathers. For where many shepherds travel, great through them becomes the gathering of holiness; and especially these who are lovers of God and lovers of faith, and equal to angels, drive out every satanic working, and Hellenic idol-madness, of both Porphyrians and Sabellians, of both Phrygians and Apollinarians, of Photinians, and ....... and simply every foul heresy is put to shame, and the boast of the orthodox faith is glorified. Hail also to you, thrice-blessed John, apostle and evangelist, boast of virginity, teacher of purity, destroyer of the deceit of demons, demolisher of the temple of Artemis, harbor and champion of the Ephesians, nourisher of the poor, refuge of the afflicted, refreshment and repose for those near and far. Hail, undefiled vessel filled with self-control.

For to you also our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was being lifted up on the cross, entrusted the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin, as to a virgin. Hail also to you, Mary Theotokos, Virgin-Mother, Light-bearer, undefiled vessel. Hail, Virgin Mary, mother and handmaid, a Virgin, because of him who was born of you, the Virgin; a mother because of him who was carried in your arms, and nourished with your milk; a handmaid because of him who took the form of a servant. For the king entered into your city, or rather into your womb, and again he went out as he himself willed, and your gate was closed. For you conceived without seed, and gave birth in a manner befitting God. Hail, Mary, the indissoluble temple, or rather holy one, as the prophet David cries out, saying:

Encomium in sanctam Mariam deiparam

̓Εγκώμιον εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν Μαρίαν τὴν Θεοτόκον.

Φαιδρὸς ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος, καὶ χάριτος ἐμπεπλησμένος, ἐπειδὴ καὶ λαμπρὰ ἡ τῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων σύνοδος. Καὶ γὰρ σφόδρα μου ἐν λύπῃ ὑπάρχοντος διὰ τὴν παράνομον βλασφημίαν Νεστορίου διήπειρον τοῦτο τὸ πολύκλονον καὶ πολυειδὲς καὶ ἀγγελικὸν καὶ ἐπουράνιον θέατρον. Ουτοι οἱ τῆς εὐσεβείας διδάσκαλοι, οἱ στύλοι καὶ οροφοι τῆς πίστεως, οἱ πύργοι οἱ ἀσάλευτοι, οἱ λιμένες οἱ γαμνοφόροι, οἱ πιστοὶ καὶ φρόνιμοι οἰκονόμοι, οἱ σοφοὶ ἀρχιτέκτονες, οἱ τὸν αἰθέριον πλοῦν, καὶ ἰσάγγελον βίον ἐπὶ γῆς διάγοντες, οἱ τῶν προφητῶν σύσκηνοι, καὶ τῶν ἀποστόλων σύνθρονοι, καὶ τῶν ἁγίων ̓Εκκλησιῶν προστάται, οἱ τῆς μιαρᾶς βλασφημίας εκδικοι, οἱ τῆς ἡμετέρας πτωχείας, μᾶλλον δὲ εὐφημίας, σοφοὶ ἀντιλήπτορες, οἱ τὸν καλλιεπῆ καὶ θεόμορφον τῆς ἀρχιερωσύνης θρόνον ἐπέχοντες, οἱ τὰ μελίῤῥυτα πηγάζοντες νάματα, οἱ τῆς Θεοῦ φρονήσεως πνευματικοὶ ῥήτορες, οἱ τὴν τετραπέρατον οἰκουμένην τῇ ἀκαμάτῳ ὁδοιπορίᾳ βαδίσαντες, ους ουτε καύσων, ουτε πελάγη θαλάττης, 77.1032 ουτε κυμάτων μαινομένων θυμὸς αγριος, οὐ ζαλώδεις τρισκυμίαι εἰς οκνον ἐνέβαλεν, ἀλλὰ τοῖς πιστοφόροις βήμασι σκιρτῶντες ἐνταῦθα γεγόνασι, πάντα οκνον καταλείψαντες διὰ πόθον, μᾶλλον δὲ φόβον Κυρίου, καὶ ἀναλαβόντες τὸν σταυρὸν ὡς σοφοὶ εκδικοι τῆς Θεοτόκου Μαρίας, ἐνταῦθα παραγεγόνασιν. ∆ιὸ καὶ θαῤῥοῦντες ταῖς εὐχαῖς αὐτῶν ταῖς ἁγίαις, ὀλίγα τινὰ χαιρετίσωμεν ταύτην τὴν πόλιν, καὶ ουτως ἐπὶ τὰ ἐγκώμια τῆς Θεοτόκου ἐκτενῶ μου τὸν λόγον.

Χαίροις, ω ̓Εφεσίων πόλις, μᾶλλον δὲ θαλασσοθέα, διότι ἀντὶ λιμένων ἐπιγείων λιμένες ἀγγελικοὶ καὶ ἐπουράνιοι πρὸς σὲ παραγεγόνασιν. Χαίροις, τῆς ̓Ασιανῆς διοικήσεως τὸ καύχημα, οτι καθάπερ μαργαριτῶν τιμίων τοῖς τῶν ἁγίων ναοῖς κύκλῳ περιοικοδομῆσαι, καὶ νῦν ὑπὸ πολλῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων καὶ πατριαρχῶν ἰχνοπατουμένη ἁγιάζῃ. Εὐλογοῦνται γὰρ ἀληθῶς καὶ αἱ πύλαι, καὶ αἱ ῥύμαι, καὶ οἱ λιμένες, τῇ τῶν ἁγίων Πατέρων ἐπιδημίᾳ.Οπου γὰρ πολλοὶ ποιμένες ἐλαύνουσιν, πολὺς γίνεται δι' αὐτῶν ὁ τῆς ἁγιωσύνης σύλλογος· καὶ μάλιστα ουτοι οἱ φιλόθεοι καὶ φιλόπιστοι, καὶ ἰσάγγελοι, ἐξελαύνουσι πᾶσαν σατανικὴν ἐνέργειαν, καὶ ̔Ελληνικὴν εἰδωλομανίαν, Πορφυριανῶν τε καὶ Σαβελλιτῶν, Φρυγῶν τε καὶ ̓Απολιναριτῶν, Φωτινῶν, καὶ ....... καὶ πᾶσα ἁπλῶς αιρεσις μιαρὰ καταισχύνεται, δοξάζεται δὲ τὸ τῆς ὀρθοδόξου πίστεως καύχημα. Χαίροις δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς, τρισμακάριε ̓Ιωάννη, ἀπόστολε καὶ εὐαγγελιστὰ, τῆς παρθενίας τὸ καύχημα, τῆς ἁγνείας διδάσκαλε, τῆς τῶν δαιμόνων πλάνης ἐξολοθρευτὰ, τοῦ ναοῦ τῆς ̓Αρτέμιδος καθαιρέτα, τῆς ̓Εφεσίων λιμὴν καὶ πρόμαχος, τῶν πτωχῶν τροφεὺς, τῶν θλιβομένων καταφυγὴ, τῶν ἐγγὺς καὶ τῶν μακρὰν ἀναψυχὴ καὶ ἀνάπαυσις. Χαίροις, ἀμίαντον σκεῦος σωφροσύνης ἐμπεπλησμένον.

Σοὶ γὰρ καὶ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν ̓Ιησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ ἀναλαμβανόμενος τὴν Θεοτόκον καὶ ̓Αειπαρθένον, ὡς παρθένῳ παρέδωκεν. Χαίροις δὲ καὶ αὐτὴ, Μαρία Θεοτόκε, Παρθενομήτωρ, Φωτοφόρε, σκεῦος ἀμίαντον. Χαίροις, Παρθένε Μαρία, μήτηρ καὶ δούλη, Παρθένε μὲν, διὰ τὸν ἐκ σοῦ τῆς Παρθένου τεχθέντα· μήτηρ δὲ διὰ τὸν ἐν ἀγκάλαις σαῖς βασταχθέντα, καὶ γάλακτι σῷ τραφέντα· δούλη διὰ τὸν μορφὴν δούλου λαβόντα. Εἰσῆλθε γὰρ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει σου, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ σου, καὶ πάλιν ἐξῆλθεν ὡς αὐτὸς ἠθέλησεν, καὶ ἡ πύλη σου ἐκέκλειστο. Συνέλαβες γὰρ ἀσπόρως, θεοπρεπῶς δὲ ἐγέννησας. Χαίροις, Μαρία, ὁ κατάλυτος ναὸς, μᾶλλον δὲ αγιος, καθὼς βοᾷ ὁ προφήτης ∆αβὶδ λέγων·