Chronicon breve lib. 16
making them alien to the orthodox faith in abundance together with their 3 like-minded ones, it clearly at the same time demonstrated their nonsense a
took as wife his first sister Azura, and Seth the second, Asuam. 5 And Abel was a virgin and righteous and a shepherd of sheep, from which he offered
the weeks, and he gave names to the stars and to the five planets, so that they might be known by men, and only that and the first wandering star he
and worshipping him as a god until now, they call him Baal god in Persian, that is, Ares the warlike, of whom Daniel also makes mention, as being wors
he named those parts Europe after her name. And when Agenor was about to die, he ordered that all the 12 land he had subjected be divided among his th
captive. For about you Isaiah the prophet said: Thus says the Lord to Cyrus my anointed, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him
prophesying, he would say as if from himself: We have commanded, we have decreed. 15. Concerning the Brumalia. The same Romus also devised the so-ca
Buzopolis of Europe, and having founded a place there, in which, having commanded his army, he called it Strategene. 4 And from there having departed
a question and the matter according to the mind of God, only those signifying no were raised. Likewise, in the case of the other answers of the Lord
in the form of this high priest, God encouraged me to be of good courage and to hold fast to my purpose, saying: In you I will bring the kingdom of t
he was educated to the highest degree of knowledge. 4 And being most warlike and most daring, seeing a certain youth who was his namesake fighting cow
those desert places are uninhabited because of the most fearsome and venomous beasts. And very many elephants are found in those regions, so that they
Greeks, and Hesiod composed very ingeniously for the Greeks. 6 But Josephus, remaining in Judaism, was blind, 110.84 and Clement and Africanus and Tat
II. BEGINNING OF THE CHRONICLE OF GEORGE THE MONK. A. Concerning the genealogy of Adam and his sons. Adam, then, according to the
to destroy the race, for godliness is an abomination to a sinner for both the race and the seed of Cain were cursed, but that of Seth was blessed an
and living in cities, nevertheless, when we see rain brought down a little more forcefully than usual, we are cast down and shrink back what would he
they were confused, those who had conspired together being divided into 72 languages according to the number of their leaders. And being driven into a
Pamphylia, Pisidia, Mysia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, Cabalia, Lycia, Caria, Lydia, Bithynia, ancient Phrygia and it also has islands, Sardinia, Crete, Cypru
the error and the idolatry, nor did they remain in those things from which they began but as much as they engaged in the former things, so much they
the sufferings of these for the refutation that they are not gods, but passionate men. But those who have been enslaved by error say: For this reason
and in their own language they said it was dedicated to the generative power, of which goat there was also a temple, in which he was goat-legged, havi
For of the 4 elements, from which the nature of bodies is constituted, I mean the hot and the cold, dry and wet substance, who would 2 not know, that
and they would attribute the cause of all civil life and contracts to fortune and the stars, 110.116 considering nothing more than the things that app
arrayed themselves against each other. Concerning whom it is also written, that They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into si
other cities attributed certain theologies to other animals. The Memphites worshipped the bull, the Lycopolites the wolf, the Cynopolites the dog, and
conquering. 4 For indeed both the Persians and the ancient writers bear witness to this, and if any ambassador or general or one pursuing some trade h
they pull against, being contrary to contrary actions, where virtue and vice lie defined for the account says that one must always follow one of the
in need, but also being capable of leading others, is left desolate of God, and being left, and taking on still others like himself, he leaps about, d
he came to the wise and learned men of the Egyptians, in order to learn more precise extensive experience and natural philosophy, as the Greeks relate
In the furthest regions, shrines of martyrs and holy ones have been built, dwellings of ascetics sanctify the mountain peaks. These things and others
all things. And thus Abram, having received Sarah back undefiled and having prayed, both Abimelech and all those in his house were healed of the para
wherefore, being better than the irrational animals, we are naturally able to destroy them by our authority but while we have authority over them, yo
returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything, first being interpreted king of ri
again is an interpretation of his own name, that is, Melchizedek in the Canaanite tongue. 5 When therefore you read, O man, and find something written
14. The beginning of Abraham. Concerning Isaac.And Abraham, being 75 years old, begot Isaac from Sarah. And a little later, after migrating from the o
my toward God. He said therefore with good reason: And that man was pious, blameless, and so on. For the pagan philosophers, declaring the definiti
75 years old, and having fled Esau his brother, he came to 79 Haran of Mesopotamia to Laban, the brother of his mother Rebecca, where having become a
to destroy him in the following manner: Burning coals were to be placed on the ground and a pile of gold by the suggestion of some of his wise men an
the firstborn of Egypt around midnight, so that carrying the unleavened bread they went out through the mediation and guidance of the renowned and won
110.169 again he says: And Moses went up to Mount Sinai, as the Lord commanded him. And the Lord came down in a cloud. And he was there with him fo
him from my book but now go and lead this people to the place which I have told you. And behold, my angel will go before my face, but on whatever day
you provoked me at the water 110.176 of contradiction and reviling of the people. And Moses brought Aaron up to the mountain, as the Lord commanded, b
of the Father and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, having dwelt in the holy Virgin, in the same year he became man 18ạ and on it he rose from the
the most gentle one suffered despondency, this also in the face of contradiction, which indeed the gentle David also, suffering, said: Despondency se
Therefore, the Christ-bearer, instructing and securing his disciple with 19ḅ such a mighty work and word, said: Do not take part in the sins of othe
let him reckon, even if he possesses all the virtues collectively, even if he has ascended to the very crown of good things. For if that God-beloved h
that great one, who was deemed worthy of so much and so great an honor by God, and was so often testified to by him as to hear, I have known you abov
greater. (Why so? For it is not 102 equal to command the sea and the things in heaven that indeed was great and exceedingly very great, but neverthel
grazing, she gave him milk, and having drunk his fill and turned to sleep, she took a tent peg and courageously drove it into his ears, and sent him t
to a man sowing good seed. A parable is also called a tropology, such as this: Son of man, tell them this parable: The great-winged eagle. A parabl
the men of the tribe of Benjamin, having fornicated with the traveller's concubine and, out of excessive licentiousness, having killed her, the ten tr
on the contrary, and having proposed wrongdoing even to the better ones, having destroyed their own life, they would become murderers, and terrible de
were terribly slain but he, having heard the divine voice that said: I said: Your house shall walk before me forever but now it is not so, but thos
contracts, and those of their neighbors. For whence come untimely deaths? Whence the grievous and continuous illnesses both for us and for our childre
38. The beginning of the reign of Saul. And he gave them Saul the son of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin, having anointed him as king, a good man and of
of him, was transferred to David and his offspring). 9 What then did his size and the height of his body profit Saul? Or what harmed David in the smal
in the times of Abraham, and he in the days of Isaac and he who is now spoken of in the times of David. Abimelech is mentioned in the inscription, t
foreseeing clearly he revealed for speaking prophetically about the captivity from the person of the people: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat
unconquerable, and most fearsome toward their adversaries, carrying shields and very large spears, and swift on their feet like gazelles on the mounta
agreements made with oaths, even if the transgression is for the benefit of others. But David, not knowing the cause 128 of the 110.232 divine wrath a
and they are more licentious, like those of the Persians and Assyrians. 130 But if even this man who lives according to God is drawn away and for such
of his enemies who were 132 round about, because Solomon is his name. And he will build a house for my name. And now be strong and brave. And behold
and the book of Chronicles has made clear. 3 Let no one think that this book disagrees with the books of Kings, since here we find the length of the t
three thousand measures, he placed under it 12 great cast calves, for the priests to wash in it. 12 Having made a bronze base 5 cubits in length, and
and of the one who cooperated. For such a temple has not been on the earth, for which reason the Jews, boasting in its magnificence and great wealth,
Pythagoras of Samos, and Anaxagoras of Clazomenae, and Plato the Athenian journeyed to them, hoping to learn from them a more accurate theology and na
Palestine had this crop, as Josephus says), she returned to her own land, being exceedingly amazed. Concerning whom the Lord also said: The queen of
145 before the Lord (and) he did not walk after the Lord as David his father. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away f
the Lord will lead away those who turn aside into crooked ways with the workers of iniquity for many, running the good race of virtue and admired for
when the ship was wrecked at the very harbor, he was suddenly shown to be destitute of all things for if this man too should lose in one moment and b
Jeroboam and the 10 tribes of Israel, he killed from them 500,000 mighty men in one day according to divine wrath.
face of the people and said: Thus says the Lord: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and you will not prosper? 154 Because you have fo
of fathers, it is clear that neither will wives for husbands, nor servants for masters, nor relatives for relatives, nor friends for friends, nor the
has been said before). 3 In whose times Romus and Remus reigned in Rome, and the Erythraean Sibyl was well-known, and Salmanas, the king of the Assyri
compelling one, and the other pulling towards freedom and continually bring ing supplications to God and saying: Lord Almighty, how long will you not
John and the prophets, and being moved they move the nations to an impulse of vengeance. 11 And indeed the wonderful Nicephorus of Constantinople sai
all things of God are also indiscernible to all for no one knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man for if God alone is the knower o
Nebuchadnezzar, whenever he was caught thinking and acting beyond human nature, then he was driven out of the company and honor of men, and became a c
myths, and multiplied soothsayers and practiced divination by host of heaven he means the sun and the moon and the stars, by divination, the observa
foreseeing the repentance of all those, thus he arranged their affairs, but foreseeing the impiety of these until the end, by death he destroys the in
ventriloquists, and the false prophets, and every abomination and offense in Jerusalem he removed and he returned to the Lord with all his heart and
to Jerusalem and besieged it for 2 years. 2. And Jeremiah, having prophesied the capture of the city, was thrown as a prisoner by Zedekiah into a pit.
being gathered together (For affliction is sometimes a good medicine for salvation?) they heard A peculiar people and The Lord's portion, and A r
having received an answer for the future, having heard from the elders to lighten the burden of the people, but from his peers to add to it, being per
you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me. And having entered into the war, and being shot between the breastplate and the lung, and returni
But this woman said to me: Give your son, that we may eat him today, and my son tomorrow, and having boiled him yesterday we ate, and today she has hi
As he entered the city of Samaria, Jezebel, beautifully adorned, looked out through the window and he ordered her eunuchs to throw her down, and she
the king of the Assyrians, four nations, the Koudiaioi, and the Kouthiaioi, and the Sepharouaioi and the Anagabaioi, and they were settled in the citi
The same says concerning his restoration. At that time my wits returned to me, and I came to the honor of my kingdom, and my form returned to me, and
of Jehoiachin king of Judah in the tenth month, on the fourteenth day of the month, Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, in the year he became king, took t
face of his neighbor, he will cast it at his own feet. And: He who does evil, will be rolled into it and will not know from where it comes to him.
Achior was in the city of Bethulia but Holofernes was besieging the city, having first seized the waters. And when the people were faint from thirst
the height was up to 50 cubits, each stone of the building was twenty cubits upon which were luxurious houses, and upper rooms, and cisterns for the
but their high priests ruled. 7. Therefore, the great Basil says: For when Jerusalem was overthrown by Nebuchadnezzar, the kingdom was dissolved, and
were known, and Democritus of Abdera, and Socrates the Athenian, both philosophers. But this one, having transgressed the laws of the Greeks, is put t
Egypt with a heavy multitude, and with chariots, and elephants, and a great fleet, he joined battle against Ptolemy, king of Egypt, and, having turned
Therefore, having killed many (men and women and children with many and harsh tortures) (and having taken others captive), he departed, leaving behind
the people of the Jews handed over the high priesthood 2 In his time Jesus, son of Sirach, the wise and very learned, who also composed the Wisdom of
in Arabia and another 215 in Cyprus of Syria, having rebuilt Salamis 56b 110.352 which had fallen by an act of God he called it, and he named Ancyra b
88. Concerning the economy in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ. When our Lord Jesus Christ was born according to the flesh, immediately Augustus Cae
the saying: A ruler shall not fail from Judah until he comes for whom it is 110.357 reserved (and he is the expectation of the nations), who is Chri
it shall return and be built, with plaza and moat, and the times shall be emptied. 8 For (the weeks) make up 483 years, which is the duration of the
After Christ's advent, therefore, the high priests were made unlawfully for the law commanded that the high priests serve for their entire life and a
man on the 6th day, man then He placed him in paradise then He cast this one out through diabolical envy. Not daring to approach him because of his
he leaped up from his throne because his stomach was being terribly torn. 23̣ But when his accuser saw the divine James being led away on the road to
On the Sunday, one of the Sabbaths, the first and beginning and most honorable day of days, about which Moses said: In the beginning God made the hea
of the Lord, both the third and the eighth the third because of the Lord's resurrection, and the eighth, not only because of the Lord's, but also bec
out of friendliness, and to bestow upon men the honor and glory fitting for God alone, whence also many of them, for not saying Caesar is lord and mas
The Lord, having read these things, wrote back to him thus: Blessed are you for having believed in me without having seen me. 63a But concerning what
placing her in the lap of the statue, he spoke thus: You have begotten her and you are her lawful father. 6 Therefore, when the soldiers saw him doi
Roman. 242 3 And in the time of Claudius there was also the Egyptian robber mentioned in the Acts, who led the sicarii out into the desert, whom Felix
he always serves from one dish and the priest prays beforehand for the food, which is holy and pure for they consider it unlawful to taste anything
being alone, the mysteries of the reverent life are celebrated, no one bringing anything, neither drink, nor food, nor any of the other things that ar
worldly, that is, if one should choose marriage, he has no blame, but he will not receive so many gifts of grace—for he will receive, since he himself
even this great and apostolic Eusebius explains very accurately about it and let the foolish, who are at the same time also irrational, cease. For be
precision of speech, continence of tongue, subjugation of the body, a humble mind, purity of thoughts, eradication of anger when compelled, submit w
having rejected the wisdom that had come, and having attempted to philosophize without Christ, who alone demonstrated in deed and word true philosophy
following the apostolic ways, carrying nothing dead, a moderate tonsure, clothing that chastises pride, a belt, modest for the unadorned, tucking up t
here is pleasure, rather than at royal tables. Angels, too, beholding this table from heaven, are filled with admiration and rejoice for if they rejo
of those shown to be the height. And some, living in a company, as I said, create in their souls the statues of philosophy, while others, living two a
truly wonderful and praiseworthy, happening to the rational nature of men for nature has taught all men ethical lessons for having formed the race o
to burn those who are near, but 266 beauty burns even those standing far off. Since, therefore, out of seeing is born desiring, and out of desiring co
and they condemned God-loving monks to destruction by a senseless judgment. 21. In the time of Claudius, Agrippa, who is also Herod, killed James the
(more elaborately) he related it thus, saying: 3̣ When the blessed Peter the apostle was teaching the people to revere and worship the only true God
his Abel, which is interpreted as mourning for his parents mourned for him, the first to be murdered. But if Adam, the work and creation of God, had
sought by Caesar as an imposter, he fled, having placed his 110.437 form on Faustus, a disciple of Peter. This man, having returned to Peter, was pers
non but among the Cyprians and Arabs, and in the villages, there are bishops, just as also among the Novatians and Montanists in Phrygia. And indeed
they had become so from always bending on their knees and worshipping God, 280 for which reason, because of the excess of his righteousness and admira
for the feast of the Passover all from Judea came to Jerusalem and were shut up alone in the metropolis by the Romans, 76a with those who believed in
(and) besieging the cities of the Jews, who also made Josephus the historian his captive but he was brought up to Rome, having been proclaimed empero
they were carried about like drunkards, as the famine passed through their entrails and marrow, driving their souls to a violent death others resorte
to do them. But it is impossible, being in diaspora among the nations, for them to fulfill all the things of the law and the worship prescribed in on
of you, concerning whom we said, In his shadow we shall live. Such things, at any rate, Solomon also again from 78b the person of you, the God-fight
Zion, for there they that had taken us captive asked of us (the words of songs, and they that had led us away) hymns. And he adds elsewhere, saying
of your songs, and the psalm of (your) instruments I will not hear and: The great day I do not tolerate, fasting and idleness my soul hates and:
it were evening? And in the evening you will say: How might it become morning? But Ezekiel said: Thus says the Lord Adonai: Behold, I am against you
the things foretold and forewarned by Christ for He says concerning Jerusalem and the temple in it, that There shall not be left one stone upon anot
he wrote in his history of the war that three hundred myriads of men perished then (some having been destroyed by famine, some slaughtered by one anot
The discourse has shown briefly that such servitudes came upon them with prophecy, and not simply nor unexpectedly 304 it remains, therefore, to brin
they will remove and the people that know their God shall prevail, speaking of the times of the Maccabees and the times of Judas and Simon and John
adding, since in a month and half a month the battle happened to take place, in which the victory was clear and the deliverance from the impending evi
He calls the abomination of desolation the statue, which Hadrian the emperor set up in the temple, who also razed the city to the ground). For after t
Did you not often attempt to kill Moses by stoning him and in countless other ways, and provoke God by blaspheming? Were you not initiated into the ri
(and) of divine things? Is it not very clear, that God has turned away from your affairs? And from where is this clear? From the fact that before this
Do you wish to sacrifice? Then sacrifice to me. But even though he permitted this, he did not allow it to the end, but by a most wise 317 method he l
needing them, as has been said, but permitting if they should wish and if they should offer from a right intention (whence he says): If you desire to
the wages of a divinely sent plague that destroyed the army and having retreated with shame, he is killed by his own children. And after him, Nebucha
against the Babylonians, for this reason they are said to go and appease the Lord's wrath for since they had been harsh against the people of God, fo
kingdom of the Ptolemies, which lasted 6 years. 5 And these are the high priests who led after the return from Babylon: Jesus (the son) of Josedec alo
it might require in which, having again prepared two eternal places, he fashioned the one to shine with light and to be full of endless good things,
again becomes useful for life. And one could say countless (other) 90a works of the winds. But nevertheless, the prophet, having passed over all these
these things: Woe to you, wretched city, because you will be brought down by many earthquakes and fires and the Orontes by the shores will weep for
recounting the death of the apostles, he said: John, the brother of James, while preaching the word (of the Gospel) in Asia, was exiled to the island
having performed great deeds both in Rome and everywhere. 4 But when a certain friend of his was once slandered as a conspirator and had (his) eyes go
138. The reign of Marcus. After Antoninus, his son Marcus reigned for 19 years. 2 When a persecution was stirred up, many became martyrs. 3 Aurelianus
and to not a few of the heretics for having received from him the sound doctrines of the faith, they became zealous for the truth among whom was pre
completing a labor, and the man labored zealously on the whole so-called work of the Hexapla and the rest. For not only did he gather the four note
treatises for the divine Paul, in the preparation of all kinds of discourses (being most capable, and having become most sufficient in his thoughts,
148. The Reign of Maximinus. After Alexander, Maximinus reigned for 3 years. This man, being a shepherd and after this having become a soldier, was pr
with water only, but also for repentance. Jesus also baptizes, but in the Spirit this is the perfection. I know also a fourth baptism, that throu
by transmission of death, they cast out the people unburied and half-dead, sparing neither relatives, nor friends, nor any others closer, even if they
having collected every evil of heresy, 110.556 entered from Persia into the land of the Romans by the permission of God. This mad Manes, then, who is
For the Arians said that the Lord's flesh was entirely soulless, but he himself said that the Lord assumed flesh animated by a living soul, but did no
as the saying goes, neither what they say, nor about what things they are affirming, who contend with us 367 when we take as an example of the divine
166. Reign of Tacitus. After Aurelian, Tacitus reigned for 2 years. He appointed Maximinus, his relative, over the Assyrians 3 whom the soldiers kill
many received the crown of their contest, among whom are Peter of Alexandria and Anthimus of Nicomedia, Procopius and George the renowned martyrs. 9 A
of her prayer, a certain distinguished and very pious young man comes to the brothel-keeper late in the evening and gives him 5 coins, saying: Let me
that is, madness, or from the fig leaves being called *thria*. 5 In the 20th year of his reign, Diocletian and Maximian on a single day laid aside the
a portion of another disease and it was an ulcer appropriately called the fiery carbuncle, creeping over the whole body, and it brought perilous dang
having said this, he entered into the palace, and not only did he command the children to be returned to their own mothers, but also he ordered vehicl
him for the inhabited world), and the Roman inhabitants 385 sent a petition to him not to overlook the mother of kingdoms being destroyed by a fearsom
being kindled infinitely) his flesh putrefied and was separated from his bones (so that he called death upon himself) thus having putrefied throughou
of Diocletian, from whom he begat 3 sons, Constantine, and Constans, and Constantius and two brothers, Dalmatius and Constantius, and one sister Const
when that which is laid up shall come, and he is the expectation of nations but Isaiah said: And there shall be the root of Jesse, and he that shal
to follow a foolish man, whom our fathers condemned. But let the emperor hear me and let a wild bull be brought, so that I may show today before him t
to the emperor and to all the people, shouting for two hours: Great is the God of the Christians. 110.605
of the precious cross, and having found it, she built wondrous churches, having demolished the temple built by the godless to Aphrodite over the Lord'
Word of God, but He came to be from non- 107a existent things for the existing God made the non-existent one from the non-existent therefore there w
At that time was also present the divine Paphnutius (an Egyptian man), both a wonder-worker and a confessor, whose right eye Maximian had gouged out
the queen seeking which might be the Lord's cross. But the bishop with faith resolved the uncertainty for by bringing each of the crosses to a sick w
sias, so he reached the emperor and taught him everything concerning him. And he, having heard and been astonished at the wickedness of his adversarie
decisions against the accused, but with the greatest inquiry and most exact investigation. 2̣ As the word says in the Apostolic Constitutions: Let th
But knowing God who tests hearts and kidneys and understands all our works, how much more ought you to judge a just judgment with much searching? For
and when he was eager to overturn the things done by Constantius, he recalled all those who had been exiled, which the great Athanasius, having learne
each one persecuted for piety by God's permission, saying: Hide yourself for a little while, until the Lord's wrath has passed by. For those who liv
through this glory, unless I am called abba, I truly will not depart. And learning this, the most discerning emperor was benefited more towards moder
for? Even if he calls the one who is co-eternal with the Father and above number and time 110.648 a second one, not attaining to the truth, yet he had
legislating for those inclined to polytheism, he did not see fit to introduce a difference of persons, so that, by dogmatizing a different 113a nature
a slave, let him not be numbered (with the Master and if a creature, let him not be numbered) with the Creator for he is united and numbered with, s
Traveling around Greece, he sought seers and soothsayers to see if he would obtain what he desired. And indeed he came upon an im 110.657 pious man 43
is immediately freed completely and the soul is completely delivered from the turn toward the worse, so that it no longer has need either of fasting
praising Jesus Christ the Lord, the only-begotten Son of God, the wonder-worker, having received through deed and experience, that the Christian dogma
he commanded that Zeus and Ares be depicted with his own abominable images (and thus the unholy one hastened to defile all men). 5 And he set forth ca
having crossed the river that marks the boundary from the land of the Persians to the land of the Romans, and having been deceived by a certain Persia
devising all sorts of rites, more numerous and worse than the 451 ones established among the Greeks, so as to surpass all the 117b Greeks before him,
he appointed after 30 days of his own proclamation his own brother Valens for having entered Constantinople, having summoned him from the Pannonian c
and walk with your feet, who immediately stood up, and giving thanks to God, went away to his house. 5. A short time before, a blind man asked to be
to strike the prefect in the face, because the crowds were not driven away from there, as he himself had ordered. But he, although being a Greek and h
he governed, a praiseworthy man in the Roman 120a senate, having distinguished himself in many offices, who had also been entrusted with the governors
was submerged by the sea and indeed in the depths and in the great seas, the regions around the Adriatic and Aegean sea and many others receded and t
he preserved, but to Theodosius he entrusted the care of the East. And Gratian, having accomplished many things piously and nobly, when Maximus the us
kingdom, having cast out the tyranny 122a. 10̣ And he himself after these things, having entered into Rome and celebrated a triumph for the victory, r
to benefit them by showing them the processions and shames of the impious idols, whom the sinful Greeks call gods, and to not believe in the things fa
if they wish to walk and keep his commandments, the king of all ages is able, if it is his will, to grant them this dignity but if they do not have t
holding assemblies there and teaching the orthodox faith, he converted everyone from the heresy and later it was rebuilt by Marcian, the oikonomos of
having taken power, as an autonomous (and) tyrannical ruler, he unsheathed unjust swords against all and killed the innocent with the guilty, 7,000 of
the inner parts are accessible, but to all others they are both untouchable and inviolable Go out, therefore, and share the standing-place with the o
and through iambic verses the making of gold to the same Theodosius. 7̣ And the relics of the holy martyrs Terentius and Africanus were transported an
the earth once brought forth water. But God, accepting his faith, commanded it to flood beyond what was necessary, which brought no small fear to Egy
to the most pious emperor, that the idols of Egypt were brought down 486 and churches were built in their place, stretching out his hands to heaven he
he took the Alps, those demons were the first to be turned to flight, terrified by a guilty conscience for Theodosius, having stood upon a high rock,
having stayed with him for four years, he was made a monk by him. 6̣ And having been taught the divine Scriptures by him and the rigor of the monastic
to show zeal by severity and on each of the others likewise to produce an approved and just reasoning for the reasonings of the just are judgments.
110.736 for 5 years, he was exiled to Cucusus, and from there after 3 years and 2 months he was transferred to Pityus. And having arrived at Comana in
most glorious, showed me the teachers of the Church. But I, he says, looked around to see the one I desired, the great John, my beloved so when he ha
to the holy Cyril and Memnon, the bishop of the Ephesians, as having held the council contrary to the canon of the Church. But those with Cyril found
she is, baptizes her for she was a Greek, and she renamed her Eudocia. 4 And she joined her to her own brother in marriage (with the consent also of
he fell asleep but his brothers, having awakened, saw him sleeping in the sun, being sheltered by an eagle. Therefore, being astonished, they say to
and for Hosea to take a prostitute for a wife and again to love an adulterous woman, and for Ezekiel on his right side (to lie) for 40 days and on his
having died of dysentery, whom the senate had put forward 511 because of his orthodoxy, when Aspar and Ardaburius wanted to seize the imperial power,
Zeno, having returned and entered Constantinople, and having overpowered these men who had taken refuge in the church, exiled them along with their wi
It is said that he built a church in Dyrrhachium to the Holy Unmercenaries and the zodiac signs, which are on the gate. 4 At first being orthodox, lat
struck by demons, suddenly they were barking. 12 While still in this life, he saw in a dream a terrible one saying (to him): Because of the anathemas
against whom the emperor sent out an army and killed John the hunchback. 6 And when the war had lasted for 5 years, Anastasius, growing weary, confide
And there was a most terrible earthquake and Constantinople suffered in various places, but great Antioch 525 suffered an indescribable calamity so t
the expected great and unending day of the universal resurrection of the dead. For then they will truly celebrate with much joy and gladness who are a
to be named and to be cast into thicker bodies like our own but those who have driven to the extreme of evil to be given over to cold and gloomy bodi
The Great, when Arius was blaspheming and saying that the Son is not of one substance with God the Father, but a creature and made out of nothing, gat
having taken. Since God the Word, who came down from heaven above, emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was called Son of man, while r
to declare against him and those of like mind with him for in addition to his other innumerable blasphemies made against Christ and God, (he said) th
and worldwide, so that almost the entire inhabited world was terrified and the sea to recede 2 miles and for ships to be lost in the retreat of the wa
Thus indeed the wise man also says: When the impious fall, the righteous become fearful and: When a pestilent man is scourged, the simple becomes c
profane and unclean in soul and body, showing themselves to be worse than swine, both those who corrupt and those who are corrupted, fearlessly and sh
liable to a harsher condemnation, those who read the law, and prophets, and evangelists, and teachers, and do worse things? And for what reason, when
being corrupted but Rome, abounding in men, they terribly exhausted both their prime of life and their nobly manly strength, and simply having ravage
brought the spear-captive and Uttiges, the two kings, to Byzantium. 15 Therefore, having been accused again of plotting against the emperor Justinian,
224. The Reign of Maurice. After Tiberius, Maurice, his son-in-law, the Armenian, reigned for 20 years, who had a son-in-law named Philippicus, who bu
the Scythian for them to be ransomed by the Romans. But the emperor indicated to the Khagan that all of them would be released to him as a gift. But h
to the city and into the palace. 560 15 And he sent his son Theodosius to Chosroes, the king of the Persians, to remind him of the good deeds done to
of the things done by Phocas, 110.825 he wrote to Heraclius, general of Africa, 563 to arm many ships and to come up against the tyrant Phocas. 11 And
having pursued for a great distance and not catching him, having taken all his baggage train, and having pursued through the parts of Thrace, they too
From an Alexandrian commentator, how the Jewish inhabitants in Jerusalem, moved by zeal, killed all the Christians dwelling in Jerusalem, as was said
you do not accept your salvation, let me tell you another plan. And he says: What is this one? And the truly merciful one answered: Come into the
your own handwriting for I have received the debt a hundredfold and I have no claim against you but for your complete assurance, I have also signed
And those Ethiopians, seizing me, beating me, brought me down to the earth again. 577 And I went down through certain narrow and dark, very foul-smell
guidance and alliance. For if when traveling here to a distant country and a foreign city we need someone to guide and lead us, how many more helpers
the enemy has the power in fighting and trying to hinder those who pass through, for which reason he especially exhorted, saying: Take up the whole a
to the worthy places either these 110.853 or those, may carry this away to be guarded until the final judgment, at which we will all 583 be brought to
as the flame of a furnace setting their souls on fire, such as the things concerning the rich man and Lazarus. 10 But that each one at his end alread
from everywhere and inconsolable affliction, with doctors having given up, and relatives having given up, when being constrained by frequent and dry g
having followed his counsel, and having entered a poor vessel with a few men, he sailed away through the night 110.864 in Constantinople, having been
an angel is sent to all the prophets. This woman, therefore, and the others, having been persuaded by the words of the false abbot that he was a proph
foolishly leading. For those who are darkened and without understanding are clearly blinded to the truly real and holy and God-awarded faith, but the
mortals with soul and body will obtain the eternal and unmixed life eagerly awaited by the faithful according to the divine Scriptures 13 And in addit
he said: For the earth, being very fruitful on account of its temperate climate and great richness, in the season of winter produces nuts and in the
truth has arrived, from there it took its beginning, from there the cross shone forth, from there the countless achievements. For this reason also con
it was chosen as a dwelling-place for the naturally incorruptible and eternal God, which indeed a little later will become incorruptible and God-illum
a teacher called Symeon (whom they renamed Titus, 3rd Genesius) whom they in turn renamed Timothy, and 4th Joseph whom they (also) renamed Epaphroditu
saying in their allegory that their own assemblies are the catholic church to us for they say their prayers to themselves, and baptism is the words o
of our one Christ and God. 2 . In his reign, the Saracens came with a great fleet against Constantinople, having landed along the coast of the 612 Heb
(The Scythians, both the Khagan and the kings and gastalds beyond, sending gifts to the emperor, asked for peace. The emperor therefore yielded and ra
the church and made the phiale. 9 And he built another church at the Petrin, and called it Metropoliton. 10 And Leontius the patrician, being under su
a storm having arisen and all having given up hope 622 on account of the storm, one of his household said to him: If you are saved, O master, and God
hurrying. 3 During his reign the Bulgars also made a raid as far as the Golden Gate and returned. 4 When a horse race was held and the Greens won, he
of the Romans is yours, come therefore and let us speak of matters concerning peace (and I will do all that you wish). 2 And he, having sent consuls
of his Mother from all ecclesiastical history. And by doing this you will reign for 100 years in your generation. But he, being simple-minded and uns
opposite. 12 However (therefore) we hear that the destruction of the holy icons is about to happen, but not during your reign. And when he compelle
preventing, but subjecting Anastasius and those with him to anathema. 19 In these times a great and most fearful earthquake also occurred, and many ch
making her a Christian and naming her Irene, who, having learned the holy scriptures, excelled in piety, refuting the impiety of the godless. 10. And
Read it at the tomb of the deceased brother. And when this was done, the abbot sees the brother in a dream, and says to him: 'We are grieved for you
he has done this. 3 From these things no small despondency seized the Christians, so that all hated him, and were attached to Artabasdos, the *kouropa
so that even whole houses were completely shut up, (whence from great necessity, piling them onto beasts of burden and wagons, they carried them out.
He sends patricians to him, and says: What do you say now about our faith and the council that we held? But he, having become foolish in his mind (a
of the city, and being at a loss, they lamented inconsolably.) 36 Among these things, an error also occurred concerning the fact that the senseless on
being the true Theotokos. 656 48̣ As he was crying out these things and calling upon 110.949 Mary the Theotokos and commanding and teaching all that
to the regions of Armenia and Syria, he took their fortresses by the agreement of the inhabitants and moved them to Thrace. Such then were his deeds o
greatest and going forth to Sophianae and celebrating the Maiuma, he celebrated a triumph for the victory for there it was the custom for the empero
her son. 7 But when this was scattered by envy, she brought a maiden from 663 Paphlagonia, by name Maria (the granddaughter of Saint Philaretos), and
Peter, presbyter and hegumen of Saint Sabas, holding the place of Adrian, pope of Rome, Tarasios of Constantinople. John, George, and Thomas, monks an
heard that he was about to become emperor, he flogged and tonsured him, and locked him in prison. 10 When the tagmata and themes had gathered in the c
in white, held by patricians, having thrown a great quantity of consular gifts in the middle. 5 But when the empress fell ill, it was revealed to her
a phylarch arrived in Amorium with a great force. 11 And Nikephoros went out (towards Dorylaeum) and declared these things to the protosymboulos: Why
let us be rich in necessities. For not to have wealth, but not to need wealth is the greatest wealth. But no one of those who survived clearly recount
to plant his spear in the Golden Gate. But when the emperor did not accept, he returned to his own tent, marveling at the city's walls and the emperor
leave it to shepherds and teachers according to the divine word. But if you do not wish to pay attention to these things and be with our faith, even i
13 And indeed he gladly brings these men into his household and embraces them, and submits to their soul-destroying teachings and initiations and lik
do they not reverently care for and venerate sacred paintings erected from of old with exactness, faithfully and piously? 174b In like manner again it
The wicked and all-scheming one devises a wicked plan for wishing to make them wretched and poor, what does he do? He surrounds them with inescapable
Again, should one see a ray of sun striking a tree, if the tree were cut down, it was madly thought that the ray would be cut down with it. And indeed
renaming himself also the son of Irene the empress and from there, having deceived many of the Barbarians and Christians and having gathered a countl
in horses, and the rest of the psalm. 7 But the divine word, pledging and proclaiming good tidings to them, indeed, of the sudden and 110.1005 very s
a tetraodion: Foolish old man, and some other things. The emperor's mother Euphrosyne, voluntarily leaving the palace, lived in quiet in her monaste
being: For he raises his own dwellings with the buildings which he newly constructs and darkens mine and makes them as nothing, as though I, being a
and mounting the public carriages, he went away as a fugitive as far as the mountain passes of Syria, cutting the hamstrings of the horses and he dec
infamous for both magic and lecanomancy and all impiety who, being found a suitable instrument for the emperor's impiety and inclination, worked for
of the emperor and his fellow-initiate the patriarch, the Arabs with a large force went out against Romania but the emperor, along with the Persian r
a leader, he sent against the emperor. When they joined battle, the emperor was defeated and fled, returning in shame, having barely escaped. But the
let the iambics be. But they said: Write, write, O emperor, what seems good to you, as this is going to be read before the just and terrible Judge.
so faithful and orthodox was she, that even while her husband was still alive, she secretly honored and venerated the holy icons who, by her own deci
at the promontory of the Kibyrrhaiotai called 721 Chelidonia, with only seven of them being saved in Syria. Thus far the chronicle of George from thi
with haste he led [it] to the emperor. And having been ordered to hold the horse, 724 holding the bridle with one hand, and with the other seizing the
he lay down on the stone benches of Saint Diomedes for the church was (at that time) a public one, having a custodian named Nicholas. On that night a
to go back out. And he went out, weeping bitterly and lamenting and Bardas met him at the Lausiac, and began to strike him on the temple and pull his
with songs of victory, they celebrated these things in triumph in the Hippodrome and from then on there was a great peace in the East (on account of
Basil the protostrator, the parakoimomenos. But the Caesar, having heard this, became jealous, and from that time sought to kill Basil. 23 Michael sep
Toxaras, by the counsel of Basil, went to meet him, having prostrated himself before him, and turning back he announced to Basil the Caesar's arrival)
regions and (the) vineyardsfor it was the summer seasonacclaiming only Michael, and denouncing Basil. Learning these things, the emperors ordered the
having dined, Basil stood up as if for some need, and going into the emperor's bedroom, being a strong man, he damaged the locks, so that the door cou
For Philopatios, as his sword fell, having dismounted from his horse to pick it up, his foot had not yet reached the 753 ground to step on it, but wit
were his, with all those in office receiving them, the emperor having treated all the Hebrews kindly and having provided them with much support and gi
archbishop of Euchaita, as a pious man and a worker of wonders and a seer. Photius mediated and introduced him to the emperor, in whom the emperor was
he ordered the one who had cut his belt to be turned back and beheaded, as having drawn his sword against him, though he pleaded at length that he had
of the patriarch, said: I adjure you by God, master, that you first depose me, and then, when I am stripped of the priesthood, let them punish me as
embracing peace, 191a after this he sent Constantine the quaestor to Symeon to advise on matters of peace. 110.1097 But Symeon, having learned of the
writing thus: O wretched daughter of Babylon. 19 And both Mousikos and Staurakios were slandered to the Emperor Leo, as receiving gifts from the gen
he honored with the dignity of protospatharios and attached him to himself. 22 And Antony the patriarch died, and (in his place) Nicholas was ordained
the emperor, therefore, Eustathios, drungarios of the fleet, with the entire fleet (and the generals) against Tripolites, who, being unable to array t
of the Kletorion through the Boukoleon, having embarked him in a 788 small boat, they crossed over to Eireia, from which he went with difficulty on fo
at the Magnaura and he also adorned the Great Church with lavish ornament and showed all the precious vessels to the Hagarenes, which was unworthy (o
Alexander in the Manaura, having brought Euthymius (from the Stenon) from Agathou. And sitting together with Nicholas the patriarch, they effected his
he took thought and had care for the affairs belonging to the empire daily. 2 While the empire was in this state, it was revealed to Constantine Douka
her son Stephen. 7 In the month of August, Symeon, the (ruler) of Bulgaria (having campaigned against the Romans) with a (large and) heavy host, reach
And the emir Damian also came to Strobilos (with ships to make war on it with a great force). 806 and he would have taken it, if he had not fallen sic
Constantine the parakoimomenos against Leo 809 his own son-in-law who was usurping the empire, suggested to the emperor Constantine to promote Romanos
being suspicious 197b and fearing lest some revolutionary act be committed (by him) against the emperor for this reason he has decided to go up to th
having shown it But I always suspect this Leo Phokas of plotting against my reign, and now I have found him by his very deeds to be a plotter 815 and
an attack, entering a ship, he sailed out and was seized by the Cretans, this Rentakios, finding an opportunity, plundered all his father's possession
they led into the Wisdom of God, having beheld its beauty and its size and its rich adornment (for having beautified it and arrayed it with gold-embro
having gone forth and) having taken possession of 110.1160 the island of Lemnos, John the patrician and droungarios of the fleet, surnamed Radinos, su
they initiated talks of peace and the emperor is said to have spoken to Symeon: I have heard that you are a God-fearing man and a true Christian, bu
reaching the so-called [monastery], he is tonsured a monk. Constantine Boilas, the *epi tes trapezes*, also fled, being his kinsman and friend, and re
There the emperor Romanos dined, Peter the Bulgarian along with Constantine his son-in-law and Christopher his son. And since the Bulgarians made no s
snow and cold to enter from there for the poor. Then he also constructed the so-called shelters in all the porticoes, and he ordered that silver be gi
of the emperor for, as has been said, he was about to restore him as patriarch. 44 But a certain Basil, a Macedonian impostor, proclaiming himself to
a part of the East sail down to the place called Sgora. And at that time Bardas Phokas was also sent by land with chosen horsemen to outflank them an
The inhabitants, sending an embassy to the emperor Romanos for the siege to be lifted, promising to provide the holy impression of Christ 204η̣. In re
Porphyrogennetos. Therefore, Constantine, his son-in-law, was left as emperor, who immediately, having honored Bardas, the son of Phokas, with the ran
auspiciously and fittingly. Then the patriarch Theophylactos, having fallen ill and being overcome by it, died, having held the Church for 24 years. I
and after a ride of several days he was assigned to Antioch's And he sent Agatha to the monastery founded by Romanos the emperor and his grandfather,
BOOK 6 . 5 Then the Turks also took the great Antioch of Syria, and
he received the height of the empire, then he showed what sort of man he was in courage and what a most noble soul he possessed for even from the beg
Tzimiskes often to the palace and he compelled Phokas and persuaded him to bring him near him again and he gave him also the authority, which he had
110.1212 3 And he too was stout-hearted and most daring and so he took the kingdom, he campaigned against the Arabs and against every enemy of the Ro
instability, the Arabs found an opportunity and went forth and overran the East, and the land of the Romans and the countries had great distress from
was flayed by sweat and his face was blackened from the heat of the sun. He sent two generals, each 870 with twelve thousand chosen cavalrymen, as th
a swift falcon or a zealous hawk, and he gave strength to his battle lines, and he moved his generals to show how much the Romans stood out from the o
For on that very night, when Romanos died and was unburied, the empress sent for and brought the patriarch and the chief men of the palace and the mag
he was rolled off and fell down a great cliff. For good fortune is like lead and if there is no one strong enough to bear it and govern it with prude
So unstable is the world and the life of men like a game and so the wheel turns affairs up and down and rolls them and spins them as it wishes. They
was apportioned long before, and he treated the others in a very contrary manner. For he neither showed any honor towards them, who had just taken the
with him but he entered the sea, and became invisible. In the meantime, as if from a lightning flash, a brilliant light struck the emperor, and with
swallow up the queen and her children. And the cause was such: There was a certain general by the name of Romanos Diogenes, comely and handsome of fac
healing and correction for the evil but if one is plotted against by his own and true men who eat his bread, he cannot escape such a punishment of de
and he met him calmly and comforted him and that barbarian showed himself more humane and of better mind than his friends and relatives and countryme
But a certain man, glorious and of noble birth and experienced in war—his body was covered in wounds and injuries from the great wars which he had fou
tents and outside and the swords of those thousand Romans were reaping and cutting down until daybreak. Indeed, they slaughtered also the king of the
having plotted to kill him but when another Roman force opposed them, they turned to supplication and obtained pardon. 9̣ And when this emperor's wif
having been handed over to Botaneiates, he is confined to one of the islands lying before the queen of cities. But those around the emperor, fearing t
They plundered entire sacrifices, pouring out the holy things upon the ground. And whomever of the senate they met, they dragged them from their mules
Chronicon breve lib. 16
A SHORT CHRONICLE FROM VARIOUS CHRONOGRAPHERS AND COMMENTATORS, COLLECTED AND COMPOSED BY GEORGE THE SINNER
MONK.
1 Many, on the one hand, of the secular philologists and logographers, both historians and poets and chronographers, the deeds and sayings of the ancient kings and rulers, and of the philosophers and orators from of old, and of those famed for eloquence and skill in words and talkativeness, and indeed also at times the manner of their deaths, having written with high-flown and strained language, their treatises not easy to grasp nor easy to understand nor clear to the many, since for the sake of display and applause and at times even acclamation they have done this, caring least for the doctrines and narratives of truth and things beneficial to men. But we, utterly unworthy members of the inner circle, servants of the servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, being for the most part without a share in secular natural philosophy and technical skill, pe 110.44 having encountered not only Greek and ancient histories, but also new and much later ones, and the commentaries and chronographies, histories and soul-profiting teachings of venerable and famous men, accurately, according to what is possible and considered for us, in fear of God and chronological faith, we have set forth this very small and utterly worthless little book, having with some labor collected 2 and composed a few things from many that contribute to benefit, then containing every unadorned truth, and a very unembellished dramatic account, but, I think, setting forth very necessary and extremely useful things through a summary and the clearest possible lucidity. For it is better to stammer with truth than to Platonize with falsehood. For not when a discourse flows and is carried beyond its bounds, is it admirable, but when it is short in length, but full in its thoughts, and in its brevity has the unerring and exact quality of necessary and beneficial things, especially being enlivened by the occasion and by those free from envy and all maliciousness, it will be shown to be more worthy of investigation. For those who spiritually compare and examine and search out spiritual things, as knowledgeable and approved men, do not seek sacred discourses in brilliant and enigmatic and highly-wrought words and artistic compositions and fine-sounding speech, in which the skilled often hide falsehood through the cleverest method and arrangement, making those who read carelessly and without scrutiny forget themselves, but rather the sayings made brilliant by truth, even if they are uttered by a barbarous and ungrammatical tongue. You would find here, therefore, you who read faithfully, intelligently and generously, and at the same time without idle curiosity and free from all duplicity and villainy, in a few words the inventions and nurturings of idols, artfully and in an orderly manner, the idle talk and myth-making and religions, or rather to say, the atheism and malice of the Greek philosophers, and how the way of life and order of monks began from the law, and through the all-excellent conduct and teaching of Christ has very reasonably appeared higher and brighter and broader, and 110.45 many other and various things bringing forth the salvation of well-disposed and orthodox souls, and not only this, but also the unnatural and God-hated and utterly profane madness of the Manichaeans, from which, as if having contracted the most shameful and wicked disease from some rabid dog, sprang up the thunderstruck heresy of the wicked and mischievous iconoclasts, and whence it began and where it ended, which indeed its leaders and accomplices
Chronicon breve lib. 16
ΧΡΟΝΙΚΟΝ ΣΥΝΤΟΜΟΝ ΕΚ ∆ΙΑΦΟΡΩΝ ΧΡΟΝΟΓΡΑΦΩΝ ΤΕ ΚΑΙ ΕΞΗΓΗΤΩΝ ΣΥΛΛΕΓΕΝ ΚΑΙ ΣΥΝΤΕΘΕΝ ΥΠΟ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΥ ΑΜΑΡΤΩΛΩΥ
ΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ.
1 Πολλοὶ μὲν τῶν ἔξω φιλόλογοι καὶ λογογράφοι, ἱστορικοί τε καὶ ποιηταὶ καὶ χρονογράφοι τὰς τῶν ἀρχαίων βασιλέων καὶ δυναστῶν
καὶ τὰς τῶν ἀνέκα θεν φιλοσόφων καὶ ῥητόρων τε καὶ τῶν ἐπ' εὐγλωττίᾳ καὶ δεινότητι λόγων καὶ στομυλίᾳ διαθρυλ λουμένων, πράξεις
καὶ ῥήσεις καὶ μέν τοι καὶ τὸν τρόπον ἐνίοτε τῆς τούτων ἀποβιώσεως δι' ὑψηγορίας καὶ ἐπιτάσεως λόγων συγγεγραφότες, οὐκ εὐ
λήπτους καὶ εὐκαταλήπτους τε καὶ εὐκρινεῖς τοῖς πολλοῖς τὰς πραγματείας, ἅτε δι' ἐπίδειξιν καὶ κρότον ἔσθ' ὅτε καὶ ἀνάῤῥησιν
τοῦτο δεδράκασιν, ἥκιστα πεφροντικότες τῶν τῆς ἀληθείας δογμάτων καὶ διηγημάτων καὶ ἀνθρώποις ὠφελίμων. Ἡμεῖς δὲ πάμπαν οἱ
τῶν ἔνδον ἀνάξιοι, δοῦλοι τῶν δούλων τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἀμέτοχοι τῆς τῶν ἔξω φυσιολογίας καὶ τεχνολογίας ἐξ ἐπιμέτρου
πέ 110.44 λοντες, οὐ μόνον Ἑλληνικῶν καὶ παλαιῶν ἱστοριῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ νέων καὶ πολὺ μεταγενεστέρων, καὶ σεμνο πρεπῶν ἀνδρῶν
καὶ ἐλλογίμων ἐξηγήσεσι καὶ χρονογραφίαις, ἱστορίαις τε καὶ διδασκαλίαις ψυχωφελέσιν ἐντετυχηκότες, ἀκριβῶς, κατὰ τὸ ἡμῖν
ἐφικτὸν καὶ περιεσκεμμένον, ἐν φόβῳ Θεοῦ καὶ πίστει χρο νικῇ, τοῦτο δὴ τὸ μικρὸν καὶ πανευτελὲς βιβλιδάριον ἐξεθέμεθα, τὰ
πρὸς ὄνησιν ἐκ πολλῶν ὀλίγα συν τείνοντα ποσῶς μετὰ πόνου συλλέξαντες 2 καὶ συν θέντες, τότε πᾶσαν μὲν ἀλήθειαν ἄκομψον, καὶ
ἀκατάσκευον σφόδρα περιέχον δραματουργίαν, ἀναγκαῖα δὲ πάνυ καὶ χρήσιμα λίαν οἶμαι δι' ἐπι τομῆς καὶ σαφηνείας ἐναργεστάτης
ὑφηγούμενον ὅτι μάλιστα. Κρεῖσσον γὰρ μετὰ ἀληθείας ψελλί ζειν ἢ μετὰ ψεύδους πλατωνίζειν. Οὐχ ὅταν γὰρ ὁ λόγος ῥεῖ καὶ ἔξω
τῶν ὅρων φέρεται, θαυμαστός ἐστιν, ἀλλ' ὅταν βραχὺς μὲν ᾖ τῷ μήκει, πολὺς δὲ τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασι καὶ ἐν τῷ συντόμῳ τὸ ἀπαρά λειπτον
καὶ ἀτρεκὲς ἔχων τῶν ἀναγκαίων καὶ ὀνησιφόρων, ὑπὸ τοῦ καιροῦ μάλιστα καὶ τῶν βασκανίας καὶ πάσης ἐθελοκακίας ἀπηλλαγμένων
ψυ χωθεὶς ζητικώτερος ἀναδειχθήσεται. Οἱ γάρ τοι πνευματικῶς τὰ πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες καὶ ἀνακρίνοντες καὶ μεταλλεύοντες,
ὡς ἐπιστήμονες καὶ δόκιμοι, τὰς ἱερολογίας οὐ λαμπραῖς καὶ γρι φώδεσι καὶ τετορνευμέναις λέξεσι καὶ συντάξεσιν ἐν τέχνοις
καὶ καλλιεπείᾳ, ἐν ᾗ τὸ ψεῦδος πολλάκις διὰ τῆς δεινοτάτης μεθόδου καὶ κατασκευῆς ἐπικρύπτου σιν οἱ δεινοὶ, τοὺς ἀπερισκέπτως
καὶ ἀβασανίστως ἀναγινώσκοντας ἐκλανθάνοντες, ἐπιζητοῦσιν, ἀλλὰ τὰς ἀληθείᾳ λαμπρυνομένας ῥήσεις, εἰ καὶ διὰ βαρβαριζούσης
καὶ σολοικιζούσης ἐκφωνοῦνται γλώσσης. Εὕροις τοίνυν, ὅγε πιστῶς, νουνεχῶς τε καὶ ἀφθόνως ἅμα καὶ ἀπεριέργως καὶ πάσης διπλόης
καὶ ῥᾳδιουργίας ἐλευθέρως ἐντυγχάνων ἐνταῦθα, δι' ὀλίγων τὰς τῶν εἰδώλων εὑρήσεις καὶ ἀνατροφὰς ἐντέχνως καὶ ἐπιτεταγμένως,
τὰς τῶν φιλοσόφων Ἑλλήνων ἐρεσχελίας καὶ μυθοπλασίας καὶ θρη σκείας ἢ μᾶλλον εἰπεῖν ἀθεΐας καὶ κακονοΐας, πῶς τε ἡ τῶν μοναχῶν
ἤρξατο διαγωγὴ καὶ τάξις ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου, καὶ διὰ τῆς Χριστοῦ παναρίστου πο λιτείας καὶ διδασκαλίας ὑψηλοτέρα καὶ φαιδροτέρα
καὶ πλατυτέρα μάλα εἰκότως ἀναπέφηνε, καὶ 110.45 ἄλλα πλεῖστα καὶ διάφορα σωτηρίαν ψυχῶν εὐ γνωμόνων καὶ ὀρθοδόξων ὠδίνοντα,
οὐ μὴν δὲ ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν ἔκφυλον καὶ θεοστυγῆ τε καὶ παμβέβηλον τῶν Μανιχαίων λύσσαν, ἀφ' ἧς ὥσπερ ἔκ τινος λυσσῶντος κυνὸς
τὴν αἰσχίστην τε καὶ κακίστην μετ ειληφυῖα νόσον ἀνεφύη ἡ τῶν ἀλιτηρίων καὶ κα κοσχόλων εἰκονομάχων ἐμβρόντητος αἵρεσις, καὶ
ὅθεν ἀπήρξατο καὶ ποῦ κατέληξεν, ἥτις γε τοὺς προστάτας αὐτῆς καὶ συνίστορας
