Слово на Введение Пресвятой Богородицы во храм. Св. Германа, патриарха Константинопольского

Every sacred celebration, when performed, fills those participating with spiritual joy from heavenly treasures and divine sources. But the celebration now glorified by singing, which completely delights souls, is as much more important and brighter than all of them as the Virgin Mary rises and rules over everyone. This most sacred festive gathering of Her returns every year, in which those participating must be clean from defilement, adorned with the purest thoughts and the brightest clothes. Let us flow and pick the coveted flowers from the very meadow of the Mother of God. We smell Her goodness, full of fragrance, as if from the leaves of a rose, as Solomon beautifully sings: Who is this who rises from the desert, like a stalk of smoke, burning myrrh and frankincense, from all the incense of the myrrh-maker? Come from Lebanon, bride, come from Lebanon (Song of Solomon 3:6; 4:8). Encouraging each other, let us hastily gather for the useful and saving triumph of the Mother of God for everyone, and, having gathered around the sanctuary, we will see the Virgin reaching the second veil, the Most Pure Mary and the Mother of God, who resolved the childlessness of infertility and eliminated the shadow of legal writing with the grace of Her generation (i.e., Christ). Now the triennial one is dedicated to the lawful church, which was the pure and highest church of the Bishop and the perfecter of everything - the Lord, and who drove away the darkness of writing with His radiance of God-bright glory. Now a baby is handed over to the priest, who is to be brought (to the church) on the fortieth day of the one and only Bishop of God, who became an infant for us in the flesh, above all human concepts, embracing the Immense One with his own hands. Now the newest and purest, untainted scroll, which will not be written by hand, but gilded by the Spirit, is now consecrated with blessings according to the law and offered as a gift of gratitude. Now Joachim, having freed himself from the reproach of childlessness, clearly walks through the streets, and, magnifying himself, shows his child and, moreover, becomes the executor of sanctification according to the law. Now Anna, having rewarded her long desolation with happiness, inspired by immeasurable joy, announces to the ends of the earth about her fruit, pressing the most expansive of heaven to her chest. Now the open gates of the divine church receive the door of Immanuel, looking towards the east and sealed. Now the sacred meal of the church begins to brighten, feeling the transition to bloodless sacrifices, with the worship and sweetest kiss of the divine meal of heavenly and soul-nourishing bread. Now one is assigned to the purification, which has become for mortals cast down by the streams of sins, a new and God-like purification, real and not made by hands. Now having received, by sanctification from the Spirit, the Holy of Holies, most holily and most gloriously, in a gentle and innocent age, she is very wonderfully placed in the Holy of Holies, surpassing the Cherubim in glory. Nowadays Mary excites us to praise, about whom even if anyone said countless things, she would never approach, much less achieve, the goal, because Her beauty immeasurably surpasses any language and mind. The heavenly drop flowing from Her showed Her greatness like a boundless sea. Hence Her wealth became, in its infinity, incomprehensible and Her consolations inexhaustible. Truly, everyone is satisfied in everything: but the celebration, accompanied by praises and songs in Her honor, because of its pleasantness, does not satisfy. Therefore, the types of praise borrowed from Her seem unsatisfactory, and since the source is abundant, and not only does not decrease from drawing, but, to the extent that they draw from it, multiplies a hundred and a thousand times more, those who draw cannot be afraid of lack. When contemplating Her, the mystery abounds and, increasing, surpasses not only minds immersed in matter, but also immaterial ones. Such is the all-blessed and most pure Young Lady. Her parents, when they are three years old, bring (Her) to God. The triple number - how excellent, how venerable and satisfactory for any proof! With three stones David threw the criminal Goliath to the ground (1 Samuel 17:40); Elijah the Tishbite attracts the people to faith by walking around the altar in three ways, when a flame appears above the heavenly fire burning in the water (1 Kings 18:34); Jonah, carried for the same number of days in the bowels of the floating beast, serves as the image of God controlling the great whale (Jonah 2:1); Such were the number of the youths who walked complacently in the fiery furnace, drunk with heavenly dew (Dan. 3:23, 24). After three periods of ten years, Jesus my Lord cleanses me from the filth of transgression (Luke 3:21–23). He ascends the mountain to show the same number of disciples, in great mystery, the manifestation of His glory (Matthew 17:1). On the third day He raises from hell souls that have been kept in darkness for centuries. And what else? Look at the number three in the most important thing. The Deity, who created and accomplished everything, deigned to be glorified, as it were, in perfect number, in three shrines, three properties, three hypostases, or, which is the same, three persons, in consubstantiality, in a unity that is alien to fusion or confusion, and one cannot dishonor Him by taking away anything, nor can one invent multiplicity beyond the (shown) number. So, since One of the Most Holy and Eternal Trinity, by the grace of the Father, spontaneously, by the overshadowing of the All-Holy Spirit, deigned to dwell in the womb of this Virgin - the Mother of the Young Lady: it was necessary that She, adorned with the glory of the same number, should be most radiantly consecrated; She is introduced into the church for three years, according to the immutable and well-known dispensation of Her Creator and Son. When the nourisher of our life was nourished (with milk), Her parents fulfill this vow. Having called, they say, the neighboring and surrounding girls, they arranged it so that the girls with candles walked ahead, and the Young Lady followed behind, so that, amused by the burning candles, She would continue on her way without looking back. Giving all that she had to God, the (once) barren and childless Anna clearly cried out in a loud voice: "Come, rejoice with me, all who were present at my permission, especially now that I bring to the Lord a God-splendid and sanctified gift from my bosom. Come, leaders of the choirs, with the lyres and tympanum virgins, joyfully sing a new song, not under the leadership of Mariama (sisters) of Moses, but under the guidance of the One who was born by me. Come, you too, near and far, and when I, filled with joy and filled with sincere gratitude, give to the sanctuary the fruit of my illnesses, shout with all joy the inspired hymns and you, the host of the Prophets, the chosen assembly, arrange a song of the glorious praises inspired by the Spirit of God, because where. the sound of a prophetic word is heard, there all opposing slander loses its power. You, Forefather and Godfather David, pleasantly shaking the musical instrument, make the most harmonious sound on the strings of the Spirit with your God-inspired lips, clearly depicting a host of young women, how the virgins will be brought to the King in Her wake, Her sincere ones will be brought (Psalm 44:15). So a host of young women is assembled in the streets and led to the sacred dwelling in the holy church, with royal glory, in joy and joy. (Daughter) Tsareva, fulfilling your prophecy, whom you yourself called daughter: She is my child. All the glory of the Daughter of the Queen is within: lined with gold (Psalm 44:14), clothed with pure and immaculate virginity and adorned with incomparable beauty. Come, you too, descendant of David, and cry: Who is this piercing one like the morning, good like the moon, chosen like the sun? That Your feet are adorned (Song of Songs 6:9; 7:1). You who have to put on the sun and create a new spectacle under the sun! And you, loud Ezekiel, holding the God-given scroll of the life-giving Spirit, shout out the praise of the sealed door facing the east and passable for God! And also others from the sacredly chosen rank and the rest of the seers, raise your voice, seeing the approaching fulfillment of the predictions. What then? And you, forefathers, being released from the oath and again receiving the dwelling of sweets from which you cast yourself out - will you not sing the Author of salvation with decent, greatest praises? Isn’t it especially necessary for you to cry out, and for me and all creation to rejoice with you?” Wise Anna, with such thoughts, as she should have, adapting herself to what was happening, leading her birth with her sweetest husband, preceded by maidens carrying candles, reaches the church. Its doors open, accepting the smart door of Emmanuel - God, and the threshold is sanctified by the entry of Mary. The house (of God) is cheerfully illuminated by lamps, but it shines even brighter with the brilliance of this one lamp: Her splendor flaunts at Her entrance. The garments of the horns of the altar are covered with purple from Her purple and virginal clothing. Zechariah rejoices, having been worthy to receive the Mother of God, Joachim rejoices, making an offering, testifying to the fulfillment of the prophecies; Anna triumphs at the consecration of her daughter; the ancestors rejoice, avoiding condemnation; The Prophets are comforted, and every age, adorned with grace, moves joyfully with them. Thus, the Virgin Mary is introduced and stands at the horns (of the altar), between the parents praying and the priest who has to bless (Her). Again the parents appeal to the priest: “receive the one who has to receive the immaterial and immense fire: accept the future receptacle of the Son and the Word of the Father and the only God; accept the reproach of childlessness and barrenness that has taken away from us: bring to the altar the One who settles us in the former region of paradise; hold the One who by Her birth (i.e., Christ) will tame the terrible power of death and the dominion of hell for us; embrace the one who will cover our nature, naked in Eden; take the one who wraps the swaddling clothes of the uncontrollably, violently and proudly outstretched hand; bring to God the fulfillment of our hopes, look! us to resolve infertility: through Her You took away the childlessness of the law and redeemed us from a long and severe disaster. Accept the One who perfectly rules us, Whom you have chosen, predestined and sanctified; attract one who is devoted to You and seduced by Your fragrance - She whom You have chosen among us unworthy, like a lily among thorns; embrace Her, brought to You with a joyful spirit. Behold, we entrust Her to You and surrender ourselves.” Such is the consonant speech of the righteous! such is the unanimity of a God-loving marriage! such is the unity of action of the Godfathers! Therefore, Zechariah, having accepted the Maiden, as he should, first of all says to his parents: “The authors of our salvation! What can I say to you? What should I call you? I am horrified to see what fruit you bear: with its purity it attracted God to dwell within itself. There has never been and will never be another, shining with such beauty. You appeared as two divided rivers emanating from paradise, bringing a lamp dearer than gold and valuable stones, illuminating the whole earth with the beauty of Her immaculate virginity and delightful radiance. You are like the brightest stars established in the firmament: you both clearly illuminate the gloomy darkness of the dark letter and the law given in the midst of the storm: wisely and stumbling-blockingly guide those who believe in Christ to the new grace of the new light. You are the brightest horns of the intelligent church of the New Testament, having in your depths. the most intelligent, sanctified and divine altar of sacred sacrifice. Even more: you, in the upbringing (of the Young Lady), became like Cherubim, mysteriously overshadowing the purification of the Leader of the world and the High Priest. You are higher than the gold that was built in ancient times to cover the ark, because you covered the rational and Divine ark of the New Testament, which (contained) the one who signed for us on the cross. Your joy is worldwide joy; your glory is common joy. Blessed are you, parents of such a Youth! Blessed are you who have brought such a blessed gift to the Lord! Blessed are the breasts with which She was raised, and the womb in which She was carried! Come You too, Child, highest of heaven. Come, he looks like a baby, but in reality he is God’s instrument. Come and rather consecrate the vestibule of the sanctuary yourself; to say briefly: do not purify and sanctify yourself in it, but sanctify it abundantly yourself. Enter the hidden and terrible palace, You, impregnable and unsearchable treasure. Enter the threshold of the altar, crushing the gates of death. Look at the curtain, illuminating with Its radiance those blinded by the darkening taste. Give your hands to me, leading You like a baby; but take my hand, a tired old man, and, due to his inclination towards earthly things, hasty in breaking the commandment, and bring me to life. Here I take You as an old man’s rod and support of nature, weakened by the fall; I look to You as the future strength of those who have fallen to death. Approach the table with reverence, You, about Whom it is said in very many images that you will be the most intelligent and pure meal. Walk around the circumference of the entire altar, You, who emits, as it were, the fragrance of incense, for those who smell above the world, and who is beautifully called in the divinely moving and spirit-bearing language of the Prophet - “censer.” Ascend, ascend to the steps of the sacred building, You, Whom the daughters of Jerusalem, enjoying the superiority of beauty, weave praises, and Whom earthly kings please: divine a step and a ladder, approved by God, shown very comfortingly to the great patriarch Jacob. Sit, Lady, because it is fitting for You, the Queen and glorified above all the kingdoms of the world, to sit on such a height. It is fitting for You, the throne above the Cherubim, to be the first seat in the dwelling. Why now do I appeal to You with David: hear, daughter, and see, and incline Your ear, and forget Your people and Your father’s house: and the King will desire Your kindness (Psalm 44:11, 12). This is what the elder said, although in his thoughts he imagined even greater praise. Meanwhile, the parents left, but the Young Lady, dedicated to God, remained. Regarding food, the Angels served Her with fear, and the Virgin received material or immaterial food from the immaterial. Thus, with the assistance of God, the divine consecration took place. The child grew and became stronger, and the nasty power of the oath imposed on us in Eden was weakened. After this, God-loving assembly, unanimously and as much strength as we have in our infant minds, let us cry to the Virgin: Rejoice! not in order to glorify Her already perfect feast, but in order, if possible, to console our weakness: because God is pleased with what is accomplished within our power. But the single Virgin and together the Mother surpasses all thought, and it’s clear why? What other virgin gave birth, or, having given birth, kept her virginity intact, except You alone, who invariably bore God in the flesh for us, all-blessed Virgin! So, rejoice, now by Your entry into the Holy of Holies, in a glorious and not made by hand robe, having clothed us (naked by the deadly and soul-harming meal in Eden) with a scarlet-like robe, that is, the God-sent robe of remission of sins, given by God to us who are immersed, Bride of God! Rejoice, now, by the brightest and most honest entry, gathering the entire prophetic host, chanting the God-according hymn, as if on the most harmonious musical organs and cymbals, and spiritually rejoicing in joy. Rejoice, having trampled with Your feet the wicked and hated serpent-devil, who was for me a terrible leader to fall; She brought the damaged nature with Himself again into an immaterial, holy and incorruptible church. Rejoice, thou who through the splendor of Thy entrance shone brightly upon the day of joy and gladness contained in the shadow of death and the abyss of weakness, and who testifies to the resolution of darkness by God, who is born of Thee, O all-wonderful Mary! Rejoice, now by entering into the Holy of Holies the all-illuminating sun has shone for those contained in the shadow of death; A rich source from which the rivers of the knowledge of God, emanating the clear and bright water of Orthodoxy, disperse many heresies. Rejoice, most pleasant and reasonable paradise of God, now planted, according to His will, by the almighty right hand in the east - growing for Him a flowering crin (lily) and an unfading rose as a medicine for those who drink in the west the harmful, soul-destroying bitterness of death; a paradise in which the tree of life blossoms into the knowledge of the truth, and those who eat from it receive immortality! Rejoice, sacred, immaculate and pure palace of the All-King God, clothed with His greatness, accepting and mysteriously calming all strangers; You, who are now established in the house of the Lord, that is, His holy church, in which is the palace of the spiritual bridegroom not made with hands and adorned, in which the Word betrothed (Himself) the flesh, desiring to convert the lost and reconcile (with the Father) those who have wandered away according to His will! Rejoice, new Zion, divine Jerusalem, holy city of the great King, we know God in His hardships (Heal. 47:3, 4), forcing kings to bow before Your glory and encouraging the whole world to celebrate the feast of Your entry in joy; in truth, a golden-shaped and bright, seven-illuminated lamp, kindled by an unapproachable light and moistened by the oil of purity, heralding the sunrise in the darkness of sins blinded by darkness. Rejoice, fat mountain of God (Psalm 67:16) and overshadowed, in which the intelligent Lamb, having been raised, bore our sins and illnesses; from which the unhand-cut Stone (Dan. 2:34) separated and crushed the idol altars, and it became at the head of the corner and is marvelous in our hands (Psalm 118:22, 23). Rejoice, holy throne of God, divine exaltation, house of glory, splendid adornment, chosen treasure, universal purification, and heaven that tells of God’s glory (Psalm 18:2); the east, the shining light that never sets, from the edge of the sky its departure, and nothing can hide its warmth (Psalm 18:7), that is, the governing industry. Rejoice, having by Your birth resolved the bonds of barrenness and removed the reproach of childlessness, removed the legal oath and brought forth the blessing of grace; By your entry into the Holy of Holies, you fulfilled the prayer of your parents, laid the foundation for our forgiveness and the height of joy, bringing the beginning of grace. Rejoice, full of grace Mary, Most Holy of Holies, highest of heaven, most glorious of the Cherubim, most honorable of the Seraphim and most venerable of all creation; - a dove, through Your glorious and bright entrance bringing us oil - the Deliverer from the spiritual flood and announcing to us a haven of salvation; Its brim is silvered and its interspace is in the glitter of gold (Psalm 67:14), shining with the light of the All-Holy and Enlightening Spirit - an all-golden body, bearing manna - the sweetest consolation of our souls, that is, Christ. But, Most Pure, all-singing, all-honorable sacrifice of God, most excellent of all creations, uncultivated land, unearthed field, blossoming grapes, joyful cup, flowing fountain, Virgin who gave birth and unskilled Mother, treasure of purity and adornment of the shrine! With God-pleasing and motherly prayers to the one born by You without a Father, Your Son and God, the Creator of all, guide the helm of church deanery and lead to a quiet haven, free from the waves of heresies and temptations; brightly clothe the priests in the truth and joy of the true, immaculate and sincere faith; Strengthen in peace and prosperity the sceptres of the Orthodox rulers, who have acquired in You the crown, cover and safe decoration of their kingdom, above all the splendor of scarlet and gold, pearls or precious stones. Confirm the Christian people in meek, decent obedience, in accordance with the commandment of God, stretch out Your hand to help the whole world, so that in joy and gladness we celebrate Your holidays with joy, together with the present one, in Christ Jesus, the King of all and our true God, to Whom be glory and power, together with the Holy and life-giving Father and with the eternal, consubstantial and co-throne Spirit, now and always, and forever and ever. Amen 26. see Curs. Compl. Patrolog. edit. Migne, Tom. XCVIII, col. 291–310; compare “Selected Words of the Holy Fathers in Honor and Glory of the Most Holy Theotokos.” Moscow, ed. 1886, pp. 70–82. You might be interested in: