Conversations on Holy Pentecost

“Conversations on Holy Pentecost” (2 conversations) delivered by St. John Chrysostom, probably in Antioch in 386. Modern patrolologists express an opinion about the inauthenticity of the 2nd homily (see: Orthodox Encyclopedia). In his conversations, the saint develops the theme of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and on all believers, placing this holiday in close connection with the feast of the Ascension of Christ. Then our nature ascended to the royal throne, and now the Holy Spirit has descended upon it, freeing us from slavery to sin, bestowing spiritual freedom and adopting us as sons to God. The first conversation talks about the need for continuous celebration in the Church of Christ. For Christians, all days should be dedicated to God: “It was common for the Jews to appear before God only three times a year...; and God desires from us that we appear before Him unceasingly.” Therefore, anyone who comes to church only on great holidays turns out to be unfaithful to his calling. St. John calls the gift of the Holy Spirit the gift of reconciliation. That is why He came down only after Jesus Christ was glorified. The saint responds to the objection that now there is no Holy Spirit in the Church, since miracles do not occur in it: if the Holy Spirit did not dwell in the Church, then there would be no baptism, no priesthood, or other sacraments in it. At the end of the conversation there is a description of the Last Judgment and the books in which our sins will be recorded. But we have the opportunity to blot them out in this earthly life - these are tears, repentance, confession, alms, prayer, a godly life. The second conversation (3 chapters) talks about the grace-filled gifts of the Holy Spirit, to receive which it is necessary to decorate your souls with virtues. Contrary to the false teaching of the Macedonians, the saint proves the Divinity of the Holy Spirit, relying on the words of Christ: “Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). At the end of the conversation, St. John denounces envy, calls for philanthropy, and exhorts the newly baptized to preserve the gift of grace they have received. *The title of the work in Greek is Εἰς τὴν ἁϒίαν Πεντηκοστήν. *The title of the work in Latin is De sancta pentecoste homiliae 1-2. Contents CONVERSATION FIRST. The need for continuous celebration in the Church of Christ. – In the Old Testament there were three holidays a year. – For Christians, all days should be dedicated to God. - Therefore, any of them who comes to church only on great holidays turns out to be unfaithful to their calling. - Ap. Paul shows what this continuous celebration should consist of (1 Cor. 5:8). – The gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of reconciliation. – That’s why He came down only after Jesus Christ was glorified, i.e. blotted out our sins that hindered reconciliation. – The truth of reconciliation and the descent of the Holy Spirit is proven by the miracles that the apostles performed. – Answer to the objection: if miracles serve as proof of the presence of the Holy Spirit, then it means that He is not in the Church now, since miracles do not occur in it. – If the Holy Spirit did not dwell in the Church, then there would be no baptism, no priesthood and other sacraments. – An explanation of why the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost and in the form of tongues of fire. – Advice to listeners about a godly life. CONVERSATION SECOND. An exhortation to the listeners to rejoice on the occasion of the holiday, which is the main thing of the holidays. – On this day we received the fulfillment of the promise of the Son of God. – We receive all gifts of grace from the Holy Spirit. – His Divinity contrary to the false teaching of the Macedonians. – An explanation of why Jesus Christ did not immediately send the Holy Spirit to his disciples upon his ascension and why the Holy Spirit descended in the form of tongues of fire. – It is necessary to adorn your souls with all the virtues in order to receive the fruits brought by the Holy Spirit. – An exhortation to philanthropy and a denunciation of envy. – An admonition to the newly baptized to preserve the gift of grace they have received. and why there are no signs now, and that our deeds and words are recorded 1 1. Again a holiday, again a celebration, and again the many-children and child-loving church is decorated with many children. But what good is it to her to love children if she only sees the longed-for faces of her children on holidays, and not constantly, just as if someone, having beautiful clothes, does not have permission to use them all the time? The large number of those who come is the clothing of the church, as the prophet in ancient times said, speaking about the church: “Be clothed with all of them in beauty and cover yourself with them, like the utensils of a bride” (Is. 49:18). Just as a chaste and noble woman, clothed in a robe that extends to her heels, seems more beautiful and better, so the church, covered with the multitude of your bodies, as if with a long robe, appears more brilliant today. Today not a single part of her is visible naked, as in previous days; The culprits for exposing her then are those who only came today, and do not always cover their mother. And that there is no small danger in seeing your mother naked, let us remember ancient history, let us remember the one who saw his father naked, and was punished for this look. Although he himself did not expose his father, but only saw his father naked, he did not get rid of punishment for just what he saw (Gen. 9:20-25); those who came today, but did not come before, not only see their mother naked, but make her naked. If the one who saw nakedness did not escape punishment, then how can those who cause nakedness receive forgiveness? I say this not wanting to frighten you, but in order for us to avoid punishment, to avoid the curse of Ham, to earn favor by imitating Shem and Japheth, and so that we can always cover our mother. It was common for the Jews to appear before God only three times a year; they were told: “Three times in the year shall you appear... before the Lord your God” (Ex. 23:17); and God wants us to appear before Him continually. With them, the reason for so few meetings was the distance of places: then worship was limited to one place; the times of their meeting and presence at it were few, since it was necessary to worship in Jerusalem, and nowhere else. Therefore, they were commanded to appear before God three times a year - the distance of the journey served as their justification, but for us there can be no way of justification. They were scattered throughout the whole earth: “Now,” it says (in Scripture), “the inhabitants of Judah who dwell in Jerusalem are men of reverence from all the people who are under heaven” (Acts 2:5). And we all live in the same city, live within the same walls, are often not separated from the church by even one lane, and yet we so rarely enter this sacred meeting, as if we were separated by wide seas. They were commanded to celebrate only at three times, but we were commanded to do this continuously, since we always have a holiday. And in order to make sure that we always have a holiday, I will tell you about the reasons for the holidays, and you will know that we have a holiday every day. So, our first holiday is Epiphany 2. What is the reason for this holiday? The one that God “appeared on earth and lived with men” (Bar.3:38), the one that God, the Only Begotten Son of God, was with us; and this always happens. “Behold,” He says, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20); therefore, Epiphany can be celebrated on all days. What does Easter mean? What is its reason? We then proclaim the death of the Lord - this is Easter; but we do not do this at one specific time. Paul, wanting to give us independence from time and show that we can always celebrate the Passover, says: “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:26). So, if we can always proclaim the death of the Lord, then we can always celebrate the Passover. Do you want to know that today’s holiday can be celebrated every day, or better, that it happens every day? Let's see what is the reason for this holiday and why do we celebrate it? This is because the Spirit has descended upon us, just as the Only Begotten Son of God is with faithful people, so is the Spirit of God. How is this known? “If you love Me,” says (the Savior), “keep My commandments.” And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that the Spirit of truth may be with you forever” (John 14:15–17). Therefore, just as Christ said about Himself: “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” and we can always celebrate the Epiphany, so He said about the Spirit: “He will be with you forever,” and we can always celebrate Pentecost. 2. In order for you to be convinced that we can celebrate constantly, that there is no specific time for this, and we are not bound by dependence on time, listen to what Paul says: “Let us therefore celebrate” (1 Cor. 5:8). Then, when he wrote this, there was no holiday, there was no Easter, no Epiphany, no Pentecost; but he wants to show that it is not time that makes a holiday, but a clear conscience, that a holiday is nothing other than joy, and spiritual and rational joy is produced by nothing other than the consciousness of good deeds - therefore, whoever has a good conscience and the same deeds can constantly celebrate. So, wanting to show this very thing, Paul said: “Let us therefore celebrate, not with leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but without leaven of purity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:8). Do you see how he does not bind you to the times, but exhorts you to have a clear conscience? I would like to spend the whole conversation on this: those who have captured someone in their hands after a long time do not easily release him, and since we have captured you, who come here a year later, into our networks, we do not want to let go today. But so that you do not leave without instructions regarding the holiday, you must turn your speech from this admonition to the reason for the holiday. Many blessings repeatedly descended from Heaven for the entire human race; but such as have been sent down today have never been sent down before. Find out what blessings there were in the past and what are today, so that you can see the difference between the two. “God rained down the manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven: the bread of angels is for men” (Ps. 77:24–25); this is truly a great deed and worthy of God’s love for mankind! After this, fire was sent down to correct the lost people of Judah and consumed the sacrifice from the altar (1 Kings 18:38). Then, when everyone was exhausted by hunger, rain came and produced great fertility. These benefits are great and amazing; but the real ones are much greater, because it was not manna, fire and rain that were sent down today, but a stream of spiritual gifts, abundant rains were sent down from above, not stimulating the earth to fertility, but disposing human nature to give the fruits of virtue to the Cultivator of people. And those who took a drop from there immediately forgot their nature, and suddenly the whole earth was filled with angels, not heavenly angels, but those who in the human body show the virtue characteristic of incorporeal forces. It was not the Angels who descended to the ground, but, what is more surprising, those below rose to their virtue; They did not overthrow the flesh and did not ascend as souls alone, but, remaining in their nature, became angels by choice. And so that you know that the previous punishment, when it was said: “You are earth and you will go back to earth” (Gen. 3:19), was not a punishment, God was pleased to leave you on earth, so that the power of the Spirit would be even more revealed, performing such deeds through a mortal body. Indeed, one could see how the mortal tongue commanded demons; one could see how the mortal hand healed diseases; or better - one could see how not only the mortal hand, but, what is much more surprising, the shadows of mortal bodies overcame both death and ethereal forces, i.e. demons Just as when the sun appears, the darkness dissipates, wild animals retreat to their lairs, murderers, robbers and grave diggers flee to the tops of the mountains, so when Peter appeared and raised his voice, the darkness of error was dispelled, the devil was removed, demons were put to flight, carnal passions were suppressed, mental illnesses were healed, every vice was cast out and virtue was established. earth. Just as if someone from the royal treasury, containing gold and precious stones, could take even a small part of what is guarded with honor in it, even just one stone, he would become the owner of great wealth, so - and from the lips of the apostles: their lips were royal treasuries, containing a treasure of healings, and every word coming from them brought great spiritual wealth. Then it could truly be seen that the words of the Lord are “coveted more than gold, and much is worth to stone” (Ps. 18:11), since what neither gold nor precious stones could do, the words of Peter did. How many talents of gold could heal a man lame from birth? And Peter's word was able to correct this natural deficiency. He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ... arise and walk” (Acts 3:6), and the word became action. Do you see how their words “are coveted more than gold and much is worth to stone”? Do you see that their mouth was the king's treasury? Truly, they were doctors of the universe, and farmers, and helmsmen: doctors, because they healed diseases; farmers, because they sowed the word of piety; helmsmen, because they tamed the storm of delusions. Therefore, Christ sometimes spoke to them, as to doctors: “As you walk... heal the sick” (Matthew 10:7-8); sometimes he said, as to farmers: “Behold, you have sent to reap, where you did not toil” (John 4:38); and sometimes he talked with them, as with helmsmen and fishermen, and said in one place: “I will make you a man fisher” (Matt. 4:19), and to Peter: “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be men fishing” (Luke 5:10). And one could see miracles after miracles. Ten days before this, our nature ascended to the Royal Throne, and today the Holy Spirit descended on our nature; The Lord lifted up our firstfruits and sent down the Holy Spirit. Another Lord bestows these gifts, since the Spirit is the Lord, and the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit shared the economy of us among themselves. Ten days have not yet passed since Christ ascended, and He has already sent down to us spiritual gifts, gifts of reconciliation. So that no one would doubt or be perplexed whether Christ, after his ascension, did anything, whether he reconciled the Father with us, whether he propitiated Him, in order to show us that He (really) reconciled Him to our nature, He immediately sent us gifts of reconciliation. Thus, when enemies unite and reconcile with each other, the reconciliation is immediately followed by an exchange of greetings, friendly receptions and gifts. So we sent faith - and received gifts from there, sent obedience - and received justification. 3. And so that you may know that the gift of the Holy Spirit is God's gift of reconciliation, I will try to convince you of this from the Scriptures, first by explaining my words to the contrary and showing that God withholds the grace of the Spirit when he is angry with us, so that you, convinced that the absence of the Holy Spirit is a sign of His wrath, and seeing that the Spirit is sent down again, may know that if He had not been reconciled, He would not have sent the Spirit Saint. How do we know this? The elderly Eli was a respectable and prudent man in other respects, but he was unable to correct the depravity of his children, due to his excessive love for them. Listen, you who have children, how you should moderate your love and affection for them. Eli upset God with this and brought Him into such anger that He turned away from all the people. Therefore, the one who wrote about this, wanting to show that God has completely turned away from them, says: “The word of the Lord is not honest, ... not without a vision is sent” (1 Samuel 3:1), here calling rare things “honest”; by this he expressed that the gifts of prophecy were then rare. Also another, weeping and sobbing about the wrath of God, says: “In this time there is no prince or prophet” (Dan. 3:38). And the evangelist says: “The Holy Spirit was not with him, for Jesus was not glorified” (John 7:39). Since He had not yet been crucified, then, he says, the Holy Spirit was not given to people - “glorified” means: crucified. Although this event is by its nature shameful, but since it was accomplished for those loved ones, Christ calls it glory. Why, tell me, was the Spirit not given before the crucifixion? Because the universe was still in sin, in malice, in enmity and dishonor, since the Lamb, who took upon himself the sins of the world, had not yet been sacrificed. So, until Christ was yet crucified, there was no reconciliation; and until there was reconciliation, until then in justice the Spirit was not sent down. Thus, the sending of the Spirit is a sign of reconciliation. Therefore, Christ says: “You have no food, but I will go; Unless I go, the Comforter will not come” (John 16:7). If I do not go, He says, and do not reconcile the Father, then I will not send you the Comforter. Do you see how much evidence we have presented to you that the absence of the Holy Spirit in people is a sign of the wrath of God? “The word of the Lord is not honest, ... without a vision being sent” (1 Samuel 3:1). “At this time there was neither a prince nor a prophet” (Dan.3:38). “He had not the Holy Spirit, but Jesus was not glorified” (John 7:39). “Unless I go, He will not come” (John 16:7). So, the absence of the Holy Spirit is a sign of the wrath of God. And when you see that the Holy Spirit is being sent down abundantly, then do not doubt at all about reconciliation. Where, you say, is the Holy Spirit now? Then it was really possible to say this when there were signs: the dead were raised and all the lepers were cleansed; and now how can we prove that the Holy Spirit is with us? Do not be afraid: I will show that the Holy Spirit abides with us today. How and in what way? So: if we did not have the Holy Spirit, then how would these, enlightened on this sacred night, get rid of their sins? Without the action of the Spirit there can be no remission of sins. Listen to Paul, who says: “For sometimes we are foolish, and disobedient, and seduced by lusts... different: ... when the grace and love of God our Savior appeared, not because of the righteous works which He did, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:3-5). And in another place: “Do not flatter yourselves: neither harlots, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor harlots, nor sodomites, nor covetous, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor molesters, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Do you see all kinds of vices? “And these slaughters were not, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified.” How? The question is whether through the Holy Spirit we have been freed from vices. Listen: “But you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). Do you see that the Holy Spirit has blotted out all those vices? 4. Where are those who blaspheme the dignity of the Spirit now? If He does not forgive sins, then He is received in baptism in vain; if He forgives sins, then it is in vain that he is blasphemed by heretics. If there were no Holy Spirit, then we could not call Jesus Lord, because “no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). If there were no Holy Spirit, then we, the faithful, could not call on God, but we say: “Our Father who art in heaven.” Just as we could not call Jesus Lord, so we could not call God Father. Where can you see this? From the words of the same apostle: “Because you are sons,” he says, “God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:6). So, when you call Him Father, remember that you are worthy to call Him so because the Spirit moves your soul. If there were no Spirit, then there would be no word of wisdom and knowledge in the Church: “To some the word of wisdom is given by the Spirit, and to others the word of understanding” (1 Cor. 12:8). If there were no Holy Spirit, then there would be no shepherds and teachers in the Church, because they too are supplied by the Spirit, just as Paul says: “in whom the Holy Spirit hath made you (pastors and) bishops” (Acts 20:28). Do you see that this too is from the Spirit? If there had not been the Holy Spirit in our common father and teacher, then when shortly before this he entered this sacred elevation and taught peace to all of you, you would not have answered him all together: “And give your spirit.” Therefore, not only when he ascends (here) and talks with you, or prays for you, do you pronounce these words, but also when he stands before this Sacred Table, when he intends to offer the Terrible Sacrifice - those initiated into the mysteries know what I am talking about - he does not touch what is presented before he asks you grace from the Lord, and you answer him: “and to your spirit,” reminding yourself of this the answer is that the one present himself does not do anything and that the gifts presented are not made by human nature, but the grace of the Spirit, inherent and descending on everything, prepares this mysterious Sacrifice. Although man is present, God acts through him. So, do not look at the nature of what is visible; but imagine invisible grace. Nothing human happens on this sacred throne. If the Spirit were not present, then the Church would not exist; if the Church exists, then it is obvious that the Spirit is present. Why, you say, are there no signs now? Here listen to me with attention; I hear from many this constant and everlasting question: why then did all those who were baptized speak in tongues, but now they no longer do? Let us first learn what it means to speak in tongues, and then we will tell you the reason. What does it mean to speak in tongues? The person being baptized immediately began to speak the language of the Indians, Egyptians, Persians, Scythians, Thracians, and one person received many languages; and if these who are baptized now were baptized then, you would immediately hear them speaking in different languages. Paul, it says (in Scripture), having found some who had been baptized with the baptism of John, said to them: “Have you... received the Holy Spirit by nature believing? They decided to him: but even if the Holy Spirit is there, we hear.” He immediately commanded them to be baptized, “and I laid Paul’s hand on her, and the Holy Spirit came upon her,” and all “verb... tongues” (Acts 19:2-6). Why is this grace now stopped and taken away from people? Not because God wants to humiliate us, but because, on the contrary, he shows us great honor. How? I'll tell you. At that time, people who had recently fallen behind idols were more senseless: their minds were still very dull and crude, they were devoted and amazed at everything material; They did not yet have any concept of incorporeal gifts, and they did not even know what spiritual grace was and contemplated by faith alone - that’s why there were signs then. Some of the spiritual gifts are invisible and are comprehended by faith alone, while others are also revealed in a sensory sign to certify the unbelievers. For example: the remission of sins is a spiritual matter, it is an invisible gift, because we do not see with our bodily eyes how our sins are cleansed. Why? Because the soul is purified, and the soul is not visible with bodily eyes. So, the cleansing of sins is a spiritual gift that cannot be noticed by bodily eyes; and the ability to speak in different languages, although it also comes from the spiritual action of the Spirit, nevertheless represents a sign that is sensual and perceptible to unbelievers. Language heard outside is a revelation and indicator of the action taking place inside the soul, i.e. invisible. Therefore, Paul says: “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone to benefit” (1 Cor. 12:7). So now I have no need of signs. Why? Because even without the gift of a sign, I learned to believe in the Lord. An unbeliever needs a pledge, but I, a believer, do not need a pledge or a sign, but although I do not speak in tongues, I know that I am cleansed from sins. They would not have believed then if they had not received a sign: therefore, signs were given to them as a pledge of the faith in which they believed, so that signs were given to them, not as the faithful, but as still unfaithful, so that they would become faithful. So Paul says: “Signs... are not for those who believe, but for those who are unbelieving” (1 Cor. 14:22). Do you see that the cessation of signs is not proof that God is humiliating us, but that He is honoring us? He did this, wanting to show our faith - that we believe in Him without deposits and signs. Those, if they had not received a sign and a guarantee in advance, would not have believed Him in the invisible; and even without this I show all my faith. This is the reason why there are no signs now. 5. I would like to talk about the reason for the holiday and show what Pentecost is, why the gift was given on this holiday, why in tongues of fire and why ten days later; but I see that the lesson has gone on too long. Therefore, adding a little, I will finish my speech. “When the days of Pentecost ended, ... the nations appeared to them, dividing them as if they were of fire” (Acts 2:1, 3), not fiery, but “like fire,” so that you would not suspect anything sensual in the Spirit. Just as He descended onto the streams of Jordan not as a dove, but in the form of a dove (Luke 3:22), so here also not as fire, but in the form of fire. It is also said above: “as the breath of a storm” (Acts 2:2), not “as the breath of a storm”, but “as the breath of a storm.” Why did Ezekiel receive the gift of prophecy not through the likeness of fire, but through a book, and the apostles receive gifts through fire? It is said about him that [God] put into his mouth a scroll of books, in which “weeping and pity and grief are written, and ... the fore and the back were written” (Ezek. 2:9-10), and he ate it, and “it was in his mouth like honey, sweet” (Ezek. 3:3). And it’s not like that about the apostles, but: “the Gentiles appeared to them like fire.” So, why is there a scroll and writing there, and a tongue and fire here? Because he went to expose sins and mourn the Jewish disasters, and these went to destroy the sins of the universe - therefore, he received a scroll to remember the coming disasters, and these received fire to burn and destroy all the sins of the universe. Just as fire, falling into thorns, easily destroys it completely, so the grace of the Spirit destroys the sins of people. But at this event, the insensitive Jews, instead of being amazed, trembling and worshiping the Giver of the gift, again show their own madness, accusing the apostles, filled with the Spirit, of intoxication. They are said to be “full of wine” (Acts 2:13). Imagine the ingratitude of people and look at the gratitude of the Angels. The angels, seeing our firstfruits being raised [to Heaven], rejoiced and said: “Lift up your gates, O princes, and lift up the gates of eternity, and the King of glory will come in” (Ps. 23:7); and people, having seen the grace of the Spirit descending upon us, say that those who received the grace were drunk, and were not even embarrassed by the time of year: after all, during spring it was not possible to find wine, and then it was spring. However, let’s leave them and look at the reward of the man-loving God. Christ took the firstfruits of our nature and gave us the grace of the Spirit; and as happens after a long war, when the battle is over and peace is concluded, so that those who were at enmity among themselves give each other guarantee and hostages, so it happened between God and human nature; it sent Him as a guarantee and a hostage its firstfruits, which Christ lifted up, and He in return sent us as a guarantee and a hostage the Holy Spirit. And that we have a guarantee and a hostage is evident from the following: the guarantee and hostages must be of the royal family, therefore the Holy Spirit was sent down to us, as being royal by nature, just as He who ascended from us was of the royal family, because He was from the seed of David. Therefore, I am no longer afraid, since our firstfruits sits on the mountain; therefore, even if someone told me about an undying worm, or about an unquenchable fire, or about other punishments and torments, I am no longer afraid, or better yet, although I am afraid, I do not despair of my salvation. In fact, if God did not want to bestow great blessings on our family, he would not have taken the firstfruits of our grief. Previously, looking at the sky and imagining the ethereal forces, we more clearly saw our insignificance through comparison with the higher powers, but now, when we want to see our nobility, we look at the mountain, at Heaven, at the very Royal Throne - this is how the firstfruits from us sits. So the Son of God will come from Heaven to judge us. Therefore, let us prepare so as not to lose that glory - but our common Lord will certainly come and will not delay, he will come, leading with Him armies, regiments of Angels, councils of Archangels, ranks of martyrs, faces of the righteous, hosts of prophets and apostles, and among these immaterial armies He will appear as a King in inexpressible and ineffable glory. 6. So, let us do everything so as not to lose that glory. Do you want me to say something terrible? This is not to sadden (you), but to correct. Then a river of fire will flow before that Throne; then the books will open; The judgment will be terrible and terrible; as in a court of justice, the records of our lives will be read. The prophets also talk a lot about these books. So, Moses says: “Even if you forgive them their sin..., leave it: otherwise, blot me out of the book..., you have written it in the book” (Ex. 32:32). Christ also said to the disciples: “Do not rejoice in this, for the souls obey you: rejoice, for your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). And the prophet David: “In Your book all will be written, in the days they will be created, and no one in them” (Ps. 139:16), and again: “Let them be consumed from the book of the living, and let them not be written with the righteous” (Ps. 69:29). Do you see that some are blotted out, and others are written in? Do you want to know that not only the righteous are written in those books, but our sins are also written there? Now is the time for celebration: let us learn how we can get rid of punishment. This word is scary, but at the same time it is useful and profitable, because it saves us from the need to experience (punishment) in reality. So, let us know that sins are written down, and whatever we say here is immediately entered there and written down. How is this known? One cannot speak simply about such subjects. Malachi 3 says to the Jews: Woe to those who anger the Lord, and “Why do those who anger Him? “Resist: everyone who does evil is good before the Lord”; these are the words of ungrateful slaves; and “you yourself were pleased with them,” i.e. in the corrupt, he says, who did not serve Him (Mal. 2:17). Here we are “preserving His keeping... and...blessing strangers”; we, they said, serve daily, while others enjoy the blessings (Mal. 3:14-15). Slaves often say this about their masters. However, it is not so dangerous for a person to say this about a person, although it is dangerous; but to say this about the common Lord of the universe, the merciful and philanthropic Lord, is worthy of all condemnation and extreme punishment. And in order for you to be convinced that such words are written down, listen to what the prophet says: these things are written in the book of the living “for remembrance” before the face of God ( Mal. 3:16 ). They are written down not to remember the day to God, but to present the book as some kind of evidence and accusation. Perhaps I have shaken your soul with fear; but not yours, but yours in advance. So, I will stop speaking, or better yet, fear, or even better, I will not stop, but soften; let it remain and cleanse your soul, but we will reduce its severity. How can we reduce it? If we show that sins are not only written down, but also blotted out. At the court, everything that the defendant says while recording is certainly written down forever and cannot be erased; and in that book, even if you said something bad, then, if you want, it will be blotted out again. How is this known? From Scripture: “Turn away Your face,” says the psalmist, “from my sins, and cleanse all my iniquities” (Ps. 50:11). No one blots out what is not written; and since the sins are written down, he prays for their blotout. And someone else teaches how they are blotted out: “Through alms and faith,” he says, “sins are cleansed away” (Prov. 15:27), - not only are they blotted out, but they are also cleansed, so that not a trace remains. Moreover, not only what is inscribed after baptism is blotted out, but also what is inscribed before this washing - all this is cleansed by the water of baptism and the Cross of Christ, as Paul says: “Having destroyed the handwriting on us... which was not against us, even that was taken out of the way, nailed to the cross” (Col. 2:14). Do you see how this handwriting has been erased? And not only erased, but also torn; the cross nails tore it apart so much that it became unusable. However, all this is blotted out by the grace and humane power of the crucified Christ; and what was done after baptism requires great effort so that it is blotted out again. Since there is no longer a second ablution, but our tears, repentance, confession, almsgiving, prayer and any other pious activity are needed, then the sins committed after baptism are cleansed with great labor and effort. So, let us make every effort to blot them out here and get rid of the shame and punishment there. And even though we have committed countless sins, we can, if we want, lay down all this burden of sins. Let us have such a desire, because it is much better to work a little here and get rid of the inevitable punishment, than, after spending this short time in negligence, to fall into those endless torments. However, it is time to review what has been said. We reproached those who came here only a year later for leaving their mother naked, we reminded them of an ancient event, both a curse and a blessing; they talked about Jewish holidays and why God commanded the Jews to appear before Him three times a year; They said that we have a holiday at any time, Pentecost, Easter, and Epiphany; they said that the holiday is made by a clear conscience, and not by a certain circle of days and times; then we moved on to gifts sent from above - we said that they are a sign of reconciliation; they proved the presence of the Holy Spirit by the remission of sins, the answer to the shepherd, the word of wisdom and knowledge, ordination, the mysterious Sacrifice; they said that we have mutual hostages and sureties; they added the reason why the signs are no longer visible; after that they were reminded of the Last Judgment, of the books that would then be opened, and that all our sins were being written down; They explained that they would be erased again if we wanted. Remember all this; if it is impossible to remember everything, then from everything, retain in your memory what was said about books, and whatever you say, say with caution, as if you had a note taker with you; always keep these words in fresh memory, so that those of you who are written in the book of the righteous may increase virtues, and those of us who have many sins written down may blot them out here, when no one sees, and get rid of their future discovery. And it is possible, as we have shown, to blot out all recorded sins through diligence, prayer and increased piety. So, let us strive for this at all times, so that, after going there, we may receive forgiveness and all avoid inevitable punishments, so that, having been delivered from them, we will all be rewarded with the Kingdom of Heaven, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. 1. Great, beloved, and above every word of man are the gifts sent down to us today from the man-loving God - therefore, let us all rejoice together and glorify our Master with delight. And truly, today is a holiday and celebration for us. Just as in the succession of days and seasons one change follows another, so in the Church, too, holiday follows holiday and one refers us to the other. Recently we celebrated the cross, suffering, resurrection, and then the ascension into Heaven of our Lord Jesus Christ; and today we have finally reached the very pinnacle of blessings, entered the very capital of the holidays, come to the very fruit of the Lord’s promise. If “I go,” He said, “I will send another Comforter... to you, and I will not leave you orphans” (John 14:16, 18, 16:7). Do you see His care? Do you see the indescribable love for humanity? Before these days, He ascended to Heaven, assumed the Royal Throne and sat down at the right hand of the Father, and today He gives us the coming of the Holy Spirit, and through Him sends down to us countless blessings from heaven. And what, tell me, that pertains to our salvation has not been arranged for us by the Spirit? Through Him we are freed from slavery, called into freedom, brought into adoption, created again, so to speak, laying aside the heavy and stinking burden of sins; through the Holy Spirit we see the faces of priests, we have regiments of teachers; from this source are the gifts of revelations and the gifts of healing; and everything else that usually adorns it, the Church is supplied from here. And Paul cries out like this: “All these things work in one and the same Spirit, distributing power to each as he wills” (1 Cor. 12:11). “As He wants,” he says, and not as He is commanded; "dividing" rather than being divided; “ruling by oneself,” and not being subject to power. Thus, Paul ascribes to the Holy Spirit the same power that, according to his testimony, the Father has. Just as he says about the Father: “There is God, he acts all in all” (1 Cor. 12:6), so about the Holy Spirit: “but all this,” he says, “acts one and the same Spirit, dividing power to each as he wills.” Do you see perfect power? Those who have one essence, obviously have one identity; Those who have equal dignity have the same strength and power. Through Him we have received remission of sins; through Him we have washed away all uncleanness; By His gift, we, flowing to grace, became angels from people, without changing in nature, but, what is much more surprising, while remaining in human nature, we manifest the life of angels. This is the power of the Holy Spirit. Just as sensual fire, having accepted soft clay, makes it hard tiles, so the fire of the Spirit, having found a well-meaning soul, even if it finds it softer than clay, makes it harder than iron, and the one who was recently defiled by sinful impurity, suddenly reveals itself as the brightest of the sun. Teaching us this, Blessed Paul cried out thus: “Do not flatter yourselves: neither harlots, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor debauchers, nor harlots, nor sodomites, nor the covetous, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor molesters, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Having counted, so to speak, all types of wickedness and taught that those guilty of such sins are strangers to the Kingdom, he immediately added: “And these were not, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified.” How and in what way? Tell me, that’s the question. “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11). You see that the Holy Spirit destroyed all this wickedness and suddenly raised those who had previously perished from their own sins to the highest honors. 2. Who will worthily pity and mourn those who decide to blaspheme the dignity of the Spirit, who, as if out of their minds, cannot be restrained from their madness even by the greatness of their blessings, but dare to do everything to the detriment of their salvation, robbing Him, as much as possible for them, of the dignity of the Master, and trying to reduce Him to the ranks of creatures? I would like to ask them: why do you declare such a war against the dignity of the Spirit, or better, against your own salvation, and do not want to take into account what the Savior said to the disciples: “Going... teach all languages, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)? Do you see equal dignity? Do you see clearly expressed agreement? Do you see the indivisibility of the Trinity? Is there any difference, or change, or diminution here? Why do you dare add a new command to the words of the Lord? Or don’t you know that in human affairs, if someone attempted or went to such audacity as to add or subtract something from the charter of a king who is of the same race and shares the same nature with us, he would be subjected to extreme punishment and nothing could save him from this punishment? If the danger is so great because of man, then what forgiveness can there be for those who show such great madness, who attempt to distort the words of our common Savior and do not want to listen to Paul, who had Christ within himself, and who cried out with a loud voice and said this: “Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and the heart of man has not breathed what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9)? So, if neither eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor heart has been able to contain the knowledge of what is prepared for those who love Him, then where can we, Blessed Paul, obtain knowledge of this? Wait a little and you will hear him explain this too. He adds: “God has revealed it to us by His Spirit” (1 Cor. 2:10); and he does not stop there, but in order to show the greatness of the power and the consubstantiality of the Spirit with the Father and the Son, he says: “For the Spirit tests all things, even the depths of God.” Then, wanting to teach us the most precise instruction from human example, he adds: “Who is the message from man that is in man, but the spirit of man living in him? In the same way, no one knows God’s message, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). Do you see the perfect instruction? Just as what is in a person’s mind, he says, no one else can know, but only he himself knows his own, so no one knows God’s things except the Spirit of God - and this is very important and quite sufficiently demonstrates the dignity of the Spirit. Citing this example, he seems to be saying this: it is impossible for any of the people to ever not know what is in his mind; and just as this is not possible, so God, he says, is known with the same accuracy by the Holy Spirit. I am perplexed - will these words of Blessed Paul really not influence people who, out of their own prejudice, to the detriment of their salvation, declare such a war against the dignity of the Spirit, take away from Him, as much as possible for them, the dignity of the Master and reduce Him to the insignificance of creatures? But if they are disposed to argue, rebelling against what is said in the Divine Scripture, then we, accepting Divine instructions as prophecies brought from above, will begin to send forth the appropriate praise, showing with right faith and the correct understanding of the truth. So, enough has been said against those who decide to teach contrary to what is spoken by the Spirit; but it is necessary to tell your love why the Lord did not immediately after His Ascension give us the culprit of such blessings, but allowed the disciples to first spend several days and be alone with themselves, and then sent down the grace of the Spirit. This was not in vain and not without reason. He knew that the human race does not value enough the goods that are in its hands, and does not honor what is pleasant and great, unless something to the contrary happens. For example, let's say this more clearly: a healthy and strong body does not feel and cannot know exactly how many benefits health brought him if he does not experience illness when weakness befalls him; Likewise, one who sees during the day would not value light so much if it were not replaced by the darkness of night. Truly, the experience of the opposite is always a clear teacher regarding what we previously enjoyed. Therefore, even then, since the disciples in the presence (of Christ) enjoyed countless blessings and during their treatment with Him were in great prosperity - all the inhabitants of Palestine looked at their faces as at some lamps, because they raised the dead, and cleansed lepers, and cast out demons, and healed diseases and performed many other miracles - therefore, since they were so unknown and glorious, then He He allowed them to lose the power of the One who assisted them for a short time, so that, being left without it, they would learn how much His presence brought them goodness, and, having felt the importance of the previous benefits, they would more readily accept the gift of the Comforter. The Holy Spirit comforted them in sorrow, and illuminated them with His light, who were lamenting because of separation from the Teacher and filled with despondency, and raised up those almost lying down, and dispersed the cloud of sadness, and resolved bewilderment. Because they heard the command of the Lord: “Go... teach all languages” (Matthew 28:19), but they were still perplexed and did not know where each of them should go and in which country of the universe the teaching should be preached, then the Holy Spirit comes in the form of tongues, separating for each of them the countries of teaching in the universe, and with this language, as if on some tablet, designating for each the limit of the authority and teaching entrusted to him. This is why the Spirit came down in the form of tongues, and not only because of this, but also in order to remind us of an ancient event. Since in ancient times people, having fallen into madness, decided to build a tower that would reach to heaven, and God, through the division of languages, destroyed their evil agreement, now the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire in order to unite the divided universe through this. And a new and wondrous thing happened: just as in ancient times, tongues divided the universe and dissolved the evil agreement, so now tongues have united the universe and brought what was divided into unanimity. So, for this purpose He came down in the form of tongues, and the tongues were like fire, because the thorns of sin had grown within us. Just as rich and fertile soil, if left uncultivated, produces a great variety of thorns, so our nature, having emerged from the hands of the Creator beautiful and capable of producing the fruits of virtue, but not receiving the plow of piety and the seed of the knowledge of God, gave birth to wickedness, like some thorns and other useless plants. And just as the face of the earth is often not visible from the multitude of thorns and bad herbs, so the nobility and purity of our soul was not visible until the Cultivator of human nature, coming and sending down the fire of the Spirit, cleansed it and made it capable of receiving the heavenly seed. 3. Such and even greater benefits have been granted to us in this day. Therefore, I exhort that we too will celebrate in accordance with the dignity of the blessings given to us, not laying wreaths on the gates, but decorating the souls, not covering the square with veils, but enlightening the soul with the garments of virtues, so that in this way we can both receive the grace of the Spirit and gather the fruits that come from Him. What are the fruits of the Spirit? Let us listen to Paul, who says: “The fruit...of the spiritual is love, joy, peace” (Gal.5:22). Look at the accuracy of his expressions, at the sequence of teaching: first he put love, and then he mentioned what follows; put the root, and then showed the fruit; confirmed the foundation, and then erected the building; I started with the source and then moved on to the streams. No sooner can the foundation of joy be laid than if we first begin to consider the well-being of others as our own and taking the benefits of our neighbor as our own; and this can happen only if the power of love prevails in us. Love is the root, source and mother of all good things. Truly, like a root, it produces countless branches of virtues; as a source, produces many streams; like a mother, she embraces in her bosom those who come running to her. Knowing this, blessed Paul called it the fruit of the Spirit; and in another place he acquired such an advantage for it that he even called it the fulfillment of the law: “For the fulfillment of the law,” he says, “is love” (Rom. 13:10). And the Lord of all, as a reliable sign and reliable distinction of His disciples, offered us nothing other than love, saying: “By this all understand, as you are My disciples, if you have love among one another” (John 13:35). Therefore, I exhort you, we will all resort to it, cleave to it and celebrate this holiday with it, because where there is love, spiritual shortcomings cease to manifest themselves, and where there is love, the unreasonable impulses of the soul subside. “Love,” it is said, “is not conceited, is not proud, and does not act outrageously” (1 Cor. 13:4-5). Love does not harm one's neighbor; where love reigns, there is no Cain killing his brother. Destroy the source of envy, and destroy the flow of all evil; cut off the root, and you destroy the fruit along with it. I say this, caring more for those who envy, since the first especially cause themselves the greatest harm and bring upon themselves great destruction; and for those who are envied, envy serves, if they want, even as a reason for receiving crowns. Look how righteous Abel is sung and glorified every day, and the reason for his murder became for him a reason for glorification. Even after death, he boldly speaks with his blood and in a loud voice accuses the murderer; he, having remained alive, received the fruit of his deeds as a reward for his deeds and spent his life “groaning and shaking... on the earth” (Gen. 4:12), while the one killed and lying on the ground, after death, showed even greater boldness. And just as sin prepared for the living a life more miserable than the dead, so after death virtue glorified him even more. Therefore, in order to gain us greater boldness both here and there, in order to receive greater joy from the holiday, let us take off all unclean clothes from our souls, especially let us throw off the clothes of envy, because even though we have apparently accomplished countless good deeds, we will lose everything if we are burdened with this terrible and cruel infection - and may God grant that we all escape it, especially those who today, by the grace of baptism, have been put off from themselves with the old clothes of sins and can shine like the rays of the sun. So, I urge you, those inscribed today into sonship and clothed in this bright robe: observe the lordship in which you now find yourself, guarding it in every possible way, blocking the entrance of the devil on all sides, so that, having received the most abundant grace of the Spirit, you may bear fruit - some thirtyfold, some sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold, and be worthy to boldly meet the King of Heaven when He is pleased. to come and distribute unspeakable blessings among those who have led this present life virtuously, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and dominion, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. The 1st and 2nd discourses on the day of Pentecost were delivered in Antioch; the year of utterance is unknown. Of the most important feasts of St. Chrysostom lists only three, and names Epiphany first, Easter second, Pentecost third: probably, in this case, he adapted in this case to the anciently established custom among the Antiochians - to honor these three holidays as the most important, and since the Nativity of Christ, which in a number of holidays should have been placed in first place, only recently in Antioch began to be celebrated separately from Epiphany, he does not specifically mention it. Chrysostom names Micah instead of Malachi. You might be interested in: