2. Into this blessed and ageless life the now blessed Philogonius has transmigrated. What word can be worthy of a person who has received such a beautiful heritage? There is no such word. Tell me, is that why we will be silent? Why have we gathered? Will you say that we are not able to depict the greatness of his works? But that is why it is necessary to speak, since the most important part of praise is that words cannot be equal to deeds; whose exploits are higher than mortal nature, to him is obviously the praise of human language. However, for this he will not reject our word, but will act like the Lord Himself, Who did not give a reward to a widow who gave only two mites. Why? Because He did not pay attention to the amount of money, but to the richness of the soul. If you look at the widow's money, you will find extreme poverty; and if you delve into its intention, you will see an inexplicable treasure of spiritual greatness. In the same way, your offering, though small and poor, is such as we have; although it does not correspond to the spiritual greatness of the valiant and righteous Philogonius, yet even this will be the greatest proof of his magnanimity, if he does not reject even a small offering, but acts like the rich. They, having received from the poor a little that they themselves do not need in the least, add to this their own, rewarding those who have brought them what they could. In the same way, this blessed one, having received from us verbal praise, which he does not need in the least, will give us a real blessing, which we always need. Where should we begin with praise? Why else but with the authority entrusted to him by the grace of the Spirit? External authority cannot always be a proof of the virtue of those to whom it is entrusted, on the contrary, it often testifies to their depravity. Why? Because in order to obtain such power, the intercessions of friends, and intrigues, and flattering speeches, and many other more shameful ways, usually help. But when God chooses and determines, and when His right hand touches the holy head, then the determination is not partial, the judgment is not subject to suspicion, and the undoubted approval of the one who is ordained is the dignity of the one who ordains. And that God chose the blessed Philogonius is evident from the very image of the election. He was taken from among the marketplace and elevated to this throne; such a venerable and bright life he had distinguished himself before, having a wife and a daughter, and going to the judgment seat; He shone brighter than the sun, so that directly from there he appeared worthy of authority, and from the seat of the judge he was raised to the sacred seat. Then he protected people from the wiles of men, making the offended stronger than those who offended; and when he came here, he protected people from the attack of demons. And how important a proof of his virtue is the fact that he was vouchsafed this power by the grace of God, listen to what the risen Christ says to Peter. When the Lord asked him, "Simon Jonah! whether thou lovest me," and he answered, "Yes, Lord! Thou knowest that I love Thee" (John 21:16), then Christ did not say: leave Thy possessions, exhaust thyself with fasting and severe asceticism, raise the dead, cast out demons, He did not mention any of these, nor of other signs or exploits, but keeping silent about all this, He says: "If thou lovest Me, feed My sheep" (John 21:17). He said this in order to show us the greatest sign not only of love for Him, but also of His love for the sheep, and this love (for the sheep) He recognized as the most important proof of love for Him, as if to say: "Whoever loves My sheep loves Me." Look how much Christ endured for this flock: He became man, taking the form of a servant, was spat upon and stabbed, and finally did not renounce death, and the most shameful death: He shed His blood on the cross. Therefore, if anyone wants to please Him, let him take care of these sheep, let him seek the common good, let him take care of his brethren; there is no podvig more precious than this before God; wherefore also in another place he saith, Simon! Simon! Behold, Satan asked that he should sow you as wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail" (Luke 22:31-32). What reward will you give Me for such care and providence? And what recompense does He Himself demand? Again of the same thing: "And thou," he says, "when thou shalt be converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32). So Paul says: "Be ye imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1). In what way was he an imitator of Christ? "Just as I also please all in all things, seeking not my own profit, but the benefit of many, that they may be saved" (1 Cor. 10:33); and in another place he says: "For even Christ did not please himself" (Romans 15:3). And there is no other such testimony and sign of faith and love for Christ as concern for the brethren and concern for their salvation.

3.

From this it can be seen that love for one's neighbor is the greatest proof of love for Christ. Now let us see how the blessed one ruled the episcopacy; or rather, there is no need for words and our voice; for your very diligence proves it. Whoever enters a vineyard and sees vines covered with leaves, laden with fruit, and surrounded on all sides by wattles and fences, will need no words or other proofs to be convinced of the good qualities of the gardener and farmer; so here, too, whoever enters and sees these spiritual vines and your fruits, will need no words or explanations to know your Primate; as Paul says, "You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read" (2 Corinthians 3:2). The river points to the source, and the fruit to the root. It would be necessary to speak also about the time in which this power was entrusted to him, since this is not a small part of praise and can very sufficiently testify to the virtue of this man. There were many difficulties when the persecution had just ceased, there were still traces of this fierce storm, and things required great correction. To this it should be added that he had to stop the heresy that had begun under him, since his wisdom foresaw everything; but my speech hastens to pass on to another necessary subject. Therefore, leaving this to our common father and imitator of Blessed Philogonius, who knows all ancient things better than we do, I will pass on to another subject of the conversation. Soon there will come a feast which is more worthy of reverence and reverence than all feasts, and which can unmistakably be called the matter of all feasts. What kind of holiday is this? The Nativity of Christ according to the Flesh. From him received the beginning and foundation of the Epiphany, and the Holy Pascha, and the Ascension, and Pentecost. If Christ had not been born according to the flesh, then He would not have been baptized, which is the Epiphany, and would not have been crucified, which is Pascha, and would not have sent the Spirit, which is Pentecost. Thus, from the Nativity of Christ, like various streams from the spring, all these feasts flowed. And not only for this reason could rightly occupy the primacy, but also because the event of this day is the most amazing of all events. That Christ, having become man, died, was in the order of things; for though he did not sin, he took on a mortal body. Of course, this is also surprising; but that He, being God, deigned to become man and humble Himself in such a way that it is impossible even to comprehend with the mind, is the most amazing and marvellous deed. Wondering at this, Paul also says: "And without question, a great mystery of godliness." What "great"? "God was manifested in the flesh" (1 Tim. 3:16). And in another place: "For He does not receive angels, but the seed of Abraham. Therefore He had to be made like the brethren in all things" (Hebrews 2:16-17). Especially for this reason I greet this day with love and declare this love before all, so that I may make you partakers of such love; wherefore I beseech and persuade all of you to gather together with all zeal and zeal, to leave each of you his own house, that we may see the astounding and wondrous sight of our Lord lying in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Here will lie the body of the Lord, not wrapped in swaddling clothes, as then, but overshadowed on all sides by the Holy Spirit. Those who are initiated into the mysteries know what I am talking about. The Magi only worshipped Him; and you, if you approach with a clear conscience, we will allow you to take His very body and return home. Come also with gifts, not such as they are, but with much more precious ones. They have brought gold, thou shalt bring chastity and virtue; they have brought frankincense, you bring pure prayers, these spiritual incense; they have brought myrrh, thou shalt bring humility, a humble heart, and almsgiving. If you come with such gifts, you will enjoy this sacred meal with great boldness. I say all this today because I am sure that many will certainly come and approach this spiritual sacrifice on that day. Therefore, in order that we may do this not to harm or condemnation, but to the salvation of our souls, I already warn and ask you to purify yourselves in every possible way and then approach the sacred sacraments.

4. Let no one say to me: I am ashamed, my conscience is full of sins, I bear the heaviest burden. The period of these five days is sufficient to cleanse the multitude of sins, if you sober up, pray and watch. In spite of the fact that the time is short, keep in mind that the Lord loves mankind; the Ninevites turned away His wrath even in three days, and the brevity of time did not hinder them in the least, but all was done by their spiritual zeal, with the help of the Lord's love for mankind (Jonah ch. 3). And the prostitute, who came to Christ, in a short moment washed away all shame from herself; and when the Jews were indignant that Christ had admitted her to Himself and allowed her such boldness, He stopped their mouths, and sent her away, forgiving her all her sins and accepting her diligence (Luke ch. 7). Why is that? Because she approached with a warm disposition, with a fiery soul and with fervent faith, and touched His holy and sacred feet, letting down her hair, shedding streams of tears from her eyes, and pouring out myrrh. With what she deceived people, she also arranged the medicine of repentance; with what she stirred up the eyes of the lustful, the more she shed tears; with the hair with which she drew many to sin, she wiped the feet of Christ, with the myrrh with which she caught many, she anointed His feet. In the same way, with what you have angered God, propitiate Him. Did you anger Him by stealing money? With them propitiate Him, returning to the offended what was stolen, and adding to it, and say, like Zacchaeus: "I will repay fourfold" for all that I have stolen (Luke 19:8). Have you angered God with your tongue and backbiting, with which you have offended many? With your tongue and propitiate him, offering up pure prayers, blessing those who reproach, praising those who slander, thanking those who offend. This does not require many days and years, but only benevolence, and everything will be fulfilled in one day. Turn away from evil, love virtue, cease a vicious life, and promise not to do so again, and this will be enough to justify you. I testify and assure that if each of us sinners, having abandoned our former sins, makes a sincere vow to God not to repeat them, then God will not require anything else for justification. He is loving to mankind and merciful, and as one in the pangs of childbirth desires to be delivered from the burden, so He desires to pour out His mercy; but our sins hinder this. Let us break down this barrier and begin the feast with this, renouncing everything during these five days; Forgive judgments, forgive counsels, depart from worldly affairs, conditions, and covenants: I want to save my soul. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul" (Matthew 16:26)? The Magi have come out of Persia, and thou hast also departed from the affairs of life, and go to Jesus; The distance is not great, if we want to go. It is not necessary to swim across the sea, nor to cross the tops of the mountains, but by staying at home, and showing reverence and great contrition, one can see Christ, destroy every obstacle, destroy an obstacle, shorten the space of the way. "Am I God [only] near, saith the Lord, and not God afar off" (Jeremiah 23:23); and: "The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him in truth" (Psalm 144:18). And now many of the faithful have come to such madness and contempt that, being filled with a multitude of sins and not caring for themselves in the least, they negligently and as it happens to approach this meal on feast days, and do not know that the time of communion is determined not by the feast and celebration, but by a clear conscience and an irreproachable life. Just as a person who is not aware of anything evil in himself can receive communion every day, so, on the contrary, it is not safe for a person who is mired in sins and does not repent to approach this meal on a feast day. The fact that we approach only once a year does not absolve us of guilt if we approach unworthily; on the contrary, the very same thing serves to lead to greater condemnation, that we, even when we approach once a year, do not approach clean. Therefore I exhort all of you to approach the divine mysteries not only on the occasion of the feast; but if you wish to partake of this holy offering, then in a few days you must purify yourself by repentance, prayer, almsgiving, and the occupation of spiritual things, and not turn back like "a dog to his vomit" (2 Peter 2:22).

Do you not know that this meal is filled with spiritual fire, and just as the springs abound in natural water, so it contains an ineffable flame? Do not approach it with straw, wood and hay, so that you do not increase this flame and do not burn the soul that partakes of it, but approach it with precious stones, gold and silver (1 Cor. 2:22), so that you may make this substance purer, and go out of here with great profit. If there is anything evil in your soul, cast it out, cast it out of it. Does anyone have an enemy and have suffered great offenses? Let him cease enmity, let him pacify the inflamed and irritated soul, so that there is no agitation and confusion within. Through communion you will receive the King into yourself; and when the Tsar enters the soul, then there must be great silence in it, great tranquility, deep peace of thoughts. But you have suffered great offenses and cannot tame your anger? Why do you inflict an even greater and cruelest offense on yourself? It is not so much that the enemy will harm you, no matter what he does, as you harm yourself by not being reconciled with him and trampling on the laws of God. Did the man insult you? Tell me, will you offend God because of this? Not to be reconciled with the offender is not so much to take revenge on him as to offend God, Who commanded reconciliation.

Amen.

[1] St. Philogonius, 21st Bishop of Antioch, defender of the Orthodox faith against the heretic Arius, d. in 323 or 324 A.D. His memory is celebrated on December 20.

AGAINST ANOMEE

SEVENTH WORD.

The full title of this word is as follows: about those who did not come to the assembly, and proofs that the Son is of one essence with the Father, and that all that He said and did was humiliated, was done and said not because of the weakness of His power, nor for His humiliation, but for the various purposes of the economy; and about the incomprehensible, and so on.

AGAIN horse races, and again our meeting became smaller. However, when you are present, it cannot be less. As a farmer, seeing blossoming and ripe bread, cares little about the falling leaves; In the same way, now that we have fruit, I am not very sad when I look at the torn leaves. Although I grieve for their carelessness, this grief for them is relieved by the zeal of your love. They, if they sometimes come, are not present even then, but their body stands here, and the soul wanders outside; but you, if you are sometimes absent, are present even then; for your body is outside, and your soul is here. I wanted to make a long speech against them, but in order that I might not find myself fighting with a shadow by rebuking those who are absent and not listening, I will postpone this speech until their arrival, and now, with the help of God, I will try to lead you, beloved, to an ordinary meadow and a sea of divine Scriptures. Take heed and watch.

Let us watch, let us be attentive; our voyage has in mind the most important subjects; we sail not for gold, silver, and other perishing things, but for the life to come and the treasures of heaven; and there are many more ways here than on the sea and on land, so that if anyone does not know how to find them correctly, he will be subjected to the most cruel shipwreck. Therefore, all of you who sail with us, show not the carelessness of those who sit on the ship, but the vigilance and care of the helmsmen.

If, however, they constantly maintain such vigor of soul as they sail after earthly things on the sea of matter, how much more should we be in such a mood, because there is more danger for the careless and more security for those who are awake. Our boat is not built of boards, but is composed of divine Scriptures; it is not the stars from above that guide it, but the Sun of righteousness directs our voyage; and we sit at the helm, waiting not for the wind to blow, but for the gentle breeze of the Spirit.