[to] account for your souls (Heb. 13:17). These things, therefore, I warn you of beforehand, so that no one may be proud in response to our admonition. For I am a father, and it is necessary for me to urge counsel upon A my children: for what the nature of the flesh does in carnal fathers, the grace of the Spirit does in us. I am a father, and a father trembling too much for his children, in such a way that I am ready to pour out my blood for you. And in this there is no merit of my own. For it is an Apostolic law, and the command of the Lord who says: The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11). But you also do the same for us: for you are bound to us by a similar affection. For hear also what Paul says. Greet, he says, Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ, who for my soul laid down their necks (Rom. 16:3-4). For just as it is beautiful for a shepherd to be sacrificed for his sheep, so in turn it is beautiful for the sheep not to be separated from the shepherd even by death. For when they are inseparable from him, they will not fear the wolf, the devil. For the wall of charity is firmer than adamant; And when a brother is helped by a brother, he shall be as a fortified and firm city (Prov. 18:19). I premise these things, so that you may hear what we say with all affection, and that none of you may begin to be troubled. We speak of a matter that it is worthy to speak of in the Church, and that it is worthy to hear gladly. We speak of peace to you. And what is more fitting than for a priest of God to persuade the people to peace? There is no contradiction where both the embassy is holy and the legate is accepted. We speak of peace, for which the Son of God descended to the earths, that He might pacify through His blood not only the things that are on earth, but also those that are in heaven, and might join earthly things with heavenly. We speak of peace, for which the Son of God suffered, for which He was crucified and buried, which He left to us in place of all inheritance-wealth, and which He gave as a wall of the Church, which He placed as a shield against the devil, which He gave as a sword against the demons, which He placed as a harbor B of tranquility for the faithful, which He gave as reconciliation to God, which He granted as the absolution of sins: for this, therefore, I am sent as a legate to you. Do not cause me shame, do not pollute my embassy, yield to me, I beseech you. Many sad things have long been done in the Church, I confess to God, but I do not praise disturbances, I do not embrace seditions. But let us omit these things now; cease, be quiet, restrain your spirits, curb your anger: it is enough that the Church has labored; let there be an end, let the turmoil cease: for this is pleasing to God, and acceptable to the most pious prince. For it is necessary also to obey kings, especially when they themselves also obey the ecclesiastical laws. For the apostle says: Be subject to princes and powers (Tit. 3:1). How much more to a religious prince, and one who labors for the Church? If, therefore, I have prepared your minds to receive my embassy, receive our brother, Severianus the bishop. I have gratitude that you have followed my speech with praises. You have given me the fruits of obedience: now I rejoice that I have sown good seed. For behold, I shall immediately gather the sheaves of grain. May the Lord repay you with the reward of kindness and the recompense of obedience. For now you have offered a true sacrifice of peace to God, because no one is troubled upon hearing this name, but you receive it with charity; as soon as we spoke in discourse, you have banished every anger from your hearts. Receive him, therefore, with a full chest, with open hands. If anything sad has been done, put it away; because where it is the time of peace, there is no recollection of dissension, so that there may be joy in heaven, joy on earth, spiritual gladness and exultation in the Church of God. And let us pray for the rest, that God may deign to keep the Church peaceful, and to give it peace, fixed and perpetual, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom is glory to God the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, in the ages of ages. Amen.
SERMON OF SEVERIANUS HIMSELF ON PEACE,
WHEN HE HAD BEEN RECEIVED BY BLESSED JOHN, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE.At the advent of our Lord and Savior and in His bodily presence, the angels leading the celestial choirs brought good news to the shepherds, saying: We announce to you today great joy which will be for all the people (Luke 2:10). For we, having borrowed the voice from the holy angels themselves, announce to you today great joy. For today the Church is in peace, and the heretics are in wrath. Today the ship of the Church is in harbor, and the fury of the heretics is tossed on the waves. Today the C shepherds of the Church are in security, and the heretics are in trouble. Today the sheep of the Lord are in safety, and the wolves are raging. Today the vineyard of the Lord is in abundance, and the workers of iniquity are in need. Today the people of Christ are exalted, and the enemies of the truth are humbled. Today Christ is in joy, and the devil is in mourning. Today the angels are in exultation, and the demons are in confusion. And what need is there to say much? Today Christ, who is the King of peace, proceeding with His peace, has put to flight every dissension, has driven away discords, has disturbed animosity. And just as the heaven is D the splendor of the sun, so does the radiance of peace illuminate the Church. O how desirable is the name of peace, how stable a foundation of the Christian religion, and how it is the celestial armor of the Lord’s altar! And what can we say about peace? Peace is the name of Christ Himself, just as the apostle also says: For Christ is our peace, who made both one (Ephes. 2:14), which were in no way at variance by faith, but by the envy of the devil. But just as when a king proceeds, the streets are cleaned, and the whole city is crowned with diverse flowers and ornaments, so that there may be nothing that appears less worthy of the visage of the king: so also now, with Christ, the King of peace, proceeding, let everything that is sad be taken away from the midst, and with the truth shining forth, let falsehood be put to flight, let discord be put to flight, with concord shining forth. And as we have frequently seen happen, where the tablets of kings or brothers are painted, so that the insignia of unanimity might be declared in both, the artist paints a figure in a feminine habit behind the back of both, establishing concord, embracing both with her arms, in-
- A
NOTICE CONCERNING THE FOLLOWING ORATION OF CHRYSOSTOM
In the latest Morelli edition, the Oration of Chrysostom before he went into exile, delivered to the people, was published at the end of the fourth volume, excerpted from the Life of Chrysostom by George of Alexandria, which, in what pertains to the first half up to these words, "but I see some men adhering to my doctrines," does not seem unworthy of Chrysostom; and it is held as such by learned men, with few others dissenting. In this first part, certainly, in my own judgment, nothing occurs that forces us to seek an author other than Chrysostom. The latter part, however, is full of flaws and is intricate, and can often scarcely, or indeed not at all, be understood—at least as it stands today—and we judge it ought to be detached from Chrysostom. For the style is discordant with the first part of the oration. If anything is stated, however, that fits the true history of his exile, it is certainly told in such a way, if I may say nothing further, as to the mode of speaking, that it does not seem right to attribute it to Chrysostom. B Certainly, an old interpretation which we subjoin persuades us that another author ought to be sought, and it has remained silent on the whole of the latter part. We thought that [the old interpretation] ought to be subjoined because it embraces certain things that do not appear in the Greek series. Our John Mabillon mentions in his *Iter Italicum*, p. 124, that he saw it in a certain codex of Monte Cassino, where, he says, it is attributed to Severian of Gabala. But it could never have been Severian's, nor does it fit his history. We have rejected the interpretation of Tilmann, as being embellished *paraphrastically*, and we have prepared a new one.
HOMILY OF THE SAME BEFORE HIS EXILE
1. Many are the waves and severe is the storm; yet we do not fear that we shall be drowned, for we stand upon the rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot dissolve the rock; let the waves rise, they have no power to sink the ship of Jesus. Tell me, what do we fear? Death? "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philipp. 1. 21). But, tell me, exile? "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" (Ps. 23. 1). But the confiscation of property? "We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Tim. 6. 7). The terrible things of this world are to me contemptible, and its good things laughable. I do not fear poverty, I do not desire wealth; I do not fear death, I do not pray to live, except for your progress. Therefore, I both remind you of these things now and exhort you, my love, to be of good courage. For no one shall be able to tear us away; "for what God has joined together, man cannot separate." For if He says concerning a woman and a man: "For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cling to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Gen. 2. 24); "what therefore God has joined together, let no man separate" (Matth. 19. 5, 6). If you cannot break a marriage, how much more are you unable to destroy the Church of God? But you fight against her, not being able to harm the one who is being attacked. C But you make me more glorious, while you destroy your own strength by the conflict with me: for "it is hard for you to kick against the pricks." You do not blunt the pricks, but you...