Opening
For 333. Easter day, during the consulship of Dalmatius and Zenophilus; Prefect Paternus; sixth indiction; April 16, Pharmuthi 20; fifteenth day of the moon; seventh day of the week; year 49 of the era of Diocletian.
For 333. Easter-day, Coss. Dalmatius and Zenophilus; Præfect, Paternus; vi Indict.; xvii Kal. Maii, xx Pharmuthi; xv Moon; vii Gods; Æra Dioclet. 49.
We move properly, my brothers, from feast to feast, from prayer to prayer. We progress from fast to fast and link holy day to holy day. Once again the time has come that brings us a new beginning—the announcement of the blessed Passover, in which the Lord was sacrificed. We eat what is like the food of life, and constantly thirsting, we delight our souls at all times in His precious blood, as if from a fountain. We continually and eagerly desire this, and He stands ready for those who thirst. For those who thirst, there is the word of our Savior, which in His loving-kindness He spoke on the day of the feast: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." It was not only when someone drew near to Him then that He satisfied their thirst. Rather, whenever anyone seeks, there is free access to the Savior. The grace of the feast is not limited to one time, nor does its splendid brightness fade. Instead, it is always near, enlightening the minds of those who earnestly desire it. There is constant power in it for those whose minds are illuminated and who meditate on the divine Scriptures day and night, like the man who is blessed, as it is written in the sacred Psalms: "Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of corrupters. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law does he meditate day and night." It is not the sun, or the moon, or the host of other stars that illuminates him, but he shines with the high radiance of God over all.
We duly proceed, my brethren, from feasts to feasts, duly from prayers to prayers, we advance from fasts to fasts, and join holy-days to holy-days. Again the time has arrived which brings to us a new beginning, even the announcement of the blessed Passover, in which the Lord was sacrificed. We eat, as it were, the food of life, and constantly thirsting we delight our souls at all times, as from a fountain, in His precious blood. For we continually and ardently desire; He stands ready for those who thirst; and for those who thirst there is the word of our Saviour, which, in His loving-kindness, He uttered on the day of the feast; 'If any man thirst, let him come to Me and drink.' Nor was it then alone when any one drew near to Him, that He cured his thirst; but whenever any one seeks, there is free access for him to the Saviour. For the grace of the feast is not limited to one time, nor does its splendid brilliancy decline; but it is always near, enlightening the minds of those who earnestly desire it. For therein is constant virtue, for those who are illuminated in their minds, and meditate on the divine Scriptures day and night, like the man to whom a blessing is given, as it is written in the sacred Psalms; 'Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of corrupters. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law does he meditate day and night.' For it is not the sun, or the moon, or the host of those other stars which illumines him, but he glitters with the high effulgence of God over all.
It is God, my beloved—the very God who first established this feast for us—who graciously enables us to celebrate it year after year. He brought about the death of His Son for our salvation and gave us this reason for the holy feast, which is marked each year as the celebration is proclaimed in this season. This feast also leads us forward from the cross, through this world, to what lies ahead of us. Even now God brings forth from it the joy of glorious salvation, gathering us into the same assembly and uniting all of us in spirit everywhere. He appoints for us common prayers and a common grace that flows from the feast. For this is the wonder of His loving-kindness: that He gathers together in the same place those who are far apart, and makes those who appear distant in body to be near together in unity of spirit.
2. For it is God, my beloved, even the God Who at first established the feast for us, Who vouchsafes the celebration of it year by year. He both brought about the slaying of His Son for salvation, and gave us this reason for the holy feast, to which every year bears witness, as often as at this season the feast is proclaimed. This also leads us on from the cross through this world to that which is before us, and God produces even now from it the joy of glorious salvation, bringing us to the same assembly, and in every place uniting all of us in spirit; appointing us common prayers, and a common grace proceeding from the feast. For this is the marvel of His loving-kindness, that He should gather together in the same place those who are at a distance; and make those who appear to be far off in the body, to be near together in unity of spirit.
Why then, my beloved, do we not acknowledge this grace as the feast requires? Why do we not make a return to our Benefactor? It is truly impossible to make an adequate return to God; still, it is a wicked thing for us who receive this gracious gift not to acknowledge it. Our nature itself shows our inability, but our own will convicts us of unthankfulness. Therefore the blessed Paul, when marveling at the greatness of God's gift, said, "And who is sufficient for these things?" For He made the world free by the blood of the Savior; then again, He has caused the grave to be trampled down by the Savior's death, and provided a way to the heavenly gates free from obstacles to those who are ascending. Therefore, one of the saints, while he acknowledged the grace but was unable to repay it, said, "What shall I render to the Lord for all He has done for me?" For instead of death he had received life, instead of bondage, freedom, and instead of the grave, the kingdom of heaven. For in ancient times, "death reigned from Adam to Moses;" but now the divine voice has said, "Today you shall be with Me in Paradise." And the saints, being aware of this, said, "Unless the Lord had helped me, my soul had almost dwelt in hell." Besides all this, being powerless to make a return, he yet acknowledged the gift, and wrote finally, saying, "I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord; precious in His sight is the death of His saints."
3. Wherefore then, my beloved, do we not acknowledge the grace as becomes the feast? Wherefore do we not make a return to our Benefactor? It is indeed impossible to make an adequate return to God; still, it is a wicked thing for us who receive the gracious gift, not to acknowledge it. Nature itself manifests our inability; but our own will reproves our unthankfulness. Therefore the blessed Paul, when admiring the greatness of the gift of God, said, 'And who is sufficient for these things 2 Corinthians 2:17?' For He made the world free by the blood of the Saviour; then, again, He has caused the grave to be trodden down by the Saviour's death, and furnished a way to the heavenly gates free from obstacles to those who are going up. Wherefore, one of the saints, while he acknowledged the grace, but was insufficient to repay it, said, 'What shall I render unto the Lord for all He has done unto me?' For instead of death he had received life, instead of bondage, freedom, and instead of the grave, the kingdom of heaven. For of old time, 'death reigned from Adam to Moses;' but now the divine voice has said, 'Today shall you be with Me in Paradise.' And the saints, being sensible of this, said, 'Except the Lord had helped me, my soul had almost dwelt in hell..' Besides all this, being powerless to make a return, he yet acknowledged the gift, and wrote finally, saying, 'I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord; precious in His sight is the death of His saints. '
Regarding the cup, the Lord said, "Are you able to drink of that cup which I am about to drink of?" And when the disciples agreed, the Lord said, "You shall indeed drink of My cup; but that you should sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give; but to those for whom it is prepared Matthew 20:22-23." Therefore, my beloved, let us recognize the gift, even though we are found unable to repay it. As we have ability, let us meet the occasion. For although nature is not able, with things unworthy of the Word, to give back a payment for such benefits, yet let us give Him thanks while we continue in piety. And how can we better remain in piety than when we acknowledge God, Who in His love for humanity has given us such benefits? (For in this way we shall obediently keep the law and observe its commandments. And, further, we shall not, as unthankful persons, be counted as transgressors of the law, or do those things which ought to be hated, for the Lord loves the thankful); when we also offer ourselves to the Lord, like the saints, when we commit ourselves entirely as living from now on not to ourselves, but to the Lord Who died for us, as also the blessed Paul did, when he said, "I am crucified with Christ, yet I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me Galatians 2:20."
With regard to the cup, the Lord said, 'Are you able to drink of that cup which I am about to drink of?' And when the disciples assented, the Lord said, 'You shall indeed drink of My cup; but that you should sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give; but to those for whom it is prepared Matthew 20:22-23.' Therefore, my beloved, let us be sensible of the gift, though we are found insufficient to repay it. As we have ability, let us meet the occasion. For although nature is not able, with things unworthy of the Word, to return a recompense for such benefits, yet let us render Him thanks while we persevere in piety. And how can we more abide in piety than when we acknowledge God, Who in His love to mankind has bestowed on us such benefits? (For thus we shall obediently keep the law, and observe its commandments. And, further, we shall not, as unthankful persons, be accounted transgressors of the law, or do those things which ought to be hated, for the Lord loves the thankful); when too we offer ourselves to the Lord, like the saints, when we subscribe ourselves entirely [as] living henceforth not to ourselves, but to the Lord Who died for us, as also the blessed Paul did, when he said, 'I am crucified with Christ, yet I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me Galatians 2:20.'
Now our life, my brothers, truly consists in our denying all bodily things and remaining steadfast only in those things of our Savior. Therefore the present season requires of us that we should not only speak such words, but should also imitate the actions of the saints. But we imitate them when we acknowledge Him who died, and no longer live for ourselves, but Christ now lives in us; when we give back to the Lord to the fullest extent of our ability, though when we make a return we give nothing of our own, but those things which we have already received from Him—this being especially of His grace, that He should require, as if from us, His own gifts. He bears witness to this when He says, "My offerings are My own gifts." That is, those things which you give Me are yours, as having received them from Me, but they are the gifts of God. And let us offer to the Lord every virtue, and that true holiness which is in Him, and in piety let us keep the feast to Him with those things which He has made holy for us. Let us engage in the holy fasts in this way, as having been prescribed by Him, and through which we find the way to God. But let us not be like the pagans, or the ignorant Jews, or the heretics and schismatics of the present time. For the pagans think the fulfillment of the feast consists in the abundance of food; the Jews, erring in the type and shadow, still think it is such; the schismatics keep it in separate places and with empty imaginations. But let us, my brothers, be superior to the pagans in keeping the feast with sincerity of soul and purity of body; to the Jews, in no longer receiving the type and the shadow, but as having been gloriously enlightened with the light of truth and as looking upon the Sun of Righteousness; to the schismatics, in not tearing the coat of Christ, but in one house, namely in the Catholic Church, let us eat the Passover of the Lord, who, by establishing His holy laws, guided us toward virtue and instructed us in the abstinence of this feast. For the Passover is indeed abstinence from evil for the exercise of virtue, and a departure from death to life. This may be learned even from the type of ancient times. For then they labored earnestly to pass from Egypt to Jerusalem, but now we depart from death to life; they then passed from Pharaoh to Moses, but now we rise from the devil to the Savior. And just as, at that time, the type of deliverance bore witness every year, so now we commemorate our salvation. We fast meditating on death, that we may be able to live; and we watch, not as mourners, but as those who wait for the Lord when He returns from the wedding, so that we may compete with each other in the triumph, hastening to announce the sign of victory over death.
4. Now our life, my brethren, truly consists in our denying all bodily things, and continuing steadfast in those only of our Saviour. Therefore the present season requires of us, that we should not only utter such words, but should also imitate the deeds of the saints. But we imitate them, when we acknowledge Him who died, and no longer live unto ourselves, but Christ henceforth lives in us; when we render a recompense to the Lord to the utmost of our power, though when we make a return we give nothing of our own, but those things which we have before received from Him, this being especially of His grace, that He should require, as from us, His own gifts. He bears witness to this when He says, 'My offerings are My own gifts.' That is, those things which you give Me are yours, as having received them from Me, but they are the gifts of God. And let us offer to the Lord every virtue, and that true holiness which is in Him, and in piety let us keep the feast to Him with those things which He has hallowed for us. Let us thus engage in the holy fasts, as having been prescribed by Him, and by means of which we find the way to God. But let us not be like the heathen, or the ignorant Jews, or as the heretics and schismatics of the present time. For the heathen think the accomplishment of the feast is in the abundance of food; the Jews, erring in the type and shadow, think it still such; the schismatics keep it in separate places, and with vain imaginations. But let us, my brethren, be superior to the heathen, in keeping the feast with sincerity of soul, and purity of body; to the Jews, in no longer receiving the type and the shadow, but as having been gloriously illumined with the light of truth, and as looking upon the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2; to the schismatics, in not rending the coat of Christ, but in one house, even in the Catholic Church, let us eat the Passover of the Lord, Who, by ordaining His holy laws, guided us towards virtue, and counselled the abstinence of this feast. For the Passover is indeed abstinence from evil for exercise of virtue, and a departure from death unto life. This may be learned even from the type of old time. For then they toiled earnestly to pass from Egypt to Jerusalem, but now we depart from death to life; they then passed from Pharaoh to Moses, but now we rise from the devil to the Saviour. And as, at that time, the type of deliverance bore witness every year, so now we commemorate our salvation. We fast meditating on death, that we may be able to live; and we watch, not as mourners, but as they that wait for the Lord, when He shall have returned from the wedding, so that we may vie with each other in the triumph, hastening to announce the sign of victory over death.
I wish, my beloved friends, that we could always conduct ourselves as the word requires—living our entire lives without forgetting God's noble acts or departing from the practice of virtue. The apostle urges this same thing: "Remember Jesus Christ, that He rose from the dead." This doesn't mean we should remember Him only during a limited season, for He should be in our thoughts at all times. But because many of us are lazy, we put things off day after day. So let us begin during these days. A time of remembrance is given for this purpose: to show the saints the reward of their calling and to urge on the careless while rebuking them. Therefore, throughout all the remaining days, let us persist in virtuous behavior, repenting as we ought for anything we have neglected. No one is free from defilement, even if they have lived on earth for only an hour, as Job—that man of exceptional courage—testifies. But "stretching forth to those things that are to come," let us pray that we do not eat the Passover unworthily, or we will expose ourselves to dangers. For those who keep the feast purely, the Passover is heavenly food, but for those who observe it profanely and contemptuously, it brings danger and reproach. Scripture says, "Whosoever shall eat and drink unworthily, is guilty of the death of our Lord." Therefore, let us not merely go through the motions of the festival rites. Instead, let us prepare ourselves to approach the divine Lamb and to touch heavenly food. Let us cleanse our hands and purify the body. Let us keep our whole mind free from deceit, not giving ourselves over to excess and lusts, but occupying ourselves entirely with our Lord and with divine teachings. In this way, being completely pure, we may be able to partake of the Word.
5. Would therefore, O my beloved, that as the word requires, we might here so govern ourselves at all times and entirely, and so live, as never to forget the noble acts of God, nor to depart from the practice of virtue! As also the Apostolic voice exhorts; 'Remember Jesus Christ, that He rose from the dead 2 Timothy 2:8.' Not that any limited season of remembrance was appointed, for at all times He should be in our thoughts. But because of the slothfulness of many, we delay from day to day. Let us then begin in these days. To this end a time of remembrance is permitted, that it may show forth to the saints the reward of their calling, and may exhort the careless while reproving them. Therefore in all the remaining days, let us persevere in virtuous conduct, repenting as is our duty, of all that we have neglected, whatever it may be; for there is no one free from defilement, though his course may have been but one hour on the earth, as Job, that man of surpassing fortitude, testifies. But, 'stretching forth to those things that are to come,' let us pray that we may not eat the Passover unworthily, lest we be exposed to dangers. For to those who keep the feast in purity, the Passover is heavenly food; but to those who observe it profanely and contemptuously, it is a danger and reproach. For it is written, 'Whosoever shall eat and drink unworthily, is guilty of the death of our Lord 1 Corinthians 11:27.' Wherefore, let us not merely proceed to perform the festal rites, but let us be prepared to draw near to the divine Lamb, and to touch heavenly food. Let us cleanse our hands, let us purify the body. Let us keep our whole mind from guile; not giving up ourselves to excess, and to lusts, but occupying ourselves entirely with our Lord, and with divine doctrines; so that, being altogether pure, we may be able to partake of the Word.
We begin the holy fast on the fourteenth of Pharmuthi (Apr. 9), on the first evening of the week. Having finished on the nineteenth of the same month Pharmuthi (Apr. 14), the first day of the holy week begins for us on the twentieth of the same month Pharmuthi (Apr. 15). To this we add the seven weeks of Pentecost, marked by prayers, fellowship with our neighbor, love for one another, and that peaceable attitude which is above all else. In this way we will be heirs of the kingdom of heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom glory and dominion belong to the Father forever and ever. Amen. All the brothers who are with me greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
6. We begin the holy fast on the fourteenth of Pharmuthi (Apr. 9), on the [first] evening of the week; and having ceased on the nineteenth of the same month Pharmuthi (Apr. 14), the first day of the holy week dawns upon us on the twentieth of the same month Pharmuthi (Apr. 15), to which we join the seven weeks of Pentecost; with prayers, and fellowship with our neighbour, and love towards one another, and that peaceable will which is above all. For so shall we be heirs of the kingdom of heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom to the Father be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. All the brethren who are with me salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.
Here ends the fifth Festal Letter of holy Athanasius.
Here ends the fifth Festal Letter of holy Athanasius.