and again on the third year, the resurrection will be known on the twenty-ninth of the month; and no one is harmed by these, no one is grieved by these, but each seeks the harmony. We ought to stand and acknowledge that this presentation happens harmoniously. We ought to acknowledge these things; and before the coming week, let the clean one have known that this [resurrection] is to be the first of the seven weeks in which we ought to fast. But we [ought] for our part to have satisfied the logion concerning the promise, if only those things that we have said are retained in memory. And may God grant that all the mysteries be kept in your hearts, and you in Christ, through whom glory is rendered to God and the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Notice on the Following Sermon
We publish this finding of the idle Greeks after Savile, because it is our intent not to leave out anything of what he himself brought to light. He could certainly, having left out not a few other things of no value, have left this also in the shadows without any scruple.On the Synaxis of the Archangels
Angels are to be praised; for they, celebrating the Creator, render Him propitious and benevolent toward men. I speak of the angels, our fellow-soldiers, who fight against the adversary powers, of whom one is the archangel Michael (Jude 9), who struggled against the devil for the body of Moses, and fought against the prince of the Persians for the liberty of the people (Dan. 10:13). Of their number is he who struck the she-ass and repressed Balaam from his insane fury (Num. 22:27); and because that prophet did not understand what was being done, he was brought back to a sound mind by the voice of the brute animal. Among whom also is he who grasped his sword and incited Joshua the son of Nun, that he might conflict against the enemies. Of whose number also is he who struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrians in one night, and joined the sleep of the barbarians with death (4 Kings 19:35). Of whose number is he who carried the prophet Habakkuk in an aerial leap, that he might refresh the prophet Daniel in the midst of the fasting lions with food (Dan. 14:35). These, therefore, and those like them stand against enemies and strenuously struggle against vices. Such was the admirable and divine Raphael, who by the cutting of a single fish restored a maiden vexed by a demon, and procured light for an old man who was blind (Tob. 11).But neither are those to be passed over in silence who served in the New Testament, a great part of whom is the archangel Gabriel, who poured out the oracles to Zacharias, who punished his incredulity with silence because he did not believe that the sterile woman would become pregnant, on account of the future economy; who announced to the venerable Mary that the birth would be without a spouse; who led the shepherds to the cave, and signified that He who cannot be contained is in a manger, in swaddling clothes, uncircumscribed; and with them sent forth a song consonant to the glory of God: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men (Luke 2:14). Another prevents the magi from approaching the tyrant; others on earth were ministering to Him who created the earth; another warns the spouse of the Virgin not to dismiss as corrupted her who was incorrupt; another, because of the infanticide carried out by Herod, counsels flight to the spouse, and afterwards a return; since, seeing in the flesh Him who was uncreated, they, after the manner of servants, ministered to Him. For they marveled at His fortitude, by which it came to pass that the tempter fell, according to the voice of David: Bearing Him up in their hands, they carried Him out of the reach of stones (Ps. 90:12). For the Jews took up stones, that they might cast them at Him (John 8:59). Others were present at the passion; others sat at the empty sepulcher after the resurrection, and said to the faithful women, Why do you seek the living with the dead (Luke 24:5)? After the ascension, however, they were present with the disciples after the manner of guards, loosening the bonds of Peter, lightening the perils of Paul on the sea and on the land, aiding the faith of Cornelius, striking the slayer of the just, Herod, who was speaking magnificently. Are they not, therefore, worthy of the greatest honor, who also direct our life? For not only were the angels commanded to guard the nations, as the oracle cries: When the Most High divided the nations, when He scattered the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the angels of God (Deut. 32:8); but also individuals have been allotted an angel.
This is not my discourse, but that of the divine Scripture. For when the maiden Rhoda announced to the apostles that Peter was standing before the doors, having escaped Herod's shackles, not believing her, they said: It is his angel (Acts 12:15). This the Savior also testifies, speaking of those who were little in this life: See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I say to you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father, who is in heaven (Matt. 18:10). Furthermore, in each individual Church, Christ appointed angel custodians, as He says, revealing to John: Tell the angel of the Church of Smyrna: I know thy poverty and tribulation, but thou art rich (Apoc. 2:8-9). What art thou saying, Lord? I am rich, and I am poor? Why dost thou endow me with a vain name? For if I am rich, I am not poor; if poor, how rich? For there is much distance between riches and poverty, as Thou Thyself testifiest; there is a great gulf between the rich and the poor. The rich man averts himself from the poor, the poor man looks up to the rich; they are contrary things, an unequal life. For the one groans in hardships, the other shows himself off in pleasures; the one seeks bread, the other abounds in the delights of the gullet; the one has not a drop of wine, the other, engulfed in surfeit, belches from drunkenness; the one is clothed in tattered rags, the other is adorned in various garments; the one lies abandoned on the pavement and vigilant, the other snores in his bed dreaming of delights; the one seeks a penny, the other is overwhelmed with gold. For he who hoards and does not dispense is like a poor man expecting a magnificent tomb. But neither do they enjoy the weather equally. For winter is burdensome to the poor man, who has nowhere to warm himself; summer is harmful to the rich man, who cannot bear the heat from his gluttony. How, therefore, is the same man poor and rich? The saying is true, and He who speaks is truthful. There are those who are poor indeed due to a lack of money, but rich in the treasures of faith. It is better to be poor in secular things and rich in spiritual ones; for the end of the former is corruption, but of the latter is a gain that cannot be taken away. And therefore the Son says: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19); calling us to store up in the heavens, to feed the poor, to visit the infirm, to cover those who are without clothing, to forgive needy debtors, to seek a loan from God. For He who pities the poor, lends to God (Prov. 19:17). These things indeed the angels seeing, refer to the Judge of all; and He truly commands them to say to the one doing good: Thy prayers and thy alms have gone up into memory before God (Acts 10:4). To Him be glory and power, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.