Eulogies to the Holy Forty Martyrs (1st)

The sermon “Eulogy to the Holy Forty Martyrs (1st)” was delivered by St. Gregory of Nyssa on March 9, 383 in Sebaste, in the chapel at the site of the death of 40 martyrs. *The title of the work in Greek is ᾿Εϒκώμιον εἰς τοὺς ἁϒίους τεσσαράκοντα μάρτυρας. Λόϒος Α´. *The title of the work in Latin is Encomium 1 in XL martyres. What, I suppose, many people are burdened with, I mentally rejoice at. For many, it is probably unpleasant to crowd together in close quarters, but for me this is the height of joy. For the eye of the shepherd rejoices, seeing how his flock is crowded and overflows the fence; Although this sheep fence is not small, the spacious place becomes cramped for a large herd. Seeing something like this about the Lord, Peter answered him: “Master, the people will conquer and oppress You” (Luke 8:45). Truly, this means, as the divine Apostle says somewhere, to be oppressed, but not constrained; for “we are oppressed on every side,” he says, “but not oppressed (2 Cor. 4:8). But what kind of speech should I give before such a large gathering? Who will give me a voice, louder than a trumpet, to cover the noise of the multitude and make the words accessible to the ears of those gathered? What from what I read, turning my thoughts to, will I find a suitable word for those present? Job is abundant, teaching courage in life by his example; The inflow is full of mysteries. What can we say about the sacred apostle, who, in his teaching to the Ephesians, perhaps would have revealed to us something of those ineffable verbs that he calls beyond human understanding (2 Cor. 12:4), in mysterious sayings revealing the ineffable mystery of the cross (Eph. 3:18-19)? Other mysteries contained in the psalmody are of the same kind: “remembrance” (Ps. 69:1), “writing of the pillars” (Ps. 15), “the winepress” (Ps. 80:1). For, paying attention to these inscriptions of the psalms read to us, we see that these mysterious sayings could provide no small subject for words. But it seems to me that it is timely to save the study of what has been said until another time; I wish to find some saying (scripture) decent and corresponding to the joy of this holiday. Which one? I know one, inherent in nature, inscribed on the most divine tablets by the Lawgiver of Nature, a law that commands one to give one’s parents every good reward that is possible. For, “honor,” he says, “your father and your mother, which is the first commandment in promise, that you may be blessed” (Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6, 2) If this law is the first with a promise and its fulfillment benefits the one who fulfills it, for the honor of parents turns to the one who fulfills the law; then it would be good for everyone who ponders to keep in mind this commandment, the end of which is goodness and grace to the one who fulfills it. But our carnal fathers, who served their family during the time assigned to them from the beginning, as long since dead, do not need our respect, so it is impossible to fulfill this law, due to the non-existence of those who could receive good reward from us. The law commands us to fulfill the commandment in practice in order to receive the promise; for it is impossible for those who do not to receive the reward of those who do. And so what needs to be done when there are no parents, for someone who is looking for the promised and does not have the opportunity to achieve what he is striving for? Truly, this difficulty is completely resolved for us by what we see. For, seeing you, I do not need to worry too much about other fathers. You are my fathers, fathers and very fathers for me; because the patronymic of those born also contains the dignity of the parents. So, how can we fulfill the law of respect towards you? A grateful, tenderly loving son, with his service reinforcing his father's old age, serves as a support for his frail infirmity, himself being everything to his father. Therefore, the father appears to be rejuvenated in his son, and the trembling old hand, resting on the youthful fortress, uses the strength of the youth; and the movement of the legs, already bent due to the curvature of the limbs, becomes strong, with the care of the son, whose support, as it were, again returns straightness to the old man’s legs. If his vision has become darkened over time, again with the help of his son the elder becomes vigilant, led by the hand in the movements necessary for life. You, my fathers, are not such as to need anything like that. And so for what deed can we receive fruit, the blessing of the commandment? What pleasant gift shall we bring you as a gift, when you lack no good thing? Or can the very story of those wonderful things that you have replace the honor that we owe you? And so, isn’t it time to talk about what and how numerous benefits serve to adorn your life? It’s better that we not only say, but also point out these benefits. Maybe you think that I will talk about these ordinary and well-known benefits - about the fertility of the earth, the abundance of fruits, about the river dividing your habitat? I am talking about this river, which closes its course in the circle of the plain and forms a lake, which, both above the lake and upon leaving it again, being divided (into canals) according to the needs of each of the inhabitants, artificially irrigates the groves and meadows and brings countless benefits to the inhabitants, allowing itself to be divided in accordance with every desire of the inhabitants of the city. Let others talk about this, those for whom the word serves both as a means of vanity and gives some honor to those experienced (in this type of eloquence), - thereby increasing the praise of the fatherland. And someone, a worldly person, who knows how to judge the blessings of this life, let him add to these praises, if he wants, praise for another river; I’m talking about the neighboring one, ranked, in size, among the famous rivers in the universe, which, starting from us, flows near the city, bringing with it a lot of good things to increase the beauty of the country and promote the convenience of life. If it is necessary to list the founders of the city, or to glorify the families who inhabited its colonies, or to narrate, moreover, about the successes achieved in our country by force of arms, about trophies, battles, amazing deeds of courage that everyday writers have collected in books, then all this is alien to our collection. For the Christian word is ashamed to charge Christ-lovers with praise that is alien to faith; it would be to glorify the shadow of the brave instead of his trophies. And so let our word return to the present and present to our eyes your own fruit. Let speech about worldly beauties be silent, although this subject could provide abundant content for words of praise. For neither the whole sky, which is the most beautiful and greatest in all created things, nor the radiance of the luminaries, nor the breadth of the earth, nor anything else that, by its elemental composition, is part of the universe, is recognized by the divinely inspired word as anything great and worthy of wonder. Divine command taught me not to be surprised at anything transitory. And so, if all heaven and earth pass away and the whole image of the world “passes away,” as the Apostle says (1 Cor. 7:31); then will anyone find it decent if we make the fertility of the earth and (the abundance of) water the subject of praise? For although in your area there are more such earthly comforts than in other places; but in comparison with your goods, the word (of God), as you know, counts them as nothing. And so, let us turn our praises to what is preferable by nature. It is not our words that will show you this, but you yourself can see the main thing of your blessings. For who does not know your fruit - that you produced this abundant ear of martyrs, the number of fruits exceeding the number of thirty? Look at this sacred field; here are the sheaves of the martyrs. If you want to know what kind of field I’m talking about, look around no further than this place. What is the place where this meeting is located? What does this annual circle (of times) tell you? What narratives does the memory of this day bring to you? aren’t these “speeches” and “words, the only ones,” as the Prophet says, “their voices are not heard” (Ps. 18:4), telling about miracles more euphonious than any word? If you look at this place, it will speak of itself as the field of martyrs; if you think about the day, it is like some bright-voiced messenger proclaiming the crown of martyrs. It seems to me that I I hear how this day proclaims: one (day) is proud of the creation of the luminaries, another is proud of the structure of the earth; for my decoration it is enough to boast of the beauty of the crowns; What events took place during my hours that are worthy of storytelling! What an increase I have made in the ranks of the Angels! What fruit the earth gave to God! What a garden the Lord planted in my time! From here, almost the entire universe was planted with the offspring of local industries, just as a grapevine full of strength produces other grapevines from itself and itself remains without decline. This and other similar things, it seems to me, preach the good news of this day and the place of this meeting. But what should I do in the presence of such a multitude of people, me who is quiet and slow in speech, whose speech is barely audible to those standing next to me, with the noise drowning out the words? For otherwise, I would have occupied your attention with good stories about how the wonderful community of forty (martyrs) labored together and together found a home for themselves everywhere; how they are separated everywhere and visit each other’s places. Everyone who received, as a gift of grace, part of their remains, accepted the entire appearance of the martyrs; for all of them, having become one in the Lord, inhabit through one and all, in their full number. But will not our word deserve censure for keeping silent about the beginning of the story about them? What is the beginning? Good and venerable youth, excellent faith, which made them all chosen, shining with beauty, greatness like young trees in summer blossom.... Do you see how speech is drowned out by confusion and the word is interrupted by noise, so that we, overwhelmed by the cries of the people, as if by some troubled sea, must of necessity resort to the quiet harbor of silence? If, by the grace of God, we have convenience for the second (part) of the word with the peace of those listening, then what is now left will be replenished with God’s cooperation. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: