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In praise of the holy hieromartyr Cyprian 162, said on the next day of his memory upon the return of Gregory from the village We have almost forgotten Cyprian, and this (what a loss!) was allowed by you, who respect the Saint most of all, honoring him with annual honors and celebrations. But Cyprian should be honored even by those who forget otherwise, since the most perfect men require special memory, of whom the memory is both pious and useful. We will repay the debt with interest if we turn out to be quite prudent, and not completely meager and poor. However, no matter how great our poverty, I am sure that this generous and wise man in everything will forgive us both the delay and poverty. Let us only give thanks that he did not remain with us in complete oblivion, for this is worthy of thanksgiving. And with thanksgiving I must begin, so that my return may serve you for good and according to the good measures of God, who distributes and disposes of everything in weight and measure (Wisdom 11:21), becomes a return from silence to the word, from the lover of martyrs 163 to the martyrs, from bodily rest to a spiritual feast. I wanted to be with you, children; and I am sure that you equally desired my presence. You see my fatherly good nature; I speak about my own, I testify about your desire. Having been separated from each other for enough time to discover mutual love and, as painters believe in paintings, to experience it from afar, we are together again. Even short-term contact with people who are disposed to love and imitate God’s love for mankind provides a lot of food for memory. Can we really, the disciples of Christ, who for us exhausted Himself into the form of a servant and gathered to Himself those who had become strangers from heaven, will we not hold each other in love and embrace each other, will we not observe “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), which constitutes the mystery, or the primacy of the Law and the Prophets? Of course, it is already one of the first blessings for us that we so quickly came into each other’s arms; because jealousy cannot be delayed, and whoever is tormented by the desire for a date, one day seems like a lifetime. But another blessing that is much more important for us is that we did not come after the holiday, we were not left without the secret teaching of the martyrs and the pleasure and peace that this provided. But I admit that I am slower than anyone else to do everything else, and I cast aside all desires as soon as I began to serve Christ. I am not captivated by anything pleasant and desirable for others - neither long-term and fickle wealth, nor voluptuousness and satiety - the mother of lust, nor soft and magnificent clothing, nor the shine and attractiveness of precious stones, nor the charm of the ear, nor the delicacy of the sense of smell, nor the infuriating applause of the people and spectacles, which I have long since ceded to the hunters before them; Nor does everything that goes back to the first taste that destroyed us captivate. On the contrary, I blame the great stupidity of those who allow such things to prevail over them, destroy the nobility of their souls by attachment to petty things and cling to the fleeting as to something permanent. I love Christ, I know no measure in this love and I boast in it, I rejoice in the glory of the martyrs, I admire the blood of ascetics, the exploits and victories of others are crowns for me: I anticipate so much glory for myself, so I assimilate my merits! Of course, all martyrs must be honored, for all of them one must readily open one’s mouth and ears and thoughts in order to willingly say and hear something about them, and everything else must be considered lower than their feat. For although many things serve as a guide for us to a better life and much edify us in virtue - reason, and the Law, and the Prophets, and the Apostles, and the very sufferings of Christ, that first Martyr, who ascended to the cross and took me with Him to nail my sin, triumph over the serpent, sanctify the tree, defeat voluptuousness, save Adam and restore the fallen image; however, with so many and such excellent teachers, the martyrs are no less instructive for us - these verbal burnt offerings, perfect sacrifices, pleasant offerings, this preaching of the truth, the denunciation of lies, the fulfillment of the spiritually understood Law, the destruction of error, the persecution of vice, the drowning of sin, the cleansing of the world. But above all other martyrs (martyrs, of course, have no jealousy towards martyrs), you are venerable to me both in name and in deed, Cyprian! I am especially amazed at your virtue, I admire the memory of you, I become inspired by pleasure, in some way I participate in your martyrdom, I join in your feat and am completely transported to you, attracted, perhaps, by the affinity for the gift of words, with which you surpass others as much as verbal beings surpass the nature of dumb ones (and between those united by whatever, love, I don’t know why, settles as well as between those related by blood). But perhaps I am also attracted by your sudden and extraordinary change, which is more amazing than any word or example. For the sun is pleasant after the cloud with which it was previously covered; spring is pleasant after the gloom of winter; pleasant is the smiling silence, the smooth sea playing off the coast, after the mutiny of the winds and the storm of the waves. This Cyprian (let those who know him remember with pleasure, and those who do not know hear one of our most beautiful legends, which serves to the general praise of Christians!) - this Cyprian - a glorious name once for the Carthaginians, and now for the whole Universe - was noble in wealth, famous in power, famous in family (if only having a seat and presiding in the Senate serves as the most convincing proof of nobility). He was the flower of youth, an exemplary work of nature, the height of learning in terms of information in philosophy and in knowledge of other sciences, moreover, in any part, so that the variety of information in him was more amazing than the height of each knowledge, and experience in each information was more amazing than general curiosity; or (I will say more clearly) he surpassed some in diversity, others in the height of knowledge, some in both, and all in everything. His learning is evidenced by the numerous and excellent works that he wrote in our favor 164 after, through the love of God, Who creates and transforms everything into the best, he changed the way of teaching and subordinated foolishness to the Word. And therefore I don’t know how to use the word and find a way - and not prolong it excessively, completely beyond the limits of time, if I remember everything about Cyprian, and not do great harm to those present here, if something else is kept silent. Therefore, in order to maintain the middle and save time and satisfy the desires of the listeners, it is necessary, in my opinion, to do the following: everything else should be left to those who know, so that they can pass it on to those who do not know, if there are any, and so that both, those who teach and those who are taught, receive equal benefit (because the mere memory of Cyprian sanctifies, and the word about him most strongly encourages virtue); I myself, for the sake of brevity, can recall one or two such events from his life, which it is impossible to keep silent about, even if I wanted to. But I will also mention Cyprian’s previous life, how he achieved salvation, how he was called and how a change for the better took place in him. It is very unnoble and low to think that it would be insulting for an ascetic to remind him of his unpraiseworthy deeds. In this case, the great Paul would not have deserved our praise, and the publican Matthew would have belonged to the most vicious people, as well as Cyprian. But for this purpose Paul mentions his former persecutions and how the object of his zeal has changed, in order to glorify the Benefactor more by comparing both. Matvey, listing his disciples, gives himself the title of publican, like some kind of title. And Cyprian, in a long word 165, puts his previous vicious life to shame, so that he can offer this, that is, his confession, as a gift to God, and show many of those turning from a vicious life the path of good hope. So, look what his vices were, how numerous and great. This later disciple of Christ was a servant of demons, a cruel persecutor - this great champion of the truth. Both in word and deed, as strong in both, we outraged our path, which later turned out to be even stronger in word and deed for the benefit of Christians. And what an evil was the sorcery added to this, for which Cyprian was especially famous! And how much more terrible is that insatiability of the flesh, which can drive even the wise to madness in other ways, which, carrying away the mind, like a young unbridled horse, forces them to contrive for worse! But my word concerns the most important thing. And let no one indulge in voluptuousness, seeing Cyprian’s former life, but let everyone be wise by his last deeds! There was a maiden 166, of noble birth and good manners (let virgins listen and rejoice in this, or, better said, those living in marriage, if they are chaste and love chastity; because my story will be an adornment for both!), a maiden of very beautiful appearance; but to my word about her, may the divine David add his song, who says: “All the glory of the daughter of the King is within” (Ps. 44:14). This was the true bride of Christ, hidden beauty, an animated statue, an undefiled shrine, an inaccessible sanctuary, “a forbidden garden, a sealed fountain” (Song. 4:12 - let Solomon sing something!) - a source preserved by Christ alone. The great Cyprian was captivated by this maiden, with all her caution and modesty, I don’t know where or how; for the lustful eye is the most arrogant and insatiable of feelings, even touching the inviolable. Cyprian was not only captivated, but also attempted to seduce him. What stupidity if he hoped to deprive such a virgin of her chastity! And even more so, what shamelessness in both the one who dares to do such an act and the one who persuades him to dare! But at first he crawled into paradise to the primordial, he stands among the angels, demanding Job for himself, he finally dares to approach the Master Himself, from Whom he must be defeated and killed, even tempts the One who “is not tempted” (James 1:13), as if he hoped to overcome Him too, because he considered the revealed Divinity to be the second Adam and did not know that, approaching humanity, he was trying to tempt God. What is strange if he tempts the holy soul and pure flesh through Cyprian? Such was the tempter, and not one of the old women capable of such things is used as an assistant, but one of the flesh-loving and voluptuous demons; because the apostate and envious forces, trying to have many accomplices in their downfall, are very quick to provide services of this kind, and the reward for assistance in temptation is sacrifices and libations, as well as communication through blood and fat, for such favors should also be rewards. But what does the maiden do and what does she do to oppose the builder of evil when she senses danger and enters into evil intent? Pure and godlike souls very soon recognize the one who is attempting against them, no matter how cunning or varied he is in his attacks. The girl, having rejected all other methods, resorts to God, and chooses her Groom as a protector from hateful passion, who delivered Susanna from the cruel elders, and saved Thekla from the merciless seeker of her love and the even more merciless father. Who is this groom? – Christ, who rebukes the spirits (Matthew 17:18) and supports the drowning (Matthew 14:31), and walks on the sea (Matthew 14:26), and betrays a legion of spirits to the depths (Luke 8:32), abducts the righteous from the den, given to be devoured by lions, and by lifting up his hands overcomes the beasts (Dan.14), saves the fugitive Prophet, swallowed up by a whale and in his belly he preserved the faith (John 2), preserves the Assyrian youths in the flames, having cooled the burning wood through an angel, and added a fourth to the three youths (Dan.3). Recalling all this and much more in her prayers, and praying to the Virgin Mary to help the distressed maiden, she also adds another means - fasting and sleeping on the bare ground, so that the beauty that attracted the intrigues to her would fade, and through this, food would be taken away from the flame, that which serves to kindle the passions would be exhausted, and at the same time, so that God would have mercy on her humility. For God is not pleased by any service but by suffering, and He rewards tears with mercy. I know that you are impatiently awaiting the continuation of the story; for you are worried about the girl, and no less about the one who is inflamed with love for her, fearing that passion will not have bad consequences for both. But have high hopes! Love itself makes the way for faith; he who is flaming with love, discouraging the virgin for himself, is himself discouraging Christ; The fire of passion fades, but the fire of truth flares up. But why and how? – Here begins the most pleasant part of my story. The virgin wins and the demon is defeated. The tempter comes to the one possessed by passion, informs him of his defeat, is ridiculed for this, is saddened by contempt and takes revenge on the despiser. And what is vengeance? The demon, ridiculed by his recent servant, approaches him himself, so that one evil can be driven out by another, and a new demon will serve as a healing for the previous one. He was repelled by the maiden, like a battering weapon by a solid and unshakable wall, driven away by word and prayer; but he still fights with the one who sent him to the virgin, turning (a wonderful thing!) on the one who sent him, and crushes him like a second Saul (1 Sam. 16:14). What does this madman do during passion, and the prudent one when he is tormented by a demon? He seeks liberation from evil and finds it; for necessity makes one inventive. Where does liberation come from? Like Saul to the harp and jingling of David, so he resorts to the God of the virgin, approaches her Shepherd, and just as demonic blows cleanse him of passion, so faith in Christ is cleansed from the evil spirit, and he is inflamed with new love. The shepherd did not believe him for a long time and sent him away; because it seemed incredible and strange that Cyprian would finally become a Christian, even if everyone became Christians. But Cyprian converted, and the proof of his conversion is obvious. He brings magical books to the congregation, confesses his foolishness, shames the uselessness of this unclean treasure, kindles a bright flame with them, and with fire destroys long-term charm, which could not contribute to the carnal flame. Thus he rejects the demons and becomes close to God! O miracle of grace, by which, through impure love and an evil spirit, Cyprian finds God and becomes a sacred sheep of the sacred flock! And as someone told me, after many prayers, so that in order to purify his former pride he would wisely learn humility, at first he was a doorkeeper of the church; and then he became a Shepherd, even the best and most experienced of the Shepherds. He takes precedence not only in the Church of Carthage and in Africa, which from that time and through him is famous to this day, but in the entire West, and almost in the East itself, in the countries of the south and north, where his fame has penetrated. So Cyprian became ours. And this was done by the God of signs and wonders, He created Joseph, who was sold because of the hatred of his brothers, through his wife he showed chastity, he glorified him in the distribution of bread, he made him wise in dreams, so that in a foreign country they would believe him, so that Pharaoh would honor him, so that he would become the father of many thousands of people, for whom Egypt suffers executions, for whom the sea is split, bread is rained down, the sun stops, to whom the earth is given as an inheritance. promised! For wisdom lays the foundations of great things in advance and achieves the opposite by the opposite, so that they will marvel at it all the more. To complete the word of praise, these Cyprian virtues would be enough, but those that I still have to talk about are so numerous and great that even if what has been said so far did not serve as praise, then one subsequent one would be enough for Cyprian to become above all. However, not to mention his contempt for money, nor his trampling of pride, nor about curbing the flesh and purity in contrast to his former unbridledness, nor about majesty and at the same time condescension in treatment, and he was equally far from baseness and arrogance, nor about sleeping on the bare ground and about vigils, which he began to learn late and in which he greatly surpassed those who were accustomed to it before him, nor about jealousy in edification in words, so that he taught all morality, purified ignorant concepts of dogmas, beautified the lives of men, and raised the dogma of the Divinity of the initial and royal Trinity, Which some dissect, and others merge, to its original purity, remaining within the limits of pious unity and numbering - having kept silent about all this, due to the vastness of the subject, I will conclude my word with the end of my life Cyprian. Decius raged against us, he was plotting all sorts of torments, and in part he had already committed various cruelties, and in others he intended to commit them. With equal effort he tried to overcome the Christians and surpass his former persecutors; better to say, he wanted to overcome and conquer either all Christians or Cyprian alone. For the more well-known to him was the excellent piety and glory of this man, the more glorious and brilliant the victory seemed if he prevailed over him. And in one case, he would have subjugated Christians only to his will, and in the other, he would have triumphed over wisdom itself and the gift of speech. Why, he considered the best trick to be first to make the tongue silent, then to drag along those who adhered to it, voiceless and silent. Such reasoning was unfair and wicked, but it was not entirely unfounded, if we take into account his desire and enterprise. The case itself showed this. For when the valiant Cyprian, like the blows of waves in the sea, firmly and courageously repelled all temptations and attempts, and was finally condemned by Decius to exile; then he did not limit himself to himself, did not rejoice at his salvation from death and did not begin to reason that it was better to keep his life safe, at least to suffer dishonor, or better - to endanger his soul, but to remain silent and indifferently watch how others suffer from the circumstances of the time, without having a mentor who would encourage them to exploits; because the word can give no little courage to those entering the field of virtue. Therefore, Cyprian, while absent in body, was present with the ascetics in spirit and shared their exploits; and when he cannot help with a living word, he helps with writings. How? From afar he leads the army of Christ, writes exhortations, praises piety, and with his messages one produces almost more martyrs than others personally, being together with those who struggle. He urges those in need for a good deed to prefer neither fatherland, nor clan, nor wealth, nor dominion, nor anything earthly to the truth and rewards that are prepared for virtue in heaven. It suggests that the most profitable purchase is to acquire the heavenly kingdom with drops of blood and receive an eternity of glory for temporary benefits. For for exalted souls there is only one fatherland - Spiritual Jerusalem, and not the local cities, which are confined within narrow boundaries and often change their inhabitants; one celebrity of the race is to keep within oneself the image of God and to become like the Prototype, as far as possible for prisoners of the flesh and capable of accepting only some streams of goodness; one dominion is to prevail over the evil one, not to give up souls into captivity and not to yield victory in exploits for piety, when vice fights with virtue, the world with the world, the collapsing world with the constant world, the inexorable ascetic with the courageous ascetics, and Belial arms himself against Christ. And therefore he urged not to be afraid of swords, to consider fire as coolness, to imagine the most fierce animals as gentle, to recognize hunger as the highest pleasure, to turn away your eyes from the tears, lamentations and lamentations of relatives, as from the bait of the evil one, as from an obstacle to the heavenly procession. For this is how it is fitting for courageous and noble souls and a chaste mind to behave. And the one who spoke and wrote this serves as a close example of all this, and “counted all things as rubbish, that he might win Christ” (Phil. 3:8). Thus reasoning and arming himself with words for feat, Cyprian produced many ascetics. What reward does he receive for this? Generous and lofty: after all those sent by him to Christ, he himself becomes a martyr and, wounded in the head with a sword, adds this crown to many sufferings. This is how this man is brought, this is how he is presented to Christ, strong in wickedness, but much stronger in piety - this great Cyprian, both persecutor and crown-bearer, no less wonderful in his conversion as in his virtue. For it is not so much important to maintain the image of goodness as to renew the fear of God in oneself. The first is a matter of skill, and the last is a matter of good will; and we find many examples of the former, but few examples of the latter. But what is this among his miracles? Let's say a few more words in honor of the ascetic. Although such was the life of this husband and such a feat, however, when he ends his life (if it is permissible to say so, and it would not be better to call his death a migration to God, or the fulfillment of a desire, or release from bonds, or laying down a burden), something miraculous and corresponding to what preceded it happens. The name of Cyprian was great for everyone, not only for Christians, but even for our opponents (for valor is respected by everyone); However, his body remained unknown, and such a treasure was hidden, for a long time, in the possession of one of the wives, ardent with piety. I don’t know whether it was because God honored the God-loving wife with this, allowing her to keep the martyr, or because He was pleased to reveal our love if we, deprived of holy relics, were not indifferent to such a loss. When the God of the martyrs did not tolerate that the common good should be the property of one, and that, by mercy to the wife, everyone should suffer the loss, then he announces the body of Cyprian through revelation, and again grants this honor to one worthy woman, so that the wives may also receive sanctification. Just as Christ was born before and announced to the disciples after His resurrection from the dead through women, so now one wife pointed out Cyprian, and the other passed on this last kindness of his for the common benefit. This is how someone who should not be hidden becomes the center of attention; So it is not allowed for him to remain in obscurity due to his wisdom even after he has become higher and more perfect than the honors that are given to the body. That's all I could say about Cyprian, and I don't know if I should add anything to it. For, even if I had extended the word for a long time, what I said would not have corresponded to both his virtues and the concept that everyone has about this man. And until now, what was proposed was said only in order to give him some due honor. But in order for something to be brought from you as a gift to the martyr, you yourself must fill in everything else, such as: casting out demons, healing diseases, foreseeing the future. All this, with the help of faith, can even be given by the ashes of Cyprian, as those who have experienced this know, from whom the memory of the miracle has been passed on to us, and will be passed on to future times. Better to say, bring something more than this, more befitting of his true admirers, namely: exhaustion of the body, ascent of the heart, removal from vice, return to virtue. Virgins, bring the exhaustion of the flesh, wives - the splendor of virtue more than the body, young men - courage in the fight against passions, elders - prudence, rulers - good laws, military leaders - meekness, distinguished by the gift of speech - a good word. I will say something for my own people: priests, bring the secret teaching, the worldly - humility, those who cry - consolation, the prosperous - fear, the rich - alms, the poor - gratitude, and all - readiness to resist the evil and cruel persecutor, so that he can neither openly overthrow, nor secretly offend, nor fight like darkness, nor seduce and drag into the abyss of destruction like an Angel of light. It is dangerous to be captive to the eyes, to suffer the sting of the tongue, to allow our ears to deceive us, our boiling anger to ignite, our taste to deteriorate, our sense of touch to be softened; It is dangerous to turn the weapon of salvation into a weapon of death. We must, having protected ourselves with the “shield of faith, stand against the wiles” of the devil (Eph. 6:11, 16), so that, having won the victory with Christ, having accomplished the feat with the martyrs, we can hear his great voice: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you” (Matthew 25:34), where is the abode of all those who rejoice, where is the voice of those celebrating, “the voice of joy” ( Ps.41:5), the most perfect and purest illumination of the Divine, acceptable to us now only in fortune telling and shadows. Cyprian, who is being honored, enjoys this more than all the other honors combined. While still on earth, he taught this wisdom through his life; This same wisdom, after its departure, prescribes to everyone through my word, which you should not leave without respect at all, if you value at all his patience and exploits for the truth, as well as me, who fulfills his instructions. These are the fruits of my words to you, divine and sacred head! This is your reward for your words and for your feat - not the olive branch of the Olympics, not this child's play - Delphic apples, not the Isthmian pine, not the Nemean seline 167 from the "umbrella" family, with which in ancient times honor was given to poor young men, but a word that is most fitting for the servants of the Word! And if it is worthy of your deeds and words, then this too is the gift of the Word. You mercifully look down on me from above, rule my word and life, shepherd your sacred flock or be my co-shepherd, guide it, as far as possible, for the better, drive away from it restless wolves and everyone chasing syllables and expressions, give us the most perfect and bright illumination of the Holy Trinity, which you stand now, which we worship, which we glorify, before which We serve by worshiping the Father in the Son, the Son in the Holy Spirit. May we finally stand before Her with a pure heart and without stumbling, and having become perfect, may we partake of Her completely in Christ our Lord Himself, to Whom be all glory, honor and dominion forever and ever, Amen. The memory of this holy martyr Cyprian is celebrated by the Holy Church on the 2nd day of October. By lover of martyrs, according to Nikita’s explanation, St. Gregory means either silence itself, which he spoke about above, or one of the pious wives to whom he retired to the village for silence. In the suffering of St. Cyprian (See Acta sanctor. September 26th day) it is said that he was demanded to Antioch by the committee of the East, Eutholmius, following a denunciation, as if with his messages he was outraged by the whole East, even the whole world. It has survived to this day. The Greek original can be read in the Acts of the Saints (Acta Sanctorum) under the 26th day of September. The plant, otherwise called "gircha": You might be interested in: