In laudem sancti Joannis theologi homilia

Encomium on Saint John the Theologian. The most holy John the Theologian and friend of Christ has gathered us together, beloved, not by causing sweet-smelling rose blossoms to bloom for us, but by causing the virtues of spiritual fathers to flower for us. The fragrance of these is pious confession and the salvation of our souls. Tell me, what rose is so adorned with petals as the most holy John is glorified with the godly crown of the saints? For the rose shines forth its golden fragrance from within; but the most holy John shines forth mightily the fragrant way of life of our all-wise shepherd and teacher from the very summit of the throne. O John, remembered once a year by those who sojourn here, but dwelling daily with the Ephesians as a fellow citizen; O John, you shine forth as a high governor upon this sacred mountain, not bestowing wealth upon your citizens, but granting healing to those who ask you; O John, you cast down the single-combat dragon Artemis with the trophy of the cross, and you firmly raised up the single-spoused bride of Christ, the Church, with the power of the cross.

O John, you left your father Zebedee at the boat, and you loved your Master the Nazarene upon his breast. As two mountains, you beheld the two breasts, and having sweetly rested between them, you theologized the one known between two living creatures: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And behold for me the wonder of the apostle. The earth burgeons forth from him who was not buried in earth, and the burgeoning is healing manna, and what is emptied is not exhausted by time. Therefore what the cause, what the energy, no one could find to say; for the gifts of our Savior Christ are immutable, and the energies of the saints are inexhaustible. O John, the weapon of the pious, the truly pious confession, and the refuge of all of them, the flight to God. For what a harbor is to those storm-tossed, that God is to the afflicted. Today the most holy John shines forth for us the beauty of his own virtue; for he has been read to us, as if from a royal image of the ancient book, shining forth his own piety. John, the beautiful beginning of faith, the flourishing root, the inexhaustible spring, the law not only for that time among all nations, but forever, entrusted with the sacred proclamation of piety; the first-fruits of faith, he who spread the tracks of piety to all, who taught us to emulate the most beautiful gifts of love. For we behold the bridal chamber of virginity, and we embrace the spring of healings. Let us also unfold the discourse concerning light. Light the Father, light the Son, light the Holy Spirit.

The Father is light, because He is true God; the Son is light, because He shone forth from the Father; the Holy Spirit is light, because He proceeds from the Father. And for this reason He is true God. The apostle will bear witness for me, saying that God is light. And, John came to bear witness concerning the light; and, The true light was that which illumines every man coming into the world, that is, coming into the truth. And the Son says, I am the true light; and, I am in the Father and the Father is in me. That the Son is light and sun of righteousness, the prophet also cries out: Be illumined, be illumined, Jerusalem. For the light has come to you, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. And concerning the Holy Spirit it is sung in the Psalms that, From you is the fountain of life. In your light we shall see light, that is, in the Son we shall see the Holy Spirit; light through which we were illumined, and until today our hearts are being illumined. The Father is light, because He is true God; the Son is light, because He is the radiance of that light; the Holy Spirit is light, proceeding from the Father. For no one knows the things of God except the Spirit that is in Him. Therefore the Holy Spirit is light, the true one, which is beheld and conceived in the true light. So let the faith remain unbreakable for us, brothers, an undivided Trinity. For the blessed Solomon says that the threefold cord will not be broken. For God sanctifies, illumines, gives life, frees, and does more than these. And the Son likewise; for all that the Father does, the Holy Spirit likewise sanctifies, illumines, gives life, frees.

For we were freed and sanctified and enlightened and brought to life, having been baptized into Father and Son and Holy Spirit, to Whom is the glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.