Book 17 opens: holy feasts; Emmanuel as feast-head
ON THE WORSHIP AND SERVICE IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH — BOOK SEVENTEENTH. Concerning the holy feasts. Enough has been said about purity, about prayer, and about the priests.
I think we should next set out carefully what repayment God gives for our labors, and toward what end those who turn will be fattened with the honors that reach their fulfillment, and will share in the hope that lasts forever.
Palladius: How well you put it.
Cyril: It would be fitting, Palladius, for those who have practiced the renowned and chosen life, and who have come to such a measure of the transparent citizenship we have here that they win the best vote of all, to live long in fair days — feasting, rejoicing together, having Emmanuel as the beginning of their festival, and resting in hopes that are firmly set. (Isa 7:14; Mt 1:23)
Palladius: Fitting indeed — and the word is true.
Cyril: Shall we then carefully examine the feasts given in type and according to the law, and narrate the manners of the sacrifices in them, transferring, as far as we can, their force toward the true meaning of the thoughts they hold?
Palladius: I would wish it — how could I not?
Cyril: Since, then, I seem to have seen clearly that these are excellent things, and that we ought lovingly to distinguish and think them through — come, let us search out, before the rest, when and upon what grounds the Lawgiver bids us feast.
Greek
ΠΕΡΙ ΤΗΣ ΕΝ ΠΝΕΥΜΑΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ ΠΡΟΣΚΥΝΗΣΕΩΣ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΤΡΕΙΑΣ ΛΟΓΟΣ ΕΠΤΑΚΑΙΔΕΚΑΤΟΣ. Περὶ ἑορτῶν ἁγίων. Ἁγνείας μὲν δὴ πέρι, καὶ τῶν ἐν εὐχαῖς, καὶ μέντοι καὶ ἱερέων εἰρήσθω τάδε. Χρῆναι δὲ οἶμαι λοιπὸν προσενεγκεῖν εὖ μάλα, τίς ἂν γένοιτο παρὰ Θεοῦ τῶν πόνων ἔκτισις, καὶ πρὸς ὅ τι τετραμμένοι, καταπιανθεῖεν ἂν ταῖς εἰς λῆξιν ἡκούσαις τιμαῖς, καὶ ἐλπίδος ἔσονται τῆς εἰς αἰῶνας μέτοχοι.
{ΠΑΛΛ.} Ὡς εὖ γε δὴ φής.
{ΚΥΡ.} Πρέποι γὰρ ἂν, ὦ Παλλάδιε, τοῖς τὴν εὐκλεᾶ καὶ ἀπόλεκτον ἐξησκηκόσι ζωὴν, καὶ πολιτείας τῆς ὧδε διαφανοῦς εἰς τοῦτο ἥκουσι μέτρον, ὡς τὴν ἁπασῶν ἀρίστην ψῆφον ἑλεῖν, ἐν εὐημερίαις εἶναι μακραῖς, ἑορτάζοντάς τε καὶ διευθυμουμένους, καὶ πανηγύρεως ἀρχὴν ἔχοντας τὸν Ἐμμανουὴλ, καὶ ἐν ἐλπίσι κειμένους ταῖς ἐρηρεισμέναις.
{ΠΑΛΛ.} Πρέποι γὰρ ἂν, καὶ ἀληθὴς ὁ λόγος.
{ΚΥΡ.} Βούλει δὴ οὖν, τὰς ἐν τύπῳ καὶ κατὰ νόμον πολυπραγμονῶμεν ἑορτὰς καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐταῖς θυσιῶν τοὺς τρόπους ἀφηγησώμεθα, μεταστοιχειοῦντες, ὡς ἔνι, πρὸς τὸ ἀληθὲς τῶν ἐν αὐταῖς ἐννοιῶν τὴν δύναμιν;
{ΠΑΛΛ.} Βουλοίμην ἄν· πῶς γὰρ οὔ;
{ΚΥΡ.} Οὐκοῦν ἐπεί τοι σαφῶς ἄριστά τε διεσκέφθαι δοκῶ, φιλοκρινεῖν ὅτι πρέποι καὶ τάδε διενθυμούμενος, φέρε δὴ, φέρε καὶ πρό γε τῶν ἄλλων ἐκεῖνο διερευνήσωμεν, πηνίκα τε καὶ ἐπὶ τίσιν ἑορτάζειν ἡμᾶς τὸ Γράμμα δεῖν ἔφη τὸ ἱερόν. Ἴοι γὰρ ἂν οὕτω καὶ κατ' εὐθὺ τοῦ πρέποντος ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος· καὶ μέντοι πρὸς τῷδε, τὸ ἀτέχνως πεποιῆσθαι δοκεῖν οὐκ ἀγεννῶς διακρούσεται.
About this text
Cyril continues the dialogue with Palladius. Book 17 of a seventeen-book dialogue — the final book of the series.
English follows Migne PG 68 (Aubert reprint). The PDF and a cleaned text of the same print were checked against each other. This page is Book 17 of seventeen. This is a reading translation for study, not a new critical edition of the Greek.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Migne PG 68 De adoratione Book 17 (Aubert reprint) (Greek · Book 17)
- Checked print PDF of PG 68 De adoratione (Greek · Book 17)
English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.