Письмо XLIV. Тому же

Having once, through the law and the prophets, established for people, in His goodness, the manifold law of mutual love, God, at the end of times, Himself, out of love for mankind, fulfilled it, becoming a man. He loved us not only as Himself, but also more than Himself, just as the very greatness of the mystery clearly teaches those who piously accepted the confession of faith. Since He, for the sake of us, who were subject to suffering for being subject to passions, by His will became subject to suffering and death, it is clear to anyone who feels this good deed even to the slightest degree that He loved us - the people for whom He voluntarily gave Himself up to death - more than Himself and, being pre-good, to His natural glory - I dare say so! - according to the economy, in a timely manner, He chose to reproach Himself for our sake. Indeed, truly, it is an exceeding honor to God, and an increase in glory, and a manifestation and revelation of glory that surpasses natural glory, is the return of the lost to Him. And nothing is so akin to His glory as the salvation of people, for the sake of which there was all the teaching, and all the mystery, and that which is more mysterious than all the secrets is God Himself, for the sake of love, by accepting intelligently and rationally animated flesh, He became truly human and accepted into Himself without changing the passions of human nature, in order to save man and give us, people, a model of virtue and a living image of benevolence and love for Himself and for each other, which could persuade everyone to mutual retribution. This means that since both the ancient and the new law of God commands that we love each other as much as we were beloved (Lev. 19:13, John 13:34), and consider each other’s misfortunes so much that [377] out of mutual loving disposition towards each other we change our moods according to the commandment that commands: “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15), I pray my God-protected and blessed master, who strives for one single goal: with equally great love for mankind, to follow Jesus, “who passed through the heavens” (Heb. 4:14) - and is not connected by any family ties with this deceptive world and with the ruler of the world; Truly, this world is deceptive, constantly insidiously tempting to lust for perishable things and tenaciously captivating in earthly slavery the heirs of heavenly blessings who are free by nature, if they allow the seduction of pleasure and deception to take hold of them. Knowing, therefore, that my blessed master is striving for one, as I said, goal of salvation, I beg you to accept my other master, the most magnificent illustration, Mr. Theocharist 232, who will bring this insignificant letter of mine, and become everything for him when he has, according to God’s will - or rather, he and God have a need for help, as we wish that God and our neighbor should become everything for us, when what we need. He is a truly good man, and the abode of every righteous deed, and a true intercessor before God for my exile, and my devoted comforter in many constant and serious illnesses; and, to put it bluntly, he has the strength to help me and many others. “May the Lord grant him to find mercy from Him in that day” (2 Tim. 1:18), for for many he became a source of rest and consolation. Therefore, if I have found favor in the eyes of my blessed master, and he counts me among his beloved according to God, let him certainly take care of him with all diligence, not allowing him any offense, as much as is in his power. This is what the law of love prescribes, and the mystery of God’s indwelling of people in the flesh desires, so that he, returning with God’s help, will talk about the good deeds of my blessed master and his sincere zeal to help, and I would boast even more that such a master on earth was given to me by God - striving for every good deed [378] and the most sincere, quick intercessor of all those in need. God, the only good and philanthropic one (Ex. 34:6, Mark 10:18), for the sake of our salvation, who arranges everything savingly for everyone, may Himself take you, my lord, by the right hand, and lead you along the path of His righteousness, and worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom, who here virtuously received the gifts of Divine grace. May the God of all and our Lord Jesus Christ preserve our most pious and all-merciful sovereigns, and may he strengthen the power of their pious reign, and may he instill in their hearts good and peaceful thoughts about us, their humble servants. And I will also say more boldly - because pain makes me brave - may He fulfill this plea pleasing to God and forgive them for allowing them to recall, at least for a short time, the most blessed governor of this province, shining like a lamp in a dark place (2 Pet. 1:19), and delivering everyone in one way or another from the suffering of blindness - a God-loving, faithful, pious, virtuous, prudent, modest man, temperate, patient, meek, compassionate, merciful, nourishing the poor, caring for the elderly, protector of widows, patron of monks, non-covetous, loving the Church, in short - a friend of all, both the living and the dead, who surrounds the living with all kinds of love, and honors the dead with the beauty of tombstones, like Joseph of Arimathea - the Lord, who deigned to die for us in the flesh (Matthew 27:57), and in addition to all this, he is also a zealous champion of the right teaching, in agreement with the apostolic faith, and a preacher of a righteous life. And, briefly speaking, different people, each according to their own aspirations, care about different things on earth; George’s work and concern is caring for the sick, the elderly, and strangers, and feeding the poor, and monasteries, and burying wanderers, and protecting and feeding the great multitude of beggars and poor people scattered throughout the cities, and the radiance of philanthropy, extending beyond the boundaries of east and west, north and south. [379] And if this is so, then who, even if he has acquired any piety for himself, does not know what kind of favor of God is invoked on everyone by such godly deeds, which are always filled with desire for Him? And, in order not to cause trouble, I will keep silent about what happens, on the contrary, because of laziness in such matters. Who can measure the streams of tears that flowed from the eyes of all the inhabitants of this province at the departure of this man? when everyone surrounded him and pulled each one towards him, doing anything to prevent him from boarding the ship, emitting plaintive moans, as if demanding, according to his gender and age: some - the feeder of poverty, others - the manager of abundance; widows - an intercessor, orphans - a father, the poor - a beggar-lover, and a stranger - a stranger, and brothers - a brotherly lover, the sick - a doctor, the unfortunate - a comforter, the old - a staff, and everyone in general - the one who becomes all things to all men, in order to win all (1 Cor. 9:22) and for the sake of all he himself becomes the acquisition of God. Therefore, according to the mercy given to you by God, my blessed lord, in whatever ways you know and through whom you know, if you can force him to return again, know that you will make a great sacrifice to God, and you will show true goodwill to our God-given sovereigns and ensure indestructible security. There is no more devoted slave of their pious reign than he. Be healthy, much-loved and devoted servant of God, dearest to me of all. In Min's edition here θεοχάριστον, i.e. the adjective - “pleasing to God.” P. Sherwood (Sherwood R. An Annotated Date-List of the Works of Maximus the Confessor. Rome, 1952. P. 49–50) analyzed this passage from Letter XLIV in the context of Letter XLV and Letter B of St. Maxim, from which he concluded that there should be a proper name here - Theocharist (meaning the same Theocharist who is mentioned in Letter B). A. M. Shufrin kindly pointed this out to us. – Approx. resp. ed. You might be interested in: