The Life of Our Father Euthymius the Great

Preface

To the most honorable and truly virtuous spiritual father Abba George, presbyter and abbot, who is equally silent in the area near Scythopolis, called Veella, Cyril rejoices in the Lord.

Let faith precede the narration of the eminent Euthymius, faith the foundation of the hoped-for, by which we have been justified, in which we stand, and by which we boast in the hope of the glory of God; without faith it is impossible to please God, for, as the Scriptures say, it behooves him who comes to God to believe, for there is also a rewarder to those who seek Him (Heb. XI, 6). He who tries to speak or listen without faith labors in vain, not being able to get himself any help, but he who has acquired faith, which is able to do everything, is able to do what he wants, especially if he keeps it firm, not falling into unbelief; but retaining strength, and being always strengthened by faith, he does not waver or doubt, for, "Be hesitated, and be likened to the waves of the sea, to the winds that are tossed," and so on (Jas. I, 6).

As for me, I consider the beginning, root, and foundation of the narration of the Monk Euthymius to be a firm faith, which readers must acquire, and believe in everything, and, by means of faith, induce their thoughts to approve.

And if I do not attain anything worthy of a vaunted honest father, yet I have thought it blessed, moved by caution, to fail to attain it rather than to omit everything through inexperience and disobey your meekness. At the same time, I had in mind this terrible condemnation of the wicked and lazy servant who buried his talent in the ground (Matt. XXV), and decided, using an unskilful and inexperienced speech in the outward form, to begin the present composition with the help and guidance of God in the exposition, for the sake of the prayers of the Monk Euthymius, who gave content to the narrative.

BIOGRAPHY

1.

Hence, in both natures, there appears one and the same Christ, the Son of the living God, known inseparably and unmerged.

2. And so, being an impassible God, He did not disdain to be a passionate man, and, being immortal, suffered to submit to the laws of death, in order to grant us an ascent to Himself by such merciful condescension and voluntary exhaustion. Wherefore, sending His disciples for the salvation of our race, He said: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, making them stand in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. XX VIII, 19); but they, having accepted this commandment and having passed through the whole world, preached piety in word and deed — teaching in word, and confirming the word in deed and life — going through all difficulties, persecuted, sorrowful, naked, needing the most necessary things in the end, despised death, imitating the Lord in all things. From this the understanding of God shone forth to the world, from this the nature of mankind was enlightened and freed from the work of the devil, from here came the desperate saving grace, which in various ways and in many ways benefited all: from here from all nations grew up hosts of holy martyrs, competing with whose feats, many after persecution, like lamps, shone forth in the monastic life; they have made their lives an image of apostolic virtue, and the following words of Scripture are applicable to them: "Walking in mercy, and in goatskins, destitute, sorrowful, embittered, wandering in the wilderness, and in the mountains, and in caves, and in the abysses of the earth" (Heb. XI, 36).

3. Having partaken of this immaculate life, our great father Euthymius, who was dedicated to God from infancy and was zealous for the life of the saints, appeared to be pleasing to God and to famous people. Having received the command to write the life in the flesh of this holy father, without any delay I obey the command, Thee, honorable Father George. Thou commandest that which is sweet and beneficial to the soul, and worthy of thy holiness, because it is just, verily, that which has passed by time and is known to few, to be inscribed in words, and not to be darkened in the abyss of oblivion, but to offer as a common benefit, and an image, and an example, to those who later wish to think of their salvation. And so, having now called upon the Son of God and the Word, who is placed at the head of this Scripture, I will begin the narrative of Euthymius.

4. The heavenly Euthymius had parents Paul and Dionysia, who were not only not unknown, but even very noble and adorned with all the virtue of God; their homeland and place of residence was Melitene, the glorious metropolis of the Armenians. Blessed Dionysia, living for many years with her husband and being barren, did not give birth. Through this, both lived in great sorrow and often diligently prayed to God to grant them a child. Arriving at the church of the glorious and victorious Martyr Polyeuctus, which was close to the city, they dwelt for many days in prayer, as relates the story of the elders, which has come down to us. And when they were praying each one separately, a divine vision appeared to them, saying: "Be comforted, be comforted! Behold, God has given you a child of the same name as consolation, because at his birth God gives consolation to his churches, who gives you a child." Noticing the time of the vision, they returned to their home, and by the time of conception they knew that what had been revealed by the vision was the truth.