Severianus Gabalensis, Homilia in Apostolos

Severianus Gabalensis, Commemoration of the Apostles. Manuscript: A = A-144. A discourse of the holy and blessed father of ours, Severianus, bishop of Gabala: Commemoration of the Apostles. Yesterday’s word spoke of the lamp of the body; it amazed us, it told of that fitting nature, and it was hidden from the knowledge of the teachers of the craftsmen, for when that nature was interpreted, the Creator was glorified, and when the creation is spoken of, it is the abode of its Creator. And while we were saying this, the order of the evening service arrived. While we were speaking of the lamp of the body, at once that light of the evening service appeared for the service of the church, and together with those lamps, a third lamp of that divine law of the side was added. This first lamp of the body has the testimony of the Savior himself, for he said: The lamp of the body is the eye, and that which is kindled from fire for service is known to all. And the third lamp is interpreted from David, for he said: A lamp to my feet is your word, O Lord, and a light to my paths. But for us today, this teaching of the newly created Gospel has shown us a lamp.

The candle, which is not like the sun, but rather proclaims to us the sun of righteousness, that Christ came to be baptized. John did not act by the authority of his own head, but by the command of God he performed it. And to all, the Savior, the Enlightener, and the Lord, one man who was desirous of baptism himself, gave light, and not as if he were taking something from his own head, but he submitted to that command. John is called a candle, which had the name of the holy ones of the former Law, just as that Law of the Jews was called a candle, and likewise those who were of the New Law were called candles.