many things are unbegotten: as when the prophets speak, and especially Daniel: *I was beholding four beasts coming up out of the sea; and the first beast was as a lioness, and its wings as an eagle’s* (Dan. 7:3-4). And tell me, where did you see a beast possessing a lioness’s form? Where did you see a beast that has iron claws and bronze teeth? The prophet certainly fashioned this for the sake of the vision; it never occurred, nor will it occur; yet that beast is called unbegotten, never having been made, but merely named. What women ever existed having wings, such as Zechariah saw carrying them (Zech. 5:9)? Where did you see a leopard having wings? All these things the blessed Daniel C set forth. Or where did you see a statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay, such as Daniel saw? Every one of these is unbegotten; for it did not come to be; it was written down as a fiction and a vision. Therefore do not think you are bestowing something great upon the Father by calling him unbegotten, since many other things that have not been generated are also called unbegotten. I know that this argument is profound, but in order to refute the heretical malice, I have come to these topics. A human who has not been born is also called unbegotten. And if he was not born, you say, how is it said? I shall show you a human not born; the Savior says concerning Judas the betrayer: *Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed; it would have been good for him if he had not been born* (Matt. 26:24). And how was it good for him? For for that which does not exist, nothing is either good or harmful. Solomon also calls the man who has not been born blessed, saying: *Blessed is he who is dead more than the living, and better than both is he who has not been born* (Eccl. 4:2-3). And if he has not been born, how is he blessed? Look at the names of the unbegotten nature. He called the man who has not been born and has not been fashioned blessed. So the name of "unbegotten" does not interpret a divine nature, nor, as you say, does it signify an unbegotten essence, nor does it bring honor to the Father; there being other names among the prophet, both unbegotten and generated, as has been demonstrated beforehand; but it merely shows what has not occurred. But let us say to them with David: *The lawless have told me fables, but not as thy law, O Lord* (Ps. 118:85). Receive the voice of Peter, the doctrine of Paul: *Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever* (Rom. 9:5). Let the Holy Spirit be worshipped, celebrated, glorified. From the divine Scriptures we theologize, whether the enemies wish it or not; and Paul will testify to me, saying: *Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and who is he that dwells within?* and, *The Spirit of God dwells in you* (1 Cor. 3:16). One, then, is the temple, and another is he who dwells within. Have you not heard Peter saying: *Ananias, why has Satan tempted thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?* and he added, *You have not lied to men, but to God* (Acts 5:3-4). But the heretics say: He did not call the Spirit God, but [said this] because the Spirit was sent by God. He who insults, he says, the Spirit, insults God who sent the Spirit. But, O foolish and irrational man—for no other title is fitting for an atheist, if not that of the foolish; for *the fool has said in his heart, There is no God* (Ps. 52:1)—he did not say what you have understood. For if the insult to the Spirit went back to God as the Sender, he ought to have said: You have not lied to the Spirit, but to God. But enough of this; for it is necessary to yield to the apostolic choir the holy Trinity, which the Father proclaims. The triad of the apostles is a witness to the heavenly Trinity. Let us dance sincerely, therefore, and let us say: *Many are the children of the wilderness, rather than of her who has a husband* (Is. 54:1); that is, or every heresy that has a man as teacher, and not God. And may it come to pass, by the prayers and intercessions of the common father and teacher, that we may all be gathered together with the apostles and martyrs in the orthodox faith, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power with the Father, together with the holy Spirit, now and always, and for ever and ever. Amen.