Conversation on the words: “a command came from Caesar Augustus” (Luke 2:1) and on the inclusion of the Holy Mother of God in the census

1. Beloved! When our common Savior Jesus Christ was about to be born, Caesar Augustus issued a general command concerning the universe. Since universal grace was to shine upon the whole earth, then in some way social affairs come into contact with religion, and, at the birth of the Savior, one command occurs throughout the entire universe. So, “a command came from Caesar Augustus” that a census of the entire universe should be made to prepare the unity of religion, to prepare the way for evangelical preaching, to prepare the way for teaching. Previously, of course, there were many local authorities; there was no Caesarian command concerning that general announcement; and when, by means of preaching, the faith of piety was to spread throughout the whole universe, the universe is united under one slogan; and not only the universe, but also earthly things - with heavenly things, and for the benefit of people, piety is brought to general knowledge, so that the divine truth does not remain hidden from anyone. Caesar Augustus commands - and Joseph obeys and takes the Virgin. When you ask a Greek or even a Jew himself why Augustus was given the honor of reigning for a long time (and he reigned for fifty-six years and four months), they do not answer anything, but, not knowing the reason for things and not believing God’s grace, they think that a very long time fell to his lot by some fate. Jesus Christ was born under him. Therefore, if Augustus was a Roman emperor and, moreover, the first, then Christ naturally took upon Himself the fulfillment of God’s economy regarding His incarnation at the founding of the Roman Empire. An iron rod had to be introduced, the rod about which David says: “You will shepherd them with a rod of iron”; and: “Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the nations for Thy inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Thy possession” (Ps. 2:9, 8), as if the Father were talking with the Son and saying: the Jews have denied Thy kingdom and insulted Thy authority; They are a despised people; there are few who are converted. Ask from Me, and I will give Your tongues Your heritage, and Your possession the ends of the earth, not a corner of Palestine and not a circumcised people, empty and with a soul without a heart, but: I will give Your tongues Your heritage, and Your possession the ends of the earth. You will save them, since they did not want to obey the gospel, because they did not want to give in to miracles, you will save them, not in word, but in deed and with an iron rod, by Roman power; for this reason they are subject to the power of the rod. When Jesus came to Jerusalem and saw trade and selfish activity in the church - because inside they were buying and selling, bringing goods inside under the pretext of sacrifices - then, making a rod and a scourge from ropes, he drove the traders out of the church, saying: “Do not make My Father’s house a house of trade” (John 2:16). And if they had accepted that rod, they would not have been shepherded with a rod of iron; and since they did not honor the saving rod, they fell not under the scourge and not under the word that scourges people with sound feelings, but under an iron rod; and often they wanted to remove him, but the iron rod struck them, not just hitting them, but killing them. Therefore, when the iron rod began to rule during the reign of Augustus, then Christ was born. The power of the Romans - the beginning of the sermon, the fourth kingdom of times. It can be noted that this is mysteriously preserved among the prophets, since neither the New nor the Old Testament contains anything unwritten, but the Old warned the New, and the New interpreted the Old. And often I said that there are two covenants and two slaves, and two sisters, who, like bodyguards, accompany the one Lord. The Lord is proclaimed by the prophets; Christ is preached in the New Testament; the new is not new, because the old warned; the old things were not extinguished because they were interpreted in the New Testament. You could see that Daniel, very young in age, but gray in prophetic gift, prophesied in Babylon. Why in Babylon? Because the people were taken into slavery in Babylon, and spent seventy years in the Assyrian land. So, Daniel is born there, raised there, having suffered no harm from the foreign land. He had fatherly prudence, and from his youth he became a prophet, and the Holy Spirit entered his soul, and, having reached the age of 18, Daniel began his prophetic activity. And there are many things that he prophesies about, but the four kingdoms are also interpreted. Nebuchadnezzar, the Assyrian king, saw four differences in the image, one body, but four colors. The image had a golden head, a silver chest, a copper belly, and iron legs, and this image consisted of four substances (Dan. 2:31-45). And the king saw; but there was no one who could explain. The magicians came, the Chaldeans came, the soothsayers were brought in, those who always misled the king were called upon; and what do they say? Tell us the dream and we will interpret it (Dan.2:4). So, God, arranging that they would not deceive him as usual, removes the image of the dream from the king’s memory; and the king said: “Tell me a dream” (Dan. 2:9). And since they clearly admitted that it was impossible to tell another’s dream, but they would interpret it only if they heard about it, then Daniel was invited, about whom it became known that he was strong in this kind of thing; and he comes to King Nebuchadnezzar, after the Holy Spirit has revealed to him the contents of the dream, and says to the king: King, you have seen this and that. And simultaneously with the words of the prophet, the listener remembered the dream; and what he heard reminded him of the vision. So, the prophet explains this dream - after all, after he told the dream itself, he was already a trustworthy interpreter - and says: the image that you saw is four kingdoms, because four kingdoms will rise on the earth (Dan. 2:37-38). That image was solid, and there was only one body. But you, king, saw that a stone broke away without the participation of anyone’s hands and crushed the image, and the stone occupied and filled the whole earth. This is what you saw: you saw four kingdoms. “You are the head of gold” (Dan. 2:38) - because the first to reign were the Assyrians, very rich and very luxurious, and very pampered. And he says to him: “You are the head of gold. After you, another kingdom will arise, lower than yours” (Dan. 2:38-39), - because after the Assyrians the Persians and Medes reign; These too were very brilliant. The third kingdom will rise up - the kingdom of the Greeks and Macedonians - when Alexander, being in Hellas, equipped troops, attacked Persia and deposed Darius, and subjugated his kingdom to his power. So, he is compared to copper because of the euphony of conversation and language. The Greeks who were with Alexander, and Alexander himself, who were eloquent in conversation, were compared to copper, since gold, although brilliant, is nevertheless dissonant; in like manner also silver; and copper, although inferior in substance, is harmonious in relation to the sound it produces. Therefore he says: the third kingdom is that which is designated through copper; the fourth and last kingdom is of iron (Dan.2:40). So, “you will rule them with a rod of iron” (Ps. 2:9). Look at the agreement of the prophecy: Daniel saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without the use of hands. How is it cut off? Not with iron, without the help of hands, because the Virgin gives birth without outside help; the stone struck the image and turned into a great mountain and filled the entire universe. One stone fills the whole earth. That "stone... broke away from the mountain without the help of hands,...: and became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan. 2:34-35). 2. What kind of stone is this? Listen to what Isaiah says: “Behold, I lay in... Zion e... a stone of stumbling and a stone of offense” (cf. Is. 8:14, 28:16): and “whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Rom. 9:33). But not only Isaiah speaks about this stone, but David also prophesies: “the stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner: this - from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Ps. 117:22-23). What kind of corner has become that which connects two walls; and this Stone has connected the New and Old Testaments, two nations from the Gentiles and from the Jews, why "this is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes," not in the eyes of everyone, but in the eyes of us who believe. Jews and Greeks are preserved through one Stone, then most of all let what has been said come to your mind. But, of course, someone may ask: where are any of the Jews among us? And those who are from the Jews, where were they from? Where was Andrew from? Jerusalem? First of all, from the Jews, then from the Hellenes. When those who were among them believed, having the hope of godliness, then a rod of iron came and scattered those who remained in unbelief, for “Thou shalt smite them with a rod of iron; You will break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Ps. 2:9). Why “like a vessel... meager”? If clay falls while it is still wet, it is restored to its previous state; If a vessel is made and is already burned by fire and becomes a very dry clay shard, then after it is broken, it no longer allows restoration to its previous state. “I have preserved with a rod of iron, as I have crushed the vessels of the wicked.” Of course, Christ is born during the predominance of the kingdom of iron: the stone is cut off without the help of hands. Look at the consonant deeds and the same words: the stone crushed the image and ceased the existence of the kingdoms that existed on earth; became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, saw this dream; He forgot the dream so that he could not tell the magicians and so that, according to custom, he would not be deceived by them, having heard from them one thing instead of another. So, after a little time, Daniel himself sees the dream in a different way; however, it was not a dream, but a revelation of a vision. It seemed to him that he was by the sea; and Daniel says: “four great beasts came up out of the sea” (Dan.7:3). But quietly and little by little we will follow the image of the prophecy. “Arose,” he says, “four great beasts from the sea, unlike one another,” and, according to him, there is a very great difference between them. “The first is like a lioness, but he has the wings of an eagle” (Dan. 7:4). There you have gold, here a lioness; why here a lioness and there gold? There gold because of luxury and wealth; here a lioness because of the female sex and female tenderness, but nevertheless a beast. The first one is like a lioness. The second beast he saw was like a bear; and “stood on one side” (Dan. 7:5); there is silver, there is a bear, because of cruelty. The third beast, he says, I saw was a leopard 2 (Dan.7:6), the fastest beast. Since Alexander, king of Macedon, very quickly invaded the east, he is compared to a leopard. There is copper because of the euphony of the language of Hellas, here there is a leopard because of the very high speed of attack. He also talks about the fourth beast, but does not call it by name, but calls it terrible, very terrible beyond measure; “he has big iron teeth; he devours and crushes, and tramples the remains underfoot; he was different from all the former beasts that were before him (Dan.7:7); it was a terrible beast; the prophet did not say his name. Since this place of the prophecy should have been clear - the prophet attributed it to the Romans - so that this kingdom would not be desecrated, he leaves this beast without a name. When, he says, I saw this fourth beast, I was afraid and trembled, because he was very terrible and terrible: he trampled everything, crushed everything, devoured everything; He had unlimited dominion over everything - wherever he went, he subjugated it to his power. And what does the prophet say? Suddenly I saw a river of fire: “thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days sat down; ...thousands upon thousands served Him, and ten thousand thousand stood before Him” (Dan.7:9-10), the Ancient of Days. “The books were opened” (Dan.7:10), and “behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven and came to the Ancient of Days” (Dan.7:13). And what happened immediately? No longer animals, no longer the sea, no longer fear of the beast; but He accepted power and Himself began to reign unlimitedly: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away,” since His power is until the generation of generations (Dan. 7:14). “Here,” says the prophet, “is the end of the word” (Dan. 7:28). And the prophet thus sees four kingdoms, as befitted him, withdrawing from everyday affairs; the king, as befitted him, sees four kingdoms as if in gold and silver, and copper, and iron. If the king saw the kingdoms under the guise of beasts, and then Daniel interpreted it to him, it would be strange to say to him: you are the first beast, since it would seem offensive to the listener; but the king sees like a king, and the prophet sees the same in a different way. We have said this, beloved, not in vain, and it is not without reason that we have studied this ancient history, but in order for you to make sure that the kingdom of Augustus was glorified, was honored, was praised, was long-lasting, because under him Christ was born, and that man was so honored that even his name became a title of dignity. You should know that he reigned fifty-six years; when he was forty-two years old, Christ was born; consequently Christ was brought up during the fifteen years of his reign. Augustus is followed in order by Tiberius, and in the 18th year of the reign of Tiberius, Christ goes to the cross and suffers, and is resurrected, and ascends. Therefore, under Augustus He lived 15 years, under Tiberius 18. Jesus, during the reign of Tiberius Caesar, being 30 years old, revealed His deity to the disciples and preached, moreover, for three years; The Trinity is revered everywhere, therefore, having preached for three years, in the 18th year of Tiberius’s reign he goes to suffer, having fulfilled the dispensation in the flesh. 3. So, “in those days, so that we could restore that reading, a command came from Caesar Augustus to take a census of the whole earth” (Luke 2:1). This census is the clarification of affairs, the first revelation of the truth, so that the human race would not be in the dark: this is the first census. Have the prophets themselves been silent about this? Let’s make a digression into the Old Testament, examine the affairs of the Jews and the affairs of the Jews unbelief. I call for testimony David, a man worthy of trust, revered by the Jews, even if only one memory was made of him, worthy of faith in the eyes of the church. So, what does David say? These are the words of the prophet, and here are the deeds of the gospel: “This is the first writing... And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, no longer being from the house and fatherland of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was not idle” (“this census was the first, ... also went,” says (the gospel), “and Joseph from Galilee, from the city Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David, to enroll with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child” (Luke 2:2, 4-5) - because in marriages only conception occurs. mangers, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7) There is nothing simpler than this, nothing poorer than the birth of Jesus. Jesus became poor for our sakes, although He was rich; Mariam laid the Savior in a manger; there was nothing that could be spread over, nothing with which to hide; The Savior did not need this kind of care for Him and did not need external care, just as He was not conceived according to the law of nature. Service on the part of the Virgin was enough; He himself was the organizer of everything. Thus, says (Scripture), “she laid Him in a manger” and “in that country there were... shepherds who kept the night watch” (Luke 2:7–8). Matthew tells us that the magicians came; Luke says that “in that country there were... shepherds who kept the night watch”; there are magicians, there are shepherds. And an angel came to them, announcing great things: “I bring you good news of great joy, ... for today is born ... in the city of David the Savior” of the world (Luke 2:10-11). And when one angel spoke, the heavens were opened, and there appeared one harmonious singing of praise and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). Everything must be combined, heaven and earth come into unity, so that the lower becomes upper, so that there is peace for those who live far away and for those near. Therefore, shepherds listen to the good news. Why shepherds? Because we have gone astray like sheep, that is why a shepherd has come for the world - Christ Jesus, the Savior of the universe, and the shepherds for the Shepherd’s sake receive the joyful news, and - glory to God in the highest. People had to glorify and give thanks to the One who sent peace to earth, because people were freed from the enmity that was towards God. “There is good will in men”—it was necessary that what pertained to piety should seem good to people. So the shepherds, having received the good news and heard the word, saw the works; came to the cave; They did not see the bed, they did not see the bed, they did not see the preparation of the meal, but Miriam sitting and Joseph, and the child reclining. The Evangelist does not speak first of all about the father, but first speaks about Mariam, because she is truly a Mother; it is better to say: She herself is not a mother, since She did not give birth by nature, but conceived prenaturally. She did not know what was happening, but she was the Artist’s instrument. So they saw Miriam and Joseph and the child; Having heard the word, they saw the deeds themselves, were surprised, and were saved. The child, of course, lay there, patiently enduring the still imperfect development of the body and enduring its increase; and, just as an artist took and prepared an instrument so that, for example, a zither player would then use the zither, or an archer would then properly use a bow and arrow, so Jesus, entering into fellowship with everyone, grows little by little. Why not suddenly? Why didn’t you immediately become a perfect husband? He came to imitate our nature, to sanctify frailty through example. Of course, if He had come perfect in age, then the heretics would hasten to say: the Virgin did not give birth to Him, He did not accept mortality from our race. So, He was born of the Virgin, taking from the common frailty in order to sanctify Adam - His creation; and for this reason He grows little by little, and although he treats people like a man, being the Lord of nature, he lived sinlessly. Therefore, when you hear about Him - a child, then remember the prophecy of Isaiah, which he pronounced: “Unto us a child is born...; the government is upon His shoulder,...The Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father” (Isaiah 9:6). When you hear about the child, do not despise the name, but marvel at the love of God and marvel at the dispensation of salvation, so that you may become worthy of hearing the words of the Gospel, you, accompanied by faith, exercised by patience, emulated by godliness, perfected by love, made entirely intact in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom the Father, with the Holy Spirit, glory, power, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen. According to the synod.translation. – “you will amaze” Gr. " παρδαλις " "leopard, leopard"; in Slavic "lynx". Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “The ABC of Faith” This conversation in the Minya edition belongs to the category of Spuria, that is, unfoundedly attributed to St. I. Chrysostom. 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