Слово 6, об умных сущностях

Just as a ray of sunshine from a cloudless sky, meeting with visible clouds still reflecting it, from which it rains, spreads a multi-colored rainbow and the entire surrounding ether shines in continuous and gradually weakening circles, so the nature of lights is maintained in existence by the fact that the highest Light with its rays constantly illuminates the lower minds. And the source of lights - Light - is nameless, incomprehensible, flees from the speed of the mind approaching It, always anticipates every thought, so that in our desires we constantly stretch to a new height. And the lights, secondary after the Trinity, which has royal glory, are luminous, invisible Angels. They walk freely around the great throne; because they are fast-moving minds, flames and divine spirits, quickly transported through the air. They diligently serve high commands. They are simple, spiritual, imbued with light, do not originate from the flesh (because all flesh barely thickens before it is destroyed) and do not enter into the flesh, but remain as they were created. I would like to say that they are not at all overcome by evil, but I will restrain the too greyhound rushing horse, pulling the reins of my mind. Of these, some stand before the great God, others support the whole world with their assistance; and each was given special authority from the King: to have people, cities and entire nations under supervision, and even to control the verbal sacrifices of earth-born people. But what will you decide on, my spirit? The mind comes into awe as it approaches the heavenly beauties; A dark cloud appeared before me, and I was perplexed whether to extend my word forward or stop it. A traveler came to a steep river and wanted to cross it: but suddenly his thought wavered; he hesitates in his crossing, struggles for a long time in his heart, standing on the shore: either necessity has put courage into him, or fear has bound his determination; more than once he put his foot into the water and more than once retreated back; however, after all the struggle, need defeated fear. So I, approaching the invisible Divinity, on the one hand, about those who stand before the pure All-Tsar and are filled with light, I am afraid to say that they are accessible to sin, so that through this I would not pave the way for many to vice; and, on the other hand, I am afraid to portray unchanging kindness in my song, since I also see the prince of evil gone astray. For it was not the nature of the Good One to plant evil in us and to arouse rebellion and hatred in those whom he loves. It also cannot be assumed that evil is equal in power to good and has a special nature, either subsequently occurring, or without beginning, like the Tsar Himself. But when I was perplexed about this, God gave me the following thought: The first pure nature of the Divine is always unchangeable and is never many instead of one. For is there anything more perfect than the Divine, into which It could deviate? And multiplicity is the deviation of a being from itself. The second place is occupied by the great servants of the highest Light, as close to the original Kindness as the ether is to the sun. And thirdly, we follow – air. And one nature of God is completely unchangeable; The angelic nature is inflexible towards sin; and we, the third generation, are complaisant, and the further we are from God, the closer we are to sin. Therefore, the very first one who is luminous, having exalted himself highly, when, distinguished by predominant glory, he dreamed of the royal honor of the great God, destroyed his luminosity, fell here with dishonor, and, wanting to be a god, all became darkness. Although he is light by nature, he nevertheless fell to the low earth. Since then, he has pursued with hatred those who are led by prudence, and, irritated by his loss, blocks the heavenly path for everyone; he does not want God’s creation to approach the Divine, from Whom he has fallen, but he wants people to participate with him in sin and darkness. And this envious person cast out from paradise those who desired to have glory equal to God. Thus, for his exaltation, he is cast out from his heavenly circle; but he was not the only one who fell. And since his insolence destroyed him; then he carried away many into the fall, namely, all those whom he taught to sin, like an attacker who persuaded the royal army to treason; carried away - out of envy of the godly host of the One who reigns on high and out of the desire to reign over many evil ones. Since then, supermundane evils, demons, followers of the evil king have appeared in large numbers - murderers, weak, dark, ominous ghosts of the night, liars, impudent, teachers of sins, vagabonds, wine-drinkers, laugh-lovers, laughers, soothsayers, two-tonguers, lovers of quarrels, bloodsuckers, the underworld, hiding, shameless, teachers of magic. When they come, they beckon to themselves and hate those who give themselves to them. They are both night and light together, to catch, now openly, now by deception. Such is this army, such is the leader! But Christ did not destroy it with a single movement of will, with which he created the whole world and with which he could destroy it too if he wanted; because it is difficult to hide from an angry God. However, He did not leave my enemy free, but allowed him to be at the same time among the good and the evil and raised a cruel mutual warfare between them, so that just as an enemy would be subjected to terrible shame here, fighting with those who are weaker than him, so those who strive in virtue would always have their glory, being purified in life, like gold in a crucible. Subsequently, perhaps soon, when the substance burns up and fiery retribution comes, this indomitable one, humbled in advance by his tormented servants, will suffer punishment. For such is the punishment of the one who gave birth to evil! This is what the Spirit taught me about the luminosity of the angels, both the first and the last. But here too she found a measure. And this measure is God. As someone approaches the King, he becomes a light, and with enlightenment he gains glory. You might be interested in: