The following excerpts are taken from:
Moralia
Et Ascetica Armeniaca: The Oft-Repeated Discourses (trans. Abraham Terian; The Fathers of the
Church 143; Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2021)
2.130-
39:
130He, who by nature
is Son, has received us as his brothers by grace. 131He removes
sin’s countless stains from those who are reborn in the (holy) font by the
Spirit and frees them from servitude to the evil one. 132“For those who were baptized into Christ
were clothed with Christ, whether male or female, whether Jew or Gentile,
whether slave or free; for, by the same grace, they are children of God and
co-heirs with Christ” (Gal 3:27–28). 133Those who descended into
the womb of the spiritual font as a gift from the Most Holy Trinity, with
priestly blessing and consent, were enlightened in Christ by the anointing and
the Spirit, according to the Word of the Lord: “Receive the Holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22) unto adoption by the Father of
Christ. 134For from him the priests received authority to bind and
release (from sin); for they make those who are being baptized renounce Satan
and die the death unto sin, so that they no longer live in sin on earth. 135Just
as the dead cease from all works, the one who is baptized becomes dead to sin
and alive unto righteousness, for he receives the image of Christ by the grace
of the Holy Trinity. Thereafter, “setting
your minds on things above” (Col 3:2), in accordance with the truth of the
proclaimed Gospel and with what is pleasing to the immortal King, and with just
and true and holy lives, you may reach the mansions of eternal life, which is
in Christ Jesus. 136For such is the rebirth from the spiritual font,
whereby those born into filth may obtain what is free from filth by the grace
and loving kindness of the Most Holy Trinity: 137“Those who are born neither of blood nor of
human will, but of God” (Jn 1:13) for the promised inheritance of Christ. 138For
thus are born the children of God, in the image of the Son of God. And they
testify to the truth in times of trouble and peace, and they remain steadfast
in the love of God, with right hearts and right confession. And the children of
the life-giving Father become recipients of the ineffable heavenly gifts. 139Thereafter
they do God’s work and fulfill his will, in accordance with the Benefactor’s
beneficence. And they become partners with the heavenly hosts in the service of
humankind, by the grace of the Creator, to those who would inherit eternal
salvation, which is in Christ. (pp. 76-77)
6.35-38:
35Indignation and
enmity did not exist in the beginning, when compassionate mercy was active in
caring. 36The insatiability of gluttony and greed did not exist, nor
does it exist now among the saints who exercise moderation and those who
disdain the worldly things. 37Excessive filthiness did not come
about without cleanliness being done away with; however, the loathsome filth
was eradicated when the utter holiness of God’s grace shone through.
38All sins and
unrestrained evils, both visible and invisible, did not come into existence
without being incited by Satan at their beginning. These were subsequently
pushed upon us by the enemy who trapped us in them. Was it not for this reason
that the life-giving Lamb was offered as sacrifice on the cross, for the
remission of sins and the Father’s reconciliation with his creatures? He
restored the believers unto life in the Holy Trinity by means of rebirth
through the (baptismal) font and the saving mystery (of the Eucharist). (p.
110)
7.86-92:
86“All things are yours” is said to those who in this world live in
accordance with his pulsating love and will. 87For just as a censer
with its fragrant incense delights those who are near—whether old or young—so
the aroma of our confession of faith and of our purity rises daily before
Christ. 88And when he says “whether
death,” it is because our death for Christ’s sake is a testimony to his
love; for by such death we are transformed to the incorruptible, eternal life,
which is in Christ Jesus. 89The honorable death is not only for
those who attained martyrdom in times of persecution by sword or fire or water
or by some other evil means, but also for those who were baptized into Christ
and have put on Christ, and who have taken off the old man and his deeds and
have put on the new, being renewed in the image of God, which is for
righteousness and holiness and truth; it is for those who have died to sin and
are alive for righteousness. 90“For
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too
may be transformed in the newness of life” (Rom 6:4). 91For the
one who mortifies the body and bodily thoughts, and lives in sanctity and
impeccably, in accordance with the righteous law of the Gospel of Christ, could
say: “I therefore live, yet not I, but
Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). 92For whether we manifest the
virtues in this world or in the one to come, all is done through him and
because of his care and for his glory, “who
fills everything in every way” (Eph 1:23), in depth and in height. (p. 126)
13.31-35:
31When Jesus Christ,
the Sun of Righteousness and Savior of the world, our Lord, shall rise, he will
fully supply what is lacking even from the outset; for he will open the gates
for the gift of new life (to flow) through the enlightenment of the (baptismal)
font and the right faith in the Most Holy Trinity. And (so the righteous) die
the death of sin in the water of sanctification, and rise with Christ in the
newness of life. 32And even when they die, they are alive in spirit,
in the hope of eternal life. 33They have taken off the old man who
was indebted to the law of vengeance; for they have clothed themselves with
Christ and have taken on his image through adoption, and have become heirs of
Christ. 34Moreover, they have strongly maintained the true faith and
the right conduct until death, hoping in Christ; for their hope is in the risen
Christ—in Christ “seated at the right
hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3). And through Christ they intercede
with the Father on behalf of the saints 35who were baptized in
Christ, with true faith and sacred love, through communion with the Savior’s
body and blood, which are a pledge for hope in the resurrection glory according
to the word of the Lord: “As often as you
eat of my body and drink of my blood, you proclaim the remembrance of my death
until my return to earth” (1 Cor 11:26). (p. 204)
19.32-36:
32Constraining the
mind with tears of remorse, remembrance of the promised good things,
considerate entreaties, and ecstatic delight, (we ought) to let the
grace-filled tears flow in order to cleanse the mind and the body, which have
held the filth of the evil and impure passions. 33For tears wipe
away and heal the bitter plagues of sin, cast the vile (things) out of the mind
and the senses; and one is brought into the Savior’s provident love and is
comforted with hope. 34Tears move the mind in the direction of God,
rouse it from the stupor of sin—as from sleep, and with love for (spiritual)
benefits prompt it unto thoughtful discretion. 35Tears make one
drink of the spiritual drink from the fountain of abundant grace flowing unto
freedom and the inheritance of the life-giving, eternal hope—through (Christ’s)
caring, sacred love, through the compassionate remembrance of the Benefactor’s
kind, directive will.
36Such are the
benefits of the tears of remorse that move the flow of morals toward the
discovery of salvation and protection by God’s will, and confine the mind
within God’s pleasure. (p. 241)
23.91-92:
91Just as the superior
is called spiritual father, those born of him are spiritual children in the
order of ascetics, who have greater status than physical children; (a birth
that is) similar to baptism in every respect. 92Thus they become
children of light and children of righteousness, renouncing worldly
preoccupations that cloud the mind, darken the senses, and beget children of
darkness, heirs of hell. (p. 284)
