Слово 17. О душе, ищущей глубокого созерцания, чтобы погрузиться в оном от плотских помыслов, возбуждаемых памятованием вещей

Everything that is higher than another is hidden from that of which it is higher; and no other body serves him by nature as a kind of veil, so that it can reveal his hiddenness. Every intelligible entity does not borrow from outside itself that which constitutes its own difference: on the contrary, this difference is determined within its movements, that is, it can directly enter into greater lightness to receive the first light or become similar to another rank, which obviously differs not in place, but in the purity of acceptance and superiority, or in accordance with the mental measure according to the degree of acceptance of heavenly signals and forces. Every intelligible essence is hidden for the essence that is lower than it; they are hidden from one another not by nature, but by the movements of virtues; and I say this about holy powers, about spiritual ranks and about demons. The first ones are hidden from the middle ones, and the middle ones from the third ones, both by nature, and by place, and by movements. The essences of each rank, both for themselves, and one for another in the same rank, whether they are visible or invisible, are hidden by knowledge, and from the essences of the lower rank - by nature; because the vision of incorporeal beings is not outside of them, like that of corporeal beings, but to see each other means that both virtues and the measure of movements are within the movements of the beings visible to them. Therefore, if they are worthy in an equal share, then, although they are distant from each other, they do not see each other dreamily, but in undeceitful vision, in true nature, except for the Cause of all, Who, as the One Worshipful One, is above this difference. Demons, although extremely unclean, are not hidden from each other in their ranks, but do not see the two ranks 106 that are higher than them, because spiritual vision is the light of movement, and it itself serves as both a mirror and an eye for them. And as soon as the movements become darkened, the beings do not see the higher ranks. In their own rank they see each other, since they are richer than the spiritual ranks. And this takes place in the reasoning of demons. Souls, while they are defiled and darkened, cannot see each other or themselves, but if they are purified and return to the ancient state in which they were created, then they clearly see these three ranks, that is, the lower rank, the highest rank, and each other. And not because they will change into a bodily form, then they will see either Angels, or demons, or each other; on the contrary, they will see in nature itself and in the spiritual order. And if you say that it is impossible for a demon or an Angel to be visible unless they change and take on a visible image, then this will mean that it is not the soul that sees, but the body. But in that case, what is the need for purification? For behold, demons, as well as angels, appear to unclean people from time to time; however, when they see, they see with their bodily eyes, and there is no need for purification here. But this is not what happens to a soul that has achieved purity; on the contrary, she sees spiritually, with a natural eye, that is, perspicacious, or reasonable. And do not be surprised that souls see one another, even while in the body. For I present to you a clear proof, testifying to the truth - I mean Blessed Athanasius the Great - who in his essay on Anthony the Great says: The Great Anthony, standing one day in prayer, saw someone’s soul lifted up with great honor, and blessed him who was worthy of such glory; the blessed one was Ammun from Nitria, and the mountain on which Saint Anthony lived was thirteen days' journey from Nitria. This example of the three orders mentioned above has already proven that spiritual natures see one another, although they are distant from one another, and that distance and bodily feelings do not prevent them from seeing each other. Likewise, souls, when they achieve purity, see not physically, but spiritually; because bodily vision occurs openly and sees what is before the eyes, while distant vision requires a different vision. The ranks of heaven 107 in existence are innumerably many and are named by distinction and rank. For why are they called Principalities, Powers, Powers? Named dominions, perhaps, as distinguished by honor. And they are smaller in number than those subordinate to them, as Saint Dionysius, Bishop of Athens said, but they are greater in power and knowledge, and are very divided in the greatness of their ranks. For they extend from rank to rank until they reach the unity of that which is greater and mightier than all – the Head and foundation of all creation. I do not call the Creator the head, but the One who stands at the head of the miracles of God’s works. For many are below the providence of the wisdom of God, theirs and our Creator, and as many below as those who are under them are below themselves. I call them lower, meaning height and baseness not in place, but in the power of knowledge, in accordance with the measure that is acquired in comparison with subsequent, greater or lesser knowledge. For the Divine Scripture called all these spiritual entities by nine spiritual names and divided them into three degrees; and divides the first into great, high and most holy Thrones, many-eyed Cherubim and six-winged Seraphim; the second degree - for Dominance, Strength and Authority, and the third - for the Beginnings, Archangels and Angels. These ranks are interpreted from the Hebrew: Seraphim - warming and burning; Cherubim - abundant in knowledge and wisdom; Thrones are God’s support and God’s peace; and these ranks are named by these names according to their actions. The Thrones are named as venerable, Dominions as having power over every kingdom, Principalities as those who organize the ether, Powers as those who rule over nations and over every person, Powers as strong in strength and terrible in their vision, Seraphim as sanctifying, Cherubim as bearers, Archangels as vigilant guardians, Angels as sent. On the first day nine spiritual natures were created in silence, and one nature in words; and this is light. On the second day the firmament was created. On the third day God brought together the waters and the vegetation of the grain; in the fourth - separation of light; in the fifth - birds, reptiles and fish; in the sixth - animals and humans. The structure of the whole world is longitude and latitude; beginning - east; end - west; right side - north; left - south. God set the whole earth as a bed; the highest heaven is like a skin, and a vault, and a cube; the second heaven is like a wheel adjoined to the first heaven, and that which is adjoined to heaven and earth; the ocean is like a belt surrounding heaven and earth, and inside it are high mountains that reach to the sky, and behind the mountains the sun so that it passes there throughout the whole night, and among these mountains there is a great sea, which occupies about three-quarters of the entire land. 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