Слово 36. Похвала св. апостолу Павлу

The grace of the Spirit has left us a description of the lives of the saints and their behavior, so that, learning how people who have the same nature as us fulfilled everything related to virtue, we ourselves would be excited to practice it, kindling in ourselves the ardent desire of love for them. But how will this happen? If we constantly cleave to those men and keep them in our memory, we will internalize their way of life. And in this God has to be glorified more than in everything else. If the heavens tell the glory of God without making a sound themselves and only inviting others to do so with their appearance, then all the more will those who lead a life worthy of wonder glorify God, even if they are silent, because others glorify God through them. The sky, which is seen for so long, did not persuade enough to wonder before their Creator; The blessed apostles, preaching for a short time, conquered the whole world. Heaven remains, preserving its law and statutes. The height of their souls became higher than all the heavens, and their beauty was so great that God Himself witnessed it. The angels marveled at the stars when they were created. God Himself praised the beauty of their souls, saying: “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). This sky is often obscured by clouds; their soul is not darkened by any temptation, but shines even brighter because of it. That is why Paul said: “I rejoice in weaknesses, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in oppressions for Christ’s sake” (2 Cor. 12:10), and then to the Philippians: “because I have you in my heart in my bonds” (Phil. 1:7), and in another place: “that you may hear, I am in bonds, everywhere delivered to bonds.” I will persistently talk about them, because they excite my heart and instill in me the desire to put Paul in the face of everyone - Paul, who worked more than anyone else, about whom Christ Himself says: “he is my chosen vessel” (Acts 9:15). When the sermon began, he devastated the Church, breaking into houses, dragging husbands and wives. But as he approached Damascus, a light suddenly overtook him and he became blind. But his blindness became the enlightenment of the universe. Since what was visible seemed bad to him, God, so that he could see it in the right form, blinded him for good, showing at the same time His own power, and predetermining the method of preaching - namely, that one should follow Him everywhere, leaving everything of one’s own and closing one’s eyes. Pointing precisely to this, Paul exclaimed: “If anyone among you thinks to be wise... let him be foolish, that he may be wise” (1 Cor. 3:18). No one can see correctly if he is not first blinded to his own good, if he has not thrown away the thoughts that confuse him and has not trusted his faith in everything. But let no one, hearing this, think that this calling was forced. He could return again to where he came from. Many, seeing other, great miracles, again returned to their previous state, in the Old and New Testaments, for example: Judas, Nebuchadnezzar, Elymas the Magus, Simon, Ananias, Sapphira, the entire Jewish people. But not Paul: he, having received sight, rushed towards the imperishable light and was exalted to Heaven itself. If you begin to ask why he was blinded, then listen to his words: “You have heard about my former way of life in Judaism, that I cruelly persecuted the Church of God, and devastated it, and prospered in Judaism more than many peers in my generation, being an immoderate zealot for the traditions of my fathers” (Gal. 1:13-14). Since he was so impetuous and unbridled, a rein was needed for him all the more firmly, so that, carried away by the flow of his jealousy, he would not push away what was said to him. Therefore, taming his madness, God first, through blindness, calms the waves of his stormy impetuosity, and even then begins to speak to him, showing the inaccessibility of His wisdom and the superiority of knowledge, so that he learns that he is not able to bear the One with whom he fights, not only when He punishes, but even when He does good. It was not the darkness that harmed him, but the excess of light blinded him, at the same time raising him to such a height that even his clothes inspired fear in the demons. But I am not surprised at this, just as I am not surprised that diseases were driven out by the shadow of Peter. The amazing thing is that he appeared to do great things even before receiving grace, from the very beginning, from his very first ways. Lacking that power and having not accepted ordination, he was so inflamed with zeal for Christ that he aroused the entire Jewish people against himself. Seeing himself in such danger that even the city was under siege, he climbed down the wall through the window. Having avoided danger, he did not fall into indecision, fear, fear, but discovered great jealousy, went his own way, again taking up the cross, avoiding dangers for the sake of housebuilding, but not yielding to anyone in teaching. He went, having before his eyes the close example of Stephen, seeing how the Jews were breathing murder against him more than anyone else, how they were eager to enjoy (the death of) his body. But how did he not fall into danger, remaining without any precautions, and, avoiding them, did not lose his resolve? No doubt he valued real life for the gain to be gained from it; but, of course, he despised her because of his philosophy, which led him to contempt - in other words: because he sought to go to Jesus. What I always say about him and will never stop saying is that no one knew how, when faced with opposite things, to carefully satisfy both; no one knew how to either love real life (not even one of those who are ardently attached to life) or despise it (not even one of those who die with delight): so he was pure from all desire and was not carried away by anything from the present, but everywhere he followed the will of God in his desire! He either said that life was more necessary for him than being with Christ and talking with Him, or that it was so difficult and unbearable that he yearned for a solution and strived for Him. He wanted only what would give him an acquisition that was in accordance with the will of God - he wanted it, even if it happened that it contradicted what had happened earlier. He was distinguished by diversity and different quality, without pretending - let him not! - but being everything that was necessary for preaching and saving people, imitating their Lord. So God appeared in the form of a man when he should have appeared in him; once appeared in fire when circumstances required it; He appeared now in the form of a Warrior dressed in armor, now in the form of an Elder, now in the quiet air, now as a Traveler, now even as a true Man - and as such He did not refuse to accept even death. When I say: I should have appeared, let no one think that this is a necessity of events; no, the need is for mercy alone. He sits either on a throne or on Cherubim. But He did all this in accordance with the purposes of the economy. Therefore, through the prophet He said: “I multiplied the visions and in the hands of the prophets I became like.” So Paul, imitating his Lord, did not consider it a dishonor for himself to be either a Jew or, as it were, outside the law. He either kept the law, or did not care about it; sometimes he clung to real life, sometimes he despised it; sometimes he demanded property, sometimes he refused what was given; made sacrifices, cut off hair and again anathematized those who did this; sometimes he circumcised, sometimes he rejected circumcision. What happened to him was the opposite; but the intention and thought from which this flowed were terribly consistent and true to themselves: he sought one thing - the salvation of those who hear and see it. Therefore, he either exalts the law or humiliates it. And not only in what he did, but also in what he said, he revealed diversity and different quality; discovered, without changing his plan and not standing alone with one, another with another, but adapting everything said to the real need. Therefore, it would not be a mistake if someone called Paul’s soul a meadow of virtues and a spiritual paradise: such he shone with great grace, showing at the same time the philosophy of his soul, worthy of grace. Since he was a chosen vessel and since he had properly purified himself, the abundant gifts of the Spirit were poured out on him; Of these, he flowed rivers worthy of wonder upon us, but not only four, as was the case in the heavenly spring, but much more: they flow out every day, irrigating not the earth, but rousing human souls to bear fruit. But in order for you to hear, not from our lips, about the exploits of Blessed Paul and about the valor that he showed daily for the preaching of piety, it is necessary to listen to his own words. When, through the deception of the false apostles, he was forced to explain his (teaching), he, having said many other things, began like this: “Are the servants of Christ? I speak not in wisdom, but rather. In labors you are multiplied, in wounds you are sore, in prisons you are overflowing, in deaths you are many. From the Jews, five times fourty was the only thing I received: I hit three men with clubs, I lashed them with stones, three times the ship was destroyed with me: I created night and day in the depths. In the traveling processions there are many: troubles in the rivers, troubles from robbers, troubles from relatives, troubles from the tongue, troubles in cities, troubles in the desert, troubles in the sea, troubles in false brethren. In labor and struggle, in vigils in abundance, in hunger and thirst, in fasting in abundance, in winter and nakedness. Besides the external ones...” (“Servants of Christ? (in madness I say:) I am more. I was much more in labor, immensely in wounds, more in prisons and many times at the point of death. Five times the Jews gave me forty stripes minus one; three times I was beaten with sticks, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea; I have been on journeys many times, in dangers on rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from fellow tribesmen, in dangers from pagans, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the desert, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, in labor and exhaustion, often in vigils, in hunger and thirst, often in fasting, in cold and nakedness. Apart from extraneous adventures...") (2 Cor. 11:23–28). Having said: “except for extraneous adventures,” he hints that what is omitted may be more than what is said. Then he says: “I have a daily congregation of people, caring for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28). Do you see the breadth of the soul? Do you see the greatness of the mind? Just as the sun, sending out its rays, passes through the entire earth, Blessed Paul also had such care and concern. That’s why he said: “Whoever faints, with whom would I not faint? Who is tempted, for whom would I not be inflamed?” (2 Cor. 11:29). Oh, what love this husband has! What wakefulness! What care! What mother's heart is tormented like this while her son, sick with a fever, lies on his bed, just as Blessed Paul ached for those who were suffering in every place and gave life to those who were being tempted? What word is sufficient for his exploits? What lips are able to embrace his praise? When one soul has collected in itself everything that is beautiful in a person, and everything in abundance, and not only in people, but also in Angels, then can we allow exaggeration in praise? However, for the sake of this, we will not remain silent; on the contrary, we will especially speak out. The greatest type of praise is when the greatness of deeds with all their saving power exceeds the ability of speech; defeat here is better for us than a thousand victories. Where is the best place to start praising him? Where else if not to show first that he has benefits that are common to everyone? Whether the prophets showed anything valiant, or the patriarchs, or the righteous, or the apostles, or the martyrs - he combined all this in himself, moreover, in such an abundance, in which none of them possesses the good that anyone has. Look: Abel made a sacrifice, and he is glorified for it. But if you put in perspective Paul’s sacrifice of love, it will turn out to be as much more glorious than that as heaven is higher than earth. What kind of sacrifice? I'll tell you if you like. He sacrificed himself every day, and then made a double offering: one - dying every day, the other - carrying death in his body. He constantly gave himself up to dangers, slaughtered himself at his free will, and so mortified the nature of his body that he came to a state that was in no way inferior to the state of slaughtered sacrificial animals and even much higher than it. He did not bring oxen or sheep, but he slaughtered himself twice every day. Therefore, he had the courage to say: “For I am already becoming a sacrifice” (2 Tim. 4:6), calling his own blood a libation. He, however, was not content with these sacrifices, but since he rightly considered himself a victim, he carried it throughout the world, by land and sea, in Hellas and among the barbarians, in a word, in all settlements; he appeared, not just traveling, but plucking up the thorns of sin, sowing the word of piety, casting out error, planting truth, making angels out of people, and even more, making angels out of people from demons. Therefore, intending to leave after many labors and after numerous victorious awards, he says, consoling his disciples: “But if I become a sacrifice for the sacrifice and service of your faith, then I rejoice and rejoice with all of you. In this very thing you also rejoice and rejoice with me” (Phil. 2:17-18). Can anything be equal to this sacrifice that he made by drawing the sword of the spirit? But Abel was killed by Cain treacherously, and in this respect he has more glory? And I have already enumerated to you thousands of deaths - as many as the days Blessed Paul lived preaching. If you want to go as far as investigating the murder, then he fell at the hands of his brother, to whom he did not offend, but did not show any kindness, this one was killed by those whom he sought to rescue from countless troubles and through whom he suffered everything he suffered. But the righteous Noah, perfect in his generation, was the only one among all? And Pavel was the only one among everyone. He saved only himself and his children; this same one, when the universe was overwhelmed by a much more terrible flood, holding together not planks and building not an ark, but instead of planks composing messages, brought out from the very abyss of the waves not two, not three, or five relatives, but the entire universe, at a time when it was about to sink. This ark was not such that it could circle in one place, but it captured the boundaries of the universe; and to this day he brings everyone into this ark, arranging it according to the multitude of those being saved; accepting people more foolish than dumb ones, he makes them equal to the heavenly powers: in all this he surpasses that ark. That ark, having received the raven, let in the raven, and, having received the wolf, did not destroy the wildness in it. This one is not so, but, having received wolves, made sheep out of them, and, having received ravens and jackdaws, turned them into doves; having destroyed all unreason and savagery of human nature, he introduced into it the purity of the Spirit. Until now, this ark continues to float and is not destroyed; the storm of untruth was not able to break his boards, but he himself, swimming, tamed the fierce storm. And so it had to be, because those boards were not smeared with cement and tar, but the Holy Spirit rested on them. We are also surprised at Abraham because, having heard: “Get out of your land, from your kindred” (Gen. 12:1), he left his homeland and home, friends and relatives - we are surprised because the command of Christ was everything for him. We are surprised even by this. But can anything be equal to what Paul did, who for the sake of Jesus left not his fatherland, home and relatives, but the world itself and everything in it, the very heavens and the Heavens of heavens, and sought only one thing - the love of Jesus? “Neither the present nor the future, neither height nor depth, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God” (Rom. 8:38-39). But Abraham snatched his nephew from the hands of the barbarians, exposing himself to danger? This one saved not his nephew, nor three or five cities, but the entire universe, and not from barbarians, but from the hands of demons, himself enduring thousands of dangers every day and by his own dying acquiring great security for others. The main one of his virtues and the crown of wisdom is that he sacrificed his son? But here too we will find that the primacy belongs to Paul, who, as I have already said, sacrificed thousands of times not his son, but himself. What is there to be surprised about in Isaac? There are many other things, but most of all his kindness - the fact that when he dug wells and was expelled from his own borders, he did not take revenge, but, seeing them buried, he tore them up again and constantly moved to another place, not attacking those who offended him, but compromising and leaving his own property everywhere, until he satisfied their unjust desires. But Paul, seeing how they were throwing stones not at the wells, but at his own body, did not simply yield, as he did, but, attacking himself, tried to raise those who stoned him to heaven itself. The more the source was clogged, the more quickly it burst out and the greater streams it poured into patience. Does Scripture marvel at the youth for his constancy? But what kind of adamantine spirit can demonstrate the patience of Paul? He, not twice for seven years, but all his life served for the bride of Christ, not only burned by the heat of the day and the cold of the night, but enduring countless storms of temptation, with his body tormented sometimes by whips, sometimes by stones, sometimes fighting with beasts, sometimes at war with the sea, constantly experiencing hunger during the day and cold at night, everywhere jumping over abysses and snatching sheep from the jaws of the devil. But Joseph was blameless? Here I am afraid that it would be ridiculous to glorify Paul, who nailed himself to the world and saw not only what was pure in bodies, but also all things as we see dust and ashes; and just as a dead person near a dead person would remain motionless, so he, calming with care the excitement of nature, never experienced anything resembling human passion. All people are amazed at Job, and rightly so: he is a great fighter and can compete with Paul himself in patience, purity of life, martyrdom for God, persistent struggle, and the amazing victory that followed this struggle. But Paul spent in this struggle not many months, but many years, and remained harder than any rock, although he not only moistened heaps of earth, sitting on rot, but continuously fell into the mental mouth of the lion himself and struggled with thousands of temptations, although not three or four friends, but all the unbelieving false brothers insulted him, subjected him to spitting and mockery. But Job was distinguished by great hospitality and mercy towards those in need? We will not deny this, but we will find that this is as much lower than Pavlov’s mercy as the body is removed from the soul. What he did to those who were crippled in body, this one did to those who were crippled in the soul, correcting with meditation all the lame and wretched, clothing the naked and indecent with the robe of wisdom. Yes, as for the body, he was as much higher than when they help those in need, living in poverty and in hunger, higher than when they do this in abundance. His house was open to everyone who came to it; This one’s soul captured the entire universe, and he embraced all nations, saying: “You are not cramped in us; but your hearts are cramped” (2 Cor. 6:12). He was hospitable to those in need at a time when he had countless sheep and bulls; this one, not owning anything except his body, helped those in need from him - he exclaims, saying: “These hands have served my needs and the needs of those who were with me” (Acts 20:34); He uses his bodily labor to support the thirsty and hungry. But did worms and ulcers cause Job difficult and unbearable pain? I completely agree with this. But if you contrast this with Paul’s scourgings for so many years, continuous starvation, nakedness, chains, prison, attacks from one’s own, from strangers, from tyrants and the whole universe, and, finally, what is most bitter of all - I’m talking about sorrow for those who fall - concern for all the churches, the fiery sadness that he experienced for all those who are tempted - you will see how the soul that endured all this was harder than rock, as it surpassed iron and adamant; and what he endured in the body, this one endured in the soul, but sorrow for each of those who are tempted wears away the soul worse than any worm. Therefore, he continuously poured out sources of tears, not only days, but also nights, and for each of them he suffered more severely than a wife suffers in the throes of birth. That’s why he said: “my children, from whom I am again in the throes of birth.” Who else can they marvel at after Job? Without a doubt, Moses. But he surpassed him in many ways. Of course, everything else is great in the holy soul of Moses, but its peak and crown is that he decided to be blotted out of the book for the salvation of the Jews. But he wanted to perish along with others, but Paul did not want to perish with them, but, having saved them, to lose eternal glory himself. One fought with Pharaoh, the other fought daily with the devil; one worked for the sake of one people, the other for the sake of the whole universe, shedding everywhere not sweat, but blood instead of sweat, and correcting not only inhabited places, but also uninhabited ones, not only Hellas, but also the land of the barbarians. You can also put forward Jesus, Samuel and other prophets, but in order not to lengthen the words, we will turn to the main ones: if he turns out to be better than them, then there will be no doubt about the others. What kind of luminaries are these? Who else if not David, Elijah and John? One is the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, the other - the second: that is why they have something in common with each other in the name itself. What is extraordinary about David? Humility and love for God. Who has done more and who has not done less in both respects than the spirit of Paul? What's so surprising about Elijah? That he closed the sky, sent famine, brought down fire? Don't think. Rather, it is that he was zealous for God and was more ardent than fire. But if you look at Pavlov's jealousy, you will see that he is as superior to the latter as the latter is superior to others. What can compare with the words that he said, zealous for the glory of the Lord - that “I myself would like to be excommunicated from Christ for my brothers who are related to me according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3)? Therefore, when heaven, crowns and rewards were offered to him, he hesitated and hesitated, saying: “But it is more necessary for you to remain in the flesh” (Phil. 1:24). He thought that neither the creature visible to him nor the spiritual creation were sufficient to express his love and jealousy; but with his word he therefore created another creation, not yet existing, in order to manifest what he wanted and what he was striving for. But did John eat locusts and wild honey? This one spent his life among the world, as he did in the desert, living not on locusts and wild honey, but content with much simpler food and not having even the most necessary food due to zeal for preaching. But he showed great boldness against Herod? This one silenced people like him, not just one or two or three, but thousands, and not even like him, but people much more terrible than him. It remains then to compare it with the Angels. Therefore, leaving the earth, let us ascend to the vaults of heaven. Let no one condemn a bold word. If Scripture called the priests angels, is it surprising if we compare the best of all with the heavenly powers? What's great about Angels? The fact that they obey God with all possible care, David was amazed at what he said: “mighty in strength, doing His word” (Ps. 103:20). But nothing compares to Paul, even if they are thousands of times incorporeal. What makes them most blessed is that they obey commands, that they never disobey. But Paul, one can see, observes this with precision. After all, he not only kept his word, but also fulfilled the commandments. Pointing to this, he said: “What is my reward for? Because when I preach the Gospel, I preach the good news of Christ freely” (1 Cor. 9:18). And why else, surprised, did the prophet say about them: “You make Your angels spirits, Your servants a blazing fire” (Ps. 103:4)? But this can also be seen in Paul. Like spirit and fire, he passed through the entire universe and cleansed the earth. But he didn't reach the sky? What is surprising, however, is that there was one on earth, and that he who was clothed in a mortal body competed with incorporeal forces. Therefore, having gone there, he is near the Royal Throne, where the Cherubim glorify and the Seraphim soar. There we too, having died, will see Paul; standing, even if not close, we will in any case see him, together with Peter and the host of saints, as our head and intercessor, and we will enjoy his pure love. If, while here, he loved people so much that, although he had a desire to “be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23), he nevertheless chose to stay here, then the more ardently his love will show there. I love Rome because he wrote there during his lifetime, and that he loved the Romans so much, spoke to them during a personal meeting, ended his life there, and they keep his body. This is what the city is famous for more than anything else. Like a great and strong body, he has two shining eyes, these are the bodies of those saints. The sky does not glow the same way when the sun sends out its rays, as the city of the Romans sends these two lamps throughout the universe. From here Paul will be raptured, from here Peter. Think and tremble at the thought of what a spectacle Rome will see when Paul, together with Peter, rises from that tomb and is taken to meet Christ; what gift will Rome send to Christ, what two crowns will the city be clothed with, what golden chains will it be surrounded by, what sources will it have. Therefore, I marvel at this city, not because of the large amount of gold, not because of the columns, not because of other splendor, but because of those pillars of the Church. Who will give me the opportunity to embrace Paul's body, to approach his tomb, to see the dust of his body - him who filled what was missing in Christ, who bore His wounds, who sowed preaching about Him everywhere, who saw the dust of the lips that proclaimed Christ, with which he spoke in the presence of kings and was not put to shame, through which we learned about Paul and about the Lord of Paul? Thunder is not as terrible for us as its voice was for demons. Just as lightning, when it appears in the sky, terrifies those who see it, so Paul’s voice terrified the devil; like a strike of lightning it fell upon his hordes. The devil was unable to resist him, but he was so afraid and in awe of him that as soon as he saw his shadow and heard his voice, he ran far away. If you were in awe even of his clothes, much less of his voice. He led him, bound, cleansed the universe, healed diseases, delivered from unrighteousness, planted the truth, had Christ resting, and went with Him everywhere: what the Cherubim are, so was the voice of Paul. Just as He rests on these powers, so He rests on the language of Paul. He was worthy to receive Christ, since he proclaimed what was pleasing to Christ, and because he touched the indescribable heights, like the Seraphim. I would like to see not only the dust of his lips, but also the dust of his heart, which is unmistakably called the heart of the universe, the source of countless blessings, the beginning and element of our life. The Spirit of his life was sent down here on everyone and was given to the members of Christ. I would like to see it even destroyed, because it is higher than heaven, wider than the universe, brighter than rays, fiery than fire, stronger than adamant, because it was worthy to love Christ as no one else loved Him. I would like to see in the bonds the ashes of his hands, by the laying of which the Holy Spirit was sent down, with which the Divine Scriptures were written - those hands, having seen which, the viper fell into the fire. I would like to see the dust of the eyes that were justly blinded, but received their sight for the salvation of the universe, who were worthy to see even Christ in the body, who saw earthly things without seeing, and looked at what is not visible, who knew no sleep, were awake at midnight, who did not tolerate the things of the eyes. I would also like to see the dust of his feet, which went around the world and did not know fatigue, were imprisoned in stocks when the prison shook, went around inhabited and uninhabited places, which often traveled. What else should we talk about? I would like to see a tomb in which lie the weapons of righteousness, the weapons of light, members now alive but mortified while there was life in them, members of Christ having put on Christ, a church of the Spirit, a holy habitation, bound by the Spirit, attached to the tomb by the fear of Christ, bearing the stripes of Christ. This body is a wall for that city and is stronger than any tower and countless fortifications; along with him also the body of Peter, because he honored him during his life: “I went to Jerusalem to see Peter” (Gal. 1:18). Therefore, grace, when he died, deigned to make Peter his co-inhabitant. Let us imitate him. After all, he was a man who shared with us by nature, having everything else in common; but since he showed great love for Christ, he became higher than heaven and is with the Angels. Therefore, if we also wanted to rise a little and kindle that fire within ourselves, we can imitate that saint. If this were impossible, he would not have exclaimed: “Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 4:16). Let us not only marvel at him and be amazed, but also imitate him, so that when we leave here, we will be honored to see him and be partakers of the ineffable glory with which we all may be worthy by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom be glory to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. Ἐκλογαί άπό διαφόρων λόγων . Under this name are known collections of conversations compiled by various persons after the death of Chrysostom on certain topics, from those related to the topics and especially liked by the compilers of the works of the saint. The passages are given partly in a literal presentation, partly in a free retelling and are borrowed both from the original works of Chrysostom, and from works only attributed to Chrysostom, which have not only survived to this day, but have also been lost. These Eclogues (selections) were widespread and were used by both private individuals and kings. Known, for example, is the luxurious collection of Eclogues, owned by the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros Botaniatus (1078–1081), registered among the codices of the Koalene Library under No. LXXIX. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: