Epistulae paschales sive Homiliae paschales (epist. 1-30) OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP
let us show to God the Jew who is one inwardly, and the circumcision that is in secret, circumcising all evil from our own heart, so that we may also
The Savior being born of a woman, according to the flesh, so that he might save the man born of a woman, and having loosed him from the bonds of death
the prophet says. How else could we become workers of such things how could we fulfill the divine commandment, unless by all means, fleeing from bein
They were deemed worthy of divine visions, and they appeared stronger than fire, and they reproved the king's threat and they prevailed over lions, c
shall we take counsel? For it is necessary for us either to labor and be delivered from evils or, having hesitated to do this, to be condemned to unq
they thought, if they should concede to them victory in sins. For they supposed they would not be found thinking things worthy of their parents, unles
their sons gather wood, and their fathers kindle a fire, and their women knead dough to make cakes for the host of heaven, and they poured out libatio
the devil crying out, I will take the whole world in my hand 77.425 as a nest, and as abandoned eggs I will take them up, and there is no one 77.425
being eager to bring to the fore. The divine oracle, therefore, has declared a season for every matter. And the present season, if any other for us, i
and for gardens gives birth to the shoot that travails for them, as if belching forth its energy from the loins of its own nature. The fields are alre
Crumbs solidified into one loaf signify the abundant multitude of virtues, which make up one piety, which is offered by us to God in the order of a sa
revealing but the apostle Paul exhorts us that it is necessary to abound in the work of the Lord, as far as is possible for human nature, and to be s
accepting a perpetual sacrifice from us. For commanding one lamb to be slaughtered at the beginning of the day, and a second at its end, seems to sign
Israel, and they offered up whole burnt offerings, and they sacrificed a sacrifice of salvation, calves, to God. Therefore, we shall say that being a
to define a difference in these, but to distribute the five talents equally to all. But now the inequality of the gift introduces a certain dissimilar
For at one time he said: Will you not fear me, says the Lord, or will you not stand in awe of my presence? Who set a bound for the sea, an everlastin
week of the saving Passover, from the tenth of the month of Pharmuthi ending the fasts on the fifteenth of the same month, on Saturday evening, accor
demanding. But the contest is not judged by the strengths of bodies nor by leaps in the wrestling school but surely neither will he who is believed
games? What then do you think you gain from this? whether honors or money? And to labor so in the contests, for what would you rather choose it to be
will do wrong. For Christ eagerly holds out the ability for us to truly accomplish all things that look toward virtue, through the working of the Hol
Woe to them, because they have jumped away from me they are wretched, because they have acted impiously against me. For first of all, that and most
for the law made nothing perfect he insists that a second one must necessarily be introduced for the salvation of the world. 6. How long then will y
your forehead is bronze. The greatness of your disobedience, the Savior himself also accuses, saying: All day long I have stretched out my hands to
celebrating then on the next dawning Lord's day, on the seventh of the same month of Pharmuthi joining to it in succession the seven weeks of holy Pe
he says. And a table not weighed down with the luxury of foods, and bringing forth wasteful ambition, but rather that one is beloved, to which wisdom
and they said, 'We will not listen.' For this reason the nations heard, and those who pasture their flocks among them. Hear, O earth, behold I am brin
her, being exceedingly sad at what had happened but the one who was long barren and had never given birth, and by the length of time had been deprive
let us say, the wise men of old, as if giving birth to them from the loins of travailing error, and they were sons of the age for so also the Savior
it having been clearly shown that he from Abraham became the father of one nation and another argument again compelling us to show the truth of what
he will show himself. But since, looking at the experience of physicians, I perceive somehow that the practice of their art is wise for them and thei
he placed him on the altar upon the wood, and Abraham stretched out his hand, taking the knife to slay his son. And an angel of the Lord called to him
therefore as a just man for they were about to return but he is silent as a wise man, and does not reveal the mystery to those yet uninitiated in t
let us reclaim the orphan and widow let us refresh the maimed with fitting therapies let us be found affectionate, compassionate toward those in bon
a swarm of desires, not easily numbered, rising up against the inclinations that draw us to what is better, and as if setting himself against a certai
considering the natures of things as much as possible, I think it not only fitting to those just announced by the discourse, that it will be necessary
To all, I think, who exist 77.508 it is most evident, that if someone were to see a house or a ship, or some other such thing most skillfully put toge
to walk by one's judgment toward whatever one might wish, brings the charge of the utmost folly. Of a few things, as I have already said before, I wil
man 77.513 by the reproaches from his conscience, always being urged to flee to what is better and indeed hating sin as something foreign, but in tra
With you, these are the exercises that bring forth the highest virtue in these you have set for yourself the boundaries of good repute. But I say tha
have we been accounted for before God? But rejecting forgetfulness of better things, and cutting away the faults that come from it like some excursion
boast, I would gladly ask of the most foolish Jews. But if it is necessary to add something to what has been said, that circumcision was given as anot
but it does not allow carrying out a burden from the house nor indeed to depart somewhere far, crossing the threshold of the gate in Jerusalem, but i
they will spend the time no longer engaging in works and toils but having the boasts from their past life as a provision for salvation, they will no
The Lord, no longer used any deacons and servants for the accomplishment of our salvation, but setting Himself against the tyrannical devil on our beh
rejoicing in return, we confess our own poverty, saying: What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has rendered to me? I will take the cup of s
fall into more difficult and greater, or rather, harsh and unadvisable pains that come from being punished. Therefore, knowing and being persuaded of
the disciple of Christ was eager to crown himself with advantages, the soldier of Christ, who was also reasonably appointed as commander over us on ac
is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, beli
they spend their zeal. For either they gather pretexts for anger against their countrymen, and rage more senselessly against their neighbors, or lovin
cutting off the hopes of expected delights, he has turned joy into sorrow. And this was, then, what was spoken through one of the holy prophets: Thus
yours, and do not give your inheritance to reproach, so that they may not say among the nations: Where is their God? Thus, when we approach without n
let us celebrate the all-holy festival, beginning the holy Lent from the twenty-third of the month of Mechir, and the week of the saving Passover, fro
It is not unreasonable to give something more at the present time, as if it were ordering us to set down our ambition in these matters in the manner o
it reasonably follows that it should be admired, which is seen to belong to these, to be seen within love through actions. For he who does wrong does
But for those accustomed to think more simply, come now, turning it around again, let us apply it to the words of the Savior. Therefore, leading us up
and truly luxury is a fearful thing for a fall and sufficient to bring on arrogance, the begetter of despair. And the bitter offspring of despair is
will gladden. For we have not a high priest who cannot sympathize with our iniquities, according to the voice of Paul but was in all points tempte
and before He was born? In response to such things, we too, bringing forth arguments concerning the truth, will cry out: O man, by saying this you ar
for, he says, he brings the firstborn into the world, he says: And let all the angels of God worship him. I would very gladly ask of those who have
as Scripture sets forth, Paul again dared to say: That in the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, a
having [an advocate] with the Father, and an expiation for our sins, as John says, let us run swiftly toward the prize of the upward call vigorous
it is necessary to make haste, considering the profound mystery of our Savior. For it is not, it is not possible to partake richly of the blessing fro
having obtained no care from above, for whose sake also the generation of plants was devised. Therefore, it concurs at this one season for us, that th
banishing sin to some land of perdition but looking to the beautiful city of the saints, the heavenly Jerusalem, which is our mother, through 77.585
If you approach the faith without reservation, approach purely, that is, in a whole manner, and not with a limping mind, nor with a divided heart or
the end of the matter would have turned out for him according to his mind. For the wretched man fights against God out of foolishness, and it seems to
guilty. For some of the Israelites were sick with this in times now past, and they pretended to honor the legal commandment in an extraordinary way, a
having sinned, he commands them to be shorn by the prophet. For in the same way that hair, being cut by the hand of the shearer, is alienated from the
and each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the incense went up. Do you hear how they thought they could escape notice, denying God the hon
and very opportunely, we should do the things through which we shall be glorious, that is, every form of virtue, and the achievements from a God-lovin
a possession, and so to be joined to Christ who purchased us for we owe our own life to Him. And Paul is a witness of this, saying: For one died for
but the manner of the songs is seen to be thus: Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice let the fields be joyful, and all that is in them
my, and my Lord to my judgment. And that again the Savior condemned the tyranny of the devil, but declared us free and acquired us for Himself, how c
to be carried uphill, and to execute foolishly what seems good to the devil. For no one is able, according to the voice of the Savior, to serve two m
to cease at last from the impurity of earthly works, so that as if departing from the whole land of the oppressor, having come at last to a free and r
mind, and the passions of the flesh are punished, being completely put to death by the power of the one who dwells in it, that is, of God the Word. An
the transformation in us happens by the power of active virtue, and the remolding in sanctification, referring to whatever is pleasing to God, and sen
purpose of the argument) the Spirit makes us conformed to Christ and through active virtue the divine characters indeed always flash forth in us. But
it is written he says to the holy Moses and to Aaron Fill an omer of manna, to be kept for your generations and Moses said to Aaron, Take one gold
And Wisdom again says that from the beauty of created things, their creator is seen by analogy. Therefore, so that by working wonders He might be reco
seeing, the all-daring ones were sneering, and were persuaded to say by their own 77.633 Father, I mean Satan: If you are the Son of God, come down n
and those who have practiced an art, either the one honored in wrestling schools and in the gymnopaediae fitting for cities, or the one conspicuous in
that which is still more exceedingly worse, and proceeding henceforth to the very summit of all worthlessness but to those who have chosen to do good
God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be
he commanded, saying: Having food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to be rich fall into many foolish desires, which p
the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime rec
him who was often named better than these, having been subjected to the laws of nature, and having entered the noose of death, was imprisoned in deep
of Moses, and what he should do or say to these things, having absolutely nothing but taking courage in the only hope from God, without any delay the
inhumanity, introducing thoughts, and showing ways through which the power of greed might operate. Terrible, beloved, is the judgment of such men and
of him, and they cast lots over Jerusalem, and you were as one of them and do not look upon the day of your brother in the day of strangers and do n
being pre-eminent, let us prepare our own mind for the reception of virtue, having first cast down and as it were rooted beforehand in our own souls t
having preached there to the spirits, and having opened the closed gates to those below, and having emptied the insatiable 77.665 recess of death, He
Well, they indeed whet one another to boldness, and they hasten to applaud for themselves a display of both strength and skill, believing the time for
be caught unreasonably. And it seems to me that the disciple of Christ spoke rightly and irreproachably about such things, that It would have been be
and having been whetted for apostasy out of unmixed madness, and having recklessly taken up their arms and tyrannical practices, should stir up cities
Therefore I will ask, O noble one, to whom would it be fitting to sit upon a high and exalted throne? And to whom to stand by and minister? But I thin
the genuine is counterfeited. Let him therefore hear the God-inspired Scripture crying out: For God is not mocked and indeed of the divine David si
with you is the fount of life, and in your light we shall see light. And indeed the most wise John said, He was the true light, which enlightens eve
they plunder, transferring them into error, and casting them into the pits of destruction. Therefore let them hear the divinely-inspired Scripture cry
it is. Second to what is by nature is what is by position and newer than what is according to truth is what is according to imitation and likeness to
are believed for instance, if one should ask what fire is, one would appropriately answer that which is hot, and dry, and caustic, and luminous for
and suffering from a self-loving arrogance, cried out with him, saying: I will take the whole world in my hand, as a nest, and as abandoned eggs I wi
practice their insatiability but when their hope falls through to the contrary, very beautiful are the feet of the one announcing peace to those in d
the poor man shall not give less than the half didrachma, when giving the offering to the Lord, to make atonement for your souls. For the stater, tha
from the house of bondage. But when Pharaoh was stubborn about sending us away, he killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of
become man. For as the blessed John says, and as the very nature of things has witnessed, The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. We say that the
being united to the holy God through Christ the mediator, let us show ourselves to be worthy of the brightness of the saints. And adding to the fast t
of the spirit this hateful and pleasure-loving little flesh rises up against us, being sick in itself with the law of sin, and always provoking to tho
But as for arrogance and love of glory, how could I describe, then, to what measure of baseness they advance? For God makes the one who is exceedingly
and those who have chosen to do this we shall consider most praiseworthy, and we shall henceforth honor them with a most excellent vote or as one mig
the souls of my people were perverted, and they saved souls alive and they profaned me to my people for a handful of barley and for a piece of bread,
a silver-peddling star-sorcery for I say it must be so, and with names cleverly devised for the art for they say indeed: Thus says the Lord: Do not
discoveries of madness. But since he himself is also the wisdom and power of God the Father, through him all things are called into being, and having
to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory and power unto the ages. Amen.
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your sickles into lances. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.' Do you hear how he called the battle holy, and does
admired for their wealth, to yield their entire substance at once to those who promise to deliver them. Then how will the matter be Scripture, and for
to exist at all but somehow, not ever having subsisted appears before the entrance into being. For this is nonsense, and a clear demonstration of ext
to be able to suffer any of the things which are accustomed to cause grief, being altogether steadfast, how could it be harmed by its association with
taking it by concepts, he accomplishes his purpose. For it is nothing, nothing for God to miss the mark, and to set all things right, according to w
you have thrust out everything that was weak, and I will save my sheep, and they shall no longer be for a prey and I will judge between ram and ram,
For when one ought to rejoice in things so venerable, and very rightly determined, one would make their observance of no account. And the excellent th
warming the earth with its rays, and with the onsets of winter almost exclaiming Give, indeed, give at last to the mountains and valleys to be adorne
made brilliant, and redolent with the glory of Christ. But the time of the pruning has come. That one might very easily deify Christ's accomplishmen
and I will take them as abandoned eggs and there will be no one who shall escape me, or contradict me. But for him, these words were simply a boast,
to utter some even indecent sound? Away with this evil counsel. For we shall not be so disposed as to have these things so. Far from it. What then is
and before all else, the evangelical and salvific instruction, the writings of the apostles, not, as is the custom for some, forcing the meaning of th
of the earth, sin having clearly been taken away, and death, which sprang up through it, having perished together with its own root, and in addition t
of everything, and always casting what is in the way as far away as possible, they have decided to deem the completion of their present endeavors wort
He said a large and furnished upper room would be shown to the holy apostles, and did He not command that the one burdened with the pitcher of water,
rather, even in the assumption of the flesh of His own excellence, He might preserve His glory. For thus we have been enriched by His poverty, the hum
(has an existence older than all), but wisely allowing it to proceed through its own principles, according to the laws of humanity. For just as the pr
of eminence heaven and earth and the things below, and holding all things that came to be through him for their well-being and existence. And if you s
The Father made the proclamation through the voice of the prophets, concerning both Himself and the holy apostles, saying: Behold, a righteous king s
running upon him, and making excuses for their sins, and saying to the one they accused: For a good work we do not stone you, but for blasphemy, beca
we shall inherit, in Christ Jesus our Lord with whom and through whom to the Father with the Holy Spirit, be glory and power for ever. Amen.
Prepare for war, bring in the horses, mount up, you horsemen, and stand in your helmets, put forth your spears, and put on your breastplates. For we
when neighboring nations were stirring up the attack of war against the Jews, he commanded the fighting men to be in arms, and to receive the assaults
will accomplish, and for us widens the path of all virtue. For that we shall find success from God to be the reward of fasting, and the fruit of good
from the face of the foreigners. And the sons of Israel said to Samuel: Do not cease on our behalf from crying to the Lord your God, and he will save
let us be rich in the matter. For this reason 77.816 He has been called both the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, and the firstborn fro
to wise Moses: And you shall take water from the river, and pour it out upon the land for, as I said, the nature of the Father is very well likened
For a small amount of food, I see many and great banqueters gathered
to eat unleavened bread with it, and indeed also bitter herbs. For it is written thus: You shall eat unleavened bread with bitter herbs for seven day
has been given for our aid. But observe for me the one learned in the law and most holy Paul, applying his mind to an accurate examination of such th
The divine Paul has written, revealing to us a word: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son i
you do not set, nor indeed do you completely deprive of things for rest and luxury. Therefore, it would be the work of a truly most excellent mind to
fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Therefore, that he might declare
to the Churches. But who then are those who used the trumpets, the sacred Scripture will again make clear. For it spoke thus: And the sons of Aaron,
he has given to us. What, then, is still conceived as extraordinary in Christ beyond others, if he too was a man, bearing the indwelling God of all,
the rod of God is in my hand. And Joshua did as Moses said to him and going out, he arrayed himself for battle against Amalek. And when he had arraye
77.848 holy Paul: I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Ther
on the twenty-seventh of the month of Mechir, and the week of the saving Pascha from the second of the month of Pharmouthi ending the fasts on the se
of men, He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and undertook the likeness
you handed over the Lord of glory and creator of all things you thought you could make life subject to death you did not know nor understand that it
of Scripture with our own stammerings, as we are able, we may interpret. 1. Those who are distinguished by the glories of the divine priesthood, and a
your wills, and all those under your hand you oppress. For judgment and strife you fast, and you strike the lowly with your fists. Why do you fast for
The thing is not pleasant. For He had no need of flesh or blood, and He is in no way delighted by the smell of sacrifice and smoke. In what way then s
evil, for we die to the world, but pass over to a holy and blameless life and this thing is most praiseworthy with the virtue-loving God. For the pro
He scattered the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the nations according to the number of the angels of God, and the Lord's people became His por
for to each according to his work. Therefore, as those who will give an account of their own life, let us be eager to claim the boasts of gentleness,
of those maliciously contrived, but those darting straight for the 77.876 truth, to love the correct and unerring word of faith, which has nothing ove
of the altar looking toward the north. But what is this thing? someone might perhaps say. What is the deep enigma of the sacred rite, overshadowed wit
Of the lyre's song: But I was appointed king by him (and it is clear that this is God the Father) upon Zion his holy mountain, declaring the decree o
To all these, as I said in the beginning, Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, celebrating, of course, the festival in His honor. Then how, tell me, so
he commemorates, saying: This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. And indeed, the Spirit-bearers say that the much
them the bridegroom, who will see those reclining at table. But when he saw someone among the well-dressed who was wearing filthy clothes, and did not
virtue in each of the things to be done, and a wonderful way. For it is necessary, I think, to approach this with consideration, and to be fond of mak
But they went wide of the mark, and falling away as it were into an unrestrained savagery and being senselessly incited to unmitigated rages, the wret
over all the earth. For He allowed His own flesh to taste death, according to what is written, so that by showing it to be superior to death through t
where is your sting, O death? For the dead will be raised, according to the prophet’s voice: And those in the tombs will be raised. For the dew from
he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Therefore, since God the Father gathers us to a spiritual banquet, and makes for us a most abundant provi
God is brought forward. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? And to this he says: Furthermore, we have had earthly fathers to
you returned to me, says the Lord. I struck you with burning wind and with blight. You multiplied your gardens, your vineyards, and your fig trees, an
the wages, then at last they crucified him, he has departed from them, and has given himself to the flocks of the Gentiles. For it was not impossible
it shows to be malleable, netting the race that is by nature most approved and calling it to herself, but scaring away, as it were, the lazy and unwar
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Make for yourself a bronze basin, and its base bronze, for washing. And you shall place it between the tent of t
the idols of Israel, drawn upon it all around. And seven men from the elders of the house of Israel, and Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan stood in their m
to God and he threatened famine and barrenness, and a scarcity of the blessing from above. For he said: As the Lord of hosts lives, the God of Israe
would not a man rightly hold these things for a mockery, if he considered them? But He became for us a merciful high priest in some such way as this.
orphans, let us reclaim widows let us visit those in sickness, those in bonds and necessities let us practice freedom from anger let us achieve for
holiness in the fear of God, as it is written. 2. Now every season is suitable for the virtuous, for them to walk the pure and blameless path of righ
Straining the eye of our mind to the end of each thing, let us consider where on earth this matter of wealth will end up for the rich. One of the sain
and not making the earth in vain, according to the voice of the prophet, but that it might have those who dwell in it. But in what way did He have mer
he joined but he himself truly became man, wonderfully, beyond understanding, and became in the form of a servant, having brought himself down to emp
of communion, in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom and with whom to God the Father be the glory, with the Holy Spirit, now, and always, and unto the
leafy, and of chaste-tree, and of willow then weaving together the booths, relaxed and living luxuriously, 77.945 for all of seven days they dwelt in
of no worth to the devil and his angels, and not beyond the necessity of coming to the test of their cruelty. For he attaches himself to every holy on
the spiritual. One might consider as works of the dead carnal pleasures, revelries and drunkenness, and a life devoid of all holiness, a desire for sh
having been brought down to corruption, He may reforge to incorruption, and He may render them holy and blameless, having freed them from every stain
on the sixth of the month of Pharmouthi ending the fasts on the eleventh of the same month of Pharmouthi, in the late evening of the Sabbath, accordi
the whole earth to be seen, but in spiritual barrenness the godlike and excellent creature on earth, I mean, man, having the indelible gloom of sin? T
the radiance and the character of his substance. He said, therefore, that He who has seen me has seen the Father. - I and the Father are one. One
It was therefore a refutation of sin, showing sinners to be accursed. For it is written, that Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things wri
going to give an account for our own lives, let us live holy lives, and let us practice every form of gentleness, cleansing ourselves from every defil
The worship of Moses prevailed, there was a station in the first tabernacle of those under the types. For it was not permitted in order for those who
to wipe away filth, that is, for grace through faith to deliver some from accusations, and that which is in Christ the God of all has rightly given th
a figure now saves you, baptism, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience. And what is this, an appeal
manuel, which is interpreted, God with us. And the birth of Emmanuel was indeed marvelous for he came forth from a Virgin who had not known man. Nev
on the dawning Sunday, the seventeenth of the same month Pharmouthi, adding to this the seven weeks of holy Pentecost, so that, considering the time o
Epistulae paschales sive Homiliae paschales (epist. 1-30) OF OUR FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS CYRIL, ARCHBISHOP
OF ALEXANDRIA FESTAL HOMILIES.
1. Of our joyful and divine feast, the bright lights shine forth and appear throughout the whole world, permitting nothing dark and gloomy to meet those who wish to celebrate according to virtue. Wherefore also to such people, the blessed Apostle, revealing the profitable way, says: "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us walk honestly, as in the day," so that, being enlightened by the unquenchable lamps of the Savior, we may arrive at the Jerusalem which is above, living together in heaven with the holy choirs of angels. The blessed David, therefore, gathering us into a goodly assembly, exhorts us to the victory song for Christ, who came among us for our sake and through the cross abolished the sting of death, saying: "Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to God our Savior." For he calls those who hold to the divine laws to the saving choir, and teaches them to be gathered into one and harmonious mind, confessing the faith in Christ not with divided thoughts, nor with a divided mind; "but that being of one accord, and of the same mind, according to Paul," we might keep the unswerving and firm confession in Him. For thus they command us of the divine and undefiled festival to ascend henceforth to the spiritual 77.404 Jerusalem; and since it rouses us to arrive swiftly at piety, let us hear through the prophet: "You who have escaped from the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind." Therefore, with Paul crying out, "So run, that you may obtain," and with the holy feast rising for us like the sun, let us cast far away the inert hesitation of sloth; and having conquered the dim darkness of idleness, let us go with a courageous and splendid spirit towards all virtue, saying to one another that which is written: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will tell us his way, and we will walk in it." For the Jews, indeed, not knowing how to depart from the worship according to type and of the body, hear: "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? saith the Lord. I am full of the burnt offerings of rams; and the fat of lambs, and the blood of bulls and of goats, I will not have; neither should you come to appear before me." But to those who have journeyed far from such things, and have made it their care to show to God the true circumcision of the heart through worship in spirit, the prophet cries: "Seek God, and when you find him, call upon him. And when he draws near to you, let the wicked man forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his counsel, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy, because he will abundantly pardon your sins." Therefore, since our Savior Christ has drawn near to us through His likeness to us, let us put off, according to what is written, the old man, and put on the new man who is renewed in the image of him that created him; and forgetting those things which are behind, let us reach forth unto those things which are before, ascending pure to the divine festival. And with the prophet Jeremiah crying out: "Thus he says to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Break up for yourselves new ground, and sow not among thorns. Be circumcised to God, and circumcise the hardness of your heart, you men of Judah who inhabit Jerusalem," having cleansed with the divine fear as with fire the mind that is wild and fallow from piety, let us receive the good seed of the Savior, who teaches not to follow mere forms or worships in type, but renews us for salvation with good teachings. Therefore
Epistulae paschales sive Homiliae paschales (epist. 1-30) ΤΟΥ ΕΝ ΑΓΙΟΙΣ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΚΥΡΙΛΛΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ
ΑΛΕΞΑΝ∆ΡΕΙΑΣ ΟΜΙΛΙΑΙ ΕΟΡΤΑΣΤΙΚΑΙ.
αʹ Τῆς μὲν εὐθύμου καὶ θείας ἡμῶν ἑορτῆς ἀνὰ πᾶσαν τὴν οἰκουμένην τὰ φαιδρὰ προλάμπει καὶ φαίνεται φῶτα· οὐδὲν σκοτεινὸν καὶ
ζοφῶδες τοῖς κατ' ἀρετὴν ἑορτάζειν ἐθέλουσιν ὑπαντᾷν ἐπιτρέ πουσα. ∆ιὸ καὶ τοῖς τοιούτοις ὁ μακάριος Ἀπόστολος τὴν συμφέρουσαν
ἐμφανίζων ὁδὸν, φησίν· "Ἡ νὺξ προέκοψεν, ἡ δὲ ἡμέρα ἤγγικεν· ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εὐ σχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν," ἵνα καὶ ταῖς ἀσβέστοις
τοῦ Σωτῆρος φωταγωγούμενοι λαμπάσιν εἰς τὴν ἄνω καταντήσωμεν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, τοῖς εὐαγέσι τῶν ἀγγέ λων χοροῖς ἐν οὐρανῷ συνδιαιτώμενοι.
Ὁ μὲν οὖν μακάριος ∆αβὶδ εἰς καλὴν ἡμᾶς συνάγων ὁμήγυριν, τὴν ἐπινίκιον ᾠδὴν τῷ δι' ἡμᾶς ἐπιδημήσαντι Χρι στῷ, καὶ διὰ τοῦ
σταυροῦ τὸ τοῦ θανάτου καταργή σαντι κέντρον παρακελεύεται, λέγων· "∆εῦτε, ἀγαλλιασώμεθα τῷ Κυρίῳ, ἀλαλάξωμεν τῷ Θεῷ τῷ Σωτῆρι
ἡμῶν." Τοὺς γὰρ τοῖς θείοις ἐπανέχοντας νόμοις ἐπὶ τὸν σωτήριον καλεῖ χορὸν, καὶ εἰς μίαν καὶ σύμφωνον διδάσκει συνάγεσθαι
γνώμην, οὐ με μερισμέναις διανοίαις, οὐδὲ νῷ διῃρημένῳ τὴν εἰς Χριστὸν ὁμολογοῦντας πίστιν· "ἀλλ' ἵνα σύμφωνοι, καὶ τὸ αὐτὸ,
κατὰ Παῦλον, φρονοῦντες," ἀκλινῆ καὶ βεβαίαν τὴν εἰς αὐτὸν φυλάττωμεν ὁμολογίαν. Οὕτω γὰρ ἂν τῆς θείας ἡμᾶς καὶ ἀκηράτου πανηγύρεως
ἀναβαίνειν λοιπὸν εἰς τὴν πνευματικὴν κελεύουσιν 77.404 Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ δρομαίους ἀφικέσθαι πρὸς εὐσέ βειαν διεγειρούσης,
ἀκούσωμεν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου· "Ἀνασωζόμενοι ἐκ γῆς πορεύεσθε, καὶ οὐ μὴ στῆτε, μνήσθητε, οἱ μακρὰν, τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ
ἀναβήτω ἐπὶ καρδίαν ὑμῶν." Παύλου τοίνυν βοῶντος· "Οὕτως τρέχετε ἵνα καταλάβητε," καὶ τῆς εὐ αγοῦς ἡμῖν ἡλίου δίκην ἀνατελλούσης
ἑορτῆς, μα κράν που τὸν ἀδρανῆ τῆς ἀργίας ῥίψωμεν ὄκνον· καὶ τὸν ἀμυδρὸν τῆς ἀργείας σκότον νικήσαντες, ἀν δρείῳ καὶ λαμπρῷ
φρονήματι πρὸς πᾶσαν ἴωμεν ἀρετὴν, ἐκεῖνο λέγοντες ἀλλήλοις τὸ γεγραμμένον· "∆εῦτε, ἀναβῶμεν εἰς τὸ ὄρος τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ εἰς
τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἰακὼβ, καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ἡμῖν τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ πορευσόμεθα ἐν αὐτῇ." Ἰουδαῖοι μὲν γὰρ, τῆς κατὰ τύπον καὶ
σωματικῆς λατρείας ἐκβαίνειν οὐκ εἰδότες, ἀκούουσι· "Τί μοι τὸ πλῆθος τῶν θυσιῶν ὑμῶν; λέγει Κύριος. Πλήρης εἰμὶ ὁλο καυτωμάτων
κριῶν· καὶ στέαρ ἀρνῶν, καὶ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων οὐ βούλομαι· οὐδ' ἂν ἔρχησθε ὀφθῆναί μοι." Τοῖς δὲ μακρὰν τῶν τοιούτων
ἀποδη μήσασι, καὶ τῆς καρδίας τὴν ἀληθῆ περιτομὴν διὰ τῆς ἐν πνεύματι λατρείας ἐπιδεικνύειν Θεῷ μελετή σασιν, ὁ προφήτης βοᾷ·
"Ζητήσατε τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ἐν τῷ εὑρίσκειν αὐτὸν ἐπικαλέσασθε. Ἡνίκα δ' ἂν ἐγ γίζῃ ὑμῖν, ἀπολιπέτω ὁ ἀσεβὴς τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ
ἀνὴρ ἄνομος τὴν βουλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπιστραφήτω ἐπὶ Κύριον, καὶ ἐλεηθήσεται, ὅτι ἐπὶ πολὺ ἀφήσει τὰς ἁμαρτίας ὑμῶν." Ἐγγίσαντος
τοιγαροῦν ἡμῖν διὰ τῆς πρὸς ἡμᾶς ὁμοιώσεως τοῦ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν Χριστοῦ, ἐκδυσώμεθα, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, τὸν παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον,
καὶ ἐνδυσώμεθα τὸν νέον τὸν ἀνακαινούμενον κατ' εἰκόνα τοῦ κτίσαντος αὐτόν· καὶ τῶν ὄπισθεν ἐπιλανθανόμενοι, τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν
ἐπεκτεινώμεθα, καθαροὶ πρὸς τὴν θείαν ἀναβαίνον τες πανήγυριν. Τοῦ δὲ προφήτου βοῶντος Ἱερε μίου· "Τάδε λέγει τοῖς ἀνδράσιν
Ἰούδα, καὶ τοῖς κατοικοῦσιν Ἱερουσαλήμ· Νεώσατε ἑαυτοῖς νεώματα, καὶ μὴ σπείρετε ἐν ἀκάνθαις. Περιτμήθητε τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ περιτεμεῖσθε
τὴν σκληροκαρδίαν ὑμῶν, ἄνδρες Ἰουδαῖοι κατοικοῦντες Ἱερουσαλὴμ," ὑλομανοῦσαν καὶ κεχερσωμένην ἀπὸ εὐσεβείας τὴν διάνοιαν,
καθάπερ πυρὶ τῷ θείῳ φόβῳ καθήραντες, τὸν ἀγαθὸν τοῦ Σωτῆρος δεξώμεθα σπόρον, οὐ ψιλαῖς ἀκολου θεῖν, οὐδὲ ταῖς ἐν τύπῳ λατρείαις
διδάσκοντος, ἀλλὰ καλοῖς ἡμᾶς πρὸς σωτηρίαν ἀνανεοῦντος μαθήμα σιν. Οὐκοῦν
