Чин и празднество апостолов Господних

(The following extract is taken, as the inscription itself shows, from some liturgical book) Fishermen came and became fishers of men, as it is written: “Behold, I am sending ... hunters, and ... they will take you on all the mountains and hills” (cf. Jer. 16:16). For if he had sent wise men, one could say that they either caught people through persuasion, or got around (them) by cunning. And if he had sent the rich, they would again say that they deceived the people with the generosity of their means of subsistence or seized power by distributing money. In the same way, they would claim about the strong that, having amazed them with their courage, they captured (the people) or forcibly subjugated (them). But the apostles had none of this, which the Lord made clear to everyone using (the example of) Simon. For this one was timid, if the words of the servant brought him into fear (Matthew 26:69–70). He was poor, because he could not even pay taxes for himself, namely half a statir (Matthew 17:24-27), as (he himself) says: “I have no silver or gold” (cf. Acts 3:6). And he was a commoner, because, having begun to deny the Lord, he did not know under what pretext to hide. So, the fishermen appeared and defeated the strong, rich and wise. Great miracle! Being weak, without any violence they attracted the strong to the teaching of their teaching (discipleship), being poor, they taught the rich, the common people made the wise and men of great science their students. Earthly science has given way to that science that is the Science of Sciences. You might be interested in: