On the Praise of Martyrdom

The book “On the Praise of Martyrdom to Moses, Maximus and Other Confessors” belongs to the number of dubious works of the schmch. Cyprian of Carthage. The essay is a sermon on the essence, meaning and dignity of martyrdom. *The title of the work in Latin is De laude martyrii. Although it is not proper, dear brothers, when one is disposed to speak, to show any fear, it is all the more indecent to diminish the glory of such a donation just because I realize that I myself am beginning to hesitate; However, I often say (despite the fact that the spirit is exhausted by the mere reflection, when, on the one hand, it is inflamed by passion for the beginning of praise, and on the other hand, it is restrained in words by the greatness of the achievement) that it is not decent to remain silent, and it is dangerous to say little, unless one who has a strong zeal for the word is helped by one circumstance, that there is an opportunity to receive an apology for those who were not afraid to dare to do so. Why, most beloved brothers, although the power of reason is suppressed by the greatness of the subject, so that, no matter how much it reveals itself in depicting the dignity of martyrdom, just as much, being constrained by the very importance of praise, and equally being brought into exhaustion and completely upset by the judgment of the dignity of those objects about which they speak most of all, confused in itself, it loses the ability to speak, and although, even after being freed from such bonds, it does not express strength in open words this praise; however, if I am not mistaken, there will be a certain force in the image itself, which, protected by the meaning of the matter, finds support for itself even in what a consciousness unequal to reason found an obstacle to the word. So, beloved brothers, since we, hindered by such varied circumstances, arm ourselves with all our love and all our diligence to praise the excellent and wonderful fruits of salvation, then I am no longer afraid that fear for my inability will either deviate me from my intention, or completely destroy it in me, even if someone, who wanted to look closely at what we are talking about and, having weighed what the hope of donation is based on and appreciating all the importance of it, was surprised as could not be. Moreover, I dare to do this when, on the one hand, the vastness of the subject frightened me, and on the other, jealousy for the fulfillment of my promise brought my mind, confused by delight, to confusion of spirit. And who wouldn’t be frightened by this? Who won’t be amazed by its amazingness? Meanwhile, if I’m not mistaken, in the very power of consciousness there really is a wonderful timidity that both confuses and excites us. And the deeper you look into the power of consciousness, the more, due to the very contemplation of its purity worthy of respect, it will presuppose respect for its obligation. So, you must think about how great the glory is - by taking one blow to cleanse any stain of life, the impurity of a defiled body - both ulcers that have become old from prolonged suppuration of vices, and a crime acquired over a long period of time; by which the reward can be increased and the crime can be erased. Hence the whole perfection and dignity of life lies in martyrdom. It is the foundation of life and faith, it is the support of salvation; the union of freedom and honor - and although there is something else through which light can be achieved, it is much better to achieve the promised reward through expiatory punishments. Appreciate how great the glory is when the spirit, having been distracted by the lusts of this life and renounced from all nature and communication with the world, resists the attack of the enemy and is not afraid of the cruelty of the tormentor, when a person is inspired by the very torment from which, apparently, he should have died, when he finds in that precisely the strengthening of his strength, by which the punisher thinks to increase the torment. For, although the claws (a type of instrument of torture) bouncing off the hard ribs are again launched into the wound, and although, when struck with whips, the belt with the torn part of the body returns to the same place again, the tortured person stands motionless, courageously defeating his executions and concentrating at the same time in himself; because during this triumph of the executioners, Christ, for whom the tormented one suffers, endures more than the tormented one himself. And if anyone ever rejected Christ, he would be exposed to the very same guilt by which he should have won the victory; hence the one for whom victory depends on execution must endure everything. So, since martyrdom is the greatest thing, we must, as we have suggested, talk about it from three sides: what is it, what are its properties, and what benefit does it bring? So what is martyrdom? The end of sins, the limit of disasters, the leader of salvation, the teacher of patience, the abode of life, by which (by martyrdom) everything for which torture could have followed in future torture is completely destroyed. Through it, confirmation of the name is given, and the greatness of the name is replenished, not, however, because this greatness could be diminished by itself, or destroyed by the crime of the negated, but because it contributes to the increase of glory, since fear around the agitating people confuses the most fearless souls, and the threat of malicious hatred of the dignity with which Christ deigned to crown a person is given by the fact that the mind in the struggle rises above itself as much as the tormentor thought to defeat him. Then all the firmness of faith is revealed, then gullibility is revealed; and if you, with your pious mind, strengthen yourself against the follies of the people, you will overcome and overcome what ignorant rumors have raised against you to reproach Christ, just as a dam resists the fury of the sea, and although the waves rage and the reflected tide hits it again, yet the fortification remains unshakable, and, being covered with foamy waves, does not give in, until finally the force of the waves, carried over the rocks, itself will be crushed, and the pacified sea, splashing against the rocks, will rise to the open shores. What else is there but empty speech, crazy conversation and criminal pleasure from crazy words, as it is written: “Eyes have and do not see, ears have and do not hear.” For their foolish heart is clothed, lest they turn and save them" (Psalm 113:13–14, Isaiah 6:10). There is no doubt that he said this about everyone who always has a hard soul and a constantly fierce heart, guided by madness, carried away by rage, and finally completely suppressed by the bitterness by which they are carried away and excited, completely retreats from vital piety, so that the guilt of the persecution raised increases the severity of the very punishment that they deserve by their deeds. All this relates to the praise of martyrdom, all this increases the glory of suffering, in which the hope of a future life is seen, in which Christ Himself acts; before us are the experiences of it that we desire, before us and its power, with which we defend ourselves. In this case, it is quite absurd to say that this honor is extremely great and worthy of surprise, so that we can neither comprehend it with our minds nor express it in words. For what more could generous Love give us than that He was the first to show in Himself what He rewards in others? He became mortal so that we could be immortal, and He who rules the human lot was subjected to the common human lot, so that it would be clear that He did for us what He endured; He bestowed confession, added martyrdom, and finally, through the blessings of His birth, special humiliation and divine dignity, He turned into saving medicine everything that could darken the light. Those who received this honor (martyrdom) were completely freed from the most disgusting abyss of the world - they conquered the condition of violent death. There is no need to doubt how much those who preferred the glory of God to their own deliverance deserve from the Lord; the flowing blood will represent, on the last day of judgment, as the best those who were martyrs in their death. Thus, death makes life safer, death leads more quickly to glory. Thus, every time rain falls on the grain stalks, the swollen grains become fuller and a bountiful harvest ripens in the summer; So, every time a lot of shoots and leaves appear on the grapevine, they clean the vine with a knife, and the berries are filled better: in the same way, exactly what the offense consists of turns into increasing future well-being. In the same way, it is very often useful to let fire into the fields, so that the dark pores of the earth will open from the heat of the running flame; It is useful to burn out weeds with fire, so that abundant crops can sprout, so that a thick harvest can show off its blossoming ears. This is exactly what happens in relation to martyrdom - first there is death, and then there is fruit for the one who condemns life to death, in order to preserve life through death. Could anything be more excellent and sublime - how, among so many tortures of the executioners, with unshakable devotion, to preserve all the strength of faith? Could anything be more majestic and beautiful - how, being under the swords of so many tormentors, one could silently confess the Lord, the author of one’s freedom and salvation? And especially - if you imagine that there is nothing more blasphemous than dishonor, there is nothing more vile than slavery, that you should desire and ask for only one thing, in order to escape from this destructive life, in order to be freed from the evils of the world, and so that you, amid the destruction of the universe, which is about to perish, appear alien to the earthly infection? For what do you need this light for, to whom eternal light is promised? What need do you have of this relationship between life and nature, you who are called to you by the whole fullness of heaven? True, love for real life can hold, but only those who, during the eternal vengeance of atrocities, will be tormented by an inexplicably fierce fire; can keep the addiction to this life, but only those for whom death is a punishment and the continuation of life is torment. But for you, who, given universal mortality, was preserved precisely so that you could be a martyr, for you the whole world loses its meaning and the earth passes away. Don't we see funerals every day? We see new deaths, which have become continuous due to cruel diseases; we see the consequences of each new disaster, we see the devastation of populated cities, so that from all this we can learn how highly the dignity of martyrdom should be valued, to the glorification of which the present disaster has prompted us. Therefore, most beloved brethren, I beseech you, look more diligently to wherein salvation lies and wherein privilege lies. I know, and you also know very well, that we are subject to the judgment of everyone around us; the manner of behavior commanded to us is also known, so that we, without any fear of struggle, would maintain the dignity of such a name, we, whom even before this the love of eternal memory should have turned away from attachment to this light, whom the promises of future blessings should have separated from everything, whom finally the desired communion with God should have distracted from all vices, unless we doubt that we must suffer and die. So, we must appreciate and lovingly accept divine benefits, which, beyond their greatness, contain such a reward that human mediocrity can hardly express in words. Heaven is opened for our blood, before blood Gehenna becomes nothing, and between all glory and crown the title of blood appears both higher and more beautiful. Thus, when a warrior, burdened with booty, returns from the battlefield, he rejoices every time for his wounds; Likewise, the navigator, when he reaches calm shores after a long storm, values ​​his happiness by the danger he has experienced, because in fact, if I am not mistaken, the work that achieves well-being is pleasant. So, one must endure and endure everything, and one must not desire short-term joy in order to then endure constant torment. You must remember that you are bound by some kind of obligation, which contains either the true condition of receiving salvation, or the threat of deserved punishment. You stand in the middle between happiness and misfortune, you are between two fires, temporary honor pulls you in one direction, and heavenly glory in the other. If you are afraid of losing your salvation, you must know that you need to die. But you, for whom Christ was killed, must despise death. I ask that before your eyes stand together examples of the Lord’s suffering, sacrifices, rewards and prepared torments, and what is the difference between them, look at both; and you could not confess (Christ) if you did not know how much you would harm yourself if you renounced (Him). The martyrs rejoice in heaven, and fire consumes the enemies of truth - God's paradise is decorated with confessors, and Gehenna, filled with those who renounced, burns with eternal fire. Not to mention anything else, one thing should encourage us more than anything else - that a brief (expressed in one word) confession of Christ will be rewarded with an eternal confession, as it is written: “Whoever confessed Me (on earth) before men, and I will confess him before My Father and before His angels" (Luke 12:8; Matt. 10:32). To complete the image of glory, insignia of virtues are also presented, as he says: “the righteous they will shine, and like sparks will flow along the stem: they judge with their tongues and possess people” (Wis. 3:7, 8). Yes, great, most beloved brothers, is the glory of decorating the path of eternal salvation with the valor of suffering, great is the advantage in the face of God, in the eyes of Christ, to despise the torments of human violence and not to be afraid of them. Thus, by the constancy of faith, Daniel overcame the ferocity of the roaring lions when he believed that! one must honor only the true God (Dan. 6:26). So when the (three) youths were cast into the furnace, the flames turned on themselves while the righteous were in the fire, because they, believing in the Lord, were not afraid of Gehenna. As a result of this, they received what they deserved even now before receiving the reward of eternal salvation. God saw in them such faith that they deserved, while still in the body, to see what they promised themselves after death, because it was impossible to even think about any reward in real trouble. Meanwhile the ferocity ceased, the fire went out; because all (the youths) had one intention, which neither violence could crush, nor anger could destroy, and the fear of death could not deviate them from preserving piety. Thus, by the grace of God it happened that through them the king was obviously punished when those whom he considered dead emerged from the flames unharmed. Now, most beloved brothers, I will proceed to what I can satisfactorily demonstrate in what the actual dignity of martyrdom consists. Although this dignity is known to everyone, and according to the signs of the glory that belongs to it, it should be the subject of search; however, the necessity of the circumstance further strengthens the intention; for it is a great blessing if someone is crowned at the time in which he expects himself to be crowned, if he dies courageously. So, if martyrdom is always high and important, then it is especially important now, when the world itself is coming to destruction, when the universe has partly been shaken, when exhausted nature presents evidence of the final destruction. For at the time when a cloud gathers in the sky, the cloudy air indicates the proximity of rain, and every time a fierce storm threatens the swaying sea, lightning flashes in the dark clouds: in the same way, at the time when the sea begins to become very agitated, then little by little the water wave rises, little by little the surface of the sea turns white, and then you will notice that it becomes so violent that in those rocks, against which it strikes, it throws foam much higher than the waves that the indignant depth splashed out. You read what is written: that we will repay “to the last dollar” (Matthew 5:26); but the martyrs will not be subjected to this lot; because the propitiatory sacrifice brought by the Lord will crown, as not participating in the general sorrow, those who, in the hope of eternal salvation, have overcome earthly desires. So, most beloved brothers, here, first of all, I might consider what the meaning of martyrdom may be. But in order to embrace everything, we must remember what glory it is to come to the most pure Christ, to be a participant in (His) suffering, to reign forever with the Lord, to be uninvolved in the terrible disasters of this world and, during the terrible defeat of the pestilence, not to mingle with others in the common lot. And how can I keep silent about the crown, if you are promised the end of your life at a time when you are among the terrible disasters of nature - wouldn’t I then rejoice with all my soul? If you were to have peace at a time when you are troubled by the troubles of this world, would you not consider death a cure? Finding yourself between the instruments of executioners and torture, remain strong and courageous, reflecting on what the penalty is for renouncing at a time when you cannot enjoy the life for which you would renounce, because the Lord knew that for this purpose grievous torments and disastrous instruments of punishment are being prepared for our destruction, in order to make us courageous to endure everything. “Son,” he says, “when you begin to work for the Lord, abide in piety and fear, and prepare your soul for testing” (Sir. 2:1-3). And the most blessed Apostle Paul, exclaiming, says: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Why, most beloved brothers, we must with firm faith and strong devotion resist cruel threats centuries and the frantic cries of the persecutors; in the same way, those to whom the hope of immortality and heavenly life belong, who are flaming with love for the light and rejoice in the promised immortality. And the fact that the hands are squeezed by squeezing shackles and the heavy chains surrounding the neck oppress with their weight, or that the body stretched out on the instrument of torture cracks on the hot boards - this is not a thirst for blood, but for testing. For how could we know the very dignity of martyrdom if we were not prompted to desire it even to the detriment of our own body? I have seen, and the truth does not deceive me, how often the hands of the executioners tore limbs apart, and the ferocious tormentor twisted the tormented joints; and yet he did not win, despite the cries of those around him. Truly, it is a great thing not to be overcome by suffering, not to fall under the executions of tormentors. But there were other exclamations, and I think: he has children, because he has a helper-wife in the house, and yet he does not yield to the bonds of (marriage) vows, and does not abandon his intention despite all the obstacles from love. It is necessary to understand this circumstance, and the strength to do this must be sought very deeply, for the confession for which a person suffers and is ready to die is not unimportant. Thus, most beloved brothers, the power of martyrdom is such that through it the one who wanted to kill you is encouraged to faith. We read what is written: “Be courageous in tribulation, and be patient in your humiliation, for gold and silver are tempted by fire” (Sir. 2:4–5). So, since the Lord tempts us with earthly trials, and the testing Christ delivers us from the evils of this life, we should be grateful and rejoice that He not only delivers us from these eternal torments, but also rejoices that we have been cleansed from all infection. On the other hand, He requires only integrity from those whom He recognizes as participants in the eternal inheritance and willingly accepts into the heavenly kingdom. He Himself said that everything belongs to Him, not only what grows in low places and what winds along the slopes of mountains, but also what is in the vast expanse of heaven, and what lies in the depths of the bubbling sea. It is due to the fact that everything is in His power that He requires from us only good deeds; to gold, as He said, we should be like. For just as gold is purified by fire in a furnace, so we must endure everything in order to be clean from all filth, as He said through His Prophet: “even if they suffer torment before men, the hope of their immortality is fulfilled: and even if they were punished for a little while, they will be great benefactors, because God has tested them and found them worthy of Himself, ... and as the fruitfulness of the sacrifice has been received by me” ( Wis. 3:4–6). Thus, if ambition carries you away and binds you with a lot of money locked up in storerooms, which always deviates from a good intention, and a soul devoted to its Lord is suppressed by the fear of torment; then, I ask, repeat the heavenly words spoken by Christ Himself: “whoever loses his soul... for My name’s sake will receive it a hundredfold in this life,” and in the next life, “he will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 10:39, 19:29), which we should honor above all, most dearly and most usefully. And let the purple patterns and gold shine through with thin threads on expensive clothes, let the expensive metals that you care about be in the storerooms; but, if I’m not mistaken, all this will be considered empty and useless if, although you have an abundance of everything, you lack one salvation. So the Holy Spirit says that we cannot give anything in place of our soul. “Even if you gain the whole world,” He says, “you lose your soul, what good is it to you? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matthew 16:26)? Everything that we see is vanity, and that, being founded on an unstable foundation, cannot support its strength; for what originates in time is broken by time. Therefore, so that nothing seems pleasant or desirable, and so as not to prefer something to the desire for eternal salvation, everything rejected by the divine commandments has no right and legality in itself. So that the son, being in torture, does not upset his father, and so that the oppressed heart, despite his strong, untried courage, does not somehow change his aspirations to someone else’s will, the Lord has determined by his law that amid great torment, to preserve one truth and one salvation; in this definition - both the wife, and the children, and the grandchildren; with this definition in mind, it is necessary, leaving aside any offspring, to wrest victory. For Abraham actually pleased God in that, tempted by God, he did not spare his son, and if he had doubted killing him, he would hardly have received an excuse for this. Holy devotion armed the hand, and fatherly love, obeying the command of the Lord, drowned out the impulses of love within itself. And he was not horrified that he would shed the blood of his son, and did not tremble at the command; Meanwhile, Christ was not yet killed for him. For what could be more desirable than that He Himself first endured what He taught, so that you now suffer without being forced? What could be more pleasant than the fact that He, our God and Master, makes a person who suffers for Him a joint heir of the heavenly kingdom? I don’t know what to revere more, whether the consciousness can barely comprehend, since it is always amazed at the greatness of gifts, or the fact that the greatness of God is so immeasurable that, beyond all expectation, it even offers what it was unusual for us to desire when considering our actions. For if only eternal salvation were given to us, then for one eternal life we ​​should be considered blessed. But now, when in the future life he gives us heaven and the opportunity to pronounce judgment on others, then in what way can human insignificance manifest itself? If you are subjected to insults, then He was subjected to them before you. If reproach oppresses you, then accept the gift of God. Therefore, whatever you endure for Him, all this is of little importance, because you can do nothing more than what eternal salvation consists of, since He promised everything to martyrdom. Finally, the Apostle, who always cared about everyone, marveling at the greatness of the promised gifts, said: “I cannot bear it, for the passions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that desires to be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). For he reasoned with himself how great the reward is when someone who was enough to avoid death is not only granted salvation, but also has an entrance into heaven, into Heaven, in which neither day gives way to night, nor night to day, but in which, from the transparency of pure air, illuminated by fiery light, there is an unfading light. Now, most beloved brothers, it remains for us to show what benefits martyrdom brings. We already know that the fear of the future prompts us to strive for this glory - martyrdom; because to whom much is promised, he must fear especially much. A warrior does not arm himself until the enemy's arrows prompt him to do so. And no one leads the ship to the pier before the rough seas begin to frighten him. Likewise, a farmer who is attentive to his work does not begin to plow the land until the dry soil is loosened by rain. Thus, it is a completely natural thing to not know what is useful if you do not know what is harmful. Therefore, the saints are given a reward at a time when the wicked are subjected to torment. So, everyone undoubtedly knows what the Lord promised to his own, but everyone also knows what executions he threatens. And since we have come to the point of having an idea of ​​both (since I have already mentioned both), I will now briefly outline what is going on. The terrible place, called Gehenna, groans from the terrible cry of the tormented, and constantly spews out the unbearable heat of the cave, flaming with fire, spewed out in the thick darkness of the terrible night - the clouds of fire are compressed and spilled out for various kinds of executions. Yes, there are many kinds of cruel torments, and at the time when the consuming flame begins to torment with its heat, everyone remains with himself. Gehenna strikes those who rejected the word of God and despised the commandments of God with various torments, and, in retribution for the rejected salvation, aggravates its rage - because each crime subjects the perpetrator to special torment. And indeed, some are oppressed by unbearable weight, others are thrown from cliff to cliff by violent force, and heavy, rattling chains drag them into the abyss; some are constantly spinning on a wheel, while others, tightly tied to one another, are squeezed in tight treasures, so that in this way some are tormented by fire, others by iron, and other multitudes of executions. On the contrary, for those who constantly sought and knew God, the abode of Christ is always ready, in which grace abides, in which the earth, luxurious with green fields, is covered with fruitful grass and fragrant with flowers, in which there are tall groves, in which, finally, the trees are covered with thick branches and leaves, so that the bowing branches cover the spread out arbor with shadow. There is neither cold nor heat there; It does not happen there that the fields rest during autumn and that the fertile land bears fruit when the new spring comes; there is always the same time, there is always fruit, because there are no lunar changes there, no calculation of the solar course by hours, and day does not give way to night there. People enjoy joyful peace, live in such a pleasant place from which a source arises, which first flows straight in its bed, and then, meandering in its current, quickly falls at the bends to be divided into new streams. Here is the great praise of the martyrs, here is the glorious crown of the victors, who are promised even more than this, for whom the rewards will still increase. And if either the body is thrown to fierce beasts, or the threatening sword does not arouse fear, then this reveals dignity, this declares election. For it is unusual for someone who is recognized as worthy of such a reward to remain with earthly vices and impurities. O glorious martyrs! According to your merits, nothing is denied to you, who are nourished by the hope of eternity and light, whose devotion is complete and whose mind is occupied with heavenly service. It is worthwhile, I say, it is worthwhile that you are allowed to desire everything, who in your soul have despised this world and turned your face away from this life. How would deprivation of sight frighten one for whom this world served as a prison, and his home as a prison throughout his entire life? Thus, since the triumphant ones gain victory by rising above these misfortunes, it is not the winner who, during the solemn procession, was elevated by empty ambition or extolled by the crowd, but the one whom, for his ardent love for heavenly things, the Lord included in his kingdom. So, the only thing that is important and worthy of honor is that which frees us from death, that which imparts life and bestows an eternal kingdom with the saints. That is what is proper for the rich, what is necessary for the poor, and what is proper for all that the good admire, the humble are exalted, and the chosen are crowned. God, who cares for everyone, bestowed in martyrdom a kind of medicine of life, when he assimilates it to some for their merits, and to others he bestows it out of his mercy. We have seen that many, famous for their faith, began to honor this title in order to seal their obedience to the vow by death. But they also often saw that others stood undaunted because they wanted to atone for their sins by being washed in their blood, and through death they hoped to receive life again for those who were considered dead during life. Thus death makes life safer, death restores lost glory; because through martyrdom, hope that has already been lost is regained; through martyrdom, salvation is completely restored. In the same way, when crops begin to disappear in the parched fields and the earth begins to warm up under the faded grass, then it is necessary to dig a spring on the high hills and water the thirsty arable land with flowing streams, so that the irrigated field is covered with abundant shoots and during the rain there is a thick harvest. So, beloved brothers, what else will I present to you, what else will I say? When all the virtues of martyrdom are united together, the spirit becomes indignant, the feeling weakens, and, with all my tension, the word - as if inexpressive - falls silent. And is it possible to say everything completely? Because when you depict the essence of eternal salvation, the desire for glory immediately comes to mind - if you talk about this, then greatness lies ahead. Objects are similar and come to mind together, and you don’t know what is worthy to depict. Thus, examples of martyrdom from opposite sides restrained the impulses of bold speech, as if binding them. What word, what tension, what effort will be sufficient to depict such a gift? As a result of a brief confession (of the name of Christ), disasters cease, joy begins, the kingdom is opened, dominion is prepared, punishment is abandoned, death is expelled, life appears, and the opposing weapons of the restless enemy are destroyed. If there is a sin, it perishes; if there is a crime, it disappears. I ask you, weigh all this in your mind, and learn from our speech as much as you can learn. Let that day appear before your eyes when, on the one hand, unwavering devotion, in the eyes of the people, in the eyes of all, will withstand the earthly torments and threats of the age, and when, on the other hand, terrified souls and confused minds will tremble with horror at the cowardly fear of those who encourage them; what anxiety will there be then, what an intense desire for prayers, how many vows will be remembered then, when the victorious crown will depend on wavering victory and on unforeseen accidents, and when a destructive and furious cry will be kindled by anger, ignited by madness and finally raging with terrible threats. And everyone should know what the matter is then: so that neither the diseases of the wounds nor the blows of torture are shaken - as if our already despicable weakness and as if an instantaneous flash of human courage; no, a person needs to be firm and not hesitate - to be in torture and not to be defeated, or better - in the very execution to which he is subjected, to find strength for himself. Consider, most beloved brothers, what I am talking about; understand for yourself what the hardness of martyrdom consists of. Behold, in the suffering of everyone, the martyrs who were first called from this life rejoice, the messengers of all good things rejoice - the angels, the elect rejoice in the same way, the Lord rejoices over his warrior, Christ rejoices over the witness of his name. But, dearest brothers, what I say is still not enough. So - as great as my motivation to speak was, the enormity of the enterprise was just as surprising; but, I ask you, do not let the steadfastness of my intention escape your attention, in which I realized that no more can be said about martyrdom than can be learned. Hence the reason for the end of the praise of martyrdom is not that I thought that I had fully depicted its glory, but that I pointed out such dignity in it that, as it seems to me, I said a lot about it in a few words. They prefer preserved justice to the good of faith, and immaculate virginity places itself above all other praises; but both are inferior to blood, both are inferior to torment. The righteous and virgins chose good, and the martyrs imitated Christ himself. However, beloved brothers, let no one think that I place all hope of salvation in martyrdom alone; in this case, let everyone pay attention to the fact that I am not the only one who says this, and that the order of things is not such that the promised hope of salvation has a one-sided support. But since the Lord himself testified that the Father has “many abodes” (John 14:2), I thought that there is no greater glory than that which is praised there by people unworthy of temporary life. So, beloved brothers, who zealously strive for the faith, let us gather all our strength and arm ourselves with patience. We should not be touched by everything perishable, which is forced to destruction not only by natural law, but also by the very end of time. Ap. John, exclaiming, says: “Even the ax lies at the root of the tree” (Matthew 3:10), indicating by this that the world is in the last degree of decrepitude. And the Lord himself says: “Walk until you have light, so that darkness has not you” (John 12:35). If he argued that at that time we still needed to go (towards the light), then even more so now we need to go. But I will return to the praise of martyrdom; this is what the blessed Apostle Paul says: “Do you not know that those who are in disgrace are all in shambles?” flow, but you alone will receive honor? (But you) will be crowned (1 Cor. 9:24) And in another place, in order to encourage us to martyrdom, he called us joint heirs with Christ, and in order not to omit anything else, he says: “If you die with Christ, then you are contenders” (Col. 2, 20). Thus, most beloved brothers, if we expect the reward of the resurrection, if we finally hope to reign together with Christ; then must die for the world. For you cannot desire martyrdom if you do not hate the world, nor receive rewards from God if you do not love Christ. And whoever loves Christ does not love the world, because the world rejected Christ, just as Christ rejected the world, as it is written, “Peace be crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14). No one liked the world after the Lord condemned it, nor could anyone who received glorification while living in the world receive eternal salvation. Here are the words of Christ himself: whoever loves his soul in this life will destroy it in the next, and whoever hates it in this life will find it in the next (Matthew 10:39). And St. ap. Paul says: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). And in another place he says: I wish that everyone, if possible, would imitate me (1 Cor. 7:7). The one who endured and endured in order to imitate the Lord said this; Therefore, he wanted us to endure, so that through this we would become imitators of Christ. If you are righteous and believe in God, then why are you afraid to shed your blood for Him who, as you yourself know, suffered for you many times? In the person of Isaiah he was cut in half (cut with a saw), in Abel he was killed, in Isaac he was sacrificed, in Joseph he was sold, in general in man he was nailed to the cross, but about the rest, which words cannot express or the mind can comprehend, I will keep silent. The human consciousness is amazed at the example of humiliation, and when it reflects on what happened during suffering, it is amazed at the Sufferer, for whose sake everything was in confusion. The day turned into night, all the light changed into darkness, the earth, shaking at its foundation, dissipated (cracked), the souls of the deceased became confused, the tombs were opened, and the bodies of the deceased from the coffins that had opened, due to the dissolution of the earth, returned to life; During the shedding of blood, the world trembled, and the entire interior of the church was exposed when the curtain hanging over the doors was torn apart. Hence, it is a great thing to imitate the One who exposed the world by His death. So, if you stick with your whole soul to the example of the Lord’s suffering and to the whole testimony of Christ, then you will not be afraid to shed your blood; before martyrdom everything must be silent. The glory of martyrdom is priceless, the greatness is boundless, the victory is bright, the dignity is famous, the name (title) is priceless, the triumph is endless; because, as if by the very blood of Christ, the one who is glorified by his confession is adorned. So, most beloved brothers, although all this, that is, the glory of martyrdom belongs to the promises of the Lord, is given from above, is obtained only by His order and cannot be comprehended by the mind, nor expressed in word and with all the power of eloquence, but it will completely depend on your good will, on your love, if you only want to remember my words when the Lord begins to glorify martyrdom in your face. As if in a tender womb you will dwell in the holy altar (heaven), in this great and glorious dwelling, you will live forever, you will reign there and triumph in victory. Oh, blessed are you, whose sins have been forgiven, if only, imitating the Lord, you have ever sinned! Blessed are you, who from the beginning of the world have been sealed with the blood of the Lord, clothed in blessed white clothing and adorned with a bright robe! I am already contemplating in my mind a glorious, divine spectacle, I say, I am already contemplating how the valiant army of Christ begins to enjoy its glory. A jubilant multitude of victors will appear before His face, and all this numerous army, illuminated as if by the rising sun, will assume power. Oh, if only I, the unworthy one, would be worthy to see all this in reality! However, the Lord can do this because he probably will not reject your petition. You might be interested in: