Слово на Рождество Великого Бога и Спаса нашего Иисуса Христа. Святого Амфилохия, епископа Иконийского 46

Just as the Old Testament sensual and unfading paradise was decorated with incorruptible trees, immortal fruits and countless other majestic beauties: so the godlike assembly of the most holy Church of Christ shines with spiritual and ineffable mysteries. Of these, the current feast of the Holy Nativity of Christ, our true God, is for us an indestructible stronghold, an unshakable foundation, a saving beginning and an all-honorable leadership. For the sake of this holiday, the ancient was transformed and the new was clearly preached throughout the universe: by him the power of corruption was trampled and the destructive worship of the devil was stopped, human passions were put to death and the life of angelic dominion was restored: by them the heavens were opened and the earth was raised to divine heights, paradise was returned to people and the power of death was abolished, demonic seduction was dispelled, and the wisdom of God and the all-pure were proclaimed coming (of God to earth). Not an intercessor, a lower angel, says the Prophet, but the Lord Himself saved them (Ps. 93:9). Oh, the inexpressible riches of the Divine gospel! Oh, inexplicable knowledge of wise secrets! Oh, inexhaustible treasure of God's ineffable gifts! Oh, the innumerable grace of providential philanthropy! For the Lord Himself, according to the Prophet, will come and save us. How, according to you, Prophet of God, prophecy, the Lord will come to us? In this case, I boldly address you on behalf of those ancient men who, although they praised, together with me, the present all-praising triumph, but did not actually see the new and most pure birth of the Lord from the Immaculate Virgin, did not contemplate the rejoicing of the angels, did not hear their divine speeches, with which they joyfully announced to the blessed shepherds about the born Savior, and did not see the gifts brought the Magi, and their Divine worship. Having assumed the face of these men, I would like to ask you about the image of the coming of the Lord to earth that you foreshadowed. Your prophecy, indeed, must have greatly amazed them and, with its extreme mystery, led their minds into complete bewilderment, since they could not even imagine that the immortal God would come to mortal men. Intangible - to the sensual, Invisible - to the flesh. How did they think about the coming of God and His appearance? It seemed to some that He would appear as He had previously appeared to Abraham in the form of angels (Gen. 18:1–2), to others (it seemed that He would appear like this), as He appeared to Moses in the flame of a bush (Is. 3:2), or as He appeared to Isaiah and Ezekiel (Is. 6:2; Ezek. 10:3), surrounded by seraphim and cherubim. Which of these images is more worthy of God appearing in it? - obviously not one. How can we confirm this? - in other prophetic words: therefore he appeared on earth and made his living from men (Baruch 3:38). Those various images under which the ancient men saw God were evidence of His appearance, and not His treatment of people: here it is not just the appearance, but His treatment of men that is proclaimed. The Lord Himself came and saved them. Tell us, blessed Prophet, how He who has no image is clothed in an image and the Motionless One descends to earth from the heavenly throne? This divine man answers the questioners this way: you should understand the image of His coming from other prophecies, so why should you study this saying beyond measure? Have you forgotten what was said: behold, the Virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Immanuel, as we say, God is with us (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23)? Or have you not heard what is written: For unto us a Son was born, and was given unto us, His rulership shall be upon His frame, and His name is called: Great of counsel, Angel, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Ruler, Prince of Peace, Father of the age to come (Isa. 9:6)? From these words you can understand the image of His appearance. The incorruptible Virgin will bodily light (give birth to) an imperishable lamp. For the all-honorable Word of God had to descend even to our flesh, in order by His incarnation to renew those whom He had created with His incorporeal Divinity, and who had become decayed due to sin, and in order to make them incorruptible by the likeness of His corruption. Let us also repeat these words of the Prophet, spoken to the ancient men who questioned him. O Otrocha, the most ancient of heaven! Oh, blessed Son, Who appeared (to us), carrying power on His shoulder and not seeking to receive it from another, for the Word, as the Son, has power over everything by nature and is not communicated to Him, as it is communicated to creation. The rulers will be on His frame, says the Prophet. Oh, sent Industry! For He is called, according to the Prophet, a great angel and mighty God of counsel. Oh, Almighty Sovereignty! For He is the Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. Therefore, how do we glorify this holiday? How can we magnify the mysterious triumph of the present time? Who explores the immortal riches of this day? With what great and sublime words do we confess this all-valid and victorious sacrament of incorruptibility? - Oh, a day worthy of countless praises, a day on which a star from Jacob shone for us, the heavenly man arose from Israel, the mighty God came to us, the Sun of righteousness illuminated us, the treasure of Divine virtues was revealed, the tree of eternal life appeared for people, the east shone from on high and from the virgin depths the Lord of heaven and earth appeared into the corruptible world for its redemption! For a Savior was born to you, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11), who is both the light of nations and the salvation of the house of Israel. Oh, miracle! He Whom the heavens cannot contain rested in a manger like a baby; He who created the world with a single word warmed himself in his mother’s embrace; He who gave existence to all the superworldly powers fed on milk from the virgin’s immaculate breast. It came to pass, the Gospel narrates, when she was there, the days of giving birth to Her were fulfilled: and she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and gave birth to Him, and laid Him in a manger, for there was no place for them in the monastery (Luke 2:6–7). What is the new and amazing secret in this? How was the omnipotent and necessary favor of Divine Providence expressed for corruptible man? What also consists of the formidable and wise opposition to the devil? - The world was liberated by the Virgin - that world that anciently fell to sin also through a wife. Born of the Virgin, all the hordes of invisible demons, so numerous and so strong, were cast into the underworld. The Lord took on the image of slaves, so that the slaves would again become like God in the image. Oh, Bethlehem, a city consecrated and given as an inheritance to all people! O manger, having honor together with the cherubim and equal in honor to the seraphim: for He who, according to Divinity, has sat on these heavenly Powers from eternity (Psalm 79:2), now according to humanity reclines among you. O Mary, who gave birth to the Firstborn, the Creator of all things! Oh, humanity, which has communicated its bodily essence to the Word of God and in this regard is preferred to all heavenly and mental powers! For Christ did not deign to take on the unchanging image of neither archangels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor authorities (Heb. 2:16), but put on the image of a man, although he lost his dignity and became like senseless beasts (Psalm 49:13). The healthy do not need a doctor (Matthew 6:12), and humanity, obsessed with a long illness, received a powerful and great Physician, Who not only drove out his illness, but also gave him something better than health - salvation. But where now is that hateful, hostile, treacherous and wicked serpent who wanted to set his throne on high (Isaiah 14:13)? So, we, brethren, as partakers of the blessed calling of heaven, called to adoption as sons of God and to brotherhood, must give thanks to Him who called us and show ourselves worthy of Him who established brotherhood among us. Let us voluntarily and lovingly serve Him, being ready for every fulfillment of righteousness. Let us adorn ourselves with purity, strive for non-covetousness, engage in the word of God, indulge in holy prayers and sacred chants for the glory of God. Let us withdraw from this world, forget earthly and corruptible passions, let us overcome evil with good, not repaying anyone evil for evil (Rom. 12:21, 17). Let us not consider ourselves inhabitants of the earth, hoping to be citizens of heaven, treated with angels and standing before the throne of the heavenly kingdom. These are the commandments of the holy apostles: in them Christ laid down His blessed and eternal covenant for us. May the world be surprised at our virtue! Let the Jews be ashamed, seeing the new and chosen people and observing with what great spiritual beauty they are adorned and with what brilliance they illuminate the world! This is why God placed us among other nations, so that we could shine as lights in the world [Philipp. 2:15), so that we may be the seed of salvation (Rom. 9:26) and serve as an example to all who live and are in fellowship with us. Let us see that no one from outside blasphemes God because of our deeds. May He who called, sanctified and saved us be glorified in us. Let a cruel and impudent person be surprised at our mercy and humility: let anyone who speaks evil, hearing a blessing in response from us, be ashamed; the one who strives to acquire property and is even ready to enter into an argument because of this, let him find us indifferent to wealth, since we do not strive to have earthly acquisitions, but imagine ourselves acquiring heavenly acquisitions; whoever comes to us with a friendly invitation to worldly pleasures, let him find us unshakable, firm, loving chastity, not seduced by pleasure, mortifying the nature of the body; let everyone know what power the indwelling of the Holy Spirit has in us. Anyone who frivolously allows an oath, let him see that we not only refrain from swearing, but are also afraid to pronounce the name of God when discussing low and earthly subjects. Thus, we will all become teachers of those with whom we have contact on any matter. If we begin to live in this way, then we will become sacred kvass, through us the world will be leavened for salvation, great fruit will be prepared for the Lord in its entirety, and God will be glorified in us, according to the word of the Lord: in this my Father will be glorified, that you may produce much fruit, and you will be my disciples (John 15:8). God, who is glorified by us, glorify us with everlasting glory in Christ Jesus our Lord; to Him be glory forever. Amen 47. Migne, Patrologiae cursus completus, series graeca, t. XXXIX, col. 35–44. Comp. "Christian Reading", 1836, part IV, pp. 227–237; "Church Veda" 1898, nos. 51–52. You might be interested in: