Encomium on the Conception of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John (Pseudo-Chrysostom)

Encomium on the Conception of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John 

By Pseudo-Chrysostom*

1. Moses the great, the servant of God, the crown of the Prophets, the traveler across the sea, the charioteer of the air, the table-setter of manna, the lawgiver of God, the one who received the sacred tablets, the first teacher of what is beneficial for life — this man, so great and eminent, constructed a tabernacle for the people of Israel according to the pattern that he had been taught by God on the mountain. And he made everything within its enclosure holy and sacred, everything that was contained within the boundary surrounding it; but its innermost part was inaccessible and unapproachable, and was called the Holy of Holies.

Following the pattern of this tabernacle, Solomon also built a temple, surpassing all the temples on earth not only in the magnificence of its materials, nor merely in the variety of its craftsmanship, but also in the form of its construction, so that those who saw it would never desire anything found among the Egyptians. And he made the temple according to the image of the whole universe, both the visible and the intelligible. For just as there are earth and heaven, with the firmament as the partition between them, so God commanded that it should be made in the same way. Dividing this temple into two and placing a veil in the middle, He permitted everyone to enter the part outside the veil, but the part within was inaccessible and unseen by all except the high priest alone, as the angel commanded when he spoke to Moses, telling him to say to the children of Israel: “In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, humble your souls,” that is, concerning the Feast of Tabernacles. For then, during the Feast of Tabernacles, the high priest alone entered the Holy of Holies once a year to offer incense.

Oration on Holy Theophany (St. Proclus of Constantinople)

Oration on Holy Theophany

By Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople

Christ appeared in the world and adorned the joyless world with boundless gladness. He took upon Himself the sin of the world and forever trampled down the enemy of the world. He sanctified the springs of the waters and enlightened the souls of human beings. Wonders were mingled with even greater wonders. 

Today, from the joy brought by our Savior Christ, land and sea were set apart, and from end to end the world was filled with gladness. 

Today’s feast reveals greater miracles than those of the night of the Nativity. For on that night only the earth rejoiced, as it bore upon itself, in the embrace of the manger, the Almighty God. 

Today, however, as we celebrate Theophany, the sea rejoices as well, for through the Jordan it too takes part in the blessing of sanctification.

November: Day 20: Teaching 1: Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople

November: Day 20: Teaching 1:
Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople
 
(Lessons From His Life:
a. About the Importance of Patristic Writings;
b. About the Origin of the Trisagion Hymn; and
c. About Reverent Participation in Religious Processions)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople, whose memory is celebrated on this day, was a disciple of Saint John Chrysostom and during his episcopacy lived in the same room with this great Father of the Church. One night, approaching the door of Saint John's cell, Proclus saw that Saint Chrysostom was writing, and behind him stood a venerable man who was whispering something in his ear. Proclus was amazed at this, knowing that no one could enter where Saint John was without Saint Proclus himself introducing whomever was needed to his teacher. This continued for three nights, and all this time Saint Proclus constantly saw this man whispering something in John's ear. Finally, Saint Proclus told his teacher about this, and when he received the answer that no one was with Saint John that night, and that he had not spoken with anyone, then Saint Proclus, having described the appearance of this man, looked at the icon of the Holy Apostle Paul, hanging on the wall near the table where Saint John Chrysostom wrote his commentaries on the epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul and exclaimed: “This is the one who spoke with you, I saw him at night!” Then both recognized that the Holy Apostle Paul had appeared to them, and they thanked God - Saint Chrysostom for the secret inspiration and instruction from Paul, and Proclus for the vision that he was granted.

Encomium to Saint Andrew the Apostle (St. Proclus of Constantinople)

Homily 19

Encomium to Saint Andrew the Apostle

By St. Proclus, Archbishop of Constantinople

I.
The net of the apostolic fishing is strong.
The casting-net of commemorating Andrew is wonderful.
Unbroken is the net of the immortal dead.
For with time the snares, which not human skill, but grace has weaved, do not grow old.
(5) For even if the fishermen were to depart from life, yet the instruments
of eloquent fishermen do not grow old with time, as well as the net with/in
which they catch the world.
Those who draw (the nets) are not seen, but the nets have been filled.
They have not obtained a fishing rod, which time destroys.

Oration on Holy Pentecost (St. Proclus of Constantinople)

Oration 16

On Holy Pentecost

 (PG 65:804D)

 

By St. Proclus of Constantinople

Today, beloved, the Holy Spirit’s grace visited, beginning from today’s day; and growing until today’s day, it is magnified. The Holy Spirit’s grace shone, and suddenly the speechless ones’ mouths [became] eloquent; and the untaught ones’ tongues were trained; and the fishermen’s hearts were moved to courage. Therefore, the grace visiting from heaven today snatches away the timidity of even my impoverished reason. For as, before the advent of the Spirit, Peter, fearing, denied the Master before the maiden; and [so], after the descent of the Spirit, before the peoples and kings, with courage, he confesses, saying: “We cannot not speak of what we have heard and seen” (Acts 4:20). Whence the Jews even considered the eloquence of the Holy Spirit drunkenness, saying, “Since they are drunk on new wine.” But Peter disputed with them [regarding] what [were] the proofs confirming the Trinity even at [that] hour. For since, at the third hour, the cross was planted, also, at the third [hour], the Holy Spirit, in the form of fire, descended upon the apostles, intimating that God [is] Spirit. “For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb 12:29). And "the advent of the Spirit was as dew upon wool” (Ps 72:6), since it was the symbol of the dispensation. And about the Spirit, so that it would be shown that God is Spirit, “there was a voice out of heaven like a blowing, violent wind” (Acts 2:20). And that God [is] Spirit, learn. For Isaiah says: