PseudoCyril Jerusalem Discourse Mary Theotokos

The Twenty-Fourth Homily which our holy father Apa Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem, delivered concerning the holy life of the God-bearer Mary. And he spoke again, saying: "A man and a woman were they who begot her, as is the case with everyone." And he spoke again concerning the day of her repose, which is the twenty-fourth of Tobe, in the peace of God. Amen. If a worthy person wishes to invite his friends to a banquet or a dinner, he does not first sit down and call those whom he has invited, nor does he begin to eat while they are still gathering together, so that he may give pleasure to those who see them. And also he sends his servants to summon his friends to the banquet. But when they have entered, they are seated. Then the one who invited them gives them good wine that is well-mixed and that refreshes their thirst. [one line wanting] they bring

...all the foods entered, each one in its own portion, and they were mocking one another. But the one who kindled them does this, so that those who are far off will not say, "We have received the portion of this one another time." This is your truth today. For indeed, I will send to you until you say, "We have heard these things another time," according to the way the Athenians said concerning Paul, that the Athenians wish to hear something new. For this is a new thing. David also said, "Sing to the Lord a new song; his praise in the churches of the saints." The Gospel also says, "The kingdom of the heavens is established for a rich man." And again, "You have heard concerning the honor of his cross and his revelation abroad, and concerning the nations and the Jews entering into the knowledge of Jesus Christ." And the one who believed was Gastor, the great Jew, and his entire house. And I, the least, Cyril, I catechized him and I baptized him in the great Anastasis of Christ. And he became a great chosen vessel, righteous, full of the faith of the Son of God. And I baptized also a multitude of Samaritans, among whom was Isaac the open-eyed, and he became a chosen Christian of Christ. I say all these things, O my beloved.

...that I have desired to give you instruction in love once more among them. But the words of God are never worn out; they are sweeter than honey and the milk of the grape. According to the way our father David said, "Your words are sweeter than honey in my mouth." Now then, let us remember the great need that is before us, that we may see how we will give a little from it, even if we cannot give it all. But let us give only two portions of rest, like the blessed poor who are there, or the denarii, which is a measure.

...like the one that Peter found in the mouth of the fish; he gave it to Titus for his mouth and his master. For if we take a little from what is before us, they will not benefit us. Like the one who did not give his all. But let us understand with precision that we have been gathered to this place today in the name of whom? Or who is it that gathers us? Is it not God of truth who gathers us? To the remembrance of his mother, that she became for him a throne and a dwelling place. For he has gathered us, though it is not fitting that we should become those who are silent, not completing what the vines have produced for you in the exposition of the discourse. This is the day of the holy offering, and it is entirely pure in its soul and spirit. This is the day on which the queen, the mother of the king of life, received the form of death like all people, except that she is flesh and blood, and also a birth from a father and a mother like all people. Now let Ebion and Arpocration, these godless heretics, be ashamed, those who say in their wicked mouth that it is a power of God that took the form of a woman, came upon the earth, and was called Mary; she gave birth to Emmanuel for us. Is it not according to your word, O plasterer, that he is not established? Did Christ not take flesh? For flesh...

...nor are they in powers, for they are incorporeal. And they do not die as men die. But come, you deaf, blind, and foolish ones, and the tribunal, I will speak with you. If you say that Mary is a power, and that powers die, then who is this for whom the whole world makes a festival on the day of her falling asleep? Is it not the holy Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ? But give me your mind, which is sober, and your listening ears. I myself will call upon the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, to enlighten my heart, to open the knowledge of the divine scriptures, so that I may reveal to you with joy the life of the holy virgin Mary, and what her lineage is, and the name of her parents according to the genealogy written first in the scriptures. For we do not follow words that have been corrupted by the plasterography, like the poets of the Greeks who have a false theology, teaching their disciples about their gods. Nor do we fashion a life for her and attribute it to her, but what is the gift? What is the gift that has become male or female from Adam until this day? Consider what has happened to you, O wise virgin. When she became...

...and thrones of the one who fashioned her. They did not give the gift of the patriarchs, who became companions of God and ate with him. And they did not look outside themselves, saying, "The Pantocrator will be in their time." They did not give the gift of the prophets, but they saw him from afar, and they greeted him, and they prophesied concerning the coming of the Logos of God, until he came and dwelt in the womb of Mary, the virgin, who became the mother of the King, Christ. Inform your people and the house of your father, that I may inform everyone of your chosen race. Behold, then, also, as the virgin stretches out her hand to me, saying, "O Cyril, if you wish to know my race and the house of my parents, listen. I am a shoot of God, and my parents were shoots until they bore me. And my parents who bore me are from the tribe of Judah and the house of David. Joachim is my father, whom they also call Cleopa. Anna is my mother, who bore me, whom they call Mariham. I am Mary Magdalene.

...outside, because the name of the true one who begot me within him is Magdalene. My name is Mary, the daughter of Cleopas. I am Mary, the daughter of Jacob, the son of Joseph the carpenter, the one whose mouth was sealed. Search in the scriptures, and you will be fully convinced among those who seek him. For also when Jesus, the son of Nun, divided the land of the plain, saying to the children of Israel, the tribe of Judah inherited Jerusalem, that is, the city and its territory. From that time, the twelve tribes remained each one in the territories of their inheritance. No tribe would enter into another tribe to inherit within it, nor its territories, nor would they take a wife, nor would they take a husband from a tribe not their own, until the time when the Word of the Father would have mercy and come to save us from the slavery of sin. And also he would clothe himself in our flesh from a woman, as he wished, for it is not possible to hide. For I, in the treatise of the archontologies of Joseph and Hierennaios, from the Hebrew, have found everything. I have perceived what I will now say. Since Mary is from the Jews, from the tribe of David, according to the blessing which the Lord spoke to Abraham, that all the patriarchs of the earth would be blessed in your seed.

Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac begot Jacob. Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Our Lord came forth from the tribe of Judah, so that the blessing of Abraham might be fulfilled in that place. Now, therefore, each one of you wishes to know what I am about to say. At this time, the fathers have taught us its meaning, just as the psalmist David said: "What our fathers declared was not hidden from their children in another generation." In their times, when the virgin was begotten in her, a street in Jerusalem was opened, which is called Magdalene. There is a small district in it called by this name, and in it dwell a few people who are Jews. There is one among them called David. He was a rich man in all good works, giving himself to the law of Moses and the prophets, who were revealed to him beyond measure. He performed many acts of mercy for those in need, looking forward to the salvation of Israel, for it was coming in what time. This man slept one night and fell into an ecstasy, as if someone were saying to him: "O Aaron, the salvation of Israel will come from your race, because their time has come, and the root will bring forth fruit." But he said within himself: "What is this vision?

I saw his face. Nevertheless, as the Lord wills, let it be. Now there was a certain faithful woman there, whose name was Sarah. She bore him a male child. His father called his name Joachim. His mother also called his name Cleopa. His father David gave him Anna, the daughter of his brother Aminadab, to be his wife. They were both pleasing before the Lord. And after a time, they gave all that they had to Joachim their son and to Anna his wife, in the whole district of Magdalia. Anna herself was like a barren tree; she had never borne a child. The matter was also a concern to them, as they said, "Who then will inherit from us?" Joachim said to Anna, "After some days, let us go to the temple of the Lord, and let us entreat the Lord, that he may have mercy on us also, and give us our request, for which we ask of him." And they arose and went to the temple of the Lord, and they entreated him. They gave their gifts to the priest, and they prayed to the Lord, while their face...

He fell down to the ground, Joachim prostrating himself, saying, “O Lord God Almighty, who listened to our father Abraham in his old age and granted him Isaac his beloved son, listen also to me this day and give us a seed of a man. If this comes to pass, whether it be male or female, I will dedicate it to your temple all its days, and it shall serve you.” And immediately a voice came from outside the sanctuary, saying, “Joachim, Cleopa, your prayer which you made, the Lord has heard it, and he has fulfilled your request. Now therefore arise and go up to your house, for the grace that has come upon you has not come upon the ancients.” Joachim thought that it was the priest speaking with him from within the sanctuary. He answered, saying to him, “Let it be to me according to your word, my Lord.” They arose and went up to their house. And after some days, Joachim found Anna his wife, and all who knew her rejoiced with her. And when the day of her giving birth was fulfilled, she bore a female child according to the economy of God, and the grace of God was upon her face. Her parents called her name Mary, and they called her blessed continually.

And all who saw her were amazed at the glory of God that surrounded her at all times. And when three years were completed, they weaned the little girl from the breast of her mother. Joachim said to Anna his wife, “Let us give what we have vowed to the Lord, lest he be angry with us.” And they prepared their vows and their firstfruits, and they brought them up to the temple with Mary their daughter. They gave

The first of the priests who were in charge at that time, namely Symeon and Zacharias, took their daughter Mary and gave her into the hands of the priests, saying to them, "Behold what God has graciously given to us. We give her to you to bring into the temple of the Lord, that she may serve him all her days." And the priests blessed Joachim and Anna, saying, "As you have given to the Lord, may he give to you his blessings, and may other children be born to you in place of this one whom you have given to the Lord." Mary herself, as her name means, was a virgin forever. They said, "Amen, so be it." And they returned to their house. They would inquire about their daughter once a month, and they would bring to her what she needed. And the little virgin girl served in the temple, along with other virgin women, teaching her handiwork. And when she had become a little older, she went into a place by herself in the temple, where no one saw her at all except a priest and her parents. Her food was bread and water and a little oil, and she fasted for long periods. Simply, there was no defect in her body, nor in her soul, nor in her spirit.

When she had completed twelve years, the shepherd was pleased to go out to seek his sheep and to take them from him to the pasture. The king was pleased to rescue his captive from the hand of the tyrant. Gabriel the archangel was sent forth from God to the holy virgin Mary. He announced to her the coming of the Savior to her. But you will say to me, "In what time, or in what period did these things happen?" So that I may confirm for you the word that you are speaking, I will explain it to you.

According to the scriptures, the Lord sent Gabriel on the seventh day of the month Xanthicus, which is the month of Parmoute, in the forty-second year. This is also the year in which our entire life was renewed. He was born on the twenty-third day of the month Casileus, which is Choiak, in the fourth year of Augustus, the king of the Romans, in the thirty-sixth year of the life of Mary. The place where he was born is Chabrath, which is Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, in the second year of Herod, the king of Judea. They brought the Christ to Egypt when he was two years and four months old. But you will say to me, “How did Joseph go with Mary in the great interval from the palace until they arrived in Egypt alone?” And they say that there were twelve miles there until they arrived in Egypt. So they completed a great journey of walking outside the city for how many days? Or where did they find food to eat? I will say to you that your unbelief and your weakness give you these thoughts. But I will speak with you from the scriptures. Will you say to me, “Did the angel take Habakkum to Babylon from Jerusalem, while the distance was how many hours?” Habakkum said, “Break the bread in pieces while it is cooking,” and he brought them with the wine and the foods.

He went into the field to bring his companions. The angel of the Lord turned aside from the way of his head, in the swiftness of his spirit, that is, in the power of his flight. He brought him immediately upon the den of the lions in Babylon, he gave the portion to Daniel, and he ate from it. And his companions also ate on that same day. If the power of an angel is so great, then the Lord of the angels, who came into Egypt, riding upon the cloud that is swift, in truth...

Your cloud of sheep, in which God came to Egypt, the young child came to Egypt. He called upon the works of Egypt, being suspended over the cloud of sheep, following after those who are in pain and sin. The humble virgin and the old man Joseph came down to Egypt, according to the way in which the one who is suspended had ordained it. And the mountains and the rocks were shattered before them, making roads for travel, shattering their feet. They gave glory to them without chariot or beast. Then our Savior came to Egypt through the power of his Father. He spent three years there, proclaiming to them the things that were fitting to do, while he was in the bosom of his mother Mary. When Herod received his due punishment, which he deserved, concerning the young children whom he killed without sin, the word that is written in the prophet was fulfilled: "I called my son out of Egypt." God sent his beloved son and his mother Mary and Joseph. Through the protection, he brought them out of Egypt. He dwelt in Nazareth. I have related all these things to your love, concerning the heretics who are without God, those who say, "Mary is a power." Behold, I have shown her to you in the word through the things I have now said, that Mary is flesh like every person.

The cloud of God, which carried the sin of the world, took flesh within it. I wish, however, to tell you of a diatagma that happened to me. There was a monk dwelling in the region of the monastery of Gaza, who received instruction from the heresies of Bion and Arpocration, his teacher, who gave him his books. He read them, and they were full of blasphemy and folly, and his fantasies were with great arrogance in that region, being spread by those who came to the holy places.

They prayed among themselves. They spoke against me to those who were teaching them in his heresy of error, and I sent two servants to the bishop of Gaza, saying to him, "Let your inquiry seek for me the monk who is in the region of Maiouma, and send him to me with his books." Then the bishop, when he received the letters, read them and had them follow him wherever he was. When he came to the bishop, he said to him, "My son, arise and go to Jerusalem, to the archbishop. Perhaps he has sent for you and your books, that he may know your teaching and your doctrine, of what sort it is." The monk answered, "I will take my books and go to him in Jerusalem." The two servants brought him to Jerusalem to the archbishop. He said to him, "We have heard, brother, that you teach a foreign teaching, altering the holy phrases of the Gospels." The anchorite monk said to him, "My teaching is not a foreign teaching, but rather that of our fathers the apostles, which our fathers taught in orthodoxy everywhere." Apa Cyril said to him, "Who are your fathers?" He said, "The great holy bishop Sator and Ebion, who came after him." The archbishop said to him, "You have been anathematized, and you have become a mule-driver of the chariot of the devil.

The monk said to him, "Arpokradios casts out demons." The archbishop said to him, "Tell me, how do you cast out demons? Do you preach the gospel in some manner, or do you say, 'What is it concerning Christ and his birth according to the flesh, or who is his mother who bore him, and his death which is full of salvation, and his resurrection from the dead on the third day'?" That one said, "It is written in the

The Hebrew said, "When Christ wished to come upon the earth to men, the good Father called a great power in the heavens, and they called her Michael. He took Christ to her, and she came down into the world, and they called her Mary. He dwelt in her womb for seven months. Afterward she gave birth to him. He grew up in Galilee. He chose apostles. They preached him everywhere. He fulfilled the plan that was appointed for him. The Jews became angry with him, they hated him because he changed the customs of their law. And they rose up against him, they seized him, they delivered him to the governor. He gave him to them to crucify him. When they lifted him upon the wood of the cross, the Father took him up to heaven before them." Archbishop Cyril said, "Who sent you to teach me?" The other said to him, "Christ said, 'Go out into the whole world, and teach all the nations everywhere in my name." Apa Cyril said to him, "You recite the Gospels." He said to him, "Yes, now my lord father." The archbishop answered, "Which of the four Gospels is it that said, 'The holy virgin Mary, the mother of God, is a power'?" The other answered, "The Hebrew one." Apa Cyril answered,

The monk there answered, "There are indeed four gospels there." Apa Cyril answered, "What is the name of the fourth gospel? Let us know, for the teaching of Christ is outside of it. We know the four gospels that are written: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. Who then is the fourth?" The Hebrew said to him, "They wrote it.

The holy Cyril answered, "You said the truth this time. Are we not going to set aside the teaching of Christ? Are we going to follow the Hebrews who are in error? That will not happen. The Hebrews seek only this, to give boldness to our pure one and our honored one, as Christ said at the time, 'If you cast out a demon from Beelzebul.' Is it not written that he who does not confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh—this one is the deceiver and the antichrist, like you? And also, he who comes to you, if he does not bring you the teaching, do not bring him into your house, nor say to him 'Hail.' And also, if they are outside us, they are not our neighbors who came out from among us. But they are not from among us, that is, they speak the name of Christ outwardly, while they are hypocrites in their heart, without conscience. They are angry inwardly at the judgment of the true law and the anger outwardly at Jesus Christ. The teaching of the Jews is not to be confused with the teaching of Christ. What is the difference between the Hebrews and the holy gospels? For heresies have arisen, about which Apa Epiphanius spoke in his Panarion. The error of each one of them is worse than all the others." The anchorite monk said to Apa Cyril,

for the night cannot be compared with the day, nor does darkness stand in the presence of light. I have chosen before your great wisdom, and I myself have come to know that I am weak. Let your goodness grant me repentance myself. And all these things that I have scattered, I will gather again. But take my books and burn them, and my money, and give them to the poor, for my heart has followed your words and your holy gospels. And when I had burned his books, I said to him, "Who

He who did not take on a form gave birth to a son. He is a beginning, and he was born who has no beginning. The beginning and humanity came to be, but divinity has no beginning. This form, and the addition did not come to be in the Trinity, so that it might become the Trinity, that is, that three might become four. A single consubstantial, a single interpenetration from two natures, and a single birth of a single son, a single unity of flesh without any mixture. For he does not change in his nature, nor does he diminish in his power, nor does he separate from the one who gave birth to him in the beginning, that is, the beginning. But it is a single unity of the flesh of God, taking on a single nature, whose interpenetration reaches the blessed breast of God the Logos. The miracle hidden in God from eternity, I speak of the miracle of God becoming man. The mystery that cannot be divided is the nature. He who dissolved the darkness destroyed the decree of death. He who taught us the hypostasis that has no beginning of the only-begotten alone, Jesus Christ our Lord. The birth according to flesh at the time of the holy virgin Mary, she who is gathered together in her pure house today, as we make the memorial of the day of her repose. If you will confess these things, it is a faith that cannot be shaken.

Therefore, let us all enter into the court of the sheep, the true pasture of Christ. Are you of two minds, dwelling upon the words that were taught to you? Therefore, I withdraw from you to another place. The archon opened his mouth and anathematized the heresy of Ebion and the Encratites, saying, "Anathema to every heresy that does not believe in the things you have told me. Now, O my father, accept me into your presence as a good thing for you." When I understood that his mind had received light, I baptized him in the name of our Lord, all of us holy.

Mary, this day is the day. Then he went to a monastery in the mountain of the sheep, building upon the foundation of the apostles until the day of his death. I have related to you the entire narrative concerning the heresy of Ebion, saying, “It is a power.” Mary, the mother of the Lord. Let us now return upon what we have recounted to you with desire in the exposition, which is the completion of the holy virgin Mary. I wish also to return again upon what we have recounted to you. From the beginning, let me speak concerning it. Speak to me, O Gabriel, the partaker of God among men, for the kinswoman of Mary, Elizabeth, how is it? For I hear you proclaiming to her, “Behold, Elizabeth, your kinswoman, has conceived a son in her old age,” according to the prophecy of the Gospel. The parents of the virgin are from the tribe of Judah. Elizabeth herself is from the daughters of Aaron. Aaron himself is from the tribe of Levi. This word likewise is plain, and it comes upon two (things): Judah and Levi are brothers with each other, one father and one mother who bore them, that is Jacob. If Elizabeth is the daughter of Levi, and Mary is from Judah, then they are daughters of two brothers.

Now there were relatives of one another. I also gave the little virgin Mary in the temple, while she was alone, so that the archangel Gabriel might go to her, and with the golden censer. Zacharias the priest, the husband of Elizabeth, spoke to her concerning the praises of the virgin. I gave her in the temple before they offered her as a gift to the Lord, while there was no blemish in her innocence. The whole temple used to be filled with angels outside from her golden censer, coming to her, seeking her greeting, because of her conduct. When Elizabeth heard these things,

She arose and stood outside of Dorinne. She went to Jerusalem. She went into the temple of the Lord. When the two saw Mary, she marveled at the grace of the Lord which was upon her face. And they greeted one another and sat down. Elizabeth said to Mary, “You have united your soul and your body to the Lord from your youth. You have followed after him with all your heart, for the salvation of Israel is coming forth from you.” Mary said, “Blessed is God of Israel, who has chosen me from my youth to serve him in the temple in perfection.” And they conversed with one another, the two of them, according to the law and the prophets for many days. Afterward, Elizabeth returned to Dorinne, to her house, while the virgin would visit her many times in the year. She ministered to her what she needed until the day when Gabriel came to her. He said to her, “Behold, Elizabeth your relative has conceived.” Therefore, behold, the matter was revealed: that Mary and Elizabeth were relatives of one another, according to what is written in the Gospels, which I have previously said. Now then, let us return to the subject that lies before us, concerning the queen, the mother of the king. It is not a labor to speak of her, nor a burden to hear.

of her form like one drawing water from a spring. For when he begins to draw water, the spring flows more abundantly. So also is my situation when I begin to recount the life of the virgin: the spring of the word flows more abundantly. I will cry out also with the prophet David: "Lift up my voice, for you have taught me concerning those who teach me all things." And again: "The revelation of your words gives light to us." For I am perplexed, wondering where I should begin to speak. For I have remembered the words of the Savior.

He sent his mother, while she was raised upon her cross, saying, “Woman, behold your son,” speaking to John. He turned again to John, saying to him, “Behold your mother.” From that day, the disciple took her into his own house. He served her in service, like a slave serving his master. She loved him also, as a mother with her children. She performed great works and healings among the people, which were equal to those of Jesus our God. But she did not allow the apostles to know that she was fleeing from the glory of men. The apostles were always bound to her, because of the care of the stewardship. And a multitude of virgins gathered to her, presiding over them, giving them joy toward the good of virginity, she who had drawn God to herself until he came and dwelt in her womb for nine months, and she gave the way. Blessed is her journey upward to heaven, to her beloved Son without hindrance. It happened after ten years from when our Lord rose from the dead, according to the chronology of Joseph and Irenaeus of the Hebrews. They said that John and Mary were living in one house in Jerusalem. It happened one day thus: the holy virgin Mary called to John.

She said to him, “Go, call for me Peter and James. Let them come to me at this place.” He went in haste, called them, and they came and sat beside her on the third day. She said to them, “Listen to me, my children, whom God has chosen to proclaim the gospel throughout the whole world. You have seen with your own eyes the power and the wonders that God has performed during their time in the world with you, and you have no need of anyone to bear witness for you. You three, he has taken you upon

The evil of the Jews, and your ears heard the voice of the Father speaking through his mouth, saying, “This is my son, my beloved, in whom my will was fulfilled. You have seen the sufferings the Jews inflicted on him, how they crowned him with thorns and killed him. His Father raised him from among the dead on the third day. And I went to the tomb; he appeared to me and spoke with me, saying, ‘Go, tell the brothers what you have seen. These are the ones my beloved Father loves. Let them come to Galilee.’ And he came in to you when the doors were shut, and spoke with you concerning the kingdom of the heavens. And the completion of the forty days, when you were all gathered together in one place—there he was with you on the Mount of Olives. The Lord came to you again and said to you, ‘I have completed the economy that was laid out for me in the world, and I am going up to my Father.’ You answered, ‘If you go, you will leave us orphans.’ But he said, ‘If I go, I will send you the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, to be my substitute. Not after many days, but at Pentecost. But behold, the place where she dwelt has become for me; I became a son to her in the flesh. She is now with you. But I am with you until the end of this age.’

And when he said these things to us, he separated himself from us a little. He ascended upon the mountain of the north. He ascended upon the cherubim. He went up into the height in the flesh which he had taken from the womb. And they sang hymns to him, hundreds upon hundreds and thousands upon thousands, and they gazed after him until he went up into the sky. And again we saw two men standing beside him. They said, "O men, why do you gaze up into the sky? This is Jesus, whom they crucified, as they are taking him up into the sky." And this is the way that

He is coming to judge the living and the dead. And after the completion of forty days, he prepared himself to come upon you with the Holy Spirit, and to bestow upon you the powers, in the manner in which you will be able. And do not neglect the commandments of the Son of God. Do not fear the punishment of the kings and the rulers of the earth, that you might neglect the injunctions of your Lord and your teacher. Now then, do not be grieved in your heart at what I will say to you. The hour of my departure drew near to me. I will lay down my body, and my soul and my spirit will go up to the Lord, so that he may give me what he promised me. For indeed, my Lord came to me last night, while I was standing praying. He said to me, "You have recognized me." I said to him, "You are my Lord and my beloved son. What is it that you command me?" He said to me, "Tell Peter and John to come to me, for they are the ones who will place their hands upon my eyes. Now then, three days remain until I come to take their soul and their body into my city, heavenly Jerusalem, so that all my saints may marvel at the glory which I will give them there, because you are the one who has hidden God and his angels from humanity.

And you will become exalted above all the saints. I will cause the angels to become hymning to you at all times, for you are equal to them in their purity and the holiness of the virgin. All the angels will rejoice, and the ranks of heaven, at their encounter with you. The patriarchs and the prophets will come forth to meet you, rejoicing among themselves, because the mother of the Lord has come to us. For they were not able to see her in the flesh; behold, now they have seen her, giving glory to her through God the Father.

all the virgins of the heavens will rejoice with you in a meeting of welcome. Those who have preserved their virginity will come forth to you, prostrating themselves and saying, "Well done, you are the mother of all the virgins." Then their time came to be near you, O my mother. Do not grieve, O my mother, concerning your pure body, for what will happen to it? Where will they put it? What man at all who is born of flesh does not receive the honor of death, and his body returns to the earth from which it was taken? I received the honor of death, but I rose from the dead on the third day. I loosed the grip of death there. I will care for your body in the earth, I will cause the angels to care for your body in the earth at all times. No man will find your body in the earth in the place where I will put it, until the day when I will raise it up incorruptible. But a covering of gold will shine forth from your body until the day when it will rise from it. They will build a great church over your body, which is honored and chosen, beyond the palace of kings. I command the apostles: I appoint the virgins. I am coming with the angels to care for your body and your soul, so that you will not fear the death that is coming after you.

Now then, call all the virgins to us, that I may give them their portion. And they did as she had told them. When they came to her, they greeted her. She said to them, "I ask you, I am going to the heavenly Jerusalem." But they did not pay attention to the word. She took the hand of one of them, only she who was called Mary Magdalene, from whom Christ had cast out seven demons. She said to the virgins, "Behold your mother.

Immediately she gave rest to her spirit, just as she had given rest to them also in the days. Keep the customs which you have established with Christ, that you may be with him. While she was saying these things, they did not know that she was sleeping. And she turned to the apostles. She said to Simon Peter, "Simon Peter, whom the Lord loved, he has established you as ruler of the kingdom of the heavens. Be compassionate, like your Father who is in heaven, for he is compassionate. James and John, watch over the holy catholic church. Be joyful toward all people. But you, O Peter, go to the house of your disciple, the book, and take the linen cloths which you placed upon it, and bring them to me to this place." And he did according to the way she had told him. He brought the linen cloths which he had placed upon the book. And she said to James, "Arise, take the censer, and go to those who are near outside, and take it, prepare it, and bring it to me to this place." And he did according to the way she had told him. When the days of her departure came, the Virgin Mary said before John, "Arise, light a multitude of lamps and lanterns, for evening has come." She took her linen cloths, spread them on the ground, and arranged her feet upon them, one upon the other, upon the linen cloths. She stood upright.

She said to the apostles, “Let us pray to the Lord, that he may have mercy on us.” And she stretched out her hands toward the east, and she prayed to the Lord, saying, “I give thanks to you, O Lord God, the Pantocrator, and to your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father, because he came to us, he built for himself a dwelling place in my womb, as he willed. I bore him without defilement, without stain. I nursed him without care, he who nourishes me. I give thanks to your Holy Spirit, who

Holy and pure, come down upon me. Now, O my Lord, the time has come for you to come to my door and grant to me. Cast out all the stones, remove the thorns from before me and the briars. Let those on the left flee from before me, and those on the right stand with me in joy. Let the powers of darkness be put to shame, for they have found nothing of my heart. Open to me the gate of righteousness, that I may enter among them, that I may reveal your holy name, my God. Let the dragon flee before me, for I will speak boldly before you. Let the river of fire be quenched at your feet, if it passes by me. For you are the power and the glory forever and ever, amen. And when she had said these things, she lay down on her couch and her pillows, her face turned toward the east. And behold, the Lord Jesus Christ came to her, upon the cherubim, with angels before him. He came and stood at the head of his mother. He said to her, “Do not be afraid of death, for the life of the whole world is with me. It is necessary that they see his face only with their eyes, for I have not commanded him, and he will not approach.” And Jesus said to him, “Come, you who are in the prisons of the south.” And when the two saw his face, her soul departed to the bosom of her son.

He covered her with the garments of light. The apostles lifted their hands over her eyes. She slept a good sleep that night, until the tenth hour of the day, in the peace of God. Amen. The Lord said to the apostles, "Take up her body well. Carry it to the place of Josaphat, which is before the mountain of the olives, the place where I broke the bread and the fish. Set the place of the bed downward, where the body lies upon it. Depart from the valley because of the deception of the Jews, for they will flee.

Listen. They wish to cover you. But I will wrap the body in a fitting manner. And the apostles lifted the body and placed it on a bier. And when morning came, a great multitude gathered in the city, and the virgin was being carried. Immediately Peter and John arose to take her out to the place the Savior had told them. A great multitude was singing psalms before her, saying, "The Lord... with a multitude of angels hymning before her. When they reached the temple of the Jews, the entire Sanhedrin was assembled in the temple on that day. They heard the psalms over her holy bier. They said, "Who is this who has died today in the city?" They said, "It is the mother of the Nazorean, that is, Jesus, who has died." They were carrying her out to bury her. And they took counsel together at once, saying, "Let us not allow her to be buried in the city, lest they perform great deeds as her son did, and they believe in her and overturn our law." The high priest and the scribes said, "Let us go and burn her body with fire, so that no man may find it at all." And the Jews kindled a fire and ran after them with the bier, while the body of the virgin was upon it.

And when they went to the valley of Josaphat, the apostles looked behind them. They saw the Jews running after them. They set down the bier. They were afraid that the godless Jews would kill them. And when they had fled up to their houses, the apostles fled and hid themselves. And the body of the holy virgin did not fall to the ground, but only the place where the bier was set down. And they extinguished the fire and placed it on the ground of its burning. They said, "Woe to us, in what place? For it is not possible.

and they took her up, the Jews, and they did not find her. And they extinguished the fire, they put it out, its burning. They said, "Woe to us, where are we? For the Jews have taken her up, and they did not find her." A great fragrance of myrrh burst forth from the place where they had placed the body of the virgin. And a great voice came to them from heaven, saying to them, "Do not let anyone trouble himself to seek the body of the virgin until the great day of the coming of the Savior." And the Jews fled in great shame, and they came to the city, telling what had happened to their companions. They commanded them, "Do not tell what happened to anyone." Now then, my beloved, these are the things we have hastened to tell you, speaking about the life of the holy virgin Mary. For her entire lifetime was ninety years. She gave birth to our Lord Jesus Christ when she was fourteen years old. She walked with the Savior for three years after she gave birth to him. And after the Savior rose from the dead, she lived another twenty-four years. She completed her life on the twenty-first day of the month of Tobe, while our Lord Jesus Christ was reigning in heaven. And after the righteous kings Constantine and his sons arose, we built this holy church.

In the name of the holy virgin Mary, the mother of the Lord, on the day of her holy commemoration. We ourselves also, let us send to her a gift of grace, saying, "Make our remembrance with the true queen, that she may intercede for us before God, so that he may give to us, and we may serve him at all times." Let us give alms to the poor in the name of the virgin, for she will not abandon us in the place.

...her joy. Let us give glory to her through the offering of our vessels, saying, "They have spoken honor concerning the city of our God." And also, "The death of the saints of the Lord has come," before him outwardly. And also, "The noise of the joy and the salvation in the places of the dwellings of the righteous." Now the time has come for us to offer up the holy offering, the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. And it is good to be silent in every matter, according to the will of God. We will complete the exposition in the holy place. Let us give completion to the discourse up to this point. Let us give glory to the holy Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the life-giver and consubstantial. Now and at all times forever and ever. Amen. Jesus Christ, the true God, will bless the life of those who took care of the chosen gift above all gifts, the heavenly one. They placed it in the churches, revealing it in the district of the middle, so that the fatherland Mary might intercede with her son on behalf of them, to erase their sins from the book of life. Amen, so be it. May the Lord Jesus Christ, the true God, bless the life of those who took care of the gift. The one who received the book, I, Mariakou...