To the words: “In the beginning was the Word...” (John 1:1) and so on

And that “the Spirit... searches... the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10); both about the newly enlightened and against heretics. 1. Yesterday our word stopped at the contemplation of the great eagle, a truly great eagle, which in spirit surpassed the sky and the worldly powers and began (the sermon) from the very top of everything. John preached to us before (others): “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1), and waxed philosophical about the uncreated nature; he surpassed every creation more than any eagle, he also surpassed the voice of every thunder, he alone preached eternal and supreme wisdom. Thunder, beloved, both frightens and waters; irrigates through the clouds, terrifies and strikes through sound. And the voice of John has these sides: it irrigates the Church, and strikes a crowd of heretics. When they speak empty things, - when, having learned about the Existent, they dare to call (It) as non-existent - when they hostilely put forward human reasoning against the divine Scripture - then John exclaims first: “it was,” then: “it was not” 1. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). - (speaks), striking his enemies with this voice, as David testifies and says: “They flee from Your rebuke, they quickly flee from the voice of Your thunder” (Ps. 103:7). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Since the birth of the word is dispassionate, he calls (It) the Word, in order to teach you through what belongs to you that which is higher than you, namely, that just as the mind, giving birth to the word, does not give birth by passion, is not cut, does not blur, and does not tolerate anything else corporeal, so the divine and passionless birth is ineffable and immense, not cut, not divided, only among the wicked and unbelieving heretics it is badly cut, but for the pious it is united beautifully. Why did the evangelist eliminate this and not say: in the beginning was the Son? So that the title of the Son does not introduce birth by passion; but he calls Him the Word to represent the passionlessness of birth. And so that you would not think about the spoken word, he added: “and the Word was God,” so that according to the word you would think about dispassion, according to God - about dignity. Then, having first told about His birth, he also adds the powerful dignity of His creation of the world: “All things came into being through Him” (Jn. 1:3), everything that happened, and not as heretics dare to understand, in this expression the worshiped Spirit, saying: “All things came into being through Him, and without Him nothing came into being that was made” (John 1:3) in Him. This means that if there was anything in Him, it was not the uncreated nature of the Spirit. But it is said: “everything,” says the (heretic). However, the expression: “everything” does not embrace the uncreated nature with the created. If, following this expression: “all”, you have encroached on the holy nature, then when you hear the Lord saying: “All of them, no matter how many of them came before Me, are thieves and robbers” (John 10:8), what can you say? Will you really call Moses a robber, and call the prophets thieves, because (the Lord) says: “All of them, no matter how many of them came before Me, are thieves and robbers”? The meaning establishes the difference – both about whom the word is and to whom. And now the word about peacemaking - it is said that through Him there was peacemaking, and not the essence of the Spirit, which knows what is in God as the spirit of man knows what is in him, according to the words of Paul: no one knows, “For any man knows what is in a man, except the spirit of man that dwells in him” (1 Cor. 2:11). So, if my spirit is alien to my nature, then the Spirit of God is alien to the divine nature, because the apostle says: “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10). But the heretic hears: “pierces”, but poorly understands the meaning. If, he says, the Spirit knew what was in God, He would not experience; this test shows His ignorance. So, if testing the depths of God by the Holy Spirit leads to accusing Him of ignorance, then when you see that God is testing the hearts of people, will you accuse Him of ignorance? Listen to what Paul says: just as he said about the Spirit: “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God,” so also about God, being wise, he says: “He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:27). Therefore, if God tests without knowing, then the Spirit also tests without knowing. But, so that you know that testing does not belong to the ignorant, but to the one who knows, he added: “Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11) - and to the Spirit he attributes knowledge, namely, not perception from nature, but knowledge from nature. 2. So, do not divide the indivisible nature, do not cut the indivisible essence; It is better to know the power carefully. There is One who is called Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Son says about His Father: “from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power” (Matthew 26:64) - and, calling it power, He set forth His glory, so that you would marvel at this thought. Therefore, calling God the Father power, He said, speaking to Caiaphas: “from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power.” So, the Father is power; also the Son is power, as Paul says: “but we preach Christ... the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:23–24); Also, the Holy Spirit is power, which is why the Savior tells the disciples: stay in Jerusalem “until you are endued with power from above” (Luke 24:49). Knowing therefore, beloved, that this power is the same in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, keep your faith unshakable; do not share in the immense glory, but recognize your obligations under enlightenment; look at the sons of grace who flourished through the great high priest - look at the children of light who resorted to the preachers of light - because those regenerated through enlightenment must resort to those who regenerated the universe. Let us also say with the prophet and apostles: “Lift up your eyes and look around: they are all gathering, coming to you; your sons" (Isa. 60:4); and again: “I live! says the Lord, “You will be clothed with all of them as jewelry, and you will be adorned with them like a bride.” (Isa. 49:18). So, today Isaiah stands, speaking to a multitude of enlightened ones, born of the Holy Spirit, together and renewed, changed in an instant, transformed from an earthly state into a heavenly form - Isaiah is amazed, saying: “Who has heard such a thing? who has seen anything like this? did the country arise in one day? Was a people born at one time, like Zion, as soon as she began to suffer from childbirth, she gave birth to her sons” (Is. 66:8)? Revival from the Spirit is rapid; it does not wait for time, does not serve as a slave for periods and generations, but together it desires, together it gives birth to the regenerated. It was fitting for the sons of light to walk through the entire square with pomp, glorifying and proclaiming Him, who came down to earth because of them in order to lift the whole universe to Himself into heaven. Christ came down from heaven; He descended without moving away from heaven, and ascended without moving away from the earth - because neither, having descended, He left the heavens empty, nor, having ascended, He left the earth without His dominion. It was fitting for the sons of light to carry the lamp of the word everywhere in the square; the sacrament was not insulted, the sign of truth on the newly enlightened was not dishonored. It was also fitting for them to sing in the streets, because “Wisdom proclaims in the streets, she lifts up her voice in the marketplaces, she preaches in the main meeting places, she speaks at the entrances to the city gates” (Prov. 1:20-21). Let us purify the air, which was desecrated by prodigal songs, once defamed by the cries of the wicked and the cries of those who committed demonic defilements. The air, the earth, and the sky are purified by the word of light. As heaven and earth groan at the wickedness of the wicked, so they rejoice again at the righteousness of those who prosper; indeed, when a person sins, the heavens are indignant, and the earth is indignant, as Jeremiah says: “Marvel at this, O heavens, and tremble, and be horrified at the earth, because... My people have committed two evils” (Jer. 2:12–13). Do you see how heaven and earth tremble when people sin? And when they transform themselves into piety, listen to what the prophet says: “Rejoice, O heavens, and be glad, O earth, and shout, O mountains, for joy; for the Lord comforted His people and had mercy on His sufferers” (Isa. 49:13). Let the Church, which boasts so many hosts and people, also say: I was once left alone, but where were these with me? I am childless and a widow, but who gave birth to these? Let the children of the Church, united in this multitude, also speak to God in the voice of the prophets: “The place is cramped for me; yield to me, that I may live” (Isa. 49:20). When error flourished, when the pasture of heresy spread throughout this city, the children of the Church were destroyed; and, like locusts, attacking the heavenly (earth), you destroy its fruits, so the disastrous teaching destroyed the fruits of true teaching and piety. But today, beloved, the disastrous teaching has been rejected, and saving grace has entered, reviving the people, and saying to them: now “I will reward you for those years of the fruit that the locusts, worms, beetles and caterpillars devoured” (Joel 2:25). Why, heretic, do you compete with the Jews to hide the glory of the Only Begotten? They hid the resurrection as far as it depended on them; and you hide divinity, as far as it depends on you (depending on you). But there is no truth behind them, nor do you understand piety. Listen to the prophet who says: “His greatness covered the heavens, and the earth was filled with His glory” (Hab. 3:3). Praising, not mastering; faith, not testing; love, not exploration. We have not been taught to search, but have been taught to believe; Believing, we are enlightened; without curiosity, we are baptized. Do not be deceived by the meetings of heretics, because for them baptism is not enlightenment; they are baptized in body, but are not enlightened in soul. Just as Simon was baptized, but not enlightened, they also turn out to be the same. So, let the spirit of the apostles rejoice, having caught this many people in a spiritual net through the Holy Spirit. Now, before our eyes, a prophetic voice has been fulfilled: in the last days, says the Lord, “they will no longer say: “The ark of the covenant of the Lord”; that is, an ancient service, and “he will not come to mind, and they will not remember him, and they will not come to him, and he will be no more” (Jer. 3:16). Why? Because “I will send out many fishermen and fishermen” (Jer. 16:16). He described the dilapidated ark and introduced the unbreakable ark to the Church. "I will send many catchers and fishermen." Oh, wonderful catch! What was caught yesterday catches today; the earth is filled with the glory of Christ, and the ends of the universe are filled with faith. So, do not insult dignity because of housekeeping. Word came out from the Jews that the resurrection was sold, and word came out that His disciples stole Him. So, they declared a death sentence against His body, and call for theology about Him, as far as it depends on them. But today they have an error in their conversion, but in the Church they preach eternal life. And, if you like, you also have an ancient image: just as Joseph, when his brothers plotted against him, was greatly mourned by Jacob and his house, but was alive and reigned in Egypt - he was mourned by Jacob as if dead, and reigned alive in Egypt - so now He is considered dead by the synagogue and the madness of the heretics - destroying faith and introducing research they kill theology, but with us He reigns alive and is worshiped according to His dignity. But in reality, the word of God is strong, the teaching of the apostles is invincible, so that the voice of Paul, who promoted the truth, did not labor in vain. However, you, blessed Paul, urged for the truth, say, be indignant for the faith, say indignantly to the heretics: where did you learn the Aristotelian things? Who chose Plato over the Gospels? Who rejected the preaching of faith, and introduced unbelieving research? Where did you learn: unborn and born? You have abandoned the Father, rejected the name of the Son, considered the dignity of the Spirit unworthy, and are turning to human words. Jeremiah said well: “The truth is no longer with them, it is taken out of their mouth” (Jer. 7:28). What did Peter say and was pleased? “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). He did not say: you are the birth of the unborn, but - “You are Christ, the Son of the Living God.” When the Father revealed wisdom to him, could he really not understand? Couldn't Christ have said to the apostles when he commanded them to baptize: having gone, baptize the nations in the name of the unborn and the begotten? But he (Peter) found a name wiser than the mysterious legends. You describe the divine, destroy faith and introduce research; but fear, enemy: Peter holds the keys; he received the keys when he said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Those whom Peter sees calling Son, to them he opens the door of the kingdom; and those whom he finds calling creation and blaspheming, from them he closes the door of the Church. He received the keys not before saying: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”; then he hears from Him: “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, ... I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 16:17–19). After confession - power; after faith - the transfer of the Church and the kingdom. 3. But some rebel against the Son, others rebel against the Holy Spirit; there is no benefit when Christ is recognized and the Holy Spirit is rejected; it is equally of no use when the Father is recognized and the Son is rejected. The Jews also acknowledge the Father, denying the Son, and they do not have eternal life. He who despises the glory of the Son is not accepted by the Father. Consider carefully: Job’s friends also gathered for God, but condemned Job; and God did not even approve of those who assisted Him, but says: why did you speak against my servant Job (Job 42:7)? If He did not accept the friends who spoke against Job and praised Him, then will He ever accept those who reject the Son and acknowledge Him? In no case, because “He who hates Me,” he says, “hates my Father also” (John 15:23). In the same way, just as the Father does not accept honor for Himself when the Son is rejected, so neither do the Father and the Son when the Holy Spirit is rejected. Paul found those who had received the beginning from heretical tares, but still without boldness. In Ephesus of Asia he finds some who were baptized, and says to them: “Have you received the Holy Spirit when you believed? But they... said... we had not even heard whether there was a Holy Spirit" (Acts 19:2). Then a valiant voice: “What then were you baptized into” (Acts 19:3)? Let Peter and Paul instruct the Church so that heretical studies do not become intertwined. Where does the hated name Eunomius come from? Where do the heretical seeds come from? Truly, the truth perished among the wicked, and Aristotelian teaching prevailed. Do you comprehend the limits of human nature in the divine (nature) and the unborn, and call (Him) begotten? But what, he says, do you call the Father? I call it unborn, but not like you; I call the Father unbegotten because He was not begotten. But I also call Adam unborn, because he was not born, but created. Do not amaze your listeners: these are fictions; the Father is unbegotten, and many other things are unbegotten. Therefore, everything that is not born is called unborn; also, everything that is being done, but has not yet been done, is called unborn; the resurrection of the dead is now unborn, because it is being done, but has not yet been done, not prepared, not yet born. What is also called unborn is that which is not made, and which should not ever be made, as are many things that are unborn; so the prophets and, in particular, Daniel say: “I saw in my vision at night, ... four great beasts came out of the sea ... The first is like a lion, but he has the wings of an eagle” (Dan. 7: 2-4). Where, tell me, have you seen an animal, a lioness, with such a device? Where did you see a beast with iron claws and copper teeth? This the prophet depicted according to the vision; (such a thing) did not exist and does not exist, this beast is unborn, has never been, (a beast) only in name. What kind of women were they with wings that Zechariah saw and “their wings were like the wings of a stork” (Zechariah 5:9)? Where have you seen a leopard with wings? Blessed Daniel tells all this. Or where did you see an image made of gold, silver, copper, iron and clay, such as Daniel saw? Each of this is unborn, because it did not exist, but is depicted as an invention and a vision. So, do not think that you are giving the Father something very pleasant when you call Him unborn, since many other unborn things are also called unborn. I know that this word is deep; but I also reached these places in order to expose heretical wickedness. A person is also called unborn if he is unborn. But if he was not born, you say, then why is he called (that)? I will show you an unborn man: the Savior says about Judas the traitor: “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed: it would have been better for this man not to have been born” (Matthew 26:24). How good would it be for him? After all, nothing brings either benefit or harm to a non-existent person. And Solomon pleases the unborn man, saying this: happy is the dead one more than the living one, “and more blessed than both of them is he who has not yet existed” (Ecc. 4:2-3). But how is he blessed if he was not born? Pay attention to the names of the unborn nature. He called the unborn man blessed, and even the uncomposed, so that the name unborn does not explain the divine nature; and does not, as you say, signify an unborn essence, and does not bring honor to the Father; the prophet has other names for the unborn and the begotten, as has been proven earlier, but they only point to the non-existent. But let us say to them with David: “The transgressors also told me (their) reasonings, but this is not... Your law, O Lord” (Ps. 119:85) 2. Accept Peter's voice, Paul's teaching: “Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, blessed forever, Amen” (Rom. 9:5). Let us worship, sing and glorify the Holy Spirit. From the divine Scripture we theologize, whether our enemies wish it or not; Paul also testifies to me, saying: “Do you not know that you are the church of God, and who the inmate is? and the Spirit of God dwells in you” (1 Cor. 3:16). So, another is the church, and another is the dweller. Didn't you hear Peter who said: “Ananias! Why did you allow Satan to put into your heart the thought of lying to the Holy Spirit?” and added: “You lied not to men, but to God” (Acts 5:3–4). But heretics say: he did not call the Spirit God, but (said only) that the Spirit was sent from God: whoever insults the Spirit, they say, insults God, who sent the Spirit. But, oh, foolish and senseless! - and for an atheist there is no other more suitable name than foolish: “The fool said in his heart: “There is no God” (Ps. 13:1) - he did not say it as you think. If the insult to the Spirit went back to God as the one who sent it, it would be necessary to say: you did not lie to the Spirit, but to God. But that's enough; should liken the apostolic choir to the Holy Trinity, which the Father proclaims. The Trinity of Apostles is a witness of the heavenly Trinity. So, let us rejoice in purity and say: “The forsaken woman has many more children than she who has a husband” (Is. 54:1), or - than any heresy, which has a man as a teacher, and not God. Through the prayers and intercession of our common father and teacher, may we all abide together with the apostles and martyrs in the Orthodox faith, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. “It was” refers to the Word of God, and “it was not” – to J. the Baptist. Translation by P. Yungerov – Editorial office of “ABC of Faith” For Min, this conversation falls into the category of “dubia” (doubtful), so that even the bishop cannot assimilate it with decisiveness. Severian. It is assumed that the unknown speaker spoke in Constantinople, soon after the Emperor Theodosius the Great expelled the “Anomeans” (heretics who taught that the Son was unworthy of the Father). The expulsion took place in 380; the orator could speak in 381. At the end, the speaker alludes to a certain “father,” an invisible bishop. They think that here, of course, St. Gregory Nazianzen (Theologian), who then abandoned the capital's see for the sake of church peace. He died in 390. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: