Слово во славу Святой Отрасли, Божией Матери, Приснодевы, из бесплотных чресл возведенной во Святое Святых. Императора Льва Мудрого

Who is this, blossoming like a plant among the thorns generated by human depravity? What are these new and extraordinary beginnings? Not only are they unusually new and beautiful in themselves, but they are also dedicated in the church for a completely new purpose. Who is this who enters with glory into the chambers of the King? Who is She Who is surrounded with honor by a choir of young maidens, Who, like a bride, dressed in a beautiful robe, joyfully enters the bridal chamber? Who is it, Whose clothes, in the midst of our extreme sinfulness, are fragrant with the pleasant smell of virtue for him who is distinguished by his unusual exaltation before everyone? So from what very precious things are these firstfruits brought? - These are the firstfruits of what recently, due to a curse, bore thorns, but having changed, it began to bear good fruit, having the sweetness of good will instead of the former bitterness; and like a precious gift, these firstfruits are offered to the Giver of fruits. This bride is truly gifted with bridal beauty and chosen to be the bride of the Only Begotten. Therefore, She dwells in the chambers of God with Him; and the young women glorify Her in chorus, solemnly accompanying her, and then, like virgins, they rejoice with the Virgin. What about us? Are we really going to allow only beautiful young women to enjoy this divine pleasure? If there is an opportunity to take part in this divine choir, won’t we, for our part, take care to also enjoy this joy? Perhaps, with our combined efforts, we will also praise Her, and we will all take part in the sacred procession along with those with whom we will serve Her, glorifying Her and rejoicing for ourselves? And truly, it is quite just and holy that we should render everything that relates to honor to the Holy Virgin. It would be especially wise for us to take part in this choir in this way, because the glory of the Virgin is communicated to us too. The more we praise Her, the greater the reward we will receive from Her. By pleasing the Virgin, Who was given to us as a precious gift, we will benefit ourselves through this veneration. But where are those through whom this precious gift was found? Where are those whose fame is so great? It would be better to first turn to them and rejoice with them for (such) a Daughter. Parents of this holy descendant! accept us as participants in the joyful choir surrounding our Daughter. But what is it? You retire in order (in solitude) to thank (God) for this happy birth, so that, according to your custom, with mysterious dedications, as if with a seal, you imprint your Daughter, believing that She, whose birth you asked for through prayers, should grow and improve in prayers. Perhaps, having become Her parents, in accordance with your promise, you dedicate Her (to the church) of the Giver of benefits, as your home, as a valuable property of yours? Maybe even for the dedication of your descendant you bring to the Giver of Fruits all the products of your field? To assume all this is the common custom of everyone who is pleased with something to such a high degree. But no; Apparently, some especially great dedication is taking place, which points to the joy that is to come through this Virgin for people - a joy that has now, in fact, been realized. But where have you, Joachim and Anna, hidden your amazing happiness so far? Where did you hide Her, this divine branch? How could such a great joy, beyond which nothing higher can be imagined, shine forth from weak loins? How did your barren field produce fruit that is more valuable than any abundance of fruit? However, why should I diligently explore this when I only need to rejoice and have fun? But why do you, glorifying the dedication of your Daughter, send Her prayers? Doesn't this indicate that the propitiatory sacrifice being rendered is offered for everyone through common prayer? Although this sacrifice is made at your expense, is it not imputed to appease God for all people? Oh, the great power of the gift! Oh, the gift that God brought forth from your womb, as if from some rich golden peace, wanting to receive back from us to quench His anger, which we have kindled! Oh, the gift through which the Creator determined to give renewal to creation - a gift which, in His mercy, He determined to be used for our consolation! Man, created by God, fell under the influence of demons to the power of evil. Although he had to be constantly in evil for this (for what other reward can one receive who, having despised the Divine commandment, constantly clings to the demons with his thoughts?), yet God (in His mercy) could not see in such a state the one whom He created for the enjoyment of (higher) goods. Therefore, the all-good God determined to redeem man. The peculiarity of the divine wisdom of love lies in the fact that God determined not only to honor us with His help freely, without any merit on our part, but determined to provide such a means of redemption that the human race could bring something from itself in this act. Since people were not capable of perceiving the One who surpasses all depth and height, God Himself gives what is missing to quench the anger kindled against us, to which we have deservedly been subjected, and, moreover, gives it in such a way that it seems that we are giving the One who does not need anything. He, who has a special, exclusive love for the human race, acts in this case as those do (if only one can look for comparisons for something that is beyond all comparison), who, if their friends happen to need money (for the payment of any taxes), from their own funds, at the last certain date, pay for them what is necessary so as to show their own generosity and give their friends an opportunity to boast as if they themselves had paid the debts. The merciful and loving God does the same. Although it seems that He gives the Virgin to Joachim and Anna, the human race understands this in such a way that we ourselves can bring to God a gift that He can receive from us. Oh, you who brought us this richest gift - you who communicated to us the received grace and surpassed all people in your wealth! O blessed treasury from which this grace poured out! Oh, the late birth of the fetus, eclipsing the glory of every great and noble descendant! O Virgin, Who freed the mother from her shame and covered the nakedness of the first parents with the fact that she was destined to give flesh to Him who created flesh! When the new Adam received perfect flesh from You, the old Adam received satisfaction (redemption for sin) from his side. O Virgin, whose husband the Highest of Heaven declared Himself! O You, through whom God has determined to enter into communion with us, although we are by nature like dust! O You, through Whom it was determined that holiness would descend upon us, the untimely desire of which deprived us of what we possessed! But let us go and, on the site of the ancient and inanimate church, we will build a new, spiritual one, we will find in the holy place the abode of the incomprehensible fullness of the entire Divinity, and we will add the tabernacle of Glory to the holy tabernacle. For the glory of the entire human race, let us honor Her with common zeal; for common joy let us strengthen Her choir with our applause; Let us rejoice for our liberation from the bonds of death!... Now ride, David! For She, whom we please and honor in every possible way, comes from your family!.. Now your Daughter has been revealed to us, whose birth you foresaw with a sophisticated mental gaze, and Whom you fatherly instructed to forget your father’s house. Now She, dressed in a beautiful golden robe, attracted the King and Christ to Her with the charm of Her beauty. Therefore, the young women who are before Her face slavishly implore Her as a Queen. So, come here: now chanting what you sang before, arrange a harmonious service with us. Behold, now you see your Daughter really in such a way that everyone offers prayers to Her, just as you alone once prayed to Her in your mysterious foreknowledge and contemplation. You see that the One born of you serves as a means of sanctification and gives peace to all who are exhausted in labor. You see that in Her the holy means of propitiation are sanctified. However, you better speak for yourself. We concede this honor to you as the father of this Virgin. Hear, O daughter, and incline your ear (Ps. 44:11). You alone have been chosen from eternity to be the bride of the Most High. You alone seem capable of containing the One who fills the entire universe. Listen, Dshi! Forget your father's house and love! You have been chosen as a mother to Him who sits above the cherubim. Enter You into the holy church of God. Listen, Dshi! Your people, for countless multitudes in heaven and on earth consider You their Mistress. Many virgins have accomplished virtue, many have achieved fame, many have achieved honor; but You distinguished yourself before everyone, You surpassed everyone in glory and greatness. You have surpassed everyone in virtue! Giving these praises to your Daughter, take part, David, together with me in composing a hymn of praise: in our bright holiday, take a joyful part with us! However, your joy should be even higher than ours; because you have a special meaning here. For once, when you wanted to create a church for God, you were not allowed to fulfill this heartfelt desire of yours. But, behold, now a better church has been erected for You, which has no need for sacrifices or incense. Therefore, this comes to an end, since the heavenly Bishop consecrates the church that he chose from you. But we will meet this in a special place; and now we will compose prayers, which usually occur according to order. The virgins will be brought (Ps. 44:15), who sing, you exclaimed, contemplating the future, in your psalm. But now the virgins, surrounding Her, accompany Her with joy, like a Queen departing for the church of the King. Here you are, Holy Virgin, being elevated to the church of God as an immaculate sacrifice; You, the root of that divine plant, whose branches should give peace to all the ends of the earth, You are sown in the meadow of glory. Here You, the joy of the human race, surrounded on all sides by a choir, are brought into a place of joy. This is now the reason for Your delight. But after some time, the one sent from Your Bridegroom will give You more perfect joy, when he comes to You, filled with grace, to announce the good news to You, when, with happy and joyful news, he tells You that with You is the One who dwells everywhere - he, i.e. the messenger of the Bridegroom, who, serving at this incomprehensible sacrament, will announce to You the seedless conception, - who will announce to You the birth of the Son without a Father, the Son, Who Himself is the Father of all living things, the birth of the Son, Who, now attracting to Himself, as if the smell of aromas, after, having become incarnate from You, will shed fragrant oil over the whole earth - Who, now receiving You, holy the flower, in Your church, will then Himself bloom from Your immaculate womb. But, Virgin, the glory of our salvation, by whom the holy birth was determined, with what holiness you were fed and raised - you, in whose person we have the anchor of our salvation! Give us the strength to cross the swift abysses of sin; help us avoid hostile storms, turmoil from external and internal enemies! Be the rudder in our voyage for all of us, both for those who are governed and for those to whom You have entrusted the power of rulers! Bring everyone into the quiet haven of Your Son, where there is perfect joy, gladness and tranquility, where the voices of those celebrating are heard, where the joyful dwell - bring them in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, to Whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory and honor, now and forever. Amen 33. Curs. Compl. Patrololog. Migne, tom. CVII, col. 12–21; Wed research by I. Popov - “Emperor Leo VI the Wise and his reign in church-historical terms.” Moscow, 1892, 268–273 pp. You might be interested in: