In omnes sanctos

John, Archbishop of Constantinople, Chrysostom, Encomium on All Saints. Come today, brothers, let us celebrate the memory of the holy martyrs with radiant festivity. Come, let us partake of that celestial grace. For the martyrs are the apology for the betrayal in paradise, the propitiations for fallen nature, the gifts of humanity that had given offense, the signatures of the race that was shaken, the bulwarks against the breach of the arch-robber, the pledges of the hope of the faithful, the God-inscribed tablets of endurance, the secret quivers of Christianity, the ineffable bows of the one who was crucified beforehand, the strong arms of piety, trees more flourishing after being cut, roots more luxuriant after destruction, nets buried for the demons. Not so are sparrows walking in the fields caught in hidden snares as demons, feeding on the tribes of the holy martyrs, are burned by the hidden ash and suffer a fate similar to that of Cain: they shudder at those whom they slew, just as he shuddered at the slain Abel.

Since there are also demons in this air, barbarous and wild, ever stirring up wars and enemies of peace, He set against them the armies of the angels, so that by their mere appearance they might quell them, so that they might ever procure peace for us. And that you may learn that they are angels of peace, listen to the deacons always saying in the prayers: Ask for the angel of peace. You see that both angels and martyrs are present at this festival of all the saints. The martyrs gain wealth that procures immortality; they have attained that glory, of which the eternal kingdom is the whole treasure of life deposited in the heavens; for such is the victory of the saints, that they chose even death for the sake of immortal goods. Their flesh was scraped by tortures, but the aim of the soul remained insensible; their limbs were cut by swords, but the longing for heaven was not severed; the teeth of wild beasts tore their entrails, but they did not tear away the pious reasoning of the heart. Truly, the bodies of the martyrs were a shield and breastplate for their souls; for these alone are wounded by the tyrants' missiles; for the good soldier of faith, persuading his limbs to receive the missiles, offers his body naked to the war and achieves victory, in that wherein he is thought to be defeated; for the devil has been defeated by the martyrs' torturing of their bodies. And proof of this is the power of their relics, which put demons to flight by an invisible blow. These trophies glorify the martyrs; these have shown those who wished to die thus to have lived immortally.

These things the armies of the angels bless; these things creation holds as pledges of salvation everywhere. For each city and region of the inhabited world is found to possess the martyrs as protectors; for to the extent that we run to them with reverence in honors, to that extent we find them as guardians in all things. Honor for a martyr is the uprightness of conduct, a good conscience toward God; for the martyrs are our teachers of piety and citizens, having Christ as guide. Thanks to the benevolent Master, who has given to the earth the treasures of all the saints; for upon it have been placed the treasures of the heavens, the precious pearls, the tested gold, the chosen vessels; for these are the relics of the martyrs, and for now heaven has yielded to earth, allowing the life of men to be blessed. For there is the desired abiding of the martyrs, there the longed-for rest from their contests, there the precious crowns of victory. And heaven has been ordered to guard these, awaiting their enjoyment there, but for now the earth holds them. And heaven has been taken up in splendor. It had fiery lamps, the stars; the earth has a multitude of saints, as that one has angels glorifying. These blessed martyrs, punished for Christ, tortured, given to beasts, consumed by fire and sword, are now attended, honored, glorified, reign in the heavens, beseech God, help sinners, guard the inhabited world, sanctify cities, populate deserts, bless regions, unite peoples, turn back barbarians, with their relics being distributed.

This is clear from the ark deposited today containing the manna, the ark that conquers the foreigners, the ark more secure than Noah's; for that one was preserved floating on the waters, but this one, carried in death itself, redeems; for this reason it is also buried in the bosom of the earth, giving relief even to men sunk in Hades. Such is our treasure today, such wealth the house of the martyrs has received, such grace the place has acquired. Here the myrrh of holiness flows, here the streams of healing for the passions pass through, from here the channels of cures run, from here a city rejoices though hungry, from here thirsty flocks are satisfied, from here a people gathering are sanctified, from here Christ is moved to compassion when glorified. Consider how many have bound on the crown of martyrdom; some were scourged, some were shut up in prison, some were bound in chains, some were banished from their homeland, some lost their property, some were exiled to a foreign land, some were slaughtered, some in experience, some in resolve; for with spears bared and swords sharpened and threats made each day and those in authority breathing fury and voices raised in menace, countless forms of punishments and torments, they did not yield nor give way, but stood on the rock unmoved, choosing to do and suffer everything so as not to share in the lawlessness of those who dared such things, not only men, but also women; for women too stripped for this contest and in many places showed themselves more manly than men.

Not only women, but also young men and very young boys—to whom may glory be with the Father and the Holy Spirit now and always and unto the ages of ages, amen. Naturally I am in anguish, bound by the chains of cowardice, wondering how I shall satisfy the thirst of your love of hearing, what table of discourse I shall set before you, what I shall become in welcoming such a multitude, for whom Christ alone will suffice for a feast. The joy of the world is at the doors, the harbor of the Lord's resurrection draws near. Again the senseless nation of the Jews is in turmoil, again the dogs bark against the shepherd, again the slaves rebel against the master, again the workers of darkness plot against the light, again Judas contrives the lawless sale, again the Jews prepare silver, so that they may send to Hades the one free among the dead and learn of death taken captive, so that tombs may be shaken and the dead take wing for resurrection, again a disciple sells, and those learned in the law buy, and a thief on the cross theologizes. But let us recall the traitor's words: "What do you wish to give me," he says, "and I will hand him over to you." What do they wish to give you, Judas? The rope of the noose, the outer darkness, alienation from the kingdom, separation from the saints, the corpse that will never rise—these are your profits from the contract with the Jews. "What do you wish to give me?" What can they give you equal to what you are about to lose, utterly wicked one? Why do you sell so cheaply the architect of heaven and earth, the one who bears all things in the palm of his hand?

When you saw your master being honored, you saw the costly myrrh poured out upon his fearsome head, and condemning the woman's extravagance you cried out: "What is this waste?" "Why was this myrrh not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" And you valued the myrrh, which is compounded from various ingredients and prepared by some art, at three hundred denarii, but the true myrrh, which makes the dead smell the resurrection, you sell for thirty denarii? Do you not know what you are selling, Judas? The drunkenness of avarice has blinded you. When did you ever know a master sold by a slave? When did you learn to sell light and buy darkness? Why did you insult the token of love? Why do you effect betrayal with a kiss? Rightly did the prophet cry out from afar, denouncing you: "His mouth is full of bitterness and deceit; under his tongue are toil and pain." "You have made deceit like a sharpened razor." And you kissed your master. Come, kiss him. The Savior patiently endures, not turning away from the foulness of your kiss, but calling back the grace of the debt you owe from your own lips.

Oh, how terrible is love of money. Because of it the disciple, broken off from the apostolic chain, inherits the rope of strangulation and shows the throat worthy of the noose, through which the words of betrayal came forth. Oh, how great a good is sobriety. Because of it the thief leaped from the cross into paradise. For when he saw the master hanging in the midst and the whole creation shaken with fear, and the sun veiled in grievous mourning, and the daylight fleeing, the elements denying their order, the rocks being rent—when he beheld all these things, then reading his own conscience and not ignorant of his fellow thief's deeds, when he saw creation carried here and there and trembling, he recognized the master in the midst of those trembling, and having recognized him, he immediately cried out: "Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom." Truly the thief was a swift worker of the eleventh hour. For he completed the whole work of the day of his life in the hour for which he was hired, and he worked eagerly. He did not falter in faith, he did not look away at the insults, he did not glance at the blows, he disregarded the reproaches of the Jews, he took creation as his teacher, and having recognized the master of creation, he gave worthy adoration. What then does Christ, the giver of rewards, the one generous in benefactions, do in response to these things? When the thief sought the future, he immediately displayed the grace. For when the thief said, "Remember me, Lord, when you come into your kingdom," the master immediately answered, saying, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." The scripture that says this is true.

While you are still speaking, I will say: 'Behold, I am present.'" Glory to Christ himself, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.