Похвальное слово на Рождество Пресвятой Богородицы. Святителя Илии Минатия Кефалонитского

What an unusual and crowded celebration of this bright and joyful day! And what kind of beneficent angel awakens you to this joy of the soul and the singing of the lips? What does this extreme joy written on your faces refer to? I look and see in the eyes of each of you an expression of great joy, which is caused by the great news. I listen - and the walls of this Divine and Holy church are shaken by exclamations and applause; with the sounds of sweet chants and in the joyful light I see how the Church is transformed into another, earthly heaven and into a heavenly order. And what caused this joyful and bright celebration? I understand the reason for your just joy, my diligent listeners. There is, of course, no other reason for this than the birth of the Most Pure Daughter, for the sake of whose appearance our corrupted race (human) has troubled heaven with its prayers for fifty centuries; and let me put it this way, - the continuous tears of our groaning nature said their effect, and the Virgin froze from Anna’s barren womb. I rejoice with you too. Today, at last, that longed-for day has dawned, as long ago predestined by God, as passionately awaited by people, so fruitful for the earth, and so terrible for hell; the day on which the letter weakens and the spirit strengthens, the oath passes away and grace comes. This day, revealing the Mother of Light to the light, foretells to us the coming of the Sun, Whose luminous appearance will dispel the stifling darkness of wickedness and in our darkened thoughts will ignite the life-giving ray of true piety and faith. I fully understand that regarding such joyful news, your gaze is rightly full of joy; but give me, inexperienced, the opportunity to give you even more pleasant pleasure by explaining the reasons that aroused this joy in your pious hearts. As soon as they emerged from the abyss of non-existence into the realm of existence, people, either ashamed of submission, or not knowing their origin, retreated from their Creator. Our forefather Adam was not content with the royal power over the entire earthly world that belonged to him, as the animate image of God: but he also desired the knowledge of things that belonged to God alone. Having become a prey to the devil’s deception and a violator of the first and only Divine commandment, with the eating of the fruit he tasted death and, as retribution for the crime (can you believe it!) in the paradise of sweetness, he found the hell of punishment. The fall of our forefather carried us into this unfortunate legacy, and with unheard-of cruelty he put us to death before he gave us life. Disastrous and tear-worthy destruction of human happiness! - This man, who was a little lower than the angels, fell into such foolishness that he was likened to senseless cattle, and became like them (Ps. 48:21). Immediately all the blooming beauties of paradise turned into thorns and thistles of the earth, bliss into sorrow, grace into curse. The first acts committed after such a sad event that distorted the world were envy and murder. With grace, innocence was lost, and the earth was so defiled by sins that a worldwide flood of water was needed (for it), I don’t know whether for purification, or for it to hide from the eyes of the Creator. Never had the devil so calmly enjoyed his reign, and his dominion in the hearts of people was so strong that he seemed to have established on earth the dominion he had unsuccessfully sought in heaven. Impiety was rampant everywhere: sacred things were desecrated everywhere, churches were filled with meaningless idols, hell was inhabited by human souls, the veneration of the devil reigned in the world, so that one could say: hell became the abode of people, and earth the kingdom of demons. Even the stars and other celestial planets, which were then revered as gods, I think - if I may say so - were themselves ashamed of undeserved veneration and generally condemned the foolishness of those who gave the worship due to the Creator to creatures. Virtues were banished from the world, evil reigned everywhere; truth has been expelled from the squares: (there) lies triumph; there is no justice in the courts: (there) judgment is untruthful; unanimity has withdrawn from the commonwealths: (there) controversy and dispute operate. Where is the simplicity? Where is the piety? Where is the modesty? Where is the fear of God's law? The arbitrariness of everyone has become the law, and the womb has become God; the world lost its former beauty and, after a tear-worthy change, became a sad spectacle, where the devil was the manager, God the spectator, and the human race the object of shame. People were plunged into such a dark night of sin, so far removed from the light, so deprived of Divine grace, I repeat - into a night in which all the stars were visible, revered as false gods; and the darkness was as deep as madness - darkness is the same as ignorance. But may the endless providence and extreme condescension of God be glorified, which finally arranged it in such a way that the luminous and most radiant dawn shone, the all-pure Virgin and Virgin Mary, who, having ascended from the consecrated womb of the foremother of God Anna, adorned with all the heavenly virtues, enlightens, refreshes and delights the universe. And truly, the Virgin shone like the dawn, with the bright appearance of which the ungodly demonic polytheism flees, the shadows of the ancient law disappear, the upset crowd of infidels, unable to bear the far shining light of truth, hides their wicked faces; the lips of the holy teachers begin to sing incessant praises; The human race, immersed in a sinful sleep, awakens to Christian life in the Orthodox faith. The dawn, before which the darkness of ignorance dissipates, the light of grace appears, lies are destroyed, truth comes, the beginning of our salvation is revealed and the end of our suffering comes. The dawn, with its bright rays of light reaching down there, into the places of the underground darkness of hell, and awakening the souls of the sorrowful patriarchs to sudden joy, so that everyone, struck by the excessive radiance, with a voice of joy and amazement, sings the solemn song of Solomon: Who is this piercing one like the morning? ( Song 6:9 ). Especially today, in remembrance of this joyful day, all the souls of the blessed and with them all the heavenly ranks with decent joy multiply these wonderful cries: who is this, who penetrates like the morning? in response to which here on earth the Holy Church expresses her joy and gladness in a thousand songs, so that at the same time heaven and earth, altars and choirs unanimously proclaim (to each other): Who is this, who penetrates like the morning? And if, when the dawn appears, it seems that the whole world is being reborn with a new radiance, then who does not see the rebirth of the entire universe in the birth of the Virgin?! Look here and there, look at all parts of the world: where do you see the false worship of idols? Where are the unclean sacrifices of the atheists? Where is the world dominion of the devil? Ancient mimoidosha, Saint Gregory rejoices with us, behold, everything was new - the night passed and the day came, the lie disappeared and the truth appeared, the curse was lifted and grace descended. Holy and luminous dawn, brilliant predecessor of the Sun of glory, cool breeze before the Divine light, gracious harbinger of the happiest day; dawn, born in the world for the sake of the revival of the world, by the east of your birth you have the east of the universe, instead of a bright horizon - pure shrouds, instead of early rays - approaching wisdom, instead of delicate flowers - Divine power, instead of a pleasant pre-dawn breeze - heavenly illumination, instead of sweet-voiced birds - angelic faces: who is this One who penetrates like the morning? What more can we now expect from God’s boundless providence? What greater gift could extreme mercy bestow upon us? What could we, sitting in darkness, desire if not light? Lost, what (we could expect) if not guidance? Sinners - what if not salvation? Come closer, I ask you, mentally attach to this newborn Virgin the great wonders of Divine greatness, the signs of our bliss. Look how blessed this Virgin is, and you will swear that She is a God-created image of heavenly beauty and the most chosen creation of the almighty right hand of God! Oh, how majestic is Her head! The Holy Spirit speaks about her in song: Your head is upon You like Carmel (Song 7:5). Mount Carmel, closer to heaven than to earth, indicates that Mary (stands) above all human vanity. Look at Her luminous gaze. Isn’t it clear that the sky has captured all the purity and beauty of the stars in these eyes? Thy eyes are like the lake in Heshbon (Song. 7:4). Imagine Her scarlet lips exuding heavenly honey and milk. As Thy lips are scarlet rope (Song. 4:3), and again: Thy mouth shall dig up honeycombs, brass and milk under Thy tongue (4:11). From these lips, dripping honey, will come that sweet “let there be”, which will attract the Divine Word from heaven to earth. Your belly is like a stack of wheat, fenced in krinah (Song. 7:2). A terrible secret! Your womb is like a stack of wheat - this is a fruitful seed. Fenced in krins - this is ever-blooming and undecayed virginity! It is an incomprehensible miracle that the fruit should be connected with color, with virginity - birth! What more! This virgin and God-created body does not have a single part that does not breathe purity, sanctification and beauty! You are all good, My neighbor, and there is no vice in You (Song. 4:7). In this tender baby, Divine Providence, apparently, miraculously took charge of all the gifts and showed an animated combination of virtues. All the righteous were adorned by one gift, but this Virgin, like a queen, was crowned with the entire multitude of Divine gifts of the Spirit, so that without exaggeration She carries Him within herself. To each of the elect grace is given in part, but to Mary the fullness of grace is given, says Blessed Jerome. Therefore, in accordance with the Divine decision, She was given the mysterious and grace-filled name Mary, which, consisting of five letters (namely, “Mary”), indicates the famous five great wives of the Old Testament, Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron; Abigail, the wife of Nabal; Rachel, the wife of Jacob; Judith, the most holy widow; Hannah, the wife of Elkanah: indicating with this mysterious property of the name that that all the talents and virtues that those wives individually had were collectively perceived by this Virgin Mary. In Mary, the sister of Moses, two virtues shone: prophecy and virginity; and this grace-filled Mary remains an Ever-Virgin and is recognized as a prophetess, as you will hear (this) in the prophetic singing (in response) to the kiss of Elizabeth: behold, from now on all generations will bless Me. (Luke 1:48) Abigail was glorified for her humility, and this Daughter surpassed her in even more humility: for she looked upon the humility of her servant (Luke 1:48). Rachel was known for her beauty, and this Virgin, the very adornment of heaven, the Archangel, should greet as the most blessed and beautiful of all, (with words): Rejoice, Full of Grace (–1:28). Judith was exalted for being able to defeat Holofernes; and this Virgin, slaying the mental Holofernes, the devil, from the shrouds proclaims: for the Mighty One has done great things for Me (–1:49). Anna triumphed because, having previously been barren, she gave birth to the great Samuel; and Mary especially triumphs, for she must not be barren, but the Virgin and (at the same time) the Matter of the greatest Immanuel, the Son and the Word. But why am I comparing righteous husbands and wives with the Virgin, incomparable in grace? In Her holiness, Mary surpasses even the most insubstantial and incorporeal faces of angels (forgive me for saying so, the fiery ranks of heavenly decoration). She, the Bride, Daughter and Mother of God, is above the angelic nature just as she is above the servants of God. “Rejoice, full of grace,” St. greets her. Epiphanius of Cyprus, most holy of the Cherubim, Seraphim and every order of angels!.. Mary is a closed garden, where the evildoer, the satanic serpent, cannot penetrate. Vertograd is concluded, my sister bride (Song. 4:12). She is a light cloud, completely unaffected by the weight of sin: she saw the Lord (Is. 6:1), sitting on a light cloud (Is. 19:1). She is a tree among thorns: like a tree among thorns, so is My sincere one among the daughters (Song. 2:2); therefore, the shining gold beauty of Her purity did not suffer any damage, although it vegetated among the thorns of universal disaster: You are all good, My neighbor, and there is no vice in You (Song. 4:7). Such must be She Who was to become the receptacle of the Divinity and, like the sun, the pure throne of the King of glory. So, happy and blessed is the human race, from the root of which such a holy and blessed fruit came. From us, through deception, the pernicious poison of sin was born: from us, through grace, the life-giving antidote to it was to be born. From us the curse and death began; we were the first to be touched by grace and life. Observe the wonderful works of the almighty Divine Providence, how wisely it extracts medicine from the very thing from which diseases are born. What a joy to see today the birth of the Virgin - a change in our unhappy state! To see that the gates that were closed by disobedience are opening before us! That we are given grace to achieve that bliss that the devil’s cunning deprived us of! What glory for us to rise to the point of entering into intimacy with the Most Essential Trinity, giving the Father a Daughter, the Son a Mother, and the Holy Spirit a Bride! Truly, I dare to say, we have forced God to be merciful and now have in (the person of) Mary a wonderful fence to reflect far away from us the arrows of threatening anger. We should not on white stones, as was usually the case in ancient times, but on our own hearts, celebrate this bright and joyful day, which has brought down so many heavenly mercies upon us. The ancients, greeting the newborn royal children, said: “Rejoice, young child!” Let us also gather today, when this royal baby, the Lady and Virgin Mary, is born, and, having united all our joyful voices, we will greet Her with the words: Rejoice, new light of human salvation - the morning of grace, the evening of sin; Rejoice, the first radiance of the mental Sun, the original ray of a happy day, the first creation of the Divine; Rejoice, undefiled mirror of holiness, hidden image of perfection, complete ideal of virginity, joyful manifestation of Divine omnipotence. Rejoice, desired hope of the patriarchs, fulfillment of prophecies, common hope of the people. Rejoice, like a rose that vegetated among the snows of the cold age of Your parents, born from a barren womb, seeing the light of bliss earlier than the light of the sun. You became an inhabitant of heaven with your soul before your body became an inhabitant of the earth, a daughter of the eternal Father before (the daughter of) Joachim and Anna; Before you set foot on the ground, You trampled on the head of the snake spewing venom. Rejoice, you who were miraculously conceived (due to the mother’s many years of infertility), who shone like a pearl in a shell. You rise like the morning, adorned with the color of heavenly virtues, you grow like the sun, crowned with the rays of Divine grace, and you live among those born of women, like a phoenix, the only miracle of nature. We begin our lives with tears; We don’t talk about anything other than misfortunes in life, and we conclude our story only with a bitter and cruel death. You alone, God-Wise Daughter, under the influence of Divine Providence, not only begin your life with joy, but give rise to general joy. Thy Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, is a joy to proclaim to the whole universe: from Thee has arisen the Sun of righteousness, Christ our God, and having destroyed the oath, given blessing, and having abolished death, given us eternal life. On the path of Your life, You will proclaim only the greatness to which God has elevated You: for the Mighty One has created greatness for Me, Your end will be a sweet dream, from which You will rise in heaven as a radiant and luminous Queen of angels: A woman is clothed with the sun, and on Her head is a crown of twelve stars (Rev. 12:1). Oh, All-Holy Virgin, if only we, sinners, could see Your luminous exaltation, just as here with all our soul, heart and mind we glorify Your holy Nativity!.. Amen 209. Sermons of Saint Elijah Minyaty of Cephalonite. Ed. St. Trinity. Serg. Laurel. 1902, countries. 372–379. You might be interested in: