then dispense; decline from evil, then do good. Do not appear liberal with what you have stolen by harming fraternal love. When you have taken pity on those whom you made poor, then dispense of what was not stolen to others; when you have wiped away the tears of those you have harmed, then take pity on other weeping poor. Honor the Lord, says the Scripture, from your just labors (Prov. 3. 9). Do not be deceived, God is not mocked (Gal. 6. 7). He does not accept a gift while another groans; the Creator does not endure to divide with you what has been stolen. It is not possible for what is just to be neglected there, it is not possible for him who is convicted to escape; but if you are conscious of any transgression, O man, perform repentance. Have you fallen at some time, O man, into irrational appetites, induced by illicit necessity? Have you become a debtor of many iniquities? Do not so fear the Judge, nor despair of your salvation; mercy is accustomed to be entreated, it is appeased by alms given to the poor, as it accepts the consolation of the poor as gifts. Hear Him crying in the Gospels: Give alms, and all things are fulfilled. Give to me, cries He who enriches all: Give to me, says He who bestows upon all. He holds as accepted the two mites offered by the widow; He is not ashamed to incline Himself toward a cup of cold water. He is accustomed to accept the intention of a merciful pauper: for He Himself says: He who pities the poor lends to God (Prov. 19. 17): to whom is due glory and power everywhere, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
ON THE ADORATION OF THE VENERABLE CROSS
Let us sing a new song, O peoples, to the justice of the Lord the King, and let us confess to Him; or rather, let us sing hymns, let us glorify, let us praise, let us adore, and let us magnify the advent of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ; and in hymns let us adore and with encomiums celebrate the venerable and thrice-blessed wood of the Lord. Come, O beloved, performing dances in praise, and adoring in faith, let us say, chanting with the prophet David: The light of Thy countenance has been marked upon us, O Lord (Ps. 4. 7). What then is this light, if not the Cross of the Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, through whom the world was saved and we believers were liberated from the captivity of Belial, and the paper of our iniquities was torn? The countenance of the Father is Christ: He who has seen me, He says, has seen the Father (John 14. 9). But the light of the countenance of the Lord is the Cross; for in it, as a lamp on a lampstand, He illuminated the world, and He strengthened the earth shaken by movement, He split the rocks, He raised the dead; and having put the sun to flight, He clothed the heaven in sackcloth or darkness, in order to show to the ungrateful, to the wicked, to those denying God, that He who was crucified in the flesh is Lord and Creator.
Therefore, O beloved, I seek and desire to offer you to the Cross, and to celebrate it worthily; but I am afraid, although I am unworthy, for my flesh trembles, my tongue grows numb, my lips harden, and my mind within imposes silence. How then, base as I am, shall I be able to speak worthily concerning the power of the venerable and life-giving Cross? Yet I shall speak in part, through the grace of God, that which I comprehend; for not even the angels can worthily celebrate its power. For this sign of the Cross, which we see, the angels adore, not because of the form of the Cross, but because of Christ who of His own will was crucified upon it in the flesh. Adam was condemned because he ate from the wood; and the new Adam, Christ our God, strengthened us through the wood of the Cross. And the word of the prophet saying: Thou hast given a token to them that fear Thee, that they may flee from before the bow (Ps. 59. 6). The sign is the Cross on the forehead and hand of the faithful; the bow is error, the archer is the devil, the arrows are shameful thoughts, the wounds are sins. Come, O faithful, let us enjoy the adoration of the venerable and immaculate Cross. For a stupor seized every living creature, seeing Christ affixed to the wood, the founder and governor of the universe pierced by a lance in His sacred side, and blood and water flowing from the perennial fountain, bearing a crown of thorns, drinking vinegar mixed with gall; the ministers of darkness and friends of gloom casting lots with blood-stained hands, so that each might receive a fitting portion. The orders of the incorporeal angels shuddered; the heaven was sad and mournful, the light and splendor of the stars was extinguished; that great giant, the sun, withdrew its lamps, darkness occupied the ether; the day was turned into thick evening; the beautiful veil of the temple was torn, the earth was agitated with quaking, and of a sudden the dead were coming forth from the tombs, loosed from their bonds. The thief dwells in paradise through faith and word: the smitten Judas perished by a noose: Peter, terrified, swears he does not know the Lord, who had saved him from error, until the cock crowing refuted him; but when he had wept bitterly, he washed away his sin. Beholding these things, the infernal dragon, lamenting, groaned, saying: O my ministers and powers, princes of darkness, who drove the nail into my heart? A wooden lance has pierced me, and I am destroyed; I am tormented in my vitals, my heart pains me, my senses are corrupted, my spirit boils. Would that Judas had not been established in the number of the disciples! Would that the wood of the Cross had not been driven against me! For by Him whom I thought I held in my hands, I am now held as a captive, and all those whom I held from the first man, I am forced to vomit forth. Come, O beloved, let us be covered under the wings of the venerable and life-giving Cross. For the Cross, which is terminated by four extremities, signifies that the crucified is God who pervades all things, and comprehends all boundaries. Christ God was exalted upon it, so that He might put to flight the demons who willingly dwell in the air, and might prepare for us a free and easy journey into heaven, as He Himself, our Savior, said: When I shall be exalted, I will draw all men to myself (John 12. 32). And what need is there to say many things to you? Hear the prophet saying: The Lord shall send the rod of power out of Sion (Ps. 109. 2): because the rod is Christ, as Isaias said: A rod shall go out of the root of Jesse (Isai. 11. 1). Holding it, Moses divided the Red Sea, he split the water and again joined it together: he split it, so that the people of the Lord might pass through; he joined it, so that the Egyptian people might be enfolded in the depth of the sea. Another prophet says: Blessed is the wood, by which salvation was made in the midst of the earth. Consider the stars of heaven, and daily you will see among them the sign of the Cross, formed from the stars. Wherefore I, before I exalt the life-giving Cross, shall happily offer some few things in praise, and when I have exalted it, I shall adore. Hail, Cross, principle of salvation, and protection of the kingdom: hail, Cross, which sends forth the apostles, the preaching of the prophets: hail, Cross, glory of martyrs, and preaching of the saints: hail, Cross, tranquility of the tossed, and liberation of those in captivity: hail, Cross, exultation of the just and holy: hail, Cross, adornment of bishops, and honor of presbyters: hail, Cross, splendor of deacons, and joy of readers: hail, Cross, glory of monks, and consolation of those who mourn: hail, Cross, guardian of churches, and governess of cities: hail, Cross, father of orphans, and patroness of widows: hail, Cross, salvation of those who are attacked, and guide of the way for those who wander: hail, Cross, protector of those who are harmed, and avenger of those who harm: hail, Cross, consolation of those who suffer and are in peril: hail, Cross, corrector of evil habits, and helper of better things: hail, Cross, of those against whom war is waged, the invincible weapon, and the raising up of those who fall: hail, Cross, strength of the weak, and staff of the powerless: hail, Cross, crown of virgins, and continence of widows: hail, Cross, garment of those newly enlightened, and guardian of infants: hail, Cross, freedom of servants, and burial of the dead: hail, Cross, of souls:
those dying: hail, Cross, sanctification of souls, and nail piercing the heart of demons: hail, Cross, companion of travelers, and tranquil haven for sailors: hail, Cross, security of the faithful, and comfort of the vigilant: hail, Cross, weapon by day, and protection by night: hail, Cross, staff of the infirm, and rod of shepherds: hail, Cross, guide of the returning, and perfection of the progressing: hail, Cross, salvation of souls, and averter of all evils from bodies: hail, Cross, promoter of all good things, and destroyer of sins: hail, Cross, A plant of resurrection, and wood of eternal life: hail, Cross, foundation of faith, and perfection of the priesthood: hail, Cross, redemption from iniquity, and foundation and support of the Churches: hail, Cross, removal of diseases, and rest for wayfarers: hail, Cross, aid for the needy, and alliance for the struggling: hail, Cross, recovery for those in pain, and support for those walking straight: hail, Cross, cause of almsgiving, and penalty for unmercifulness: hail, Cross, mighty help for us all, and security of a firm hope. Today the Cross is worshipped, and the resurrection of Christ is renewed: today the Cross is worshipped, and the city of God, the Jerusalem above, rejoices with those on earth: today the Cross is worshipped, and Zion, the mother of all the Churches, is proclaimed: today the Cross is worshipped, and the ends of the earth are gathered for its adoration: today the Cross is worshipped, and victory against the barbarians is granted to the Roman Emperor: today the Cross is worshipped, B the salvation of the faithful and the refuge of the pious: today the Cross is worshipped, and the four-cornered world exults: today the Cross is worshipped, and all tribes, peoples, and tongues celebrate: today the Cross is worshipped, and creation is renewed: today the Cross is worshipped, and Adam is renewed: today the Cross is worshipped, and Eve, the mother of the living, is shown to be a helper—having become no longer an ensnaring plotter as before, but gathering the wood of life in place of the wood of knowledge, fulfilling obedience in place of disobedience, receiving the blessing in place of the curse, obtaining large offspring in joy in place of "In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children," and growing wise in incorruption in place of corruption. But who is this mother of the living, and who is harvesting the fruit of the wood of life, if not the Church of God? And the wood is the Cross of the Lord, the spouse of the good of the Church. This is now worshipped, C and the prince of malice is made a public spectacle, and demons are denounced, and the spiritual hosts of wickedness are put to flight, and Hades is plundered, and his phalanx flees, and Belial is trodden underfoot, and the counselor of sin no longer exhorts the mother of us all; but he creeps upon his breast, wounding the heel, while he himself is trodden upon the head. And he eats the earth which was condemned to bring forth thorns and thistles; but he looks upon her who was formerly trampled by him, now feasting on the wood of life, while he remains in his former curse; he sees that he has no power over the heel, while all his heads are crushed by the Cross; he beholds standing at the right hand, like a queen, her who was once condemned, and, having been clothed in gold-wrought attire, she covers her nakedness—the fig leaf—and mourns her own disfigurement. He sees her supported by the royal scepter and raised up towards heaven itself, and laments his own fall; D he sees her calling together her children with a loud proclamation for the adoration of the precious Cross, and he shudders at her obedience, and marvels at her zeal, and is struck with dread at the multitude; he sees all creation keeping festival, and himself clothed in shame as a garment; and the divine oracle saying: "Bend it, and prosper, and rule" (Ps. XLIV, 5). Bend the bow which is the Cross, pierce the devil, rule over creation, prosper man. And again, "Exalt the Lord our God, and adore the footstool of his feet" (Ps. XCVIII, 5). For the walls of sin and the cities of Hades have been leveled by the cross of Christ.
A
In Adoration of the Venerable Cross
And now, having B prepared and perfectly celebrated the cross, come, let us give thanks to the most high, gracious, and dread cross, useful to the soul and adorned: come, let us adore with fear, love, and faith, and let us be sanctified by the touch of the venerable and life-giving cross. But you who wish to approach the cross of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ wisely and vigilantly, and to obtain forgiveness of sins, above all things love the truth, and pursue impiety; be not covetous of the things of others. You who wish to approach the cross, cast away evil counsels from yourselves, do not swear except according to God, do not cast yourselves into the pit of sin, and drive perjury and blasphemy far from you. You who wish to approach, do not put on the darkness of sin, but sincerely keep the commandments of God. You who wish to approach the cross, cast deceit from your hearts and pursue impiety; do not give to usury or loan, honor your parents with your whole soul, glorify, love, and cherish them. You who wish to approach the cross, eradicate evil counsels from yourselves, arm yourselves with good thoughts, prepare yourselves for every good work. You who wish to approach the cross, cast jealousy out of your hearts, do not desire to injure your neighbor, do not make fraudulent weights and measures, do not join with another man’s wife, love one another, do not delight in evil among yourselves, drive away bad habits. You who wish to approach the cross, leave behind vain spectacles, extinguish fury and anger, wish to injure no one, and do not commit murder from a brawl, nor make a fallacious or lying conversation. You who wish to approach the cross, flee from lying and shameful desires, and keep the commandments of God. You who wish to approach the cross, do judgment and justice, desire what is good and just, and do not turn to brawls and insults. You who wish to approach the cross, speak words of truth each to his neighbor, detest all lasciviousness, and drive away luxury. You who wish to approach the cross, do not admit illicit work, harmful and ruinous to the soul: for adultery strips bare both soul and body. Do not, therefore, commit adultery, nor perform a spurious work, nor harm the body, nor defile yourself; you will lose your soul, bring disgrace upon your lineage, and irritate God. Nor should you commit fornication: for fornication has been the cause of much subversion in the world, being a harmful sin that overwhelms the soul. You who wish to approach the cross and reap benefit from it, do not cast yourselves into the gloomy lake of fornication and the dark pit of adultery; for the thresholds of iniquitous fornication, armed with swords, and the fiery arrows of adultery, generate the sleepless worm, and fornication and adultery beget an inextinguishable, huge, consuming, and enervating fire. Those, therefore, who approach the cross with contempt and without fear will be as if struck by thunder and lightning. You who wish to approach the cross, have hatred for detraction, detest the remembrance of injuries; do not cease to have mercy on the needy, do not omit to visit the infirm, do not love avarice, do not cease to visit those in prison. Gathered in the Churches, let us approach the cross with fear, trembling, and joy, and let us always revere the priests. Let us consider, beloved, the power of the cross. For when the cross was fixed, and Christ was extended upon it, and he inclined his immaculate head, and his side was wounded by the lance, while the whole world was struck with fear, and was prepared to avenge him who hung upon the cross—but was restrained by him who was crucified in the flesh: seeing the elements perturbed, the host of the iniquitous and their station, the sound of thunder, the splendor and course of the lightnings, the station of the weapons and their lightness, the violence of the earthquakes, the multitude of the angels and their orders, the brightness and flame of the fire, the storm of wrath, the heavenly armies and their camps, the virtues of the holy animals, their strength, the obedience of the clouds and their mission: seeing these things, the devil descended in haste into hell, and ordered the gates and bars to be secured. Looking back, he saw shining thunders sent against him, the huge sound of which reached him; darkness surrounded him, the trembling of the elements troubled him, a line of light-bearing C beings anticipated him, the earth was shaken, rocks were split, bars were broken, elements were shaken, death was moved, lamps of spiritual fire went before: the Tartarean deep trembled, the sea was troubled, the infernal abysses were moved, the corneal voices grew stronger, the sun was obscured, and it was possible to see the heaven, the firmament, the orbit of the world, the roof of creation, the structure of the universal house, the roof that never ages, the chamber covered with fixed waters, the crystalline phial, the level expanse laid beneath, the book written with golden letters, the blue chamber painted with silver stars, the fiery couch on which the sun and moon sit as bridegroom and bride. And the heaven, instead of splendor, was wrapped in darkness; rivers, fountains, lakes, the streams of waters were forced to be compressed, but by the command of Christ crucified, they sent them forth again: the dark phalanx and the array of demons were put to flight. Furthermore, every array of angels, archangels, and ministering Virtues were moved with fear and trembling, seeing the eternal, incorruptible, and immortal God not leaving heaven, and descending under the earth to Adam. Hell was in labor, Belial, consumed by fear, was dying, death was turned into smoke and struck by the lightning of divinity, it vomited out all the just it possessed. As these things were being done, behold, a voice went out from the mouth of the holy, immaculate, immortal, invisible one—a voice that brought life, not death, but also joy and trembling; joy to the just, trembling to the princes of darkness: "I say to you who are in bonds, come forth, and you who are in darkness, be revealed." Hearing these things, the souls of the just rejoiced, and the choir of prophets sang joyfully: "Our God shall come manifestly, our God and he shall not keep silence. A fire shall go before him, and round about him a mighty tempest" (Ps. XLIX, 3). And the souls of the saints, released from bonds, went out with Adam; the prophets striking the devil, the just beating him with slaps, the saints spitting upon him and mocking him: but the band of demons placed their heads upon their knees; citharas and lyres were in the hands of the prophets, with tympani they played canticles, celebrating the victor. Who, then, would not admire the power of the venerable and life-giving cross? O name of the cross, arcane mystery! O ineffable grace and investigable power! But it is time at last to approach the D dread table, and the unbloody sacrifice. Therefore, I, with decent temperance and vigilance, having added certain small praises to the life-giving cross, will put an end to my speech. Hail, dread and life-giving cross, sweet splendor, and sun ever shining; hail, venerable and worshipful cross, which convertest the souls of those drawn to thee and destroyest the souls of the iniquitous; hail, admirable cross, which illuminatest the ways of the just and burnest up the paths of the impious; hail, most happy cross, administrator of goods, and protection of those hoping in thee; hail, most blessed cross, wall and salvation of those fleeing to thee; hail, most lucid cross, redeemer of those in peril and remedy of the infirm; hail, greatest cross, helper of those suffering, and avenger of the afflicted; hail, illuminator cross, patroness of those lacking patronage, guide of the erring, helper of the afflicted; hail, victor cross, which bestowest upon the needy, and hearest those who cry out; hail, invincible cross, patroness never deserting, preserver and prince of the world; hail, life-giving cross, beneficial to the world, which recompensest those who do good; hail, exalting cross, which makest thy servants victors; hail, life-giving cross, beneficial to friends, winnowing the Jews, punishing the impious, rewarding the just; hail, cross worthy of admiration, clothing priests, the glory of monks, which approachest those who are vexed, and openest to the humbled; hail, life-giving cross, which exaltest the poor, liftest up the fallen, toleratest sinners, receivest the penitent; hail, most holy cross, propitiation of those confessing, have mercy on the converted, electress of thy saints, destruction of enemies, companion of Christians, builder of Churches, which...
[GREEK COLUMN] 753 • SPURIA. Embellishing with praises the life-giving Cross, I shall bring my discourse to a close. Hail, most awesome and life-giving Cross, sweet light and ever-shining sun! Hail, honorable and reverend Cross, which turns the souls of those who are led astray, and destroys the souls of the wicked! Hail, adorable Cross, which makes plain the ways of the righteous and burns up the paths of the ungodly! Hail, thrice-blessed Cross, granter of good things, and protector of those who hope in thee! Hail, all-blessed Cross, the wall and salvation of those who flee to thee! Hail, most radiant Cross, redeemer of those in danger, and physician of the infirm! Hail, greatest Cross, helper of those who suffer, and avenger of the oppressed! Hail, most luminous Cross, protector of those who are destitute, guide of the wandering, helper of the afflicted! Hail, victory-working Cross, bestower of those who petition, and listener to those who cry out! Hail, unconquerable Cross, unbetrayable guardian, holder and ruler of the world! Hail, fire-enkindling Cross, benefactor of the universe, rewarder of those who do good! Hail, height-making Cross, and maker of victory for thy servants! Hail, life-bearing Cross, benefactor of friends, winnower of the Jews, chastiser of the ungodly, rewarder of the righteous! Hail, wonder-worthy Cross, adornment of priests, boast of monastics, seeker of those who are persecuted, open gate for the humbled! Hail, life-bestowing Cross, elevator of the poor, resurrection of those who have fallen, long-suffering of those who sin, receiver of those who repent! Hail, most holy Cross, propitiation of those who confess, comforter of those who turn back, chosen one of thy holy ones, destroyer of thy enemies, kinsman of Christians, and builder of the Churches, and adored by all creation. This honorable and revered wood, being honored by all, is worshiped. Greeks and barbarians, Macedonians and Thessalians, Paeonians and Illyrians, Athenians and Argives and Laconians, Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Egypt and the parts of Libya by Cyrene, Cretans and Arabs, Indians and Ethiopians, and Homerites, and all the rest of the nations, as many as the sun beholds, having abandoned their own deception, marking themselves with the Cross, worship, fleeing the manifold chains of the devil. For through the Cross Christ tore apart the insatiable belly of Belial, and dissolved his flesh-eating teeth; by his solid Cross he shattered and paralyzed his sinews, and crushed his bones. He tore apart his garment, and plucked out his hair, and cast upon him a dark and endless lamentation and mourning. He extinguished his shameless eyes, put to shame his dishonorable face, pierced him with sharp spears, stabbed him through with a three-pronged sword, scattered his hopes, searched out his hidden nests, and winnowed his storehouses with every wind. He leveled the merciless children and offspring of the demons, extinguished with unquenchable fire his man-made idols, cast his bed into the abyss, pried open his dark storehouses, leveled his cities, pulled down the walls of iniquity, threw open the gates of Hades, shattered the adamantine bolts, and having released all who believed in him, and having taken them with himself to the heavens, he ran back like a giant, as the Prophet says: He shall rejoice like a giant to run his course. By this sign enemies are put to flight; by this sign the walls of adversaries fall; demons are destroyed; all things are subjected to the wood of the Cross through the power of him who was crucified upon it. And not only now does the type of the Cross defeat enemies, but even before this it was winning and prevailing. And know the power of the type. The rod of Moses bore the type of the Cross; and the rod was the Cross. And see for me the type of the Cross, how many wonders and signs it wrought, A to the adversaries, indeed, evils, but to the faithful, good things. And Moses, through the rod, turned the rivers of the Egyptians into blood, and brought upon them locust and beetle and hail, darkness that can be felt and storm, and the death of the firstborn through that same rod; for where the rod inclined, there also a trophy stood. Through the rod God recalled the race of the Hebrews from bitter slavery, and it was the type of the Cross that was saving them. You have known, O beloved, the strength and power of the type of the Cross; worship the truth of Christ, having heard the declaration of the prefiguration; reverence the manifestation of the truth. Great, therefore, is the discourse concerning the Cross, and inexpressible is its power. Those who worship the Cross with desire and faith have known the strength in it, and put the devil to rout. For the all-powerful Cross, benefiting all, is worshiped by all. For the Lord himself is the true God and Savior of our souls, having been nailed upon it, and having saved the world; to whom from us all honor is fitting and owed, glory and thanksgiving, together with the beginningless Father, together with the all-holy and life-giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
On the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; and on the Women Bearing Myrrh
Very much, now as always, the wonders of the Master's resurrection grip my mind, and the fearsome sights of the mysteries strike terror into the thinking of my soul: that dishonor gave birth to glory, and suffering brought about passionlessness for men; that the wood of punishment rescued us from the wood of slavery, and nails dug up the deep-rooted sin; that a crown of thorns overturned the general curse, and a reproached Cross delivered the world from shame; that the side pierced by the lance became the gate of the world's mysteries, and a three-day tomb was shown as a house of life; that a tax collector spoke forth the dogmas of theology, and an angel sowed seeds of joy in the souls of women. I cannot be silent about the paradoxes of the Master, even if the multitude of divine signs is such that speech does not suffice for a narrative; I dance with the thief, I leap with Mary, I obey the evangelist who cries out: On the Sabbath, as it drew toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door of the sepulcher, and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers were shaken, and became as dead men. "On the Sabbath, as it drew toward the first day of the week." You heard this voice shortly before: in the fearsome night, or rather in the great light, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulcher. Good was the zeal of the women, evangelical the running of the women who met him, displaying their courageous spirit. Perhaps their steps were more praiseworthy than those of the apostles. For the latter, having fled, were hiding in houses with fear; but the former, having run boldly to the tomb, were mourning him who is free among the dead, fulfilling with grateful faith their Christ-loving purpose. They did not fear the Jews, they did not consider the guards, they did not reckon the still-growing madness of those who crucified him, nor the readiness of those who were present to commit insults; having meditated on nothing of these terrible things in their thoughts; but as though at the altar of the sepulcher, they approached with tears, weeping there, whence the one who had stopped the sorrows of Eve had arisen, where the whole world was about to feast. "And behold, there was a great earthquake." For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, and rolled back the stone from the door of the sepulcher, and sat upon it. If a great earthquake occurred when an angel descended, how, when the Master of the angels was being crucified, was the earth not rightly shaken at the things dared? And for what reason was there an earthquake at the passion, and again an earthquake at the resurrection? Fear is joined to fear, so that the foundations of death might be completely overturned. A great earthquake occurred, stones were trembling, and the Jews were dancing. But the feast they thought they were celebrating, this they received as a perpetual cause of gloom. They handled the Lamb, but they lost the altars; they spent the heir, but they fell from the covenant; they divided the garments, but they were deprived of the miracles; they sealed the sepulcher. B