Слово на Благовещение Пресвятой Богородицы. Св. Андрея, архиепископа Критского

Now there has come joy for everyone, rewarding the previous sorrow: the Omnipresent has appeared to fill everything with joy. But how did He appear? - not with bodyguards, not accompanied by armies of Angels, not with pomp and noise: but quietly and serenely, in order to hide His procession from the prince of darkness and so that, by prudent cunning, he would catch the serpent and laugh at the vigilance of that Assyrian dragon, who enslaved the nobility of human nature, to steal his prey. His ineffable great mercy did not want to see the loss of such a creation as man, for whom He stretched out the vault of heaven, established the earth, poured out the air, formed the sea, and arranged all visible creation. Therefore, God appears on earth, God from heaven, God between people, God in the womb of the Virgin, the One Whom the whole universe cannot contain. Now human nature begins to anticipate joy and receives the beginning of deification; now, having rejected from herself the deceptive wealth of sin, she is reassured by the Creator; Now our original composition takes on a new form, and the aged world puts off oldness - the fruit of sin. Let the heavens from above rejoice, and let the clouds sprinkle righteousness: let the mountains exude sweetness and the hills exude joy, for God has been merciful to His people (Isa. 45:8; 49:13). Now the mystery sealed before all ages is being revealed, and everything is restored in Christ. Now the omnipotent power of the Creator of the universe brings into final execution the advice He held about the creation of the world, in order to destroy the advice drawn up against us from ancient times by the ruler of evil. That is why the Angels rejoice, people rejoice, and the whole renewed world comes to its senses. What mind, what language will express all this? I am unable to utter a word or hear it. So, we rightly celebrate the present celebration with joy and joy, celebrating the most perfect acceptance (by the Lord) of our confusion. What kind of celebration is this and what is it like? It is the joy of all creation and the restoration of (our) race. Now is the gospel of joy, evidence of God’s love for mankind, a joyful sermon about the salvation of the whole world. Where, from whom and to whom? – From heaven, from God, to the Virgin engaged to her husband. Who is this Virgo? Who is this husband? What are their names? The virgin is Mary, and the husband is Joseph: both are from the line of David. Who is the executor of Divine commands, and where does he come from? Archangel Gabriel, sent from above to serve a miracle: the most amazing sacrament in comparison with everything worthy of surprise, the servant of the Most High was supposed to announce, having flown from the mountainous countries to the earth. What exactly? - the descent of the Lord, the unspeakable manifestation of His looking at us, the discovery and confirmation of Divine advice and foreknowledge, although hidden from eternity. But where, when and for what? - In the Galilean city of Nazareth, in the sixth month after John was conceived, so that this one would announce the incarnation of the coming Lord. So, Gabriel, having flown from the heavenly abodes to earthly countries, appeared in Nazareth and, coming to the Virgin, meekly announced to Her about the ineffable care of God. This is the mystery of the reconciliation of God with people. This is the subject of real celebration - the union of God with people, the deification of the nature He assumed, the renewal of our image, the change in our condition for the better, our exaltation and ascent to heaven. Therefore, everything is now filled with joy, and all the intelligent orders of the heavenly Powers enter into an alliance with us during our reconciliation with God: they are pleased with our return to God, transition and ascent to a better state (because they are very compassionate and loving, which is why they are sent to serve for those who should inherit salvation. Heb. 1:14). So, let everyone have fun today, let nature leap! Now the sky is opened, and the earth invisibly receives the King of all. Nazareth, competing with Eden, receives into its bosom the planter of Eden; The Father of mercy betroths human poverty to His only and begotten Son; Gabriel serves the sacrament and calls to the Virgin: Rejoice! (Luke 1:28) so that the Daughter of Adam, descended from the tribe of David, would return with Herself that joy that her foremother had lost. Now the Father of glory looks with a merciful eye on the corrupted nature in Adam; Now the Giver of mercy reveals to us the abyss of His all-good bounties. He, from Whom, through Whom and in Whom all things exist, was to put to mercy the ancient sentence of damnation against us, to glorify with His glory our nature defiled in Adam, and with the truth to destroy that evil advice of the father of lies, the consequence of which was the first crime, that is, the fall of the Adamic race. It was about this that Godfather David, the great among kings, prophetically sang: mercy and truth were met, justice and peace were embraced (Psalm 84:11). Saying this, doesn’t he understand the mercy that, by the good pleasure of the Father, the Son, the Giver of mercy, showed to us, out of pity for us, he became like us in everything, excluding sin, in order to blot out our crime, restore us from the fall and correct what was destroyed again? What is truth, if not that His appearance to people was not some kind of phantom? It was not only human form (as some say) He took upon Himself; but, driven by love for mankind and condescending towards people, the Incomprehensible One, in truth itself, assimilated to Himself the human being and deified in Himself our common nature perceived by Him. His looking was not a ghost, since He, with the immutability of His Divinity, had a true body. since mercy and truth, according to the Prophet, have met, then truth and peace, as it should, have met. Truth is a definition pronounced against the seducer of the forefathers. When and by whom? Now, by the Most High Father. According to this truth, loving man by nature, He decided that His Only Begotten Son, appearing in the form of a man, would condemn the enemy. The world is the world that immediately, at the fleshly birth of the Head of the world - the Son (of God), the face of the Angels unanimously sang, crying: glory in the highest to God and on earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14), - that glory with which the human race was glorified through Christ, having been exalted, as the great Apostle says, above the circle of heaven, above all authority, and power, and strength (Heb. 1:21); that peace which He Himself interceded for us, uniting the heavenly with the earthly and opening a new path for those born on earth to ascend to heaven: that good will by which the Father was pleased to send His beloved Son to us, the condemned, so that - as having the same will with the Father - he would accomplish the salvation intended for us from the Father through Him. This is the subject of our current celebration! This is the important commission that Gabriel is now fulfilling and, as a mediator between Divinity and humanity, he is the first to preach to the Virgin the guarantee of perfect reconciliation! The Merciful Father, looking with regret at our race, already corrupted by the Fall, remembered the creation of His hands and, not wanting to see us perished forever, first handed Moses the written law inscribed on stone tablets. And since the written law did not produce saving effects, He sent Spirit-bearing men, that is, perspicacious prophets who showed all the right paths to God. And afterward, although those to whom they were sent, having closed their feelings, did not become any better, the Creator, however, did not despise our nature; but from His most good and most immaculate bosom He sent to us unworthy, at the end of the ages, His Son, equal to Himself in power, and in strength, and in goodness. He wanted to do better to save the transgressors of His will than to leave in contempt such a beautiful and so lofty creation of His as man. Therefore, having determined to serve at the sacrament to one of the first Angels, He, with the delusion of His greatness, gave (I think) the following command to the Angel: “Gabriel!” go to Nazareth, the city of Galilee, in which lives the Virgin Mary, betrothed to a husband named Joseph; The name of the Virgin is Mary.” Why to Nazareth? - in order for the Almighty to choose for Himself the grace-filled adornment of virginity, like a rose in a thorny place, also for the fulfillment of the prophecy that He would be called a Nazarite (Matthew 2:23). Who? - He whom Nathanael subsequently calls the Son of God and the King of Israel (John 1:49). As for Gabriel, he usually serves in the performance of the Divine sacraments, as we know from Daniel. “So, go,” God says to the Archangel, “to Nazareth, the city of Galilee; there, immediately and first of all, tell the Virgin that gospel of joy that Eve once lost, and do not confuse Her soul: this is the gospel of joy, not sorrow; this is a greeting of joy, not despondency.” In fact, has there been and will there be any joy for the human race greater than being in union with God, being one with Him? because of the connection, and, moreover, the hypostatic one? What could be more amazing than when God visibly descends to earth and even rushes in the womb of a wife? Unheard of! God, whose throne is heaven and whose footstool is earth (Isaiah 66:1), is in a woman’s womb! The Most High God, co-throne with the Father's eternity, is in the womb! And is there anything more extraordinary than how God can appear in the form of a man, without being separated from His Divinity, how we can see all human nature united with the Creator in order for the whole man, the first victim of sin, to be deified? What about Gabriel? Having heard this and learned the command spoken to him by the voice of God, but exceeding his strength, he was between fear and joy: he did not dare to immediately fulfill it, but was careful not to deny it. However, obeying God's command, he flew to the Virgin and, upon arrival in Nazareth, appeared at Her house: then, as if immersed in thought and perplexed within himself, he hesitated in his thoughts, as if reasoning with himself: “Where should I begin to fulfill the will of God? Should I appear in the palace instantly? But with such an appearance I will frighten the soul of the Virgin. Or will I not ascend suddenly? - but, the Maiden will consider my entrance secret. Should I knock on the door? - but how? This is not characteristic of angels, because no object, neither containing nor contained, can hinder an incorporeal being. So, this is what I will do: according to the will of Him who sent me, I will subdue my desire; His intention is to save the human race; His will, although extraordinary, is full of mercy and serves as a guarantee of reconciliation. But, again, how should I approach Virgo? What should you talk to Her about first? Is it about the gospel of joy, or about the indwelling of my Lord in Her? Is it about the influx of the Holy Spirit, or about the overshadowing of the Most High? I will make an appeal to the Virgin, I will tell Her about the miracle, I will approach Her, I will greet Her and meekly call: Rejoice! The greeting will be for me a happy entry into a free conversation with Her. In fact, it is fitting to greet the Queen with the gospel of joy. Joyful is the spirit! It's an amazing time! Comforting command! This is God’s will for salvation and the beginning of immeasurable joy!” Having made such a decision, the Archangel appeared in the house of the Virgin and, approaching the chamber in which She was, quietly approached the door and, entering it, in a meek voice cried out to the Virgin: Rejoice, full of grace: the Lord is with you (Luke. 1:28), - the Lord, who was before you, who is now with you, who, a little later, will be born of you. One of His births was eternal, the other will be temporary.” Oh, immeasurable philanthropy and goodness! The angel not only announces joy, but also points to the Author of joy, in the womb of the Virgin, because the words: The Lord is with You clearly indicate that the King Himself is present, completely embodied in Her and not abandoning His glory. Rejoice, O Blessed One! The Lord is with you. Rejoice, instrument of joy, by which the sentence of the oath was abolished and the right to joy was restored. Rejoice, truly blessed one; Rejoice, most glorified one; Rejoice, adorned sanctuary of the glory of God; Rejoice, sacred dwelling of the King. Rejoice, chamber in which Christ betrothed humanity to Himself. Rejoice, chosen by God before birth; Rejoice, instrument of reconciliation between God and people; Rejoice, treasure of immortal life; Rejoice, heaven - the most heavenly dwelling of the sun of glory; Rejoice, vast village of God, who cannot be contained anywhere, but is contained in You alone; Rejoice, holy virgin land, from which, by the ineffable action of God, a new Adam was formed to save the ancient one. Rejoice, O Blessed One! The Lord is with you. He who said: let there be a firmament (Gen. 1:6), and all the other works of His Creative greatness; Rejoice, mother of immeasurable joy; Rejoice, new ark of glory, in which the descended Spirit of God rested - the ark in which the Holy One by nature, through the incarnation, miraculously built for Himself the shrine of new glory in the virgin’s womb, not ceasing to be what He was (for He is indispensable), but becoming what He was not (for He is a lover of mankind). Rejoice, golden vessel, bearing the One who sweetened the manna and poured out honey from the stone to ungrateful Israel; Rejoice, seraphic mite of mysterious coal; Rejoice, intelligent mirror of contemplative knowledge, through which the prophets, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, mysteriously saw God’s endless condescension towards us; Rejoice, telescope, through which those overshadowed by the dull darkness of sin, having seen the ascension of the coming from above with the glory of the Sun of Truth, were illuminated with a wonderful light; Rejoice, adornment of all prophets and patriarchs, and the truest preaching of the incomprehensible predestination of God. Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb (Luke 1:2). And truly, blessed, because God chose You as His dwelling place, because You incomprehensibly carried in Your womb Jesus Christ, filled with the glory of the Father, a man and at the same time God, having together the properties of both natures. Blessed are You among women, who generously contained in the sacred repository of Your virginity that heavenly treasure in which all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden (Colossians 2:3). You are truly blessed; Without seed, without cultivation, you brought forth the fruit of blessing and the class of incorruptibility - Christ, and brought an abundant, thousand-fold harvest, bringing thousands of rejoicing to the Worker of our salvation. You are truly blessed: because one of all mothers, being predestined to be the mother of Her Creator, did not experience what is characteristic of mothers: maternal birth did not damage the purity of Your virginity; Your virgin fruit has retained the seal of Your purity. You are truly blessed: You alone, without knowing a husband, carried in Your womb Him who spread out the heavens and miraculously made the earth of Your virginity heaven. Blessed are You among women, who alone inherited the blessing that God promised to the nations through Abraham. You are truly blessed, the one called the Mother of the blessed Son - Jesus Christ and our Savior, through whom the nations cry: blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Matthew 21:9), and blessed is the name of His glory forever; the whole earth will be filled with His glory: awaken, awaken! (Psalm 71:19). Blessed are You in women, Whom generations please and glorify kings, Whom rulers worship and serve the richest of people, Whom virgins, among their hosts, bring into the church of the King. Blessed are You among women, Whom Isaiah, seeing with discerning eyes, called Prophetess, Virgin, Plinth, Place, Vision, Chapter of the Book, and, moreover, sealed. You are truly blessed, which Ezekiel called the east, the closed gate, opened only by God, and closed again (-44:2). You alone are truly blessed, Who to Daniel, the man of desires, seemed like a great mountain, and to the wonderful Habakkuk like an overshadowed mountain (Habakk 3:3), Which the king, Your Forefather, prophetically sang as the mountain of God, the fat mountain, the strewn mountain (Ps. 67:16), on which God was pleased to dwell. Blessed are You in women, whom the most clairvoyant Zechariah foresaw in a golden lamp adorned with seven lamps (4:2), that is, shining with seven gifts of the Divine Spirit. You are truly blessed; You are a smart paradise, in which is a life-giving tree of salvation; In You, the Planter of Eden Himself is mysteriously seen - Christ, Who, with ineffable power, proceeding from Your womb, like a life-giving source, through the Gospel, as if with four streams, waters the universe. Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb - the fruit, having tasted which the first-created Adam spewed out the ancient poison that he accepted through deception - the fruit that sweetens the bitter taste of the tree, cleansing human nature, which gave rivers of water to Israel wandering in the desert, sweetened Marah and brought forth wonderful bread, unsown. Blessed is the fruit that made barren and bitter water, through the salt poured into it by Elisha, pleasant and fruitful. Blessed is the fruit that grows from the intact branch of a girl’s womb like a grape, full and completely ripe. Blessed is the fruit from which flow springs of water flowing into eternal life - the fruit from which comes animal bread - the Body of Christ and saving drink - the Cup of immortality. Blessed is the fruit that glorifies every language of heaven, earth and hell, in the Trinity of the Holy Divinity, confessing Him to be identical in essence, but distinguishing in Him personal initial properties. Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb. She is, as St. says. Scripture, - I was troubled by his words, and thought about what this kiss would be like (Luke 1:29). “I was embarrassed,” it said. It was not some kind of unbelief that shook Her soul, no; but rather surprise at the extraordinary broadcast, so the harbinger seemed to appear in the phenomenon. She was not like Zechariah, who revealed his unbelief in the sanctuary, who, although he acquired the ability to bear children, was, as punishment, deprived of the tools of speech and, ceasing to be childless, became dumb. She felt embarrassment in her soul from the greeting made to Her, like a completely immaculate Virgin, who had not only no confusion, but also no treatment with her husband, and was accustomed to constantly directing Her mind to the contemplation of heavenly things. Having been, as naturally, bashful, She should have first been perplexed, then, having given herself over to thinking about what was said to Her, listened to the speaker, so to speak, not without attention and reasoning. Therefore, the Evangelist wisely noted that She was thinking (as if testing the thought by the court of pure reason, so that what was said to Her would not be misunderstood), saying: “What kind of greeting would this be?” Coming from a noble tribe and being a dsheri, She, of course, knew the Divine narratives contained in Scripture, and therefore could immediately turn Her mind to the fall of the foremother, imagining to Her seduction and other similar events betrayed by the ancients. So, it was not without reason that the Evangelist wrote that She was reflecting; but this showed Her mind and the fact that She loved to have knowledge of things not superficial, but solid and thorough. soul with the expression of Her outer appearance. “What kind of greeting is this?” She says. Am I one of the women who will give nature new laws? Can I alone bear a fetus in my womb without communicating with my husband? What kind of greeting would that be? Who brought this news, and where did he come from? Should the prophet be considered a human being? but he appears to be incorporeal. Should we call him Angel? but he speaks like a man. I don’t understand what I see; I’m perplexed about what I hear.” What does Gabriel do then? Noticing the confusion of the Young Lady and not thinking about anything else, she immediately cried out, saying: “Do not be afraid, Mary! You have found grace from God.” So, He first removed Her fear, then inspired her with courage, saying: “Do not be afraid! You have found grace from God, which Eve lost.” (With the word grace, he clearly defined his thought and dispelled all seeming doubts, and by adding: she found grace from God, he completely drove away fear from the Virgin). "Do not be afraid, Mary! This is not deceptive speech; I have not come to deceive You; it is not the evil serpent who speaks to You again; it is not an earthly messenger who stands before You; from heaven I bring You good news, and not a simple good news, but good news of joy. Do not be afraid, Mary! This greeting is not in vain, and it does not foretell sorrow for You! The Lord is with You. Giver of all joy, Savior of all peace, - He is with You, Who, without departing from the Father’s bosom, was contained in Your womb. I called You grace-filled in order to express the joy of the mystery hidden in You. I called You graceful because You contain all this joy in Your womb, because You are a splendid garment in the beauty of Divine gifts. The Lord is with you! - I called out to express the power of the one who has taken possession of You. He is Lord and God, Ruler, Ruler of the world, Father of the next century, Your Son, O Virgin, and Savior of all (Isa. 9:6). The Lord is with You: grace and truth are with You. Lord of law, but Father of grace and source of truth. Don't be afraid, Maria! The Lord is with you. The Ruler of all principality, the Son of the Father of lights, Who in eternity was born of Him, but in time was incarnate from You, Who in heaven is all in the bosom of the Father, and on earth all is with You in the womb; He is with You and in You, Incontainable by nature, having settled in Your womb, He was contained in You. Don't be afraid, Maria! You have found grace from God - grace that Sarah did not receive, that Rebecca did not experience, that Rachel did not know; You have found grace, which neither the glorious Anna nor her rival Fennanna was awarded: for although they became mothers from the childless, they lost their virginity along with their childlessness; and You, having become a Mother, preserved Your virginity unharmed. So, do not be afraid: You have found grace from God, a grace that no one except You has found from eternity. What is this advantage of grace with God? You have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus (Luke 1:30, 31). Oh, miracle! First, the Angel resolves Her doubt, and then explains the matter itself. And look what his short speech does: it drives away fear, foretells grace, explains conception, predicts birth and assigns a name to the Born One. But this is not yet the end of his words. To show the great power of the Child, he immediately added: He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David: and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32–33). Do you see how he drove fear out of Virgo? How did her spirit encourage her? Having called the one who was to be born the Son of the Most High and calling David His father, he suddenly elevated Her mind, as can be seen from what follows. Look what intelligence Virgo has! She, having heard this, and knowing the immutability of the highest power of the will of God, said to the Angel: “What will this be, if I don’t know a husband? You promise Me, She says, something strange; you proclaim to Me something that transcends nature; I am not involved in marriage. - I became engaged to the groom, but was not married: I know only in Joseph the betrothed, but not the husband; with The bridegroom lives by me, but without sharing the marriage bed. How will this happen when I do not know a husband? Will nature make me alone, contrary to nature, will I show a new image of birth? I did not have a marriage with my husband, I did not recognize him as my protector, but not my husband.” Gabriel immediately answers and with his lofty answer refines Her simple question, saying: “Why do You, O all-blessed one, say this? Why do you utter these words? I came from heaven to announce to You about a new way of conception; it is not an earth-born who speaks to You. I said: “The Lord is with You”; and You say with doubt: “How will this happen to Me?” I preach to You about Him who was before I came and Who entered into Your womb, and You speak to me about a husband, about earthly birth, asking: “How will this happen to You?” Consider how the rod blossomed (Num. 17:8), how the stone brought forth water and from where it was filled with it (Exodus 17:6), how the fire embraced the bush bush, without burning it? (Ex. 3:2). If you believe these events, then believe me. The culprit of both these and these miracles is the same, whom you bear in your womb in a special way - not like Elizabeth or Your mother: they became mothers according to the ordinary law of nature; and without the seed conceived in You. If you want to know the very image of the event, then I will explain it to You too.” The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you (Luke 1:31). He who is to be born will not be of the will of the flesh (John 1:12). The will of the flesh will not take place at the birth of the Mother of God, because it is above the limits of nature; and if it has nothing natural at all, then its very method is higher and more excellent than natural. So, no passion was mixed with Her earthly conception, as happens with people; it did not accompany the heavenly birth of the Lord. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. See how the mystery of the Trinity is revealed here. Speaking about the Holy Spirit, the Archangel meant no other than the Comforter; By the power of the Most High, he clearly called the Son, and with the word: “The Most High,” he designated the Face of the Father. With the expression: He will overshadow You, he seems to be saying the same thing, what, in my opinion, Habakkuk said when, looking with discerning eyes, he called the Virgin the overshadowed mountain (Hab. 3:3), as if depicting the power of the Spirit overshadowing Her, and the ineffable tabernacle, self-acting in Her by the method of incarnation, according to which in the womb of the Virgin, free from passions and pure from all material attachment, he erected an unmade church of the body (the Savior), as can be seen from what follows. Therefore, what is to be born will be Holy, and will be called the Son of God. That eternal Child, who was incomprehensibly formed from the Holy Spirit, through the Holy Father, will truly be Holy and will be called the Son of the Most High, as the Word co-eternal with the Most High. Thus, it is clearly shown to the Virgin who, from whom and how was conceived in Her womb, and it is also shown that whoever is to be born of Her will be the Son of God. And in order to more clearly and accurately show the power of his words, the Angel points to the conception of Elizabeth, as if saying: “Whoever could loose a (barren) womb in old age, beyond hope, can, without a doubt, make the Virgin a womb-bearer.” Then he adds: “For with God every word will not fail.” The Virgin, having heard this, especially being illuminated in her mind by the light of the one who dwells in Her and imbued with the joy of the gospel, completely calmed down and, as Scripture speaks of David, appeared joyful in her soul with the beauty of her eyes, because she rejoiced at the miracle and accepted the greeting with pleasure. And what was said to Her was filled with inexpressible joy. Gabriel very conveniently and very clearly convinced the Virgin to accept the miracle, saying: “Nothing is impossible for God.” But what does the Gospel say? Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be unto Me according to Thy word. Do you see Her mind? Do you see the excellence of the modesty that dresses Her? Having learned about the conception and birth from Her, also about who will be born and whose Son will be, what He will be called and whose throne he will occupy, over whom he will reign; Finally, having learned that whoever is born of Her will never be without a kingdom, She answered with a joyful voice: Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. Obviously, She expressed the following with these words: "Behold, I am ready, and there will be no obstacle; My soul is willing, My womb is worthy, for it is inviolable and reserved for one Creator. Behold, the servant of the Lord, unquestioning to obedience, capable of serving and ready to receive; let it be done to Me according to your word. After you told Me everything as it should, it was marked by joy and glory on high. Behold the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” What an indescribable sight! What grace! And even more, what eternal will and foreknowledge! Truly, the Holy Spirit entered into the Virgin, and the power of the Most High overshadowed Her, according to the predetermined advice and foreknowledge of God. And the Angel departed from Her, it is said (Luke 1:38), that is, after completing the work entrusted to him. The Angel departed, but the Lord did not depart from Her. This one is limited, although incorporeal, - and This One is not limited, although - in the body and in the womb of the Virgin; he announced from the Virgin for the salvation of people; and this one of ours transformed into Himself, returning to our nature the image of God and the first dignity lost by the disobedience of our first parents, and after this He sat down in heaven, above all principality, and power, and strength, and every name by which they are named in the present age and in the future (Eph. 1:21-22). To Him be glory, power, honor and worship, with the beginningless Father and the Most Holy Life-Giving Spirit, now, and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen 142. See Curs. Compl. Patrolog. edit. Migne, series gracca, vol. XCVII, col. 881–914; compare “Selected words of the holy fathers in honor and glory of the Most Holy Theotokos.” Second edition. 1886 Moscow, country. 94–112; Christian Read 1829, XXXIII part, countries. 245–476. You might be interested in: