Беседа на Преображение Господа Бога и Спаса нашего Иисуса Христа. Святого Ефрема Сирина 139

The field makes us glad with its harvest, the vineyard with fruits to eat; and the Holy Scriptures as life-giving teaching. But the harvest occurs in the field at one time only, and at the same time the grapes are gathered; and Scripture, whenever it is read, always exudes a stream of life-giving teaching. The field, at the end of the harvest, remains idle, and the vineyard, after the harvest of fruits, is empty; in the Scriptures, reap the harvest daily, and the classes in it for interpreters will not become scarce: gather grapes every day, and the grapes of the hope found in them will not be exhausted. So, let us approach this field, let us take advantage of what we have sown on its reins, let us reap from it the lessons of life, that is, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said to His disciples: there are none of those who stand here, who have not tasted death, until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom (Matthew 16:28). And after six days they gave Simon Peter, and James, and his brother John to a high mountain. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His robe was white like light (Matthew 17:1, 2). The men about whom the Lord said that they would not taste death until they saw the image of His coming are those whom He took with Him, He led to the mountain, and to whom He showed how on the last day He would come in the glory of His Divinity and in the body of His humanity. The Lord took them up the mountain in order to reveal to them Who He is and Whose Son He is. For when He asked them: Whom do men say that I am the Son of man? They said to Him: And Elijah: and Jeremiah, or one of the prophets (Matthew 16:13). That is why He takes them up the mountain and shows them that He is not Elijah, but the God of Elijah, that He is not Jeremiah, but the One who sanctified Jeremiah in his mother’s womb, that He is not alone from the prophets, but the Lord of the prophets, who sent them. He shows them that He is the Creator of heaven and earth, - that He is the Lord of the living and the dead: for He commanded the sky, and it sent down Elijah, - He gave a wave to the earth, and it returned Moses. He led them up the mountain to show that He is the Son of God, pre-eternally begotten of the Father, and at the last days incarnate of the Virgin, born of Her, according to His will, ineffably preserving Her virginity unharmed: for where God wills, there the order of nature is overcome. God the Word dwelt in the womb of the Virgin, and the fire of His Divinity not only did not burn the body of the Virgin, but also preserved it during its nine-month stay in it. So He Dwelt in the womb of the Virgin, not disdaining the rottenness of nature, and from Her came the incarnate God to save us. The Lord led the apostles to the mountain to show them the glory of His Divinity, and to show that He is the very Savior of Israel, Who was promised through the prophets and so that they would not be offended by Him when they see His free suffering, which He had to endure according to humanity for us. For the Apostles had hitherto known Him as a man, and did not understand that He was also God; they knew Him as the son of Mary, as a man who treated them friendly while living in the world; But He made it clear to them on the mountain that He was the Son of God and God. They saw that He ate and drank, became tired and rested, dozed and fell asleep, became afraid and shed sweat; yet this was not befitting His Divine nature, but only His human nature. That is why He takes Him up the mountain, so that the Father Himself would call Him Son, and show them that He is, truly, His Son and God (Matthew 17:5). He took them up the mountain and showed them His kingdom before His suffering, His power before His death, His glory before His reproach, His greatness before His humiliation, so that when He was taken and crucified by the Jews, they would know that He was crucified not out of weakness, but according to His good pleasure, voluntarily for the salvation of the world. He took them up the mountain and showed them the glory of His Divinity before the resurrection, so that when He rose from the dead with the same glory of His Divinity, they would know that He did not receive glory as a reward for labor, as if He did not have it, but that before the ages belonged to Him glory with the Father and with the Father, as He Himself said about this while going to free suffering: and now You, Father, glorify Me with Yourself with glory, The peace you had before was not (John 17:5). It was this glory of His Divinity, invisible and hidden in His humanity, that He showed to the apostles on the mountain: for they saw His face shining like lightning, and His robe white as light. The Lord’s disciples then saw two suns: one ordinary in the sky, and the other extraordinary; one that shone above them and together illuminated the world, and the other that illuminated only them, i.e., the face of the Lord turned towards them. His vestments became white as light: for from His whole body flowed the glory of His Divinity, and His light shone in all His members. Not like Moses, not only the appearance of His flesh shone with splendor, but from Him Himself emanated the glory of His Divinity, from Him His light rose and was concentrated in Him, did not pass from Him to anything else, leaving Him - did not come to Him from the outside to adorn Him, and was not borrowed from Him. But the Lord did not show the entire abyss of His glory to the apostles, but only to the extent that the apples of their eyes could contain. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with Him (Matthew 17:3). Their conversation with the Lord was as follows. They testified to Him with thanksgiving that by His coming He fulfilled their predictions, and with them all the other prophets. They brought Him worship for the salvation of the human race that He had done in the world, and for actually performing the sacrament that they had ordained. In this ascent to the mountain there was joy for the prophets and apostles. The prophets rejoiced: for they saw His humanity here, which they had not seen before; The apostles also rejoiced: for they saw here the glory of His Divinity, which they had not understood before. And having heard the voice of the Father testifying about the Son, they knew from it His incarnation, which was not clear to them. And together with the voice of the Father, they were assured of this by the revealed glory of His body, from the Divinity immutably and inextricably united with it. And the testimony of the three was sealed by the voice of the Father, also by Moses and Elijah, who stood before Him as servants. And the prophets looked at each other at the apostles, and the apostles at the prophets. The beginning of the leaders of the Old Testament and the beginning of the leaders of the New Testament saw each other there. Holy Moses saw the sanctified Simon; the steward of the Father saw the steward appointed by the Son; one divided the sea so that the people could pass among the waves, the other set up a canopy to create the Church; The Old Testament virgin - Elijah saw the New Testament virgin - John; the one who ascended on a fiery chariot looked at the one who fell to the feet of the Flame. Thus, the mountain became the image of the Church and Jesus united on it the two Testaments that the Church accepted, and gave us to understand that He Himself is the Giver of both Testaments, of which one received His mysteries, and the other revealed the glory of His works. Peter said: Lord, it is good for us to be here (Matthew 17:4). Oh, what are you saying, Simon! If we stay here, who will fulfill what the prophets predicted? Who will record the broadcasts of the heralds? Who will put an end to the legal sacraments? If we stay here, on whom will the prophecy be fulfilled: I have dug up My hands and My nose (Ps. 21:17)? To whom will the words apply: divide My garments for yourselves, and cast lots upon My garment (Ps. 21:19)? On whom will the prophecy be fulfilled: give me gall for my food, and give me drink for my thirst (Ps. 68:22)? who will justify the words: there is freedom in the dead (Ps. 87:6)? If we stay here, who will tear apart Adam's handwriting? Who will pay his debt? Who will return to him the robe of glory? If we stay here, how will what I told you come true? How will the Church be built? How will you receive from Me the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Whom will you bind and loose (Matthew 16:18,19)? If we stay here, then everything said by the prophets will remain unfulfilled. Simon also said: Let us make three canopies here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (Matthew 17:4). Simon was sent to build the Church in the world; and meanwhile wants to build tabernacles on the mountain, because he still looks at Jesus humanly, and puts Him along with Moses and Elijah. And Jesus immediately showed him that he had no need for his tabernacle - that He was the One who, for forty years, made a tabernacle of the cloud for his fathers in the desert (Num. 9:15-23). I also say to him, behold, the cloud of the light of their autumn (Matthew 17:5). Do you see, Simon, a canopy built without difficulty - a canopy that blocks the heat and does not produce shadows - a canopy that is lightning fast and bright? When the disciples marveled at this, suddenly the voice of the Father was heard from the cloud, speaking these words: This is My beloved Son, and in Him I am well pleased: Hear Him (Matthew 17:5). After the voice from the Father, Moses returned to his place, and Elijah went to his country, but the apostles fell face down on the ground, and Jesus stood alone: ​​since this voice related to Him alone. The Prophets departed, and the Apostles fell to the ground, for it was not on them that the voice of the Father was fulfilled, testifying: This is My beloved Son, in Him I am well pleased: Hear ye. With this voice the Father admonished them that the economy of Moses was fulfilled, and that they should already listen to the Son: for Moses, as a servant, spoke what was commanded to him - and preached what was said to him, and all the prophets also spoke, until the One who was set aside came (Gen. 49:10), that is, Jesus, who is the Son, and not a member of the household, the Lord, and not a slave is a Master, not a subordinate, a Legislator, not a subordinate. According to His Divine nature, This is My beloved Son! Thus, the Father revealed to the apostles on the mountain what was still hidden from them. He proclaims the Being, the Father announces the Son. At this voice, the apostles fall face down on the ground: for the thunder was so terrible that the earth shook from its sound, and they fell to the ground. Here they recognized the presence of the Father, and only at the voice of the Son calling them did they stand up. For, just as the voice of the Father cast them down, so the voice of the Son raised them up with the power of the Divinity, which, dwelling in His flesh and unchangingly united with it, remains together with it, in one Hypostasis and in one person without division or fusion. Not as Moses was magnificent in appearance, but as God shone with glory. Moses' face was covered with splendor; and Jesus in His whole body, like the sun with His rays, shone with the glory of His Divinity. The Father exclaimed: This is My beloved Son, and in Him I am well pleased: Hear ye Him. Listen to the Son, who has the undivided glory of Godhead. For the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit, one nature, one power, one essence, one kingdom, and spoke to the same thing under a low name, but in terrible glory. And Mary called Him Son, because of the human body not separated from the glory of His Divinity: for one is God, who appeared into the world in the flesh. His glory testified to His Divine nature, which is from the Father, and His body proclaimed the human nature received from Mary; but both of these natures came together and united in one Hypostasis. The only begotten is the only begotten of the Father and of Mary. And whoever separates two natures in Him will be excommunicated from His kingdom; and whoever drains them will be deprived of His life. Whoever denies that Mary gave birth to God will not see the glory of His Divinity; equally, whoever denies that He bore sinless flesh will not inherit the salvation and life bestowed by His flesh. His deeds themselves testify and His Divine powers teach the discerning that He is the true God; and His sufferings clearly show that He is a true man. Those who are corrupt in mind and are not convinced of this truth will be punished on His terrible day: For if He was not flesh, then what did Mary bear in her womb? and if there was no God, then who did Gabriel call Lord? If he was not flesh, then who reclined in the manger? and if there was no God, then whom did the descending angels praise? If he was not flesh, then who was wrapped in swaddling clothes? and if there was no God, then to whom did the shepherds bring worship? If he was not flesh, then who was Joseph circumcised? and if there was no God, then in whose honor did the star walk across the sky? If he was not flesh, then whom did Mary feed with milk? and if there was no God, then to whom did the Magi bring gifts? If he was not flesh, then whom did Simeon carry in his arms? and if there was no God, then to whom did he say: “Let me go in peace”? If he was not flesh, then whom did Joseph take with him and flee to Egypt? and if there was no God, then on whom was the prophecy fulfilled: out of Egypt I called My Son (Hos. 11:1)? If he was not flesh, then whom did John baptize? And if there was no God, then to whom did the Father testify from heaven: This is my beloved Son, and I am well pleased with him (Matthew 3:17)? If he was not flesh, then who fasted and hungered in the wilderness? and if there was no God, then who did the lower angels serve? If he was not flesh, then who was invited to the marriage in Cana of Galilee? and if there was no God, then who turned water into wine? If he was not flesh, then who held the loaves in his hands? and if there was no God, then who fed five thousand people in the desert with five loaves and two fish, besides women and children? If he was not flesh, then who slept on the ship? and if there was no God, then to whom did the winds and the sea obey? If he was not flesh, then with whom did Simon the Pharisee recline at supper? and if there was no God, then who forgave the iniquities of the sinful wife? If he was not flesh, then who, weary from the journey, sat by the well? and if there was no God, then who gave the Samaritan woman living water and convicted her that she had five husbands? If he was not flesh, then who wore human clothing? And if there was no God, then who created powers and miracles? If he was not flesh, then who spat on the ground and created clay? and if there was no God, then who healed the eyes of the blind with clay? If he was not flesh, then who wept at the tomb of Lazarus? and if there was no God, then who raised a four-day-old dead man with one word? If he was not flesh, then who sat on the lot? and if there was no God, then whom did the crowds of people greet with glory? If he was not flesh, then whom did the Jews take? and if there was no God, then who threw them face down to the ground with His word? If he was not flesh, then who endured the slaughter? and if there was no God, then who healed and restored in its original place the ear cut by Peter? If he was not flesh, then whose face received the spitting? and if there was no God, then who breathed the Holy Spirit into the faces of the apostles? If he was not flesh, then who stood before Pilate at the judgment seat? and if there was no God, then who frightened Pilate’s wife? If he was not flesh, then whose clothes did the soldiers take and divide among themselves? and if there was no God, then how was the sun darkened at His cross? If he was not flesh, then who hung on the cross? and if there was no God, then who shook the foundations of the earth? If he was not flesh, then whose hands and feet were pierced with nails? and if there was no God, then how was the veil of the church torn, the stones scattered, and the tombs opened? If he was not flesh, then who cried: My God, my God, you have forsaken me in all things (Matthew 27:42)? and if there was no God, then who said: Father, let them go (Luke 23:34)? If he was not flesh, then who was crucified on the cross with the thieves? and if there was no God, then why did he say to the thief: today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)? If he was not flesh, then who was given vinegar mixed with bile to drink? and if there was no God, then whose voice did hell tremble when it heard it? If he was not flesh, then whose ribs were pierced with a spear, and blood and water came out? and if there was no God, then who crushed the gates of hell, broke the bonds, and at whose command the dead came out of the tombs in which they were imprisoned? If he was not flesh, then who did the apostles see in the house? and if there was no God, then how did He enter when the doors of the house were locked? If he was not flesh, then from whom did Thomas feel the ulcers of nails on his hands and the ulcer from a spear in his ribs? and if there was no God, then to whom did He exclaim: My Lord and my God (John 20:28)? If he was not flesh, then who ate at the Sea of ​​Tiberias? and if there was no God, then at whose command was the river filled with fish? If he was not flesh, then whom did the apostles and angels see landing in heaven? and if there was no God, then for whom did the sky open? to whom did the heavenly Powers bow with trepidation? to whom did the Father say: sit at my right hand (Heb. 1:13) as David also says: the Lord said to my Lord: sit at my right hand (Ps. 109:1)? If He was not God and man: then our salvation is false, and all the stories of the Prophets are false. But the Prophets proclaimed the truth, and their testimonies are not false: for they spoke what was commanded, and what the Holy Spirit inspired them with. That is why Saint John, reclining on the side of the Flame, in confirmation of the Prophetic stories, blessing us in the Gospel, taught us with these words: in the beginning, there was the Word, and the Word was to God, and God was the Word. All that was, and without Him nothing would have happened. And the Word became flesh and dwelt in us (John 1:1, 3, 14). He who is from God, God, from the Father, the Only Begotten Son, Consubstantial with the Father, Who is from Being, the Eternal Word, before all ages ineffably born of the Father without a mother, - This very One in the last days is born from the Daughter of man, from the Virgin Mary without a father. God incarnate took flesh from Her and became man: being God, He became what He was not in order to save the world. This is Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father, and the only begotten of the Mother. I confess that He is perfect God and perfect man, inseparably, unmergedly and immutably cognizable in two natures, united in one Hypostasis, or Person - that He took on flesh, animated by a rational and thinking soul, and was in everything like us, except for one sin. He is earthly and heavenly, temporal and eternal, having a beginning and without a beginning, being before time and existing in time, created and uncreated, involved in suffering and not involved, God and man, perfect in both, one in two, and binary in one. One Person of the Father and one Person of the Son, and one Person of the Holy Spirit; but one and the same Deity, one power, one kingdom in three Persons, or Hypostases. Thus we glorify the Holy Unity in Trinity, and the Holy Trinity in Unity. What the Father proclaimed from heaven: This is My beloved Son, listen to Him - this was accepted by the Holy Universal Church of God. In the name of this Holy Trinity, She baptizes into eternal life, She confesses Her inseparably, She worships without falsehood, She recognizes and glorifies Her. To this Three Hypostasis Unit - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit - befits glory, thanksgiving, honor, power, greatness, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen 140. Creations of St. Ephraim the Syrian in Russian. translation Ed. fourth. 1895, Part II, pp. 50–59; Wed Christian Read 1836 Part III, pp. 113–132. You might be interested in: