Гимн 43. О богословии и о том, что сохранившие образ (Божий) попирают злые силы князя тьмы; прочие же, у которых жизнь проходит в страстях, находятся в его власти и царстве 328 .

Light – Father, light Son, light and Holy Spirit. Watch what you say, brother, be careful not to sin. For the three are one light, one not divided, But unified in three persons. For God is entirely undivided by nature, And a being truly above all essence. He is not divided by power, image, glory, or appearance, for He is all simple and is perceived (as) light. In Them the persons are one, the three hypostases are one, For three are in one, better yet three are one. These three are one power, three are one glory, Three – one nature, being and Divinity. They are the one Light, (which) enlightens the world, Not this visible world, let it not be, Because he did not know Him and cannot know Him This visible world, nor the friends of the world, For he who loves this world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4); But man whom He Himself created in the image In our own way and in our likeness, we call the world (κόσμον), Because he is adorned (κοσμεὶται) with virtues, dominates earthly (creatures), Just as He (Himself) has power over the universe, And reigns over passions - this is what is in the image - And conquers demons, the perpetrators of evil, Trampling on the great ancient dragon, Like an insignificant bird. And how - listen, child. This prince, fallen through deprivation of light, Immediately I found myself in darkness, and with everyone Together with him, those fallen from heaven (spirits) are in darkness, And in it, in the darkness, I say, he reigns over everyone Kept in it by demons and people. Every soul that does not see the light of life shining And day and night, he is tormented by him, Vulnerable, tormented, admired and bound, And is daily sought by arrows of pleasure, Although he imagines that he is resisting and not falling. But in the sweat of [the brow], with one great labor and feat She always wages an irreconcilable fight with him. Every soul that sees the Divine light, From whom he fell, despises him, And being illuminated by the impregnable Light itself, tramples this prince of darkness like leaves, Fallen to the ground from a tall tree; For he has strength and authority in darkness, In the light it becomes a completely dead corpse. When you hear about light, pay attention to what kind of light I am telling you about. Don't think I'm talking about this sunshine For in its light you see many people, Those who sin, like me, are terribly scourged, Falling and foaming in the middle of the day, And those invisibly suffering from evil spirits. And although the sun is shining, there is nothing more from it There is no benefit to those who are devoted to demons. So, I am not talking to you about the light of the sensual sun, Neither about the daytime, let it not be, not at all about the lamplight, Not about the light of many stars and the moon, Not at all about the radiance of visible beauty I explain to you that it entirely has this effect of light. For sensory lights illuminate and illuminate Only sensual eyes, allowing you to see Only sensual, not mental, of course. Therefore, all who see only the sensual, Blind by the intelligent eyes of the heart. Smart eyes of a smart heart And they should be illuminated with smart light. For if he who has the apple of his body withered away All is darkened and does not know where he is; How much more so is he whose soul's eye is blind, He will be darkened both in body and in action, And wouldn’t the spirit be almost dead? So, understand exactly what kind of light I am telling you about. For I am not speaking to you about faith, nor about doing works, Neither about repentance nor about fasting, of course, Neither about non-covetousness at all, nor about wisdom, nor about knowledge, Not even about science, because none of this is The light is not a reflection of the light that I tell you about; Neither outward reverence, nor appearance Humble and simple, for all these are deeds And the fulfillment of the commandments: if they are done well And they are fulfilled, as the Creator Himself commands, Tears flow in a variety of ways, (Which) are either useful or, on the contrary, harmful; For now, on their own, they are completely useless. Vigil is not, of course, only (the work of) monks, But in general, people busy with business. Women - weavers, goldsmiths and coppersmiths More awake than many monks. And that's why we say that none of these Virtuous deeds are not called light. Therefore, all actions collected into one And virtues, without exception, are not Divine light, For all human actions are far from him. However, these acts committed by us Called our light for those who live in evil, Instructing them also in goodness (Matthew 5:16); And the darkness that is within me and blinds me, It is a light for others and a light for those who see. And lest you think that I am telling you (something) incredible, Listen, I'll tell you the solution to the riddle: Suppose I fast for your sake, so that I may appear to those who are fasting, And although this trouble in my eyes is As if with a log, of course, stuck into them in the middle (Matthew 7: 3 – 5), But you are enlightened by seeing me (fasting), if you do not condemn me, But you completely condemn yourself as a glutton; For by this you are instructed to control the womb And you clearly learn to despise pleasure. (Or) also - dressed in thin and tattered (clothes) And walking everywhere in one tunic, I think Gain glory and praise from those who see me And to seem to them like someone else, a new apostle, And (although) this can be the cause of all harm for me And truly darkness and a thick cloud in my soul, But he enlightens and teaches those who see me Despise dress and wealth And dress in simple and rough clothes, Which is truly an apostolic robe. So are all other virtuous deeds The essence of action is outside the light, action without a ray. For being gathered together, as I said before, And united together, virtuous deeds - If (this) is possible in a person - Like a lamp without light. Indeed, just as coals alone cannot be called fire, Even (burning) coals, or firewood, So neither all faith, nor works, nor deeds, Neither the fulfillment of the commandments is worthy to be called fire, flame Or Divine light, for in reality they are not (light). But since they can perceive this fire, approach the light And to be kindled through an indescribable union, This serves as praise and glory for virtues. And for the sake of this, all asceticism and all deeds Committed by us, so that we, like a candle, partake Divine light, when the soul is like one wax, Everything is offered to the unapproachable light; Better yet, just as paper is dipped in wax, So the soul, fattened with all sorts of virtues, Everyone will be excited by him, as far as they can see, How much will it fit into your church? And then, enlightened, virtues, as having partaken Divine light, and they themselves are called light, Better yet, they too are light, having merged with the light; And (like) light, they enlighten the very soul and body And truly they shine, firstly, on the one who acquired (them), And then to everyone else who is in the darkness of life. Enlighten them, O Christ, with the All-Holy Spirit and make them heirs of the kingdom of heaven, With all Your saints now and forever. You might be interested in: