1

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR *

12th Volume 15 E ..................................................................................................................... 1 THEOLOGICAL CHAPTERS OR SELECTIONS .......................................................................... 1 TO THE MOST DIVINE KING OF OHRID ...................................................... 111

12th Volume 15 E THEOLOGICAL CHAPTERS OR SELECTIONS * FROM VARIOUS BOOKS, BOTH OURS AND THOSE FROM OUTSIDE 15Ε_010 Grant grace, O Christ, to my labors. OF SAINT EPHRAIM, How one ought to read, or to pay attention to one reading. When you commune with the divine Books, do not simply be hurried

running over them superficially and passing through the written things as a side-task; but even if it be necessary many times, both twice and thrice to go over the same thing for accuracy, do not refuse. Moreover, when about to read, or to pay attention to another reading, first pray to God, saying, "Lord Jesus Christ, open the ears and the eyes of my heart, to hear Your words and to understand, and to do Your will. I am a sojourner on the earth, hide not Your commandments from me. Unveil my eyes, and I will understand the wonders from Your law."

DISCOURSE 1. Concerning a life of virtue and vice. 15Ε_012 Of SolomonWe have no sign of virtue to show; but in

our wickedness we have been consumed.

1

ΑΠΑΝΤΑ, ΜΑΞΙΜΟΥ τοῦ ΟΜΟΛΟΓΗΤΟΥ *

12ος Τόμος 15 Ε ..................................................................................................................... 1 ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΑ ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΚΑ ΗΤΟΙ ΕΚΛΟΓΑΙ .......................................................................... 1 ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΘΕΙΟΤΑΤΟΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΑ ΤΟΝ ΑΧΡΙ∆ΗΝ ...................................................... 111

12ος Τόμος 15 Ε ΚΕΦΑΛΑΙΑ ΘΕΟΛΟΓΙΚΑ ΗΤΟΙ ΕΚΛΟΓΑΙ * ΕΚ ∆ΙΑΦΟΡΩΝ ΒΙΒΛΙΩΝ ΤΩΝ ΤΕ ΚΑΘ᾿ ΗΜΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΘΥΡΑΘΕΝ 15Ε_010 Χάριν παράσχου, Χριστέ, τοῖς ἐμοῖς πόνοις. ΤΟΥ ΑΓΙΟΥ ΕΦΡΑΙΜ, Πῶς χρή ἀναγινώσκειν, ἤ ἀναγινώσκοντι προσέχειν. Ὅταν ταῖς θείαις Βίβλοις προσομιλεῖς, μή ἁπλῶς ἔσο κατεσπουδασμένος

ἐπιτρέχων ἐξ ἐπιπολῆς καί διών παρέργως τά γεγραμμένα· ἀλλά κἄν δέοι πολλάκις, καί δίς καί τρίς τά αὐτό ἐπελθεῖν εἰς ἀκρίβειαν, μή παραιτήσῃ. Πλήν ἀλλά καί μέλλων ἀναγινώσκειν, ἤ ἀναγινώσκοντι προσέχειν ἑτέρῳ, δεήθητι πρότερον τοῦ Θεοῦ, «Κύριε, λέγων Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, διάνοιξον τά ὦτα καί τούς ὀφθαλμούς τῆς καρδίας μου, τοῦ ἀκοῦσαι τῶν λόγων σου καί συνεῖναι, καί τό θέλημά σου ποιῆσαι. Πάροικος ἐγώ εἰμι ἐν τῇ γῇ, μή ἀποκρύψῃς ἀπ' ἐμοῦ τάς ἐντολάς σου. Ἀποκάλυψον τούς ὀφθαλμούς μου, καί κατανοήσω τά θαυμάσια ἐκ τοῦ νόμου σου».

ΛΟΓΟΣ Α´. Περί βίου ἀρετῆς καί κακίας. 15Ε_012 ΣολομῶντοςἈρετῆς μέν σημεῖον οὐδέν ἔχομεν δεῖξαι· ἐν δέ τῇ

κακίᾳ ἡμῶν κατεδαπανήθημεν.