On the Passion

The Wednesday of the Passion He is himself while being himself. The twenty-seventh memrā. And again, the Wednesday of the Passion, blessed is he who by his death slew sin and by his resurrection calmed the wrath. Amen. A vessel of clay, a human being, in which the treasure of life is placed. Not his is that greatness, but that of the power of his maker. In a vessel of clay, glorious things are deposited, precious things of the house of Adam. And when the clay is good, in his person glorious things are adorned in him. In a vessel of water, a covenant was made; precious treasures were placed. And in a body that gives birth to sufferings, he placed in it a nature that does not suffer. Clay, a human being, is good, and good in his person like clay. And that it might become a dwelling for its creator, he made it a precious vessel. His form was beautiful and fair, when his nature was still good. And when he heard the words of his All-maker, he turned to the goodness of his person. [...] The creator was not pleased that evil should dwell in his form. That the Adversary might not boast that by his power he had overcome Adam. He took the vessel that had been corrupted, so that Adam's death might be renewed. And he formed it with spirit instead of water, so that his form might be firm. That death might break his person and destroy the wall of his image. He sealed it with a spiritual seal, so that it might not again be corrupted by sin. The creator took his image and made it a garment and dwelt in it. That the Adversary might not rule, who dwells in the temple of the king. One from the race of the dying chose a nature and dwelt in it.

And by the blessing of his resurrection, he bound the love of creation. And from him, the medicine of the house of Adam, he mounted the image like Adam. And he completed it with the sufferings of the dead by the power of his divinity. By the power of the spirit, he formed him without the seed of participation. So that he might be like in everything to the first image of Adam. For just as through Adam death came and destroyed his race, so through the second image of Adam, the captives were loosed from death. In all that Adam shared, the second Adam, the man, participated. And when he was healed by sufferings, he freed the mortals from death. Nine months according to the order, in the womb of flesh, the dweller, and in the pains and sufferings of childbirth. He came forth from the womb of his mother, sucked milk like a child. So that he might show that he was of our race, and he cut the navel like every man, so that he might receive the gift of grace. He placed the foreskin on his body, so that the kingdom might be established in him. So that his people might be heirs in the abundance of the blessings of Abraham. He grew like a child, for he was a child in truth. And by the power of grace, he ascended to perfection. He approached the ladder of the waters, so that he might tread the path to his death. And when he was pure in his standing, he purified the impure in his standing, in his baptism. With him he was from the beginning, the Word of the one Father. With him he was and in him he dwelt, and he did not share in the stains. He himself grew in his stature in wisdom and in grace.

And his own being was established without disturbance or change. With humanity he was transformed in the head of Adam of two natures. He turned humanity from error to the hand of the life that had destroyed them. He healed the pains of the body without human medicines. And he cleansed the blemishes of the soul by the power of the Holy Spirit. By the sign of the cross he opened the blind eyes of the heavens. And from the wounds on his limbs he gave forth the medicine of health. He gave healthy limbs to the lame and tongues to the mute. And he opened sealed ears, and they heard the sweetness of his words. He drove out manifest pains and healed hidden sins. And by manifest things he showed that he was master over hidden things. He commanded death with a voice: that it turn back the dead it had swallowed. And by the seal of his words the dead turned to life. The dead who had returned to the sign became true witnesses for him, as they cried out over the tomb that from then on death was abolished. He drove out demons with his word, that they flee from their dwellings. As the rebellious cried out to him, "Do not oppress us, son of David." Even they, though unwilling, proclaimed his authority beforehand. For it was destined that hidden things be revealed by the sign of the furnace of his passion. By the health of the body he showed that he also heals the sins of humanity. And by the three days he rose, he proclaimed resurrection to the righteous. By the demons he drove out from humanity he loosed the authority of the devourer.

And he cast his captivity, the captive of the captor, upon humanity, whom he had removed from his hands. He cried out in lamentation and was embittered, and he groaned and wailed in weeping. For the man went forth to battle, that he might rescue his captivity from the captor. The power of his dominion was weakened, and he fled before the victor. For he thought that he would hinder him by means of death from reviving the dead. In the battle against Adam, the serpent donned armor and advanced. And now, against the Redeemer, through Adam he advanced with Adam. Through the sons of Abraham, who were freed from the bondage of the Egyptians, a sign was made for the Evil One, and he donned armor and advanced with our Lord. On the feast of Passover, the Enemy was disturbed, fleeing from the servants whom he had chosen, that they might assist him, the murderers, by means of the swords of their tongues. They were workers for the Evil One among the sons of Aram against Adam. And they fulfilled his desire through their hands, as with the serpent against Adam. It was not his own will that the feast should be accomplished for slaughter. Christ fulfilled the deed through the economy of his humanity. On the feast, he gave himself as a sacrifice, that many might see his death. For when he rose from the tomb, they would be witnesses of his resurrection. The sacrifice of Passover was prepared, the living Lamb of God. Through the sacrifice of his resurrection, he reconciled the world with its Lord. He made Passover according to the law, and revealed through Passover concerning his Passover. And he divided his body among his disciples, giving life to the dead through the living. Through the deed, the Son of Adam showed his love to the sons of his kind.

He gave his body as food before the suffering of his crucifixion. He was distressed over the things that were prepared, over his suffering and his affliction. And he revealed and examined the entirety of Judas, who betrayed his master. By the power of the Spirit he was strengthened against the wickedness of the betrayer. The bitterness of his gall did not prevail against the sweetness of the mystery of the cross. He made the mystery a partnership, and he did not depart from the intention of the murder. The life-giver loosened his feet, and the oppressor was not restrained. He knew the betrayer before his election as the murderer. And he drew him out with his sweet love, and he did not separate him from his betrayal. By night the mourner went out, for his master had delivered him to the betrayers. The betrayer was hastening him to accomplish his will by his hands. He was eager for his murder, a destruction before the day of his birth. And through Judas, as through a mediator, he brought his design to light. Judas was like a messenger to the slanderer, the enemy. And he sent him to the grief of the betrayers, that they might hunt life for death. The buyer purchased him with prices, to purchase the worlds from death. The life-giving one took his prices and purchased life for the house of the dead. Or he sold life to death, who does not reckon and like a purchase. He gave a gift without price and took worthless prices. With thirty pieces of silver he purchased the liberator of the captives. And the word of the seer was fulfilled, who saw in the spirit before the ages. All things were completed in his person, the life-giver of all, because of all.

He was distressed over his affliction and over the desire of his disciples. All of you, do not be disturbed when the hour of suffering approached. And you left me alone and did not help me in my torments. In his love, Simon was exalted and said to our Lord, "Never will a man deny you, nor will a man bow before sufferings." With what seal did he strike all toward the glory of the fervent one? That three times he was shaken, the man in denial at the time of sufferings. He showed his disciples that he endured suffering by his will. And it was not a forced bond for him toward his affliction of the cross. "Rise, let us go," he said when the hour of suffering approached for him. As he made known that by his will he gave himself to his enemies. He went out to pray alone and took his disciples with him. That by his prayer he taught them that mercy avails in distress. Three times he prayed in suffering, and this he said in his prayer: "If one who can, has not drunk his cup of death, the swallower." In suffering he prayed, "Arise before his suffering like a sufferer." And the knot of the union of his members from the course of the burning one. It was shown to him from heaven, an angel strengthened him, that he not fall in the contest, that he might take victory from it. With voices full of encouragement, the angel strengthened him. The mystery of the cup of death he gave to you, a crown after your victory. Do not weaken in trials, for the flesh of Adam is strong.

of the glorious ones, he offers to you the cross at the completion of your agony. Endure the sufferings, the sufferer, and drink the cup of the house of Adam. For you ascend to the height, after pain and humiliation. Now the erring ones, the Greeks and the dead, show as is customary the prayer and suffering of the Son. He who prays before suffering is a wise man, lacking nothing. And why does the power of the Spirit reveal and examine my mind? The shepherd, as is customary for you, ascends to the height above. And the Word from the Father submits his neck to suffering. O unspeakable groan, O inconsolable lament! The power that holds creation became weak in his agony. O expansive will, how much I have raged and been troubled! He who made the spirit of his angels was strengthened by the wakeful one. To whom did the Word pray, or who bent from [...] with a cry? The authority that stands in essence in the likeness of the Father who begot him. Where did he cast off from sufferings, that power that bore the dew? And did he ask for help from anyone, he who is the giver of good things? Who aided him in creation, when he brought all into being? Now in the suffering of the crucified one, he called an angel to his aid. Restrain your blasphemies, O reckless one, your interpretations are not fitting for you. It is a good seed, our confession; do not mix your errors with it. Do not submit the Word of the Father to the sufferings that stand among the dead. And do not raise the Only-Begotten to the aid of his own honor.

When he speaks like this unjust one, when he says like this erring one. The weak one makes his sufferings light for the heart. Do not err, O arrogant ones, the word is not diminished from his father. Nor did he ask for help, the confident one from the Spirit. It was the body that prayed, that was in need of helps. The sufferer who was wearied by sufferings, to whom sufferings clung to his limbs. The son of the race was troubled for his own sake and for coverings. For he knew that help would be lacking for him at the time of suffering. He who feared suffering, who saw that his nature was mortal, and on account of this he strengthened himself, the angel at the time of suffering. In truth he prayed and feared, and not in a feigned manner. And in truth he strengthened himself, the angel, as one not cursed. If he had not prayed in truth, he would not have been known as a human being. Vain is your trust, O arrogant ones, do not follow after him. Your limbs in the abyss of death. Leave off your vainglory in honor with the son of the race. The sufferer prayed in suffering and received the sign of his petition. And he surrendered himself to his own, that he might complete the work of his father. The anger of the arrogant ones was kindled, and Judas like a serpent. And he approached and completed the crime, and gave the kiss, the eater, to the sweet one. O zealous disciple, O lover of the eater of his love, who thrust a sword into his mind, and on his lips kisses. Concerning that which came, he said to him, that he called him a false lover.

Do not err, O arrogant ones, the word is not diminished from his father. Nor did he ask for help from the judge. The arrogant one, his desire is bitter. When he said to me, "Oppress me in form," he does not deliver me to the torture. The disciple betrays his master. Why do you conceal yourself in peace? The sword is hidden in your arm. Why do you seek that he should have said, "By force, to the torment of the arrogant"? And he threw himself on the ground to show his great strength. The disciples took swords when they saw that the arrogant ones had done [violence]. And Simon boiled with error, as his confession delivered him. In the hand that cut, he thought to fulfill his master's debt. And he also knew that all his work was in vain, that your help was sufficient now. Show the gentle one in him, as he was fitting for his coming. And he placed his hand on the head of the body, and not on the torment of the arrogant. They led him to the house of judgment and went, that he might be judged like a guilty one. And his disciples left him and fled, and did not remain with him in suffering. Simon went after him to see the outcome of his affair. His love led the erring one, and he entered with his master into the house of judgment. The guards asked the perfect one, "Are you not also a disciple?" And his fervor was kindled, and it led astray all his confession. The agony of death moved that head of the twelve. And his desire was scattered and hid in the denial of the three offerings. In the morning, the Savior unsheathed his sword when he came out of the house of judgment. And in his choosing, he concealed himself, "Where is your trust, O erring one?" Simon was astonished and lost, for his master had forgotten his confession.

that he confess, and not deny the sign, and the day that does not know the sign for him. Do not cut off his foolishness, the great one, from the head of the disciples. For concerning that, let him leave the branches so that his word may take completion. The head of the petition of his teaching places him at the head of the apostles. And in his denials and his confessions of himself, he who is head of the way for the lost. Before Pilate they set him up, the righteous one as a guilty one. When they troubled him, the judge of the kingdom desired to seize him. And concerning this, Pilate questioned him when he judged him: "If you are a king, as they said, where are your people and your powers?" But he did not open the word, so that silence might be a response to his accusation. So that his word might be fulfilled in deed, he did not open his mouth in his judgment. Before Pilate were crying out the sons of Abraham, the persecutors: "Crucify the guilty one, the death that troubled the people and went forth." The judge, who was not with the people, righteous and just, declared that he was innocent. And the people who know God in anger covered their shame. The persecutors received his blood, which became for them a sign. For the watch of his murder they set it, so that their children might be condemned by it. The judge washed his hands and withheld himself from his murder. And the persecutors took him and led him out, so that they might mock him on the cross. The thought of all the wicked rode with their chief, the accuser, that on the cross he would be equal in death like one who passed over the law. With the executioners they stirred up so that the mockery of their mockery might be a delight.

When they look at him, the seers with the nails in his hands. On the top of the wood they placed his crown, that it might be a spectacle for the seers. While he himself was fulfilling his death, he was openly proclaiming. He was mocked by the priests and derided by the people. That dwelling of divinity. And the divinity was moved to his limbs over his lowliness. The sons of the earth put on mourning, the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. Over that holy body which was being wounded by the impure. The sun fled, dimming its light, and the moon changed into blood. So that the crucifiers might not be cheered by the beauty of their torches. To the earth a trembling caused quaking, and walls and rocks were shattered. While the hard heart of the murderers was covered and silent. The spirit struck against the face of the gate, and its cry to the temple of mercy. And it shows that he lets go and leaves his nail to the mourning of his humility. The tombs of the afflicted were opened, that a command might go forth to move. That the dead might be heralds of his resurrection who revives the dead. The murderers hid him in holes, to Joseph who mounted the word. And the word moved the silent ones, that they might stand with the speakers. In the midst of the soldiers they crucified him like a signpost of evil. And when they did not wish, they sealed the wonder of the incarnation. To the army from the sea, the wonder bound it to the abyss. And by his companion he was tormented, that his peace might be from his blasphemy. With voices full of threats, the soldier was being supplicated.

While he was asking forgiveness for the nails of the crucifiers on the day of judgment. With a hidden eye of the will[...] he saw the kingdom of heaven. And to the Lord he said, "I have seen your kingdom." O wonder of the robber, he was speaking to the earth-dwellers, that from the cross on which he was crucified with him, he was asking him for the kingdom. Not that his image might revive all, for the robber the reward of his words. And he gave him recompense, the kingdom in exchange for the confession. In the very act, his limbs were beside him, to the place where he confessed to him, that he might enter with him by his own hand into Paradise after his death. O wonder of the skull, he was speaking of death, that the body fixed to the cross was seeking a way to the womb. O death that proclaimed his death, life of the dead for the future. O skull on the top of the wood, that loosed the bonds of sin. In the pains of death he was suffering, the body, the garment of the Only-Begotten, and he did not leave it and cast it from him, not even after his humiliation. He was turning himself, death, when it was short for him. "I will not place my soul in your hands, seek its dwelling in peace." His head he bowed on the cross, and he surrendered his soul to the Creator. While he was witnessing the discourse of his soul, that his death was not that of a murderer. Behold the time that shows the pain and death of what was. While he teaches us, the Son of our race, that the Word does not share in his sufferings. "I will not place my soul in your hands, the soul seeks what it is.

The single Word from the Father, O son of Adam, there is no soul that is not from the essence, the heresy does not err: that it was not by a soul that the living nature of divinity was established. The soul of the mortal is that which had put on members, and when suffering approached its members, it departed from him in distress. For there was a soul in that body which the Word chose as his dwelling. It bears witness concerning its departure, that it left him in the midst of suffering. The sufferer was he who suffered in the harsh pains of the cross, while he cried out in groans, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It was not the Word who was complaining to his Father, for he is one with him. There is no God for the divine; the heretic, what can he say? It was not the Word who bowed his head and surrendered himself on the cross. The immortal one does not seek life; spare your blasphemies, heretic. It was not in the essence that the nails and the spear were fixed in the side. There are no members for the single one; do not dare to divide. It was the flesh that received, his body on the wood of the cross. He it was who offered the plea that he had ceased from help. It was the flesh that tasted death, which was mortal in his person. And to the single one he was entreating, that he might take his soul for his soul. He it was who bowed his head on the wood and surrendered his soul to the Creator. And when his soul departed to the abode, his body remained in the tomb.

He did not leave the Word of the Father, the pure essence of the Godhead, and while He was with Him from the beginning, in His thoughts He did not suffer. He was never separated from Him, not in the sufferings nor on the cross. Nor did He experience pain in His side from the sufferings that His mortal body endured. Death swallowed the mortal one, and He saw no corruption among the dead. For the Godhead did not give His body to death to prevail over it. With the spear that pierced His side, a stream of water and blood flowed from Him. And no bone was broken in His limbs, as Moses wrote of the cedar. The executioners divided His garments and cast lots for them. And the Word of the Father was fulfilled in the servant, the Godhead of David's father. They took His body down from the wood and placed it in the tomb. And His death did not corrupt His body, for He did not remain among the dead. For three days He remained alive within the tomb, giving life to the living. And He held a contest with death, and loosed and abolished its dominion. With Him was the Word that had clothed Him, while He was laid in the tomb. And He did not suffer from His pains, for His thought was raised above sufferings. With the angels, the Word fanned His holy body. And the spirits hearkened to His command that gives life to all. His promises were fulfilled by the side of the single Word of the Father. And when death loosed His body, it remained warm for three days. O the dead one whom death swallowed, and He turned and slew His slayer.

He broke his bitter yoke and freed his race from the fire. He was a wrestler who struggled with the spirit and the head of the air. He spread out his victory over the demons and put to shame the enemy in his person. A battle was fought by the Son of the race with death and the accuser. And he conquered by the power of his garment the two tyrants who had raged. A battle was fought in which Adam sinned and all his kind sinned with him. He put on the natures of the Son of Adam and through him conquered the rebels of his race. For three days he dissolved the mortality of his nature. And with his flesh he killed sin and gave victory to the dead. By the power of the sign that dwelt in him he descended to the abyss and was victorious. And by his own strength he subdued death and abolished his dominion. He was with him when he suffered but did not share in his afflictions. And when he was healed from everything, he completed the suffering of his person. In the outer temple of his body death was loosed by the hands of the murderers. And the Word dwelt in him in a union that no longer trembles. For this reason he said that he would dissolve it and raise it up. While teaching his hearers that only the body is dissolved. The essence is not dissolved, for there is no beginning to the essence. The dissolution of the body is death, and he alone tasted death. By the dissolution of his body he taught that he was a suffering human. And that he rose after three days to show the power of his resurrection. The mortal nature was diminished which he himself became the Redeemer.

And he put on the sign of victory and freed his entire race through him. The high one was humbled by his love so that he might raise up dead Adam. And through the garment he put on, Adam’s sign of victory became the victory of the son of Adam. He desired to raise up the lowly one, not to descend to the level of the lowly. He raised up the dust and brought it up to the honor that is with his greatness. The city that transgressed the commandment owed the race of Adam, and without paying its debts, the sign of victory paid them in the son of Adam. Death died in his victory, and the sign of victory stood firm in his coming. And through the power of the sign of victory, he conquered death and was changed. He was not a sufferer who experienced the pains of death on the cross. It was the son of Adam who paid through his suffering the bond of the house of Adam. The governance filled him in the body in place of the dead. And through his death and his resurrection, the entire nature died and lived. He made his garment his covering and a revelation to us of the dead. Through the tremors of the self, he saw his covering in the despised body. He took the race of the rational ones as a beginning from all. So that through him he might bind the love that Adam loosed by transgressing his commandment. The entire nature of the rational ones became heavy in his taking. So that he might strike us with victory, he made us partners in his honor. For this greatness that came to the rational ones through the son of the race, the unjust and the envious distorted it through the changes of their words. They did not leave the victory to be honored with praises. And they did not allow it to be exalted with God his creator.

Two natures that are not confused, the heretics blasphemed and gave birth to. They placed the essence among the elements and plundered the body from life. The limbs of the body are its own, and they divided over existence. They made the essence a beginning, and the body they plundered from its substance. They waged war against the existence that makes them live through its words. And they contended with the humanity that is not equal to the greatness. With the scribes of the words of the Spirit, every contest and confusion was stirred. That which showed the distinction of the two natures that were one. The heretics did not listen to the heralds of the words of the Spirit. Who cry out like trumpets concerning the exaltation of the Son of the race. The head of the apostles came and covered the error of their words. And with their companions the Jews, in the tribunal they went against the heavens. Peter said to the elect, the elect, the new Jews who rebelled: "The Lord and Messiah made him, God, for the body that he took." From error to error the Lord made, Simon, the firstborn of thanksgiving. Explain to us the power of your perfection, with which you covered the heretics. The essence came to us, the word of the Father, took our nature and dwelt in it. And the Lord and Messiah made him in honor with his greatness. To this Jesus of your crucifixion, hear, Jews of both kinds. He made a partner in glory, the essence, and exalted his authority. He, the beginning of our nature, covered and went to the elect. That he might show after his desire the chariot of his body to his disciples.

He showed his resurrection to the disciples. He denied his passion. The Spirit did not receive the limbs, as he showed his disciples. They doubted and were scattered in the body and bones that he had. And they proclaimed this among all the peoples, that in body and bones he rose. Behold, he shows you clearly after his death and resurrection, that it is the body that overcame death, and the Word did not share in his sufferings. And if they had not said clearly, the thoughts of the heretics in their words, that it is the Creator who was showing himself in flesh and bones in his passion. Upon them turn the beginnings of the sequence of these errors. For they confused and proclaimed a division, which proclaims the body of essence. In two beginnings they bound the Creator who has no beginning. One from the womb of a daughter of man, and another from within the tomb. Oh, from the pit of the heretics, how many they have spoken and been disturbed! That the essence which cannot be grasped, they placed its limit in the womb and in the tomb. Come, my brothers, like the discerning, choose the good from the bad. And fashion the garment of our confession from the tatters of the heretics. Cut off, I say, from the body the limbs that are diseased and rotten. For behold, the pain of their words runs and seizes the foundations in the weak. Drive away, I say, from the flock the wolves that have ravaged the pasture. For they resemble the forms of the lambs while their howls are against the truth. Do not mix with our truth the tares of their utterances.

of the mysteries of the entire dispensation in the confession concerning the essence. He bound the bond of the covenant by the faith of the apostles. That he showed them the resurrection in the confession of faith. In the confession of Simon and Andrew by the petition of faith. And in the preaching of Paul and the other who taught the way to heaven. In the equality of the twelve: Confess with them like Simon that the Lord and Messiah made the Creator of the body that he took. End.