Слово на Светоносное и Святое Воскресение Господа и Бога нашего Иисуса Христа. Святого Григория, епископа Нисского

Blessed be God! Let us now glorify the Only Begotten Son of God, who came from the dark depths of the earth and illuminated the entire universe with luminous rays. Let us now glorify the resurrection of the Victor, who took upon Himself our sins. Let us now glorify God the Word, who put to shame the wisdom of the world, confirmed the prophecy of the prophets, cemented the union of the apostles, and spread the grace of the Holy Spirit everywhere. Now we, who were once strangers to the knowledge of God, have come to know God. What was written has been fulfilled: all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the tongues of the fatherland will worship before Him (Ps. 21:28). What will they remember? An ancient fall and a new uprising, - a former crime and a present correction, - the death of Eve and the birth of the Virgin, - forgiveness of sins, the prophecy of the prophets, the preaching of the apostles, rebirth in the font, entry into paradise, entry into heaven of the Creator, resurrected, putting aside dishonor and with His Divine omnipotence changing corruption into incorruption. What dishonor did the Lord put aside? That about which the prophet Isaiah said: and we saw Him, and not in name of appearance, nor kindness: but His appearance is dishonorable, more debased than all the sons of men (Is. 53: 2-3). When was His (the Lord's) appearance dishonored? then, when (the Lord) turned among the lawless Jews and was called from them both “Samaritan” and “having a demon” (John 8: 48; 10:20); when Judas Iscariot and the sons of darkness took the Immense One to kill Him. When (His appearance) was dishonest? then when He, the embodiment of meekness, was hit on the cheek, and when He, the Judge of oaths, was questioned with an oath; when the Judge was condemned and the sentence was pronounced on those who were to judge the world; when the servant asked, and the Lord was silent, the light was silent, and the darkness cried out furiously, the creation inflicted insolence, but the Creator endured (reproaches). When was (His appearance) dishonorable? when the bulls lifted up their horns, and the youth meekly stood before him, - when the lion roared, and the bulls cried out, as it is written: the fat youths have taken possession of me, and they have conquered me; (Ps. 21:13–14). When were you dishonest? then when the wolves plundered, and the Lamb did not resist; when the thief was asked for life, and the Life of the world was drawn to death; when they proclaimed that disastrous cry: take, take, crucify Him! His blood is on us and on our children (Matthew 27:25; John 19:15). (And it was not without reason that they cried out like this: take him, take him, crucify him: the coming of God in the flesh was so hard and unbearable for them; meeting the righteous is usually hateful for sinners). When (the sight of the Lord) was dishonest? then, when He (the Savior) was scourged and His holy body was tortured, and He unquestioningly endured suffering in order to heal the ancient wounds of our sins; when they laid the tree of the cross on His shoulder - this is the banner of victory over the devil; when the crown of thorns was placed on Him who crowns those who trust in Him; when they clothed Him, the Giver of incorruption (to those who are reborn by water and the Holy Spirit); when the Lord of life and death was nailed to the tree. When were you dishonest? then, when the warriors mocked the Lord of the heavenly armies, - when, having stuck their lip on the reed and soaked it with honey, they gave Him drink, and gave Him gall, who had rained down the manna, - when the stones were scattered and the veil of the church was torn, struck by the insolence of the wicked, - when the sun darkened and was covered with darkness, as if by a garment, mourning the falling away Jews When were you dishonest? when Life was hanged among the thieves, one of whom blasphemed and slandered, and the other delighted paradise with repentance; when the body of the Lord was buried; when the soldiers were guarding, and the earth hid Him, hanging the earth on the waters; when the apostles fled, unable to bear the burden of temptation. But notice, beloved, the miracles of God and (after suffering) joyful events! The dishonest is covered with glory, The joy of the world rises incorruptible with the body. Then the earth suffered from the pains of birth, and death cast out the Life of all: for it was impossible for death to restrain Him who holds all things by word. So, let us celebrate the three-day resurrection - the guilt of eternal life: for just as Mary the Mother of God, virgin and not artificially, by the will of God and the grace of the (Holy) Spirit, gave birth to the Creator of ages, who is from God, God the Word: so the earth, by the command of God, from its bowels, having resolved the pain of death, brought forth the Lord of the Jews, because it could not hold the body, which had become a vessel immortality. That is why the Prophet (of God), contemplating the restoration of beauty, the destruction of death, the liberation of those who were once slaves, calls out and exclaims: The Lord reigns, clothed in beauty (Ps. 93:1). What kind of beauty have you put on? Into incorruption, immortality, the union of the apostles, the crown of the Church. Judas will no longer betray, Caiaphas will no longer threaten, Pilate will no longer condemn, and the Israelites will no longer keep Him in their power: for the corruptible has become incorruptible, and He Who was considered by them to be a simple man has appeared as the true God. Therefore, we exclaim: where are you, O death, the sting? where is the victory (1 Cor. 15:55)? The Lord reigned, He was clothed with beauty, The Lord was clothed with strength and girded (Ps. 92:1). The construction of our salvation through the incarnation is called strength: for there is nothing stronger than it. The incorporeal through the body overthrew the demons, through the cross he mastered the opposing forces. Since sin had previously shaken the earth, our Lord Jesus Christ, having risen, as predicted, strengthened it with the tree of the cross, so that it could no longer fall into the abyss of destruction, nor be shaken by the storms of delusion. We bring as a witness to this the blessed (apostle) Paul, who clearly says: it is fitting for this corruptible to put on incorruptibility (1 Cor. 15:53). Therefore, the (holy) Psalmist says: Thy throne is ready; from everlasting art Thou art (Ps. 92:2), and again: Thy kingdom is the kingdom of all ages (Ps. 145:13), and again: The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice, let the many islands rejoice (Ps. 97:1). Glory and power befit him. Amen 11. Curs. Compl. Patrolog. edit. Migne, Tom. XLVI, col. 683–690, cf. Sunday Read XXI (1857–1858), pp. 1–3. You might be interested in: