Слово на Святую Пасху. Св. Иоанна Златоустого, архиепископа Константинопольского

The sacred rays of the light of Christ have already shone, and the clear stars of the pure Spirit have risen, and the heavenly royal authorities have opened the treasuries of the Divinity. The long and dark night is swallowed up, gloomy death is hidden, life is open to everyone, everything is full of inexhaustible light, the east of the east dominates everything, and the immortal, great Christ, born before the morning star, appears before everyone brighter than the sun. Now comes a long, eternal and unfading bright day for us believers - the mysterious Easter, figuratively celebrated during the reign of the law, Easter - an amazing work of Divine perfection and power. Truly a holiday and an ever-living monument! From passion - dispassion, from death - immortality, from mortification - life, from defeat - healing, from fall - rebellion, from descent - ascension. So God produces great things! Thus, out of the impossible, He creates the unexpected, so that one can learn that for His will alone everything is possible! So, let the law establish these images, let the angel explain, announcing the great coming of the great King, let him foretell the truth by those events in which many Egyptian firstborns died, and Israel was saved by mysterious blood. This is all a shadow of the future; and with us - the fulfillment of similes and the realization of images, instead of a shadow - the truth itself in all its accuracy and firmness. There is a lamb from the flock, here is a Lamb from heaven; there is a sign of blood that temporarily warded off danger, here the Word is a vessel full of Divine blood and Spirit; there - a sheep from the flock, here - instead of a sheep, the Shepherd Himself, like a sheep, leads the slaughter (Isa. 53:7). This is how those events foreshadowed complete salvation! The images alone turned out to be life-saving. Let the heavens of heaven rejoice, as the Divine Spirit cries out, proclaiming the glory of God; may the heavenly angels and archangels celebrate; may all the heavenly Powers rejoice, seeing the Supreme Leader of the highest hosts, coming bodily in the form of an intercessor; let the choirs of stars celebrate, showing Him who ascended before the star; let the air also celebrate, stretching immeasurably into depth and breadth; let the sea water celebrate, worthy of sacred footprints and walking; let the earth, washed by the Divine blood, celebrate; May every human soul reborn by the Resurrection celebrate! This is Easter, the common triumph of all as a result of the fulfillment of the fatherly will in the world, the embassy of Christ, the Divine East over the earth, the eternal holiday of angels and archangels, immortal life for the whole world, deadly for death, incorruptible heavenly bliss for people, a sacred triumph, the foreshadowing of ancient and new sacraments, visible on earth and in heaven, contemplated by those who accepted them new and with sacred knowledge. This is what we can say briefly about this subject. This is the national holiday of Easter. In order for us to take some part in the word, as if in a feast (eating not earthly, but heavenly, let us also taste this mental Passover with spiritual desire, just as Jesus desired to eat Passover with us), we will first briefly say what the law said [about Passover], and how it was implemented, and why the law was given after the abandonment of Egypt; Then we will show what the purpose of establishing Easter is, and what kind of sacrament this is - Easter, which is superior to everything and in all respects. Easter mysteriously begins first of all from Egypt, Easter is this first blow to dark idolatry, the mysterious cutting off of godless idolatry madness, the just night defeat of the original seeds of error. It is known that Egypt experienced the beating of its firstborn, and an entire generation that was born died, with the goal that the stiff-necked Pharaoh, not coming to his senses with the first plagues, although he came to his senses late, and Israel would be so extraordinarily saved, and God would be glorified in everything. Many Egyptians are executed, and Israel celebrates Passover, which is therefore called Passover in the Feast of the Lord, and in which many sacred secrets of God’s love for mankind are hidden. And the meaning of all this is as follows. Egypt is a big and dark image of a dark and deep error. Here, precisely, the first beginnings of that deception arose, due to which calves and fish, animals and birds and all similar living creatures were idolized and revered as gods. That is why, when just wrath was revealed from heaven, and great horror seized the whole earth, then first of all the superstitious and insane idolatry delusion was destroyed, because in all the gods of Egypt, it is said, I will take vengeance: I am the Lord (Ex. 12:12). Execution falls on all the firstborn, since, having adopted the most distant antiquity, (the Egyptians) maintained the most ancient service to idols. The execution is carried out in the darkness of the night, because the tumult of dark deeds and demons was gloomy, sad, unpleasant and silent. And I will give,” they say, “wonders in the heavens above, and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoking smoke: the sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and enlightened day of the Lord comes (Joel 2:30, 31). The blood, as a sign of the seal of Christ, is my sacrament; the sign did not mean the truth in itself, but only pointed to a future truth. All those who have the mark of blood on their souls, like the anointed one on their houses, as depicted in the law, all of them will escape the destructive punishment. And on which houses, says the Lord, I will see blood, and I will cover you, and there will be no plague in you to perish, when I strike the land of Egypt (Ex. 12:13). So, blood is here a sign of safety, both for houses and for souls (after all, the soul is prepared by the Divine Spirit and faith for a sacred dwelling). This sign protects believers. This is the mysterious meaning of Easter for the whole world. Listen to the significance of the particulars, which we will try to explain to the best of our ability. Why is the month of Easter the first between the months of the year? A secret Jewish tradition says that this is precisely the time in which the Lord of times and the Creator God once created everything. And this is the first color of creation, the beauty of the world, when the Creator Himself mentally saw the whole beautiful picture, harmoniously moving, decorated with the improvement of the heavens, a favorable combination of times (years), the correct movement of the sun, the rising of the light that has not yet weakened, and already decorated with the birth of fruits, the rapid growth of plants, flowery shoots of trees, already emerging generations of herds. This moment of universal harmony and complete improvement, this, so to speak, time of grace, spring in all its charm - is the first beginning of time. For me this is undeniable, I think so, and I am even sure that the month of Easter, during which this great sacrament is performed and celebrated, should be considered the beginning, head and first leader of all time, so that, just as the Lord from the beginning is the firstborn firstborn of everything conceivable and invisible, so this month, due to the significance of the sacred celebration, becomes the first month of the year and the beginning of all time. This is the same year (summer) about which Holy Scripture says: it is pleasant to preach the year of the Lord (Luke 4:19). The sheep is a sacred sacrifice. Christ Himself is led like a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb is silent to its shearer (Acts 8:32), and John says of Him: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). A perfect lamb and one year old; perfect, as is considered on earth. The year, considered a measure of time on earth, making a circle and turning into itself, by this circular movement and turning into itself is likened to immeasurable eternity. The fact that the lamb is taken on the tenth day of the month has great symbolic significance. The interval of time before the Gospel was filled by the law; the most important teaching in the law is the ten-words; and so, precisely, after the ten commandments of the law, the mysterious Lamb comes from heaven. The (lamb) is preserved for several intermediate days, which in Scripture denotes the time of (Christ’s) stay in the flesh before He suffered and was kept in custody in the house of the high priest. The neighbor who is allowed to eat the lamb is me, because you, Israel, did not contain the Lamb within yourself. Then, the lamb is slain in the evening, because the sacred Lamb is also killed at sunset. The whole large assembly of the children of Israel slays the lamb. And indeed, all Israel, in their unbelief, took upon themselves the guilt for that precious blood - all Israel, who killed at that time and still do not believe. Therefore, the Divine Spirit testifies against them and says, saying: “Your hands are full of blood” (Isa. 1:15). The lintel anointed with blood is the Church, and the two pillars are two nations, because the Savior is not content with what he first sent to you, Israel. “I was not sent to you,” He said, “but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). I, like a dog, sat at someone else’s table, not yet able to eat bread, but collecting falling crumbs and eating from someone else’s food. But after you did not recognize the manna from heaven, the bread was transferred through faith to me, and I, having become a son instead of a dog, eat meat. The light of the world has dimmed before the great (radiance) of the body of Christ. Take, eat, this is My body (Matthew 26:26). The meat is baked by fire: the mental body of Christ is fiery. Fire has come to burn on the earth, and what do I want, even if it is already on fire (Luke 12:49)? Not raw meat, so that the word is not difficult, useful and pleasant; and not boiled in water, so that the word is not weak, watery, and dissolved. Further it is said in the law: you will cut off the head with the feet and the womb (Ex. 12:10). The beginning and the middle are like invisible advice; legs like a person. Head with legs and entrails. The beginning, the middle and the end: everything contains, contains and unites in Himself with insoluble connections, having truly become a mediator between God and man. Head with legs and womb. Height, depth and breadth are the affirmations of the earth. Head with legs and womb. Law and word as advice. How red are the feet of those who bring good news (Isa. 52:7). But do not break any bones from it (Ex. 12:46) - in order to certify the resurrection with the body. Bring, says Christ, your fingers into the wounds of the nails (John 20:27, 25), so that you may know that the spirit is not flesh and bone (Luke 24:39). Eat unleavened bread with bitter herbs, for they are bitter to you and signify bitter deeds. Your land is desolate, your cities are burned with fire, strangers devour your country before you, and it is desolate from strangers (Isa. 1:7). Celebrate the Passover with care (Ex. 12:11). And of course, anyone intending to begin such a body must be kind and sober. Your loins are girded. Natural fetters - carnal desires and dirty pleasures - must be abandoned. Your foundations are on your feet, so that the paths are correct, the supports are not crooked for the establishment of the truth. Your sandals, which Moses loosed and Christ tied, are on your feet. Break off, they say, the boots of your feet (Ex. 3:5), so that the temporary meaning of the law can be seen. He is not worthy to loose the thong of His boot (Luke 3:16) - in order to show the universal significance of the concluded agreement. Your rods are in your hands. A sign of Divine power, a support of mental strength. The rod (for) Moses, the rod (for) Aaron, the rod of nuts, the rod that divides the depths of the sea, the rod that sweetens the bitterness of springs, the rod on which rest the seven holy gifts of the Divine Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of the fear of God will fill Him (Is. 2:2, 3). This is Easter, the Lord's Passover! The Spirit proclaimed, because she is not an image, not a fiction, not a shadow, but the Passover is truly the Lord’s. The blood is a sign, a sign of future truth, a type of the true Spirit, an imitation of the great anointing. And I will see blood, and I will cover you. Truly, You sheltered us, Jesus, from great destruction, extended your fatherly hands, hid us under Your fatherly wings, shed Divine blood on earth and accomplished the reconciliation sealed with Your blood according to Your love for mankind, removed formidable anger from us and restored that ancient world for us. So let them eat unleavened bread for seven days, observing the sevenfold time in the world and eating the earthly food determined by the law on earth; our Easter is the sacrifice of Christ, we have a new dough for His sacred mixing, so that, having been completely leavened with better power, we may unite with His Spirit. And I leavened the very kingdom of heaven with mixed leaven according to three measures of wheat flour. Hence - Easter. The stranger is not eating. I do not throw pearls before swine, I do not give holy things to dogs. Let him who first serves sin circumcise his heart and, freed from bitter slavery, then approach the sacrament with dignity; then, having independence, it will be free to eat the Passover, because Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse against us (Gal. 3:13). Let it be demolished in one house, and do not take the meat out of the house (Ex. 12:46). One is the congregation and one is the house; this is the Church in which the sacred body of Christ is eaten; therefore, the body is not taken out of the single house of the Church. The law will be the same for the free and the alien. Where Christ is, there is freedom for all, equality, one law: all are purchased with precious blood. Therefore, we are all free in Christ. Listen, listen, after the types and the Old Testament economy, what is the economy like after the coming of Christ to earth. What is the coming of Christ? Deliverance from slavery, liberation from former need, honor of adoption (to God), source of remission of sins, truly immortal life in all. Seeing us from above, tormented by death, bound by the bonds of corruption, heading along one inevitable and irrevocable path, having come and taking on the original image on the advice of our fathers, the Word did not entrust the service to angels or archangels for us, but He Himself accepted the fight for us, obeying the fatherly commandments. Since the pure Divine Spirit was inaccessible to everyone and not everyone could feel His direct influences, He Himself, having voluntarily gathered, came as He wished, without becoming less or worse in Himself and without losing glory, and due to the excess of His fatherly power, not losing what He had, but adding also what He did not have. He came as He could be received. And since some kind of container was needed for the Divine Spirit, so that the first would become participants in human nature and being, then, having purified and co-numbered, separated and discarded that which was dirty and unnecessary, illuminating the pure, clear and bright, illuminating with brilliance, surrounding with radiance, inflaming, making a small church, raising in chastity and, so to speak, elevating to the rank of an angel, He bodily took upon Himself the human an image having a spiritual origin (East), but receiving a human appearance. That is why the Holy Scripture is very mysterious and depicted Him, saying this: Behold the man, the east is His name (Zech. 6:12), the east, as it were, according to the spirit, and the husband according to the body, because the Holy Spirit will come upon Thee, and the power of the Most High will overshadow Thee: likewise, that which is to be born holy will be called the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:35). Since His origin was extraordinary and Divine, then naturally the Spirit was surprised, saying: who can confess His generation (Is. 53:8)? There are four distinctive titles of Divinity that are most appropriate when speaking of the Spirit: these are dominion, Divinity, sonship, and the eternal kingdom; See if He is not worthy to receive these virtues and glory. First see: He is the Lord. The Lord said to My Lord: Sit at My right hand (Ps. 109:1). Do you see that He is the Lord from the Lord? Look - He and His Son. You are my son, I gave birth to You today. Ask from Me, and I will give You the tongues of Your heritage (Ps. 2:7, 8). Do you see that He is the first-born and only-begotten Son? Look: He is also God. High men will come to you, and they will pray in you, and they will worship you: for you are God, there is already God in you (Isa. 45:14-15). Did you see that He is God? Look: He is also the eternal King. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness, a scepter of Thy kingdom. Because of this anointing of You, O God, Your God, I am more than Your partaker with the oil of joy (Ps. 44:7, 8). Did you see that He is the King? Look: He, being the King, is the Lord of hosts: Lift up your gates, O princes, and lift up the everlasting gates: and the King of glory will come in. Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts is the king of glory (Ps. 23:7, 8, 10). Do you see that He, being a king, is also the Lord of Hosts? And from what follows you will see that He was also the eternal High Priest. The Lord swears, and will not repent: you are a priest forever (Ps. 109:4). Therefore, if He is the Lord, and God, and the Son, and the King, and the Lord of Hosts, and the eternal High Priest, then when He wants, He is also a man. Who will know Him? Without a doubt, in appearance He is a man, but from eternity He is God. And so that He does not seem, in the opinion of people, to be a random and originless ghost or a spirit appearing on earth, listen to the fact that He was also a baby. For the house of David, hear: the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call his name Immanuel (Isa. 7:13, 14). Without a doubt, this great Jesus came to us as God and man: no one should doubt. The Divine is contained in the human body. Likewise, Adam received the first mystical breath of the Father on earth, being dust, because the Divine Spirit does not suffer harm, uniting with the body by the will of God. And if the first dust contains the sacred Spirit, the animate body contains the immortal life of Christ. Therefore, whenever the Spirit came into one who was enslaved to sin and death, the great manifestation of the body would be unnecessary if neither sin nor death were overcome. But sin also had to be destroyed. That is why He did not commit sin; flattery was found in His mouth. That is why He first put on this poor and mortal body, as the Spirit says about Him: There is no form of Him lower than glory: and in the sight of Him there is no form lower than kindness: but His form is dishonored, lower than all the sons of men (Is. 53:2). In the likeness of the flesh of sin, and about sin, condemn sin (Rom. 8:3), showing that it is not the sick who need a doctor, but the sick. He healed our weak bodies, and especially healed illnesses with mighty power, so that what was said would be fulfilled: hear, O glusii, the words of the book. And to those who sit in darkness, light has risen. Then the lame will leap like a tree, and the tongue of those who perish will be clear (Isa. 42:18; cf. 29:18; 35:5, 6). After evil has been destroyed piece by piece, the last enemy is overthrown by death. Where is the sting, O death (Hos. 13:14)? This was the Passover that Jesus wanted to offer for us. Through suffering He freed us from suffering and through death He conquered death and through visible food He bestowed His immortal life. This is the saving desire of Jesus! This is the highest spiritual love: to present images as images, and to give the sacred body to His disciples. Therefore, He does not so much desire to eat together as to suffer, in order to free us from suffering through eating; therefore, by erecting the tree of the cross in place of that tree, nailing on it the hand that once served the forefather for sin, He showed that all life truly hangs on Him. This tree serves for my eternal salvation; in it is my food, treat; I have support in its roots, I spread along with its branches, I live in its spirit like air. This is food to satisfy my hunger, a source to quench my thirst, a covering for my naked body. When I fear God, it is protection for me; when I hesitate, I am a support; when I fight, there is a reward; when he has won, it is a sign of victory; for me it is a small path, a narrow road; it is Jacob's ladder, along which angels ascend and descend, and the Lord is established at the top. Since there was nothing in the immortal body that could be food for death, it, left on its own and deprived of food, became death for itself, as many of the righteous prophetically announced about the resurrection of the firstborn from the dead. This is why Christ endured a three-day stay in the earth, so that instead of the law He Himself could save the entire human race. Perhaps, for this reason He became three days old, so that in man he could be restored in all its integrity - soul, spirit and body. After the resurrection of Christ, women see Him first; Just as woman introduced the first sin into the world, so she is the first to proclaim life to the world. That is why women hear the sacred voice: rejoice (Matthew 28:9), so that the first sorrow (will be erased) by the joy of the resurrection, and so that His resurrection from the dead along with the body will be certified for unbelievers. And since He was completely clothed with the outward appearance of the old man, and, having clothed himself with it, represented it as heavenly, then this appearance, uniting with Him, ascended with Him into heaven. The powers of heaven, seeing the great mystery - man already ascending in God - having received the command, cried out with joy to the highest hosts: take up your gates, O princes, and take up the eternal gates: and the King of glory will come in. These, seeing a new miracle - a man united with God - in turn exclaim and ask: who is this king of glory? And they answered the question: The Lord of hosts, who is the King of glory, is strong and powerful and mighty in battle (Ps. 23:7–10). Oh, mysterious help! Oh, spiritual triumph! Oh, Divine Easter, descending from heaven to earth, and ascending back from earth to heaven! Oh, a new festival for the whole world! Oh, the joy of all, and honor, and food, and pleasure, from which gloomy death was destroyed, and life spread to everyone, the gates of heaven were opened, and God appeared as a man, and man ascended as God, crushing the gates of hell and breaking the adamantine bonds! And the people who were below in the earth rose from the dead, announcing this to those who were above; a choir emerged from the ground. Oh, Divine Easter, which now unites us spiritually with God, who descends in fullness from heaven, through whom the great bridal chamber is filled with wedding feasts, and everyone carries wedding clothes, and no one is expelled as not having it! Oh, Easter, enlightenment with a new light, decoration of a bright wedding procession! Now the lights in souls do not go out; Spiritually and divinely inspired, the fire of grace is kindled in everyone in body and spirit, supported by the oil of Christ. That’s why we call on you, Master God, spiritually eternal King Christ! Stretch out Your great hands on Your Holy Church and on the people always holy to You, protecting, preserving them, and granting us, together with Moses, to sing a victorious song, because Yours is the glory and power forever and ever. Amen 217. Full Collection created, St. Chrysostom in Russian transl., ed. 1902, vol. VIII, pp. 944–957. In the Migne edition this word is classified as Spuria. You might be interested in: