Advice to the Olympics

Child! may a message from Gregory be a gift to you; I am like a father to you, and a father’s advice is the best. A mixture of gold and stones will not adorn a noble wife, The Olympics are mine, just like false colors: Having pointed them at your face, you become an eye-pleasing ugliness You will destroy the image of Tsarev for the sake of an alien image, child. Let others have precious dresses, porphyry, Gold, splendor and shine in clothing, if life They don't shine. And your virtue is visible only Let the eyes of the inner heart care about beauty. Listen, What always adorns, like a beautiful lily, glory He always gives the firm - his character and actions are like this: First of all, honor the Almighty, then your spouse: He is like your eye, let him guide your desires. Warm his heart alone with your love, If, especially, he with constant tenderness will I am kind to you, keeping the harmony between you inseparable. However, don’t be impudent, even if you are deeply loved, Remember decency, because “a man is satisfied with everything” (Hom. II. 13.639) everyone, It is satisfied with everything, but the best love has no satiation. You are a woman. Do not strive, instead of your husband, to be proud of your clothes, By birth or wisdom. Know that your wisdom is to submit Marriage laws. For you, everything in the world is now inseparable. The husband is raging - give in. Exhausted from constant labor - Find a kind word; What, like the voice of a wife, comforts? And the tamer of animals does not pacify the lion by force, If he fights, growling, but with quiet words and voice, Gently stroking with your hand leads to the animal’s submission. Never reproach if something is inconvenient for you, Husband: he in himself is your greatest joy. If you are angry that it didn’t work out as your husband promised - So what? After all, the demon sometimes destroys euphonious plans. Do not consider him weak, “for he does not bear the sword in vain.” Do not praise those who are not nice to your spouse, showing guile, To hurt him, because it’s always appropriate in everything People worthy of maintaining integrity, avoiding double-mindedness, Be it husbands or you (especially you!) - wives and virgins. You consider joy and sorrow to be common with your worthy spouse Everyone share your labors - this house will strengthen yours. Together We need to think about everything, but the last word belongs to the husband. If your spouse is sad, grieve with him a little (partly It’s even nice when you’re sad and a friend is upset); Soon, however, dispel the sad clouds in your heart, A clear and bright face, because the spouse is saved from the storm, The sure haven is the wife. Handicrafts, prayer and reading Take care of God's word, leaving everything external to your husband. You shouldn’t often leave the house, oh dear child, Neither for walks with a crowd, nor for gatherings where he disappears Even the ability to blush and glances get in the way. Remember: loss of shame is the beginning of all evils and vices. I would only recommend coming to a good society With wise wives; so you will hear a reasonable word, What vice destroys, virtue makes stronger. Don't be highly intelligent, but let your mind be high. Also, please, do not rush to the wedding feasts, child, Or birthdays, where there is drunkenness, dancing, and laughter; Prudence disappears there instantly, like Wax, when its ray, piercing through, melts. However, don’t drink at home, either in the absence of your husband or together. It is easy to overcome passions, having first curbed the belly, If they don't have a key, then it frightens me too, The child, and the glorious husband, undoubtedly fears this. It is not proper for you to burst into unbridled, riotous laughter, Your cheeks shake, nor shake from cruel anger. Both look obscene and disgrace the wife. Even without pearls, let your ears be decorated only with what The kind ones will accept the words, but the unkind ones will shut them down completely, However, always and in everything chaste A modest blush for you if you meet your spouse’s gaze, Let it flood your face. In the same way, blush, lowering Your eyes reach to the ground, if you feel the gaze of others. If you don’t curb your tongue, you and your husband will endlessly be at odds, The violent speeches of innocent people used to be ruinous. It is better to remain silent when necessary than to say a foolish word, If everything interferes. Let your words be welcome. Your restless gait will show your virtue to be false. It is sometimes possible to detect pride in the gait itself. Listen to something else. Moderate your carnal impulses too, Do not always indulge in the bed of love; bow down and wife Remember holy days by honoring them according to the law. The image of God is always in keeping with His statutes To obey in everything, if the Son established the All-Ethereal The marriage law is for the benefit of creatures, So with the departure of some and the arrival of others, continuous The human race lives, only like a multi-streamed river: Death is like a current in it, and birth is filled with water. But why say all the instructions separately? I would, of course, be able to teach you some wisdom, But, dear, Feodosia is here with you - In deed and word, an example is better than any teaching. This woman, Chiron, who was married, Having received you from your father, she raised you in good rules. Her brother was Amphilochus, an impeccable and glorious bishop, Holy messenger of truth and my praise before God (With Thekla, the blessed sister, I led them to the Lord). If my gray hair brought you a wise word - Keep it in your heart like a treasure: this is my advice. So you will be an easy wife if he is inclined to vanity, You can correct it when you surpass him in good fame. So I presented the gift. If you want more, oh child, I wish you: be a fruitful garden for your grandchildren, So that more and more people glorify the great God, Whose we are from birth and to whom we go in death. This is a poem by St. Gregory wrote it as a wedding gift to the daughter of his friend, Prefect Vitalian. Traditionally she is identified with St. Olympias Deaconess, but modern researchers question this (McLynn N. The other Olympias: Gregory Nazianzen and the Family of Vitalianus // ZAChr. 1998. Vol. 2. P. 227–246).