Conversation when Eutropius, found outside the church, was captured, and about gardens and scriptures, and on the words: “The queen stood at Your right hand” (Ps. 44:10)

“The conversation when Eutropius, found outside the church, was captured, and about gardens and scriptures, and on the words: “The queen has stood at Your right hand” (Ps. 44:10)” (17 chapters) was delivered by St. John Chrysostom, presumably in Constantinople. Most pathologists accept this homily as genuine, although not related to the work of Eutropius. It is assumed that the conversation is about the case of Comite John, the confidant of the Empress Eudoxia, who was deposed by the commander Gaina along with Saturninus and Aurelian in April 400. The saint refutes the false rumor that he betrayed the dignitary to the authorities, and says that the Church is not responsible for the one who left her: “When you seek refuge in the Church, then look not in the walls, but in (the disposition of) the soul, because the Church is not a wall and a roof, but faith and life. ...Do not say that he sought refuge and was betrayed; It was not the Church that left him, but he himself left the Church; He was not betrayed in the Church, but outside it.” In his speech, St. John speaks about the need to read the Holy Scriptures, about physical and spiritual beauty, about the insignificance of human affairs. He calls not to move away from the Church and to fear only one thing - sin: “If you have no sin, then let thousands of swords threaten you - God will save you. If you have sin, then even if you were in paradise, you will be cast out. Adam was in paradise and fell; Job was in the dungeon and was crowned.” The saint points out several paths of salvation, recalling that the Lord promises His faithful children a future resurrection, incorruption of the body, unity with the angels, rejoicing with the archangels, eternal and good life with Him. *The title of the work in Greek is `λδβλθυοτεΟτε τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἔξω εὑρεθες Εὐτρόπιος ἀπεσπάσθη. *The title of the work in Latin is Homilia de capto Eutropio. 1. The meadow is pleasant, the garden is pleasant, but reading the Divine Scriptures is much more pleasant. There are fading flowers, and here are blooming thoughts; there is the breath of zephyr, and here is the breath of the Spirit; there the thorn serves as a fence, but here God’s providence protects it; there - the singing of grasshoppers, and here - the speeches of the prophets; there is the pleasure of sight, and here the benefit of reading; the garden is in one place, and the Scriptures are in the universe; the garden is subject to the changes of the seasons, and the Scriptures, both in winter and summer, are decorated with leaves and laden with fruits. Let us be diligent in reading the Scriptures. If you listen to Scripture, then it removes despondency from you, gives pleasure, destroys anger, roots virtue, and does not allow you to suffer in a whirlwind of worries, like those overwhelmed by waves. The sea is raging, and you are sailing in silence: your pilot is reading the Scripture, and this rope is not torn apart by the temptation of circumstances. And the deeds themselves testify that I am not lying. These days the Church was besieged; The army came and threw fire from their eyes, but did not dry up the olive trees; the swords were drawn, but no one was wounded; the royal doors were crowded, but the Church remained safe; although war broke out here. Here they were looking for the escapee, but we stood by, not afraid of their fury. Why? We had a sure guarantee in the words: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). I call Church not only a place, but also morals, not the walls of the Church, but the laws of the Church. When you seek refuge in the Church, then look not in the walls, but in the (disposition of) the soul, because the Church is not a wall and a roof, but faith and life. Do not say that he who is betrayed by the Church is betrayed; if he had not left the Church, he would not have been betrayed. Do not say that he sought refuge and was betrayed; It was not the Church that left him, but he himself left the Church; He was not betrayed in the Church, but outside it. Why did he leave the Church? Did you want to be saved? Then you should have held fast to the altar; It is not the walls that cause danger here, but the providence of God. Were you a sinner? God does not reject you; He came: “to call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13). The harlot was saved when she touched His feet. Did you hear what you read today? I say this so that you never hesitate to come under the shelter of the Church. Stay in the Church and you will not be betrayed by the Church. If you run away from the Church, then the Church is not guilty. If you had been in it, the wolf would not have entered; and if you leave it, you will be captured by a beast, and this is not because of the fence, but because of your cowardice. There is nothing equal to the Church. Don't talk to me about walls and weapons; walls deteriorate over time, but the Church never grows old; walls are destroyed by barbarians, but churches are not defeated even by demons. And that these words are not boasting, deeds testify to this. How many people attacked the Church, and the attackers themselves died? And she rose higher than the heavens. Such is the greatness of the Church: when attacked, it conquers; when they plot against her, she overcomes; oppressed, she is glorified; receives wounds - does not become exhausted, among the fury of the waves, does not drown, does not suffer shipwreck in the gusts of a storm, is invincible in the struggle, invincible in battle. This war broke out - and the Church was crowned with new glory. You were present that day and saw how many weapons were raised, the fury of the army was stronger than fire, and we hurried to the royal palace. So what? By the grace of God, nothing troubled us. 2. I say this so that you too will imitate. Why weren't we embarrassed? Because we are not afraid of any real disasters. And what constitutes a disaster? Death? She is not a disaster, because through her we are more likely to reach a serene haven. Or deprivation of property? “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I will return” (Job 1:21). Or exile? “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it” (Psalm 23:1). Or slander? “Rejoice and be glad when they revile you, for great is your reward in heaven” (Matt. 5:11:12). I saw swords, and thought of heaven; expected death and thought about resurrection; saw earthly suffering, and counted heavenly rewards; looked at the intrigues and imagined a heavenly crown; the very goal of the struggle encouraged and consoled me. I was in danger, but it did not harm me, because only one thing is harmful - sin. Even if the whole universe tried to harm you, if you do not harm yourself, you will not suffer harm. There is only one betrayal - from conscience; do not betray your conscience, and no one will betray you. I was in danger, but I saw deeds, or better, I saw that my words became deeds, (that) my conversation, spoken in words, was preached in the square by deeds. What conversation? The one that I always repeated: “The grass dries up, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows on it” (Is. 40:7); the night passed and the day appeared; the shadow departed and the truth appeared; ascended to heaven and fell into the valley. The waves that rose high were pacified by human deeds. How? This was a lesson for us. And I said to myself: won’t the descendants come to their senses? Is it really possible that two days have not yet passed and the incident has been forgotten? But these memories are still alive! I'll say it again, I'll say it again. What's the use of it? Of course there are benefits. If not everyone hears, then half will hear; if half does not hear, then the third part; if not the third, then the fourth; if not a fourth, then ten people; if not ten, then five; if not five, then one; even if only one, I have a ready reward: “The grass dries up, the flower fades, the word of our God endures forever” (Is. 40:7:8). 3. Do you see the insignificance of human affairs? Do you see the fragility of power? Do you see that wealth, which I have always called a runaway slave, is not only a runaway slave, but also a murderer? It not only leaves those who have it, but also kills them; when they become attached to it, then it especially betrays. Why do you care about the wealth that is yours today and someone else's tomorrow? Why do you care about wealth that cannot be kept? Do you want to save it, do you want to keep it? Don't bury it, but give it into the hands of the poor. Wealth is like a wild beast: if it is held, it runs away, if it is squandered, it remains: “wasted” says the Scripture: “distributed to the poor; his righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 111:9). Spread it so it stays, don’t bury it so it doesn’t run away. Where is your wealth? – I would willingly ask those who left. I say this without offending - let it not be - without hurting wounds, but turning the shipwreck of others into a haven for you. When the warriors appeared, the swords flashed, when the city was engulfed in flames (of indignation), when the diadem had no power, when the purple was insulted, when everything was in a frenzy, then where was the wealth, where were the silver vessels, where were the silver beds? Where are the servants? They all ran away. Where are the eunuchs? They all fled. Where are your friends? They took off their masks. Where is home? They're locked. Where is the money? Their owner ran away. Where is the money itself? They are buried. Where is all this hidden? But haven’t I become heavy, have I become unbearable, constantly repeating that wealth betrays those who use it poorly? The time has come to show the truth of these words. Why do you hold back wealth that does not bring you any benefit during temptation? If it has power, then let it help you when you are in need; if then it runs away, then what use is it to you? The deeds themselves show this. What's the use of it? Sharp swords, threatening death, a frantic army, the expectation of such a thunderstorm: but wealth is nowhere to be found. Where did this runaway slave go? He himself prepared all this for you and runs away in times of need. Many people condemn me, constantly repeating that I attack the rich, just as they always attack the poor. I attack the rich, but not the rich in general, but those who make bad use of wealth. I always say that I do not blame the rich man, but the robber. Another thing is a rich man and another thing is a robber; another – sufficient and another – selfish. Distinguish between objects and do not mix what should not be mixed. Are you rich? I don't interfere. Are you a robber? I condemn. Do you own yours? Use it. Are you stealing someone else's property? I am not silent. Do you want to stone me? I am ready to shed my blood just to stop your sin. I don't care about hate, I don't care about enmity; I only care about one thing - the success of my listeners. And the rich are my children, and the poor are my children; the same womb produced both, and both were born due to the same illnesses. Therefore, when you oppress the poor, I blame you; Moreover, you do not harm the poor man so much as you harm yourself, because the poor man does not receive any important damage - he suffers only a monetary loss - and you suffer harm in your soul. Whoever wants, let him strike me; whoever wants, let him stone me; whoever wants, let him hate me; evil intentions serve as a guarantee of crowns for me, and according to the number of wounds, I expect rewards. 4. So, I am not afraid of malicious intent; I am afraid of only one thing - sin. If only no one convicts me of sin, then let the whole universe be at enmity against me; this enmity makes me more glorious. This is what I want to teach you too. (Do not be afraid of the malicious intent of a strong man, but be afraid of the power of sin. Man will not harm you unless you strike yourself. If you have no sin, then let thousands of swords threaten you, God will save you. If you have sin, then even if you were in paradise, you will be cast out. Adam was in paradise - and fell; Job was in the dungeon - and was crowned. What benefit did paradise bring to him, and what harm did it cause гноище? Против того никто не злоумышлял, и он пал; а против этого – дьявол, и он увенчан. Не отнял ли у него дьявол имущества? Но не отнял благочестия. Не лишил ли его детей? Но не поколебал веры. Не растерзал ли его тела? Но не нашел сокровища. Не вооружил ли его жену? Но не поверг воина. Не пускал ли в него стрелы и копья? Но он не получил ран. Придвинул орудия, but he did not shake the tower; he made waves, but did not sink the ship. Keep this law, I exhort you, and I touch your feet, if not with my hand, then with my thought, and I shed tears. Obey this law and no one will harm you. Never please a rich man; never consider anyone unhappy except those in sin; Make him happy who is in righteousness. It is not the property of things, but the spiritual disposition of people that makes them both. Never be afraid of swords unless your conscience accuses you; never be afraid in the struggle, if your conscience is clear.) Where are those who departed, tell me? Didn't everyone bow down to them? Did not all who had power tremble before them more than others? Were they not the ones to please? But sin came and everything was overthrown; sycophants became judges, flatterers became executioners; those who kissed the hands themselves dragged him (Eutropius) out of the church; Whoever kissed your hand yesterday is an enemy today. Why? Because yesterday I loved you insincerely. The time has come and the masks are revealed. Didn't you kiss his hands yesterday, calling him savior and patron and benefactor? Wasn't it you who came up with thousands of praises? Why are you blaming today? Yesterday a praiser, and today an accuser? Yesterday you praised, and today you make accusations? What kind of change? What kind of transformation? 5. But I am not like that: I became the defender of the one who plotted against me. I suffered many disasters, and did not take revenge, because I imitate my Lord, who on the cross said: “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34) I say this so that you do not become infected with the suspicion of evil people. How many changes have happened since I became the leader of this city, and no one is improving! By saying: no one, I do not condemn everyone; let it not be; Of course, it cannot be that this fat field, having received seeds, would not produce fruit! But I am insatiable, I want not just a few, but everyone. Even if one remains lost, I also perish and do not hesitate to imitate that shepherd who had ninety-nine sheep and followed one that was lost (Luke 15:4). How long is the money? How long will silver last? How long is the gold? How long will the libations of wine last? How long will the servants caress? How long until the cup is crowned? How long are satanic feasts serving the will of the devil? Don't you know that real life is a journey? Are you a citizen? You are a traveler. Did you understand what I said? You are not a citizen, but a traveler and wanderer. Don’t say: I have such and such a city, and I have such and such. No one has a city; city ​​- grief; and the present is the way. And we travel every day as long as nature moves. Is there anyone who would save money along the way? Is there anyone who would bury gold along the way? When you enter the hotel, tell me, do you decorate this hotel? No, but you eat and drink and hurry to get out. Real life, there is a hotel. We came and spend real life here; Let us try to go out with good hope; We will not leave anything here, so as not to destroy it there. When you enter the hotel, what do you say to the servant? - Watch where you put things; Don’t leave anything here so that nothing goes missing, not a single little thing, not a single trifle, so you can bring it all home to us. So in this life we ​​will look at life as at a hotel, and we will not leave anything here in the hotel, but we will take everything to the fatherland. You are a traveler and a wanderer: or - better - you are less than a traveler. How is this? I'll explain now. The traveler knows when he enters the hotel and when he leaves, because he has the power to both leave and enter; and I, entering the hotel, i.e. in real life, I don’t know when I’ll get out. Sometimes I prepare food for a long time, and the Lord suddenly calls out to me: “You fool!” this night your soul will be taken from you; who will get what you have prepared? "(Luke 12:20) The way out is unknown, the hold is fragile, there are thousands of rapids, waves on all sides. Why are you carried away by this specter of madness? Why, having abandoned the truth, do you resort to shadows? 6. This I say and will not stop saying, arousing constant sadness and soothing wounds, and not for those who have fallen, but for those who have stood. Those withdrew and received an end, and those who resisted became safer through their misfortune. What are you going to tell us to do? Do one thing: hate money and love your life. Reject your property, I don’t say everything, but separate out what is superfluous. Do not covet what belongs to others, do not rob a widow, do not steal from an orphan, do not take possession of their home. I'm not talking about faces, but about deeds. If someone’s conscience reproaches him, then he himself is to blame, and not my word. Why do you kidnap where there is envy? Steal where the crown is. Abduct not the earth, but the sky: “The kingdom of heaven is taken by force, and those who use force take it” (Matthew 11:12). Why do you steal from a poor person who complains? Steal from Christ who praises. Do you see the madness and fury? Do you steal from the poor who has little? Christ says: “Steal from Me, and I will thank you for stealing; steal my kingdom and take it by force “If you wanted to steal the kingdom of the earth, or - better - if you wanted to even think about it, you would be punished; and if you don’t steal the kingdom of heaven, you will be punished. Where there is worldly things, there is envy; and where there is spirituality, there is love. Reflect on this every day, so that if you see someone again after two days rushing in a chariot, dressed in silk clothes, arrogant, you will not be embarrassed or alarmed. Do not praise the rich, but only the one who lives righteously. Do not judge the poor, but learn to have a correct and not deceptive judgment about things. Do not move away from the Church; because there is nothing stronger than the Church. Your hope is the Church, your salvation is the Church, your refuge is the Church. It is higher than the sky, wider than the earth. She never grows old, but always blooms. Therefore, Scripture, expressing its firmness and steadfastness, calls it a mountain; for her purity, he calls her a virgin; for her magnificence he calls her a queen; for her relationship with God she calls her daughter; for having many children, he calls her, who was barren, giving birth to seven: many names to represent her nobility! Just as her Lord has many names: he is called Father, and he is called Path, and he is called Life, and he is called Light, and he is called Arm, and he is called Purification, and he is called Foundation, and he is called Door, and he is called sinless, and he is called Treasure, and he is called Lord, and he is called God, and he is called Son, and he is called the Only Begotten, and he is called the image of God, and he is called the image of God—is one name enough to express everything? - no, but there are many names for this purpose, so that we know at least a little about God - and so the Church is called by many names. She is called a virgin, although previously she was a harlot, because this is the wonderful work of the Bridegroom, that He took the harlot and made her a virgin. Extraordinary and wonderful things! Marriage for us destroys virginity, marriage for God restores virginity. With us, someone who was a virgin, having entered into marriage, is no longer a virgin; in Christ, the one who was a harlot, having entered into marriage, becomes a virgin. 7. Let this one thing be explained by the heretic who examines the birth on high and says: How did the Father give birth? Tell him: how did the Church, which was a harlot, become a virgin? And how did the one who gave birth remain a virgin? “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God,” says Paul: “because I have betrothed you to one husband, that I might present you to Christ as a pure virgin” (2 Cor. 11:2). O wisdom and understanding! “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God.” What does this mean? “I am jealous,” he says. Are you jealous, you spiritual one? “Jealous”, speaks like “God”. And God is jealous? Yes, he is jealous, not with passion, but with love and desire. “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God.” Shall I tell you how jealous God is? He saw that the earth was being corrupted by demons, and gave his Son. Of course, the words used in relation to God do not have the same meaning; for example, God is jealous, God is angry, God repents, God hates. These are human words, but their meaning must be God-appropriate. Is God jealous? “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God.” Is God Angry? " God! Do not rebuke me in Your wrath” (Psalm 6:2). “Isn’t God even asleep? Arise, that you are sleeping, Lord! "(Psalm 43:24)? Does God Repent? “He repented that he had made man” (Gen. 6:7) Does God Hate? “I cannot endure the New Moon and Saturdays and festival gatherings” (Is. 1:14). But don’t pay attention to the simplicity of the expressions, but understand their godly meaning. God is jealous because he loves. God is angry not with passion, but with retribution and punishment. God sleeps, but not with sleep, but with long-suffering. Accept expressions carefully. So when you hear that God gives birth, understand not cutting off, but consubstantial ones. Truly, God borrowed many expressions from us, and we from Him, so that it would serve to our honor. 8. Did you understand what I said? Listen carefully, beloved. There are divine names and human names. He took from me, and He himself gave to me. Give me yours, He says, and take mine. You have need of Mine; It is not I who need, but you; since My essence is incorruptible, and you are a man clothed with flesh, then you are looking for carnal expressions, so that you, clothed in flesh, can understand through the words known to you the concepts that exceed you. What names did He take from me, and what names did He give me? He Himself is God, and He called me god; there is the nature of the subject, but here it is an honorable name. “I said: you are gods and you are all sons of the Most High” (Psalm 81:6). Here are words, and there is real nature. He called me god because I am honored. He Himself called Himself man and the son of man, He called Himself a way and a door, He called Himself a stone. He took these names from me, and gave them to me from himself. Why was it called a path? So that you may know that through Him we ascend to the Father. Why was it called a stone? So that you know the truth and steadfastness of faith. Why was it called a foundation? So that you know that He bears everything. Why was it called a root? So that you know that in Him we grow. Why did you call yourself a shepherd? Because He shepherds us. Why was he called a sheep? Because He sacrificed Himself for us and became purification. Why was it called life? Because He raised us when we were dead. Why was it called light? Because he delivered us from darkness. Why was he called a muscle? Because He is consubstantial with the Father. Why did he call himself a word? Because He was born from the Father: just as my word comes from my soul, so the Son was born from the Father. Why was it called a robe? Because I put on Him when I was baptized. Why was it called a meal? Because I taste Him, partaking of the mysteries. Why was it called home? Because I live in Him. Why did it call itself a monastery? Because we make Him a church. Why did you call yourself the groom? Because He chose me to be His bride. Why did you call yourself blameless? Because he accepted me, a virgin. Why was he called the Lord? Because I am His servant. 9 . Look how the Church, as I said, is called a bride, sometimes a daughter, sometimes a virgin, sometimes a slave, sometimes a queen, sometimes barren, sometimes a mountain, sometimes paradise, sometimes fruitful, sometimes a lily, sometimes a source, and by all sorts of names. Only, hearing this, do not imagine, I exhort you, anything sensual, but elevate your mind; remember that it cannot be sensual. For example: a mountain is not the same as a maiden, a maiden is not the same as a bride, a queen is not the same as a slave; and the Church is all of this. Why? Because it is not in the body, but in the soul; it would not fit in the body, but in the soul there is a great sea. “The queen has stood at Your right hand” (Psalm 44:10). Queen? Depressed, pale, how did you become a queen? And where did she go? This queen stood tall. How? Because the King became a slave; He wasn't like that, but then he became. Remember the properties of the Divine and think about the works of His economy; remember who He was and who He became for you, and do not confuse things, and do not turn acts of love into a pretext for blasphemy. He was high and she was low; tall not by place, but by nature. He is a Being incorruptible, unchangeable, immortal, incomprehensible to the mind, invisible, immense, always existing as He is, superior to angels, higher than the powers above, conquering reason, surpassing the mind, one who cannot be seen, but in whom one can only believe. The angels see Him and tremble, the cherubim close their wings before Him - everyone is in fear. He looks at the earth and it wavers; threatens the sea and it dries up; He brought forth rivers from the desert, He set the mountains by measure and the hills by weight. How can I express it, how can I present it? His greatness has no limits, His wisdom has no number: “How incomprehensible are His destinies and unsearchable His ways” (Rom. 11:33). So great and so high is He, if one can say this without fear: so great and so high! But what should I do? I am a man and I express myself in human terms; I speak a mortal tongue and ask forgiveness from the Lord. Of course, I do not use such expressions out of pride, but because I have no others. However, I do not stop at the poverty of expressions, but I rise higher on the wings of my mind. So great and so lofty: I say this so that you, without stopping at expressions and poverty of words, learn to do the same yourself. And why should you be surprised that I do this, when He himself does this, wanting to present something that exceeds human properties? Since He talks with people, He uses human images; Although they are insufficient to express the subject of speech and cannot present it in its entirety, they are sufficient for the weakness of the listeners. 10. Strengthen your attention and do not be burdened by a long speech. When He appears, it is not what He is, it is not His revealed essence that appears (no one has seen God as He is, because when He appears with condescension, the cherubim tremble; the mountains descend and smoke; the sea descends and dries up; the sky descends and shakes; and if He appeared without condescension, who would bear it?) - He is not what He is, but what He can see gazing; why sometimes He appears old, sometimes new, sometimes in fire, sometimes in wind, sometimes in water, sometimes in weapons, without changing His essence, but changing appearance in relation to different circumstances. Likewise, when He wants to say something about Himself, He uses human images. For example: (The Lord) went up into the mountain - “and was transfigured before them: and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2). He revealed, the Scripture says, a little of the Divinity, showed the disciples the God dwelling in Him, “and was transfigured before them.” Consider these words carefully. “And He was transfigured before them,” it says, and His clothes shone like light, and His face like the sun. I said: He is so great and so high, and added: have mercy on me, Lord; (however, I do not insist on this expression, but I am perplexed and do not know another corresponding expression). And now I want to impress upon you that I learned this from Scripture. The Evangelist wanted to show His brilliance and said: “It shone.” Tell me: how did He shine? Very light. How exactly? "How's the sun? » Yes Why? Because I don’t know of another brighter luminary. And He was “white as the light.” Why, “white as the light”? Because I don't know of any other whiter substance. But that He did not only shine like that is clear from what follows. “The disciples fell on their faces” (Matthew 17:6). If He had shone like the sun, then the disciples would not have fallen: after all, they looked at the sun every day and yet did not fall; It is clear that he shone brighter than the sun and light, and the disciples, unable to bear this brilliance, fell. 11. Why, tell me, evangelist, did He shine brighter than the sun, and you say: “like the sun”? Yes; Wanting to make this light known to you, I do not know another greater luminary, I do not know another image that dominates among the luminaries. So I said, but so that you do not stop at the poverty of expression, I pointed out to you the fall of the disciples: they fell to the ground, struck by amazement. “Arise” (v. 7), said the Lord, and raised them up, but they were dejected. They did not endure the excessive shine, but their eyes became heavy, so much so that the light that appeared was greater than the sun. And the evangelist said: “like the sun,” because this luminary, being familiar to us, surpasses all other luminaries. Or, as I said, so great and so high showed favor to the harlot. Did God show favor to the harlot? Yes, to the harlot, i.e. to our nature. Does God favor a harlot? And a person, if he strives for a harlot, is condemned: but God shows favor to the harlot in order to make the harlot a virgin; Thus, a person’s desire serves to destroy the one to whom he strives; God's favor serves for the salvation of the one with whom He favors. So great and so high favors a harlot? For what? In order to become her groom. What is He doing? He does not send any of the slaves to her, does not send any angel, archangel, or seraphim to the harlot, but he himself comes with his love. Again, hearing about love, you do not understand sensual love. Discriminately extract thoughts from expressions, like a beautiful bee that sits on flowers and extracts honey while flies past the grass. He favors the harlot and what does he do? He does not raise her to grief because He did not want to raise the harlot to heaven, but he himself condescends. Since she could not ascend to heaven, He Himself descended to earth. He comes to a harlot and is not ashamed; enters her hut; looks at her drunk. And how does it come? Not by His revealed being, but becomes what the harlot was, not ghostly, but by nature becomes such that when she sees Him, she would not be afraid, would not withdraw, would not run away. He comes to a harlot and becomes a man. How is it done? It begins in the womb, grows little by little and goes through the path of its growth. Who is growing? The Builder, and not the Divinity itself, the image of a servant, and not the face of the Lord, my flesh, and not His essence; It grows little by little and communicates between people. He finds the one he came to covered with wounds, wild, and burdened with demons. And what does it do? He approaches her; and she saw and ran away. He calls the Magi. What are you afraid of? I am not a judge, but a doctor: “For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47). Immediately He calls the Magi. Oh, extraordinary and wondrous things! The Magi are the firstborn. He who holds the universe is placed in a manger, and the ruler of everything is wrapped in swaddling clothes; a church is built and God moves in. The Magi come and immediately worship; a publican comes and becomes an evangelist; a harlot comes and becomes a virgin; a Canaanite woman comes and is received with kindness. It is characteristic of a lover not to demand an account of sins, but to forgive iniquities and sins. What is He doing? He accepts her and betroths her to Himself. What does it give her? Betrothal pledge. Which? [Seal] of the Holy Spirit. “He who confirmed us,” says Paul, “has established us with you in Christ and anointed us, who also sealed us and gave the deposit of the Spirit into our hearts” (2 Cor. 1:21:22). He gives her the Spirit. Zetam says: Did I not plant you in paradise? She answers: yes. How did you fall from there? The devil came and took me out of heaven. You were planted in paradise, and the devil drove you out of there; Behold, I will make you dwell in me, and I myself will begin to carry you. How? The devil dare not approach me; I do not raise you up to heaven, but here there is more heaven; I will carry you in the very Lord of heaven. The shepherd carries it, and the wolf doesn’t start anymore, or - better - let him start. The Lord bears our nature, the devil comes and is amazed. I planted you, He says, in Myself; That’s why He said: “I am the vine, and you are the branches” (John 15:5); so He planted it in Himself. What's next? But I am a sinner, the man said, I am evil spirits. Don’t worry about it, the Lord answers, I am a doctor. I know my vessel, I know how corrupt it is; It was previously made of clay and deteriorated; I will correct him by bathing him again in existence and consigning him to the fire. Look: God took a finger from the earth and created man, formed him; the devil came and perverted it; God himself came, took man again, restored him, renewed him in baptism, and did not leave his body made of clay, but made him “poor.” He committed the clay to the fire of the Spirit: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11); baptizes with water to renew, and with fire to strengthen. Predicting this from ancient times, the prophet said: “You will crush them like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9). He did not say [simply]: “like clay vessels,” as they are in use, but “a potter’s vessel,” that is, exactly as they are while working on them on the potter’s bench; [the difference is that] in a potter’s work they are [simply] clay, but in ours they are “potter’s” vessels 1). So the prophet uses the expression: “You will break them like a potter’s vessel,” providing for the renewal of [fallen man] through baptism. He restores, speaks and renews. I descend into [the water of] baptism, and my form is transformed, the fire of the Spirit renews it, and it becomes potted. That these are not empty words, listen to Job: “He made me like clay” (Job 10:9). And Paul says: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor. 4:7). But look at the hardness of this pottery vessel, which was not burned by fire, but by the Spirit. What is this pottery vessel? “Five times the Jews gave me forty [strikes] minus one, three times they beat me with sticks, once they stoned me” and the pottery vessel did not break; “he spent a night and a day in the depths [of the sea]”, was in the depths, and the potted vessel did not fall apart; “was shipwrecked”, but the treasure did not perish; the ship was in the water and the cargo was floating (2 Cor. 11:24:25). "But treasure" What treasure? Influx of the Spirit, justification, sanctification, redemption. What kind of treasure, tell me? “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, arise and walk. - Aeneas! “Jesus Christ heals you,” he turned and said to the spirit: “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her” (Acts 3:6, 9:34,16:18). 12. Do you see a treasure more brilliant than the royal treasures? Can royal pearls do what the words of the apostles did? Place thousands of diadems on a dead man, and he will not rise; but one word of the apostle was spoken, and it restored the rebellious nature and returned it to its former state. "But this is a treasure." Oh, a treasure that not only preserves, but also preserves the house in which it is located! Did you understand what I said? The kings and rulers of the earth, having treasures, prepare great houses, walls, bars, doors, guards, castles to preserve the treasure; but Christ did differently: He put his treasure not in a stone, but in an earthen vessel. If this treasure is great, then why the weak vessel? It is precisely because the vessel is weak that the treasure is great: it is not the vessel that stores this treasure, but it stores the vessel. I suppose, He said, a treasure, and who can steal it? The devil came, the universe came, thousands came, and did not steal the treasure; the vessel was struck with blows, but the treasure was not given; he was drowned in the sea, but it did not sink; he died, but the treasure remains. This is [what treasure] God gave [to the harlot as] a pledge [of betrothal]. Where are those who blaspheme the dignity of the Spirit? Listen: “He who established us with you in Christ, who sealed us and gave us the pledge of the Spirit” (2 Cor. 1:21:22). You all know that the pledge is a small part of everything; but listen. Someone comes to sell a house for a high price and says: give me a deposit so that I can be sure. Someone comes to take a wife, agrees on a dowry and other things and says: give me a deposit. Do you hear: in the sale of a slave there is a deposit, and in all contracts there is a deposit. So Christ, entering into a covenant with us, because He wanted to take me as a bride, assigns me a dowry, not in money, but in blood. He assigns me as a dowry a reward of goods, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man” (1 Cor. 2:9). Thus, He assigned to me as a dowry immortality, praise with the angels, deliverance from death, freedom from sin, the inheritance of the kingdom - how great is the wealth! – justification, sanctification, deliverance from the present, obtaining the future. A great dowry has been given to me! Listen with attention; look what He does. He came to take the harlot—that’s what I call her because she was unclean—so that you might know the love of the Bridegroom. He came, took me, assigned me a dowry, said: I give you my wealth. Which? Are you saying you have lost paradise? Get it. He says, have you lost your beauty? Get it; get it all. But this dowry was not given to me here. 13. Listen to why He foretells this dowry. He assigned to me as a dowry the resurrection of the body and incorruption. Resurrection does not always follow incorruption; these are two separate phenomena: many rose again and died again, for example Lazarus and the bodies of the saints. But here it is not so, but He promises resurrection, incorruption, rejoicing with the angels, the meeting of the Son in the clouds - “and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17), - deliverance from death, freedom from sin, the destruction of death. How does it feel? “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man; eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Are you giving me blessings that I don’t know? Yes, He says; here I enter into an alliance with you; here you love Me. Why don't you give me a dowry here? This will be when you come to My Father, when you enter the royal palace. After all, now I have come to you, and not you to me? And I came not for you to stay here, but to take you and ascend. Don't look for a dowry here; all in hope, all in faith. Are you really not going to give me anything here? Take the pledge, He says, to trust me regarding the future; accept the deposit, accept the betrothal gifts. That is why Paul says: “I have betrothed you” (2 Cor. 11:2). God has given us real blessings, namely, betrothal gifts; the present is a betrothal gift, a pledge; and all the dowry is there. How? I'll explain now. Here I grow old, but there I don’t grow old; I die here, but I don’t die there; here I grieve, but there I do not grieve; here there is poverty, and illness, and intrigues, but there is nothing like that; here there is darkness and light, and there there is only light; here oppression, and there freedom; here is illness, and there is health; here is life that has an end, and there is life that has no end: here is sin, and there is truth, but there is no sin; here it’s envy, but there’s nothing like it. Let me say it. Wait, so that your fellow servants may be saved, wait. “Who sealed us and gave us a pledge” (2 Cor. 1:22). What is the deposit? The Holy Spirit, a spiritual gift. I'm talking about the Spirit. He gave the apostles a seal, saying: accept and give to everyone. Is this seal divided? Distributed and not divided; distributed and not destroyed. This is a spiritual gift. Peter received the Holy Spirit, and Paul also received it; walked around the universe, delivered sinners from their sins, healed the lame, clothed the naked, raised the dead, cleansed lepers, stopped the mouth of the devil, cast out demons, talked with God, planted the Church, destroyed churches, overthrew altars, destroyed vices, planted virtue, made people angels. 14. All this happened to us: the pledge filled the entire universe. When I say: the whole universe, I mean the whole earth, which is illuminated by the sun, sea, islands, mountains, valleys and hills. Pavel flew around her like a bird, conquering with his lips alone. A tent maker, he worked as a cutter and tanned leather; and yet this craft did not serve as an obstacle to his virtue: the tent maker turned out to be stronger than demons, the ineloquent one was wiser than philosophers. Why? He received a pledge, had a seal and carried it with him. Everyone saw that the King took upon himself our nature; the demon saw and retreated; he saw this pledge, and trembled and moved away; looking at the apostolic robes, he fled. Oh, the power of the Spirit! He gave such power not only to the soul and body, but also to clothing, and not only to clothing, but also to shadows. Peter passed by, and his shadow drove away illnesses, drove away demons, and raised the dead. Paul walked around the world, destroying the thorns of wickedness and sowing the seeds of godliness, like an excellent farmer, using the plow of teaching. And who did he go to? To the Thracians, Scythians, Indians, Moors, Sardinians, Goths, to wild creatures, and he converted everyone. How? By the power of the pledge. Where did you get sufficient funds from? From the grace of the Spirit. He was simple, naked, barefoot, but God gave him the “betrothal of the Spirit.” That’s why He said: “And whoever is capable of this; not because we ourselves are able to think anything from ourselves, as if from ourselves, but our ability is from God, He gave us the ability to be ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit” (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5:6) Look what the Spirit did: He found the earth filled with demons - And made it heaven. Don’t imagine the present, but turn your thoughts to what was then. Then there was mourning, then there were altars everywhere, smoke everywhere, stench, adultery everywhere, idolatry, sacrifices, triumphant demons everywhere, strongholds of the devil, crowned fornication everywhere; and Paul was alone. How was it not sunk? How was he not torn to pieces? How did you open your mouth? He came to Thebaid and captured all the inhabitants; entered the royal palace, and made the king a disciple; entered the court, and the judge said to him: “You are not convincing me to become a Christian,” the judge became a disciple (Acts 26:28); entered the prison, and turned the prison guard; arrived on the island of barbarians, and made the viper a teacher; came to the Roman people and won over the Senate to his side. He walked along rivers, walked through deserted places throughout the universe; neither the earth nor the sea remained alien to his deeds. The Lord gave him a “betrothal seal”, gave him a pledge and said: I give this to you now, and I promise the rest. That is why the prophet says: “The queen appeared at Your right hand in robes of gold” (Ps. 44:10). He is not talking about clothing, but about virtue. Also elsewhere Scripture says: “How come you came here not wearing a wedding garment” (Matthew 22:12)? He is not talking about clothing, of course, but about adultery, about vile and unclean activities. Just as unclean clothes signify sin, so golden ones signify virtue. But these clothes are royal; He himself gave her these clothes; after all, she was naked, naked and ugly. “The queen appeared at Your right hand, dressed in robes of gold.” He did not speak about clothing, but about virtue; did not say: “in gold.” Note: this very expression contains a very high meaning. The prophet did not say: “in gold,” but “in gilded.” Listen with attention. Gold clothes are all gold; and the gilded one is partly made of gold and partly made of silk. Why did he say that the bride wears clothes not gold, but gilded? Look carefully. He means here church life, and it is diverse: we are not all the same in life, but one strives in virginity, another in widowhood, another in another form of piety. The clothing of the Church is the life of the Church. 15. Since our Lord knew that if He showed one path, many would be careless, He showed different paths. Can't you follow the path of virginity? Follow the path of monogamy. Can't through monogamy? Go through at least a second marriage. Can't follow the path of chastity? Walk the path of mercy. Can't follow the path of mercy? Follow the path of fasting. Can't you? Go with this. Can't do this? Go to that. That is why the prophet showed not gold, but gilded clothing. She is both silk and purple and gold. Can't you be gold? Be silky; I accept you, only in clothes. In this sense, Paul also says: “Does anyone build on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw” (1 Cor. 3:12). Can't you be a gem? Be gold. Can't be gold? Be silver, if only “on the basis.” And in another place: “There is another glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another of the stars” (1 Cor. 15:41). Can't you be the sun? Be the moon. Can't you be the moon? Be a star. Can't be a great star? Be at least small, if only in heaven. Can't be a virgin? Live in a marriage with abstinence, as long as it is in the Church. Can't be non-covetous? Be merciful, if only in the Church, if only in clothes, if only under the leadership of the queen. Clothes “gilded” – various clothes. I do not block your path; Due to the abundance of virtues, the Tsar’s economy became convenient. "In gilded vestments, pre-decorated." Her clothes are varied; and, if you want, delve into the depth of the saying. Look at the gilded clothes. Here some are monastics, others live in honest marriages, slightly behind them; some are monogamous, others are in blossoming widowhood. What is heaven for? Why is it diverse? He had various flowers and trees and a lot of jewelry. There are many stars, but one sun; there are many kinds of life, but one heaven; there are many churches, but one heaven; There are many churches, but there is only one mother. One is the body, another is the eyes, another is the finger, but all are one; and the small and the great and the lesser are one. So a virgin needs a married wife: she came from marriage, and therefore cannot despise marriage. And the virgin is the root of marriage. Everything is connected, the small with the great, and the great with the small. “The queen stood at Your right hand in golden robes” (Ps. 44:10). Finally: “listen to Daughter.” And she immediately became a wife? Yes: but, of course, there is nothing sensual here. He married her like a wife, loves her like a daughter, cares for her like a slave, protects her like a virgin, protects her like paradise, cherishes her like his body, provides for her like a head, grows her like a root, shepherds her like a shepherd, marries her like a groom, forgives like a propitiatory sacrifice, tempers her like a sheep, preserves her beauty like a groom, cares for her. her as a husband. There are many thoughts here for us to take advantage of, albeit a small part of this economy. "Hear Daughter and See"; pay attention to marriage and spiritual matters. "Hear Daughter." Previously she was the daughter of demons, the daughter of the earth, unworthy of the earth, but now she has become the daughter of the King. This is what the one who loved her wanted. He who loves does not distinguish appearance; love does not look at ugliness; That is why it is called love (έρως), because it often loves the ugly. Christ did the same: He saw the ugly thing, because it could not be called beautiful, loved it, and made it new, without filth or blemish. O Bridegroom, who turns the ugliness of the bride into beauty! "Hear Daughter and see." Uses two expressions: “Hear” and “see”; both depend on you, one on the eyes and the other on the ears. Since her dowry was hearing, if some penetrate deeper, then let them wait for the weakest; I praise you too, those who have succeeded, I forgive also those who come behind - just as her dowry was in hearing (what does it mean: in hearing? In faith, - because “Faith therefore comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17); in faith, and not in possession, not in experience itself), then I said that God divided the dowry into two parts: one he gave her instead of a deposit, and the other he promised her in the future. What did he give her? He granted her forgiveness of sins, pardon from punishment, justification, sanctification, atonement, the body of the Lord, a divine, spiritual meal, and the resurrection of the dead. The apostles had all this. Thus He gave one thing and promised another; and the one was in experience and possession, and the other in hope and faith. Listen again: what did He give? Baptism, sacrifice. This is from experience. And look what He promised? Resurrection, incorruption of the body, unity with the angels, rejoicing with the archangels, life with Him, incorruptible life, blessings “But, as it is written: eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). 16. You understand what has been said: do not forget this; That's what I'm trying to make sure you understand. The dowry of this bride is divided into two parts, into the present and the future, into the visible and the audible, into the given and expected by faith, into the experienced and anticipated, into the blessings of this present life and the blessings of the resurrection. You see one thing and hear about another. So, look what He says to her, so that she does not think that she received only this, although this too was great, inexpressible and beyond all imagination. “Hear, daughter and see”; Listen to this, and look at this, so as not to say: again in hope, again in faith, again in the future? And “look”: I give one thing, and I promise another, then in hope, and receive this as a pledge, accept this as a deposit, take this as a guarantee. I promise you a kingdom; believe based on the present, believe Me. Do you promise me a kingdom? Yes; I have given you more, - the Lord of the kingdom: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Rom. 8:32)? Do you grant the resurrection of bodies? Yes; I gave you more. What? Deliverance from sins. Why more? Because sin gave birth to death. I killed this father: shall I not kill my daughter? I have dried up the root: shall I not destroy the fruit? “Hear, daughter, and see.” What should I see? The dead are raised, the lepers are cleansed, the sea is tamed, the paralytic is strengthened, paradise is opened, the loaves are multiplied, sins are forgiven, the lame is made to leap, the thief becomes an inhabitant of paradise, the tax collector becomes an evangelist, the harlot becomes more honorable than a virgin. "Hear and see." Listen to this and look at this. In the present you can be convinced by deeds, and in the future I have given you a guarantee. It's even better. What do you say? All this is mine. “Hear, daughter, and see.” This is a dowry from God. What does the bride bring? Let's see. And you must bring: what will you bring so as not to be left without a dowry? What can I bring, she says, from altars, from smoke, from demons? What can I bring? What? Disposition and faith. “Hear, daughter, and see.” What kind of things do you want from me? forget your people." What kind of people? Demons, idols, smoke, stench, blood. “And forget your people and your father’s house” (Ps. 44:11). Leave your father and come to Me. I left my father and came to You: will you not leave your father? However, by this expression: “I left,” said about the Son, do not understand separation. I condescended, He says, according to the dispensation, and took on flesh. As a bride and groom, we need to leave our parents to match each other. “Hear, daughter, and see, and forget your people and your father’s house.” What will you give me if I forget? “And the King will desire your beauty” (Ps. 4412). The Lord will give you His love, and with it you will acquire everything that belongs to Him - if only you can understand what has been said - this is a subtle thought, and I want to curb the tongue of the Jews. However, increase your attention; whether anyone is listening or not listening, I cultivate the land, I work with the plow. “Hear, daughter, and see, and forget your people and your father’s house, and the King will desire your beauty.” The Jew here means sensual beauty, not spiritual, but physical. 17. Pay attention, we are exploring what physical beauty is and what spiritual beauty is. There is a soul, there is a body - two essences: there is physical beauty, and there is spiritual beauty. What is physical beauty? Thick eyebrows, cheerful eyes, rosy cheeks, pink lips, high neck, wavy hair, long fingers, slender stature, blooming whiteness. Does this bodily beauty come from nature or from will? It is known that from nature. Listen to the opinions of philosophers: does this beauty, the beauty of the face, eyes, hair, brow, come from nature or from will? Obviously from nature. An ugly person, even if she wears countless ornaments, cannot become beautiful in body, because natural properties are constant, defined, unchangeable. A beautiful woman always remains beautiful, even if she does not use any decoration, and an ugly woman cannot make herself beautiful, just as a beautiful woman cannot make herself ugly. Why? Because these properties are from nature. Do you see bodily beauty? Let us turn inside the soul: before it the body is a slave before the mistress. Let's turn to the soul. Look at this beauty, or - better - listen to it, because you cannot see it - it is invisible. Listen to this beauty. So, what is spiritual beauty? Chastity, modesty, mercy, love, friendliness, goodwill, obedience to God, keeping the law, truth, contrition of heart. These are the beauties of the soul. They are not from nature, but from will. He who does not have them can acquire them, but he who has them, if he is careless, loses them. Just as I said about the body that an ugly soul cannot become beautiful, so I will say the opposite about the soul: an ugly soul can become beautiful. What was uglier than the soul of Paul when he was a blasphemer and a persecutor, and what is more beautiful than him when he said: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7)? What is more uglier than the soul of the thief, and what is more beautiful than him when he heard: “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)? What is uglier than the publican when he stole, and what is more noble than him when he pronounced his judgment? You see that you cannot change the beauty of the body, since it is not from the will, but from nature. And the goodness of the soul is acquired from us by will. This is where we get the definition of the subject. Which? That spiritual beauty comes from obedience to God. Even if an ugly soul obeys God, it will erase its ugliness and become beautiful. "Saul, Saul! that you persecute Me; n said: Who are you, Lord? The Lord said: I am Jesus” (Acts 9:4:5). Saul obeyed, and obedience made his ugly soul beautiful. The Lord said to the publican: “Follow Me” (Matt. 9:9; Luke 5:27). The publican stood up and became an apostle, the ugly soul became beautiful. FROM what? From obedience. So the Lord said to the fishermen: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19), and by obedience their souls became beautiful. Let's see what beauty He is talking about here. “Hear, daughter, and see, and forget your people and your father’s house, and the King will desire your beauty.” Who desires beauty? Soulful. What is this beauty? That she forgot. “Hear,” He says, “and forget.” It depends on the will. “Hear,” He said. The ugly one listens, and her bodily ugliness is not destroyed. And say to the sinner: “Hear,” and if he listens, then see what kindness there will be. Therefore, since the bride’s ugliness was unnatural, but arbitrary, due to the fact that she never listened to God and violated the commandment, He heals her in accordance with this. She is ugly not by nature, but by will; and she became comely through obedience. “Hear, daughter, and see, and forget your people and your father’s house, and the King will desire your beauty.” And so that you know that he is not talking about anything sensual, and, hearing about beauty, he did not mean eyes, nose, mouth, or neck, but piety, faith, love, generally internal, He added: “All the glory of the daughter of the King is within” (Psalm 44:14). For all this, let us thank God, the Giver: to Him alone belongs glory, honor, and power forever and ever. Amen. Clay…. Made from soft clay; This is what the vessels look like when the potter is working on them, hence the name “potter”. “Potted” - baked clay = - The expression “potter’s vessels” characterizes the people of the Old Testament, and the words of the Apostle about “potter’s vessels” refer to people renewed by the grace of baptism.