PseudoEpiphanius Discourse Mary Theotokos

A Discourse of the Holy Father Apa Epiphanius, the Bishop of Cyprus, which he delivered concerning the Holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, on the day of her holy commemoration, which is the twenty-first of the month of Tobe, in the peace of God. Amen. Truly, O my beloved, the world has given a great gift, a holy one, today. And the heavens themselves have become a chosen and honored vessel, more than all. Rather, it is fitting to speak with authority concerning the honor of this holy virgin Mary, who is worthy of it today. For he who dwells in the heavens has dwelt in her holy womb. It became a resting place for God the Word, and a resting place for the King of glory. Truly, a great and wondrous thing is the type of this holy virgin. But I entreat you, O holy virgin, mother of God, that you not be angry with my weakness and my poverty, because I am unable to reach the height of your virtues through my small and poor tongue. Rather, through the weakness of my heart. But I beseech you, O dwelling place of the only-begotten of the Father, to help me in what I have undertaken, that I may give my voice to the great treasury of your wondrous virtues, that I may speak thus with my poor tongue.

...turn to Zion, and you will find rest in her. Truly, this is the true Zion. Rather, she is more than Zion, and she is greater than the earthly Jerusalem. The city which the Lord chose. For indeed, Zion did not delight men in this way, as this holy virgin. Zion is a fortress of the city, built with brick and stone by the hands of men. But this virgin, by herself, without any, knows the plan of her construction and the building that is within her, by the hands of God, the great craftsman of heaven and earth and all that is in them. Jerusalem also, concerning which the Psalmist said, "The tribes went up there, the tribes of the Lord, the tribes of Israel." What then is the matter? For the tribes went up there, but the true Israel dwelt in the virgin. He saved all the tribes of the earth. Even if you should say to me, "The patriarchs are great," I also say that they are great. But they cannot reach the height of this virgin. Even if you should bring me into the midst of the chorus of the great prophets, they are honored in every way. But they cannot reach the honor of this virgin. Even if you should speak to me of the honor of the martyrs, the honor of this virgin is higher than...

...turn to Zion, and you will find rest in her. Truly, this is the true Zion. Rather, she is more than Zion, and she is greater than the earthly Jerusalem. The city which the Lord chose. For indeed, Zion did not delight Even if you should say to the apostles, "They are great," I myself also say this. But they are not equal to the honor of this virgin. Not only men, but also all the angels of the heavens, none of them are equal to this virgin, except the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. But do not think concerning me that I am exalting the saints. I am not saying these things out of love of controversy. Rather, I am informing you of the honor of this holy virgin, who is without deceit, following the words of the holy scriptures in every sequence, so that you may know the truth, whether prophet, patriarch, judge, apostle, or righteous kings. Once and for all, from Adam, the first man and the first creation in the hands of God the Pantocrator, all of them were sanctified, until now and until the end of this age, that they might be a fragrance of the one whom this virgin bore, that is, Christ Jesus our Lord. And the seraphim are not able to look within at him, and the angels are not able to look upon his face at any time. The holy virgin carried him on her hands, and she put her mouth to his divine mouth without hesitation, without fear, and she called him "my son." And he also called her "my mother.

But let no one hear me saying these things and then think in his mind, as a layman, that if this virgin is so exalted in every way, she is not from the earth, nor is she a human birth. Rather, she came forth from heaven, according to the words of the schismatic and political teachers. But we believe with a right heart that this virgin is from the earth and is a human birth.

But let no one hear me saying these things and then think in his mind, as a layman, that if this virgin is so exalted in every way, she is not from the earth, nor is she a human birth. Rather, she came forth from heaven, from a father and a mother, and through the power of the one who supplies us with the word, the Holy Spirit. We will give a demonstration of the word concerning the parents of this virgin and the parents of her parents. Moreover, before twelve generations before the birth of this virgin. Listen then to me now with attention, O people beloved of God, and give a hearing to the word, so that we may open the great treasury that is full of beatitudes, and we may pour into the ears of your heart the words that are full of every benefit of the Holy Spirit. Take then into your hand the honored book of the holy Apa Matthew, this great voice that resounds among the evangelists. This accurate one who is adorned with hidden mysteries, this great and powerful one, who revealed to us the genealogy of this holy virgin. Let us also remember the word full of holy mysteries of the teacher of the nations, the herald of piety, the teacher Paul, as he reads aloud, saying: "For it is revealed that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, concerning which Moses did not speak about a priest from among them. It is revealed where, O wise Paul, tell me, that our Lord came from Judah? In what manner?

Who is it who has interpreted this? O maker of the tabernacle! Speak to me, for you have found his meaning. Where does he reveal himself in this manner? If you have been confirmed concerning the words of his father Jacob, crying out and saying, "My cub, the lion of Judah," and also, "The rulers will not be cut off from Judah." In any case, he speaks of some kings and some generals, those who came forth from the seed of Judah, the son of Jacob. But it is not this, O one who contends with me. Rather, I have many proofs.

...a petition from the holy scriptures, which are pure, and a complete synthesis of the truth with precision. But now, this is not the time to call upon all the holy ones in the midst, for the time has advanced. Therefore, I will speak the word with brevity, having come down to this one gospel, to correct the entire truth from within it. Pnōs (Spirit) I will reveal to you the life of this virgin, and I will give a completion to the word. Now read for yourself in the gospel of the holy Matthew. Listen, he said, the book of the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. From where to where, O Matthew? From Abraham, you said, down to David, fourteen generations. And David came before Abraham. Listen, then, now I will tell you. Abraham begot Isaac. Isaac begot Jacob. Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah from Tamar. Pay attention to this place well, correctly. Say to me, why did he make mention of Tamar in this place? He did not make mention of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, nor did he make mention of Leah and Rachel and Rebecca, the honored women, nor did he make mention of Shuah, the first wife of Judah. But he said, from Tamar.

Of what kind is Thamar? Listen, I will tell you. She is not from Israel, but she is from the other nations which do not know God. He said, "Judas took a wife named Thamar, the firstborn of Er. Afterward, Er died, and Aunan, his brother, took her. Aunan, however, committed wickedness before the Lord, and God killed him. Judas said to Thamar, 'Sit as a widow in the house of your fathers.'

until her son Selom grew up. She did not take him for herself. But after many days had passed, Thamar saw that Selom, her son, had grown up. He did not take her as a wife. She became angry with Judas, because no one else had taken her to live with her, except that if the husband of a woman dies, it is not possible for another to take her from that time, unless it is the brother of the one who died. Then, when she saw that Judas had made her a widow, she heard that he was coming on the road to go to shear his sheep. Thamar arose, she put off her widow's garment that was upon her, she took for herself the garment of a prostitute, she covered her face, and she sat beside the road. When Judas saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for he did not recognize her because she had covered her face. Then, after the words that he spoke to her and she also spoke, he gave her the pledge, and he went in to her. Afterward, he went on his way. And when he went to the sheep, he sent her the kid of a goat. It did not reach her, for the man had seen her. Then, he inquired, "Where is this prostitute who was sitting in this place?" They said to him, "There is no prostitute in this place." Truly, the narrative is good and the meaning is sweet indeed. But it is not the time to dwell on it now.

because the rags will not be on the other side. Thamar takes the type of the church of the Christians. Judas himself takes the type of the Father the Pantocrator. The three witnesses that Thamar gave are equal to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The man of wool that Judas sent to Thamar and the goat of Balampe, that is Moses. The goat of Balampe is the law that he gave. Thamar did not take it, but she seized what is

her hand. The church says, "The faith of the holy Trinity saves me and my children." After some days, however, they took the matter to Judas, saying, "Behold, Thamar, your son's wife, is pregnant from fornication." And when he heard the word, in great anger, he commanded, "Bring her out and burn her with fire." And as they were taking her out to destroy her, she brought out the three witnesses, which are the things that speak. Rather, those who cry out more than a multitude of witnesses that speak, which are these: the cherub, the ox, and the hormiskos, which are also the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. She sent them to him, saying, "Know these, whose they are. Do not deny God in the denial of your tongue." And when Judas saw them, he recognized them and confessed, "They are mine." For he did not deny, nor did he love the empty glory of men, to kill his daughter-in-law. For if he had wished this, what is the testimony of the cherub, the ox, and the hormiskos? Is there a cherub on earth, or an ox, or a hormiskos, except for this one belonging to Judas alone? But Judas did not think, but he spoke in this way: "Thamar has honored me more than myself." And from her onward.

Judas did not know Thamar as sleeping with her. Nor did she herself ever consort with another. But concerning the revelation of this matter, and the confession of his repentance for what he had done, and the righteous judgment upon his offspring, he accepted this honor of that kind so that kings would come from his seed, up to the King of Kings, Christ, who came forth from it for us, according to the word of the wise Paul. Afterwards, he said, "She gave birth.

of Thamar, two children at once. The first stretched out his hand; the midwife tied a scarlet thread around it. Afterwards he drew his hand back, and his brother came out. As the evangelist said: "Judas begot Phares and Zara from Thamar." Let us turn to another small history, so that the discourse may proceed to that point, and we may give a completion to the history through the wondrous words of the evangelist Matthew. So that we may understand that the matter they think shameful is a lie, it is revealed that it is rather a glory. For he did not think only of Thamar alone; he kept silent. But when he came to himself a little after this, he said: "Phares then begot Esrom; Esrom then begot Aram; Aram then begot Aminadab; Aminadab then begot Naasson; Naasson then begot Salmon; Salmon then begot Boaz from Rahab." It is good for us to return to the discourse of this place, to know who Rahab is, or whence she came. We are not weaving words together, but we are following the scriptures accurately. Who is Rahab? Is it not Rahab the harlot, she who became a shelter for the spies of Joshua son of Nun, who sent them to spy out Jericho? After all the other words.

...which happened in the midst of the men who were there. She saved the hand of Jericho. And she said to them, "As I have done this good thing with you, I have saved you. You yourselves, will you swear to me to let me live, and the house of my father?" And they swore, and they gave her a sign to tie a scarlet thread to her window, that she might open it from within, for her house was on the wall. Behold, O listener, how these words agree with each other in what manner. Rahab was a prostitute, open to everyone. Thamar also took on the form of a prostitute. Rahab likewise tied a scarlet thread to her window; it became for her a phylactery. Thamar also tied a thread of scarlet to the hand of her son. After they took the city, they destroyed it, but they preserved the house of Rahab, which was safe, and she herself lived in Israel until this very day. This is the prostitute whom Salmon took as his wife; she bore Boaz from her. Afterwards he said, "Boaz then begot Obed from Ruth." O these truly wondrous deeds! The sinners of the earth, they are the ones who will shake the Scripture. Let us also understand in this place: who is Ruth?

Ruth, for she is not from Israel, but she is from the children of Moab. Moab, however, is the firstborn son of Lot, whom he begot from his own daughter, out of his own seed. He is from the seed of Sodom, because of his mother, who is the wife of Lot. For the Scripture says, speaking openly, that no Moabite shall enter the house of God, nor an Ammonite. And Ruth herself, being a Moabite, attained this great honor of this kind, so that Christ would come from her seed. Truly, these are theologies that enter into our life. But the Evangelist Matthew did not stop at this, but he also added to it, saying, "And Obed begot Jesse. Jesse begot David. David begot Solomon from the wife of Uriah." Who then is this? Is it not Bathsheba? But because the name of Bathsheba is not revealed to any man.

He said this: "The woman of Uriah, and her other name, he did not remember, but this alone he revealed: David begot Solomon from the woman of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam. Rehoboam begot Abijah. Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat begot Joram. Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham. Jotham begot Ahaz. Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh. Manasseh begot Amon. Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. After the exile to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Salathiel. Salathiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud. Abiud begot Eliakim. Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Sadoc. Sadoc begot Achim. Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar. Eleazar begot Matthan. Matthan begot Jacob. Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom Christ Jesus was born. So, how many generations from Abraham down to David? Fourteen generations. And from David down to the exile to Babylon?

...the generations. You have seen the word, that he has recounted them to completion in some way. Twelve generations from Abraham down to Christ. And in all these generations, the evangelist did not remember any woman except these four women whom he revealed: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. And he did not remember them for the sake of any service to God, but for the reasons we mentioned earlier. Tamar was a foreigner from among the Philistines; she did not know God. Judah himself, who lay with her as with a harlot, was a foreigner from the seed of Abraham, the blessed one. Rahab likewise was a foreigner from among the foreigners, the race of Jericho, and she was far removed because of her sins. Salmon, who lay with her, begot Boaz from her, who was a foreigner from the tribe of Judah. Ruth was a foreigner from among the Moabites and the condemned Sodomites. Boaz himself was a foreigner from the tribe of Israel and from the same tribe of Judah. Bathsheba also was a foreigner from among the sons of Heth, who were cursed by God. David himself was a foreigner from the rank of kingship and from the tribe of Judah.

according to the discourse of the catalogue of the holy evangelist Matthew. These indeed happened in this way, so that the righteous would not take shame from those who sinned. And those who were born outside from the fathers of the symbol and the righteous, and the established union, would not take shame from those who were born from women of no account and from marriages that are not established. These themselves took their own hands from the gathering. And many times they separated them from those who were in the preparation and from those who were outside the seed of Abraham. And so that the matter might be revealed to everyone, that for this reason and for the many other good works, Christ was born from women of this kind. And so that those who were born from sin and those who were born from righteousness might be bound together in one unity of the same, they would become.

all of them. They were there with good hopes, because he came to gather in the righteous who were outside, and those who had stretched out their hands to gather themselves. And he was born from a virgin alone, she who gave birth to him from her seed of two races, bound together with each other, which are the race of the pious and the race of the impious. These indeed stretched out their hands to gather at this time, having been saved through grace. But those outside, through the seed of righteousness, those who are joined together into the threshing-floor through the building of the temple and all the others through the stone of the threshing-floor, and so that the foolish one might boast of himself, because through him alone the tree of life, Christ, has given us answer. But so that those who believed in Christ might know from the seed of Israel, that the stone of the threshing-floor is the chosen stone of the threshing-floor, which is our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to us, joining the two threshing-floors together, which are the foolish and the wise, righteousness and lawlessness, they were united together into one. He said again, this same evangelist Matthew, "The birth of Jesus Christ is thus." O Matthew, my mouth that utters various blossoms of our Lord, speak to me.

What is this word that you have spoken at the end? That it is so? I say this," he said. "What is outside the two races? The sinners and the righteous. The servants of God and those who do not know God. Because of this, truly, is the word of the Lord: 'I have not come for the sake of the righteous, but for the sinners who have repentance.' According to the manner that his mercy will be spread out over everyone. The righteousness of the righteous, he forgives the sinner. The truth of the righteous, he is silent.

The sinner. He flatters the sinner, and he heals his wounds, which were wounded and bruised. Because of this, there is no speech there for you, O man. Behold, the Word became flesh; he dwelt with us, so that he might save all men together, the sinners and the righteous. He casts none out from himself; he will give his hand to him in repentance. So that you may know, a harlot washed his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with her hair; he cast out her sins and her lawlessness. A magus came to him; they worshipped him; he made them citizens of the kingdom of the heavens. And this holy evangelist who speaks with us in this holy gospel bears witness for him himself, that he was a tax collector. And when he left behind the tax collecting, he granted him the holy gospel. And even a robber, a murderer, when he entreated him at the time of his need, saying, "Remember me, Lord," immediately he took him to paradise. Because of this, O man, do not despair of yourself. Even if you are a fornicator, even if you are a deceiver, even if you are found in any sin, turn to the Lord alone, and he will forgive you. For there is no sin that is impossible before God. The sign of our souls.

If I wish, then, to take the whole fullness of my nourishment from your table, which is filled with every good thing of the holy spirit, O holy Matthew, but I behold another table that is very splendid before me, which invites me to give my woe to it, to take the portion of the food. Even if I have been sated by my abundance of what I have eaten, and you have prepared the portion of your good things, O Matthew the evangelist, but I behold your fellow evangelist.

Luke the physician of all diseases, through the spiritual medicine that calls me and draws me to your table of his wisdom. For even the rich of this world, by command and the pleasure of the feasts that are prepared, they hasten to their hands to eat a single evening meal, delighting in them and luxuriating in those that are imperishable. I beseech you, O holy Luke the Theologian, to release me, as I have been silent before you in speech until now. But teach me your spiritual discourse that you have typified concerning the Virgin, whom one worships at all times. I said, he spoke thus: "In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin whose name was Mary." What is the sixth month, O great teacher Luke the physician? Turn back a little in the discourse, and you will understand what the sixth month is. It happened when the days of the service of Zacharias were completed in the temple, he went into his house. After these days, Elizabeth, his wife, conceived and hid herself for five months, saying, "This is what the Lord did for me in the days when he looked upon me, taking away my reproach among people.

In the sixth month, however, after Elizabeth had cried out, Gabriel appeared to the virgin. The day on which Elizabeth cried out for John the Baptist, the forerunner, was the twenty-seventh of the month of Athor. In the antigrapha that are written in Hebrew, they informed me of this. And the day on which she gave birth to him was the twenty-seventh of the month of Epip. Thus, John is greater than our Savior in the incarnation of the sixth month. The day on which the virgin cried out for the Logos,

In the seventh day of the month of Parmoute, according to the Antigrapha, following the Apostolic Synaxis which is honored, the holy Hippolytus the Roman. And when Gabriel went in to her at the first hour, rejoicing and running, he said: "Hail, you who have found grace, the Lord is with you. Hail, the queen and the mother of the king. Hail, the bearer of God. Hail, the rational lampstand. Hail, the ark that stands under the builder of all things. Hail, the vine of the true vine which gave the wine of the Father." But Mary was troubled at the word, and she was perplexed, saying: "What kind of greeting is this?" The angel said to her: "Do not fear, Mary, for you have found grace before God. Behold, you will bear a son, and you will call his name Jesus. This one will be great, and they will call him the Son of the Most High." Then when she heard the word that she would bear, the virgin was troubled and feared, thinking that she would see a false phantasm. And immediately she let go of what was in her hands, and she hastened to what was before her eyes. And again she hastened to her prayer. Then after she had offered her prayers to God with great disturbance outwardly, because it was not her custom to speak to a man outwardly.

that she was a young girl, slender, for she was in her twelfth year at that time. He then went out from her, and he spoke with her joyfully, saying: "Hail, the greeting, O Virgin who does not know that there is no word that is impossible before God. Believe me, that I am one of the seven archangels who stand before God at all times. And Gabriel

My name is 'I have opened the mouth of the one who becomes the crown of light for you.' And you will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Jesus. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom. But listen to my words, O holy virgin. Do not disregard the decree that was made for Zacharias. It has happened to him as well. But if you wish to know the interpretation of the word, arise and go to Elizabeth. Go to your kinswoman. Go to the old woman of the vineyard. Go to the one who has woven the garments of women, the old woman who is within her. Through the old woman, if you go to her, you will see with your own eyes the opening of her womb, and the little child will leap with joy within her. And she will be filled outwardly with the Holy Spirit. The whole truth will be told to you. For she also gave birth to a son in her old age, and this is her sixth month. Mary answered and said to the angel, 'How can this happen to me? I have not known a man. If my old woman is still alive, the laws of nature and the law of marriage are present for her. The thing that happened to Elizabeth is a wonder, but what you are proclaiming to me—what wonder and what thought is this?'

He again placed his hand upon her, the angel. He said to her, "A holy spirit is what is coming upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." The virgin then affirmed, "God is able to do all things." Then she said to the angel, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it happen to me according to your word, so that I may not be troubled by the word, for the time has come. Let us give our 'yes' to...

He entered into the completion of the holy mystery. Let us speak in this manner: with the blessed Elizabeth, "You are blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of the womb, for who am I?" For the mother of my Lord comes to my feet. Truly, at all times, you are blessed among women, and also the one who stood for the blessed one. You are blessed in heaven and on earth. Your vessel is blessed, for it stood for the one who fills heaven and earth with the weight of the months. Your bosom is blessed. These I have enumerated for the demiurge of three years. Your mouth is blessed, this one which spoke with the Son of God in a meadow. If I take up to name all the members, the inner and the outer, the entire time of my life would not suffice for me to speak all your virtues. But I entreat you, O virgin who bore God, to intercede for me, I, Epiphanius, this servant who is unworthy, and to pray to Christ for all my cities, rather for the whole oikoumene. For you are near to him at all times, and you have authority beyond all the holy ones to entreat him, so that the hungry may be filled with bread, the sick may be healed, the scattered may be gathered into his holy fold. And we, all together.

He will give us the way to walk in the pleasant place. At whatever time we leave off the brother, the man of sin and his wickedness. You have arrived, having encompassed all this manner, and you are exalted above man, even to the evil, the evil to his wickedness. Three measures of earth, the things that are bent toward you, and they will throw small stones at you, and they will preserve your wretched flesh. You transgress against whom? Remember the judgment of God, at the time when those whom you have done all things will surround you. What help will come to you? The judge there will take nothing from your hand; he will not leave you outside. The possessions have become for you an enjoyment and an opportunity for eternal punishment. Your glory and your honor have become for you a betrayer. You will not stand in the synagogue; he is gathering against you. You are bent and twisted, you are perverted. Behold the widow's orphan, whom you have oppressed. Behold the poor, whom you have deprived of their wages. Behold the slaves, whom you have oppressed in a merciless manner. Once and for all, all the sins that you have committed, you will find them, they are dwelling after your soul, in the same way that you did them. Remember the evil, when the wrath will be revealed from heaven. Remember the late arrival of Christ, according to the way that our Savior speaks: "The things that have been done with the good.

the resurrection of life. And those who have done evil with the devil will have a resurrection of judgment. What shall I say, O my beloved? Behold, the kingdom of the heavens is prepared. Behold, Gehenna also. Let the enjoyment of the kingdom of the heavens urge you, and let the punishment of the fire of Gehenna terrify you. Turn away from the deeds of the devil. Walk in the good way of the Lord at all times. Inherit those things which will never pass away forever, which the eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man. These things God has prepared for those who love him, through the grace and philanthropy of our Lord Jesus Christ. From him, through whom all glory is fitting, and his good Father, and the Holy Spirit, the life-giver. Now, and at all times, forever and ever, amen. Do the agape for the fathers and the brothers. All who will read this book, pray for our God-loving sister, the lover of agape, and the lover of the offering... that she took care in her own labors and brought it into the monastery... so that the archangel Michael, and the holy John, and the holy virgin Mary...

I entreat Christ to descend upon her and bless her. And also, when they come out of the body, toward that which is set before every person, God will wipe clean the writing tablet of their sins, and he will write their name in the book of life. They will see the things of heaven, the shadows of the things of earth, forever, in the place of those who, for a time, are given also the shadow of their punishment, a hundred times over, in Gehenna, the city of the righteous, all of them, amen. So be it. Think also, my beloved, I, the lowly and unworthy one, whose name is upon it, behold, this repentance, make it a refuge. I have dared to write this book, first in the river, in the sixth year of Diocletian.