23.2 Irenaeus of Lyons

8/14/2019 23.2 Irenaeus of Lyons

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OurFatherAmongtheSaintsIrenusofLyon

OurFatherAmongtheSaintsIrenaeus,BishopofLyons,WhomtheholyChurchCelebratesonAugust23.

TheHolyHieromartyr Irenaeuswasborn inAsiaMinorabout theyear120,

and in his youth was a disciple of Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna. Saint

IrenaeuswassenttoLyonsinGaultobeafellowlaborerofPothinus,BishopofLyons(celebratedJune2),whohadalsobeenadiscipleofSaintPolycarp.After

themartyrdom of Saint Pothinus, Saint Irenaeus succeeded him as Bishop of

Lyons.Besidestheassaultsofpaganism,Irenaeusfoundhimselfcompelledtodo

battlewithmanyGnosticheresies,againstwhichhewrotehisgreatestwork,

ARefutation andOverthrowofKnowledgeFalselySoCalled.Hewasalsoapeacemaker within the Church. When Victor, Bishop of Rome, was prepared to

excommunicatetheChristiansofAsiaminorforfollowingadifferenttraditionof

celebratingPascha,Irenaeuspersuadedhimtomoderatehiszeal,andmediated

peace.HemadeLyonsanillustriousbastionofOrthodoxyandaschoolofpiety,

andsealedhisconfessionwithmartyrdomabout theyear202,duringthereign

ofSeptimiusSeverus.He isnot tobe confusedwith Saint Irenaeus,Bishopof

Sirmium,alsocelebrated today,whowasbeheadedandcast intoariver in304

underDiocletian.

Text:TheGreatHorologion1997TheHolyTransfigurationMonasteryBrookline,Massachusetts02445IconcourtesyTheHolyNativityConventBrookline,Massachusetts02445

1 TheHolyOrthodoxMetropolisofBoston


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DismissalHymnoftheHieromartyrPlagalofFirstTone.LetusworshiptheWord

ETuspraiseIrenaeus,thehierarchoftheLord,*theHolySpiritspurevessel

andradiantstarofLyons;*forhekepttheholyFaithfreefromallheresy*

byhisdivinelywrittenbooks,*whichstillguidetheChurchofChrist intothatmostpeacefulhaven.*Wherefore,nowcrownedasaMartyr,heintercedeththat

oursoulsbesaved.L

KontakionoftheHieromartyr.FourthToneOnthisdayThouhastappeared

ETus laud theSaintofGod, * famed Irenaeus, *whobarewitness for the

Faith*bothbyhiswordsandpreciousblood;forherefutedgraveheresies*

andkepttheChurchinthepeaceofourMasterChrist.

L

Saint Irenaeusbrought all of the Roman Province of Gaul to the faith of

Christ.FromhisSeeinLyonontheRhoneRiver,whichdrainstheeasternslopes

oftheFrenchAlpsandflowsintotheMediterraneanwestofMarseilles,theSaint

broughttheLordspeacetoGaulinsteadoftheravagesofwarandsubjugation

oftheGallictribesmentotheRomanEmpireunderJuliusCaesar.

ForourVirtualParishioners,wewilloffer,basedon theSaintswritings in

AgainstHeresies and The Proof of theApostolic Preaching, abrief outline of histeaching.

Although the Saint devotes many pages of the initial volumes ofAgainstHeresies totherefutationofvariousGnostic teachings,ourapproachwillcenter

onthepositiveteachingthathebringstotheOrthodoxChristiansofourtime.

BIBLIOGRAPHYAgainstHeresies:ARefutationandSubversionofKnowledgeFalselySoCalledcf.2Tim.6:20;AnteNiceneChristianLibraryVol.V.Irenus;Vol.IthroughV.:T.

&T.ClarkEdinburghScotland1868.

TheProofoftheApostolicPreaching,ArmenianVersion;Ed.andTr.BishopKarapetTerMkrttschianandS.G.Wilson:Paris,le25aot1913.Tousdroitsreserves.

This lost work of Saint Irenus was recovered by Bishop Karapet Ter

Mkrttschian in itsentirety inanArmeniantext inanArmenianMonastery in

December,1904.



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Hieromartyr Irenaeus, Bishop of LyonsAgainst Knowledge Falsely So-called.

MartyredA.D.202

Selected Quotations

OffertoHimthyheartinasoftandtractablestate,

andpreservetheform

inwhichtheCreatorhasfashionedthee,

havingmoistureinthyself,

lest,bybecominghardened,

thouloosetheimpressionsofHisfingers.

AgainstHeresiesVol.II;Book4:39,2;Harvey,p.46ForthegloryofGodisalivingman;

andthelifeofmanconsistsinbeholdingGod.

AgainstHeresiesBook4:20.7Harveyp.444.ThemanwholovesGodshallarriveatsuchexcellencyaseventoseeGod,

andhearHiswordandfromthehearingofHisdiscoursebeglorified

tosuchanextentthatotherscannotbehold

thegloryofhiscountenance,aswassaidbyDaniel:Thosewhodounderstand,shallshineasthebrightnessofthefirmament,

andmanyoftherighteousasthestarsforeverandever.

AgainstHeresiesBook4:26.1Harveyp.461,2Ever,indeed,speakingwelloftheundeserving,

butneverilloftheundeserving,

wealsoshallattaintothegloryandkingdomofGod.

LostWritingsofIrenaeusFragmentIXThebusinessoftheChristian

isnothingelsethantobeeverpreparingfordeath.

( ).

LostwritingsofIrenaeusFragmentXI



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The Transcendent Love of Christ

Following the only true and steadfast teacher, theWord ofGod, ourLord

JesusChrist,Whodid,throughHistranscendentlove,becomewhatweare,that

HemightbringustobeevenwhatHeisHimself.

AgainstHeresiesBook5Preface;Harvey(Vol.II)p.55TheSonofGod,althoughHewasperfect,passedthroughthestateofinfancy

incommonwiththerestofmankind,partakingofitnotforHisownbenefit,but

forthatoftheinfantilestageofmansexistence,inorderthatmanmightbeable

toreceiveHim.AgainstHeresiesBook4;Harvey(Vol.II)38p.43

ThebeholdingofGodisproductiveofimmortality.

AgainstHeresiesBook4:Harvey(Vol.II)38p.44

The Healing of the Man Born Blind

SaintJohn9:141

Tothatman...whohadbeenblindfromhisbirth,Hegavesight,notbymeansofawordbutbyanoutwardaction;doingthisnotwithoutapurpose,orbecause

itsohappened,butthatHemightshowforththehandofGod,thatwhichatthe

beginninghadmouldedman.Andtherefore,whenHisdisciplesaskedHimfor

whatcause themanhadbeenbornblind,whether forhisownorhisparents

fault,He replied,Neither hath thisman sinned, nor his parents,but that the

worksofGodshouldbemademanifest inhim.1Now theworkofGod is the

fashioningofman.For,astheScripturesays,Hemademanbyakindofprocess:

And theLord tookclayfrom theearthandformedman.2Whereforealso the

Lordspatonthegroundandmadeclay,andsmeareditupontheeyes,pointingout theoriginal fashioning [ofman],how itwas effected, andmanifesting the

handofGodtothosewhocanunderstandbywhat[hand]manwasformedout

1John9:3

2cf.Gen:2:7LXX;AndGodformedthemanofdustoftheearth.


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of thedust.For thatwhich theartificer, theWord,hadomitted to form in the

womb,[viz.theblindmanseyes],Hethensuppliedinpublic,thattheworksof

Godmightbemanifested in him, in order thatwemight notbe seeking out

anotherhandbywhichmanwas fashioned,nor anotherFather;knowing that

thishandofGodwhichformedusatthebeginning,andwhichdoesformusin

thewomb,has in the last times soughtoutuswhoare lost,winningbackHis

own,andtakingupthelostsheeponHisshoulders,andwithjoyrestoringitto

thefoldofLife.

3.Now, that theWordofGod formsus in thewomb,Hesays toJeremiah,

Before I formed thee in thebelly, Iknew thee; andbefore thou camest forth

from thewomb, I sanctified thee; I appointed thee aprophet to thenations.3

AndPaul,toosaysinlikemanner,ButwhenitpleasedGod,Whoseparatedme

frommymotherswomb, that Imight declareHim among the nations.4As,

therefore,weare formed in thewomb, thisverysameWord formed thevisual

powerinhimwhohadbeenblindfromhisbirth;showingopenlyWhoitisthatfashionsus insecret,since theWordHimselfhadbeenmademanifest tomen:

anddeclaringtheoriginalformationofAdam,andthemannerinwhichhewas

created,andbywhatHandhehadbeenfashioned,indicatingthewholefroma

part.For theLordWho formed thevisualpowers isHeWhomade thewhole

man,carryingoutthewilloftheFather.Andinasmuchasman,withrespectto

thatformation,whichwasafterAdam,havingfallen intotransgression,needed

thelaverofregeneration,[theLord]saidtohim[uponwhomHehadconferred

sight], after He had smeared his eyes with the clay said, Go to Siloam and

wash;5

thus restoring him to his perfect confirmation, and that regenerationwhich takes placeby means of the laver. And for this reason when he was

washedhecameseeing,thathemightbothknowHimWhohadfashionedhim,

andthatmanmightlearn[toknow]HimwhohasconferreduponhimLife.

AgainstHeresiesBook5;Harvey(Vol.II)pp.96 98

On True Knowledge

Trueknowledgeis[thatwhichconsistsin]thedoctrineoftheApostles,and

the ancient constitution of the Church throughout all the world, and the

3Jeremias1:5LXX

4Gal1:15

5John9:7


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distinctivemanifestationofthebodyofChristaccordingtothesuccessionofthe

bishops,bywhich theyhavehandeddown thatChurchwhich exists in every

place, andhas come evenuntous,beingguarded andpreservedwithout any

forging of Scriptures, by a very complete harmony of doctrine, and neither

receivingadditionnor[suffering]curtailment[inthetruthswhichshebelieves];

and[itconsistsin]reading[thewordofGod]without falsification,andalawful

anddiligentexpositioninharmonywiththeScriptures,bothwithoutdangerand

withoutblasphemy;and [aboveall, it consists in] thepreeminentgiftof love,

which ismoreprecious thanallknowledge,moreglorious thanprophecy,and

whichexcelsalltheothergifts[ofGod].

AgainstHeresies4.33.8Harvey(Vol.II)p.11

A PRAYER OF SAINT IRENAEUS

Wherefore Idoalso calluponThee, theLordGodofAbraham, theGodofIsaac, and theGod ofJacob and Israel,Who art the Father of ourLordJesus

Christ, the God Who, through abundance of Thy mercy, hast had a favour

towardsus,thatweshouldknowThee,Whohastmadeheavenandearth,Who

rulestoverall,Whoart theonlyand the trueGod,aboveWhom there isnone

otherGod; grant,by ourLordJesusChrist, the governingpower of theHoly

Spirit; give to every reader of this book to know Thee, and to avoid every

heretical,andgodless,andimpiousdoctrine.AgainstHeresiesBook3.6.4Harvey,p.271.

A Divine Festival by Saint Irenaeus

ThePreachingoftheChurchiseverywhereconsistent,andcontinuesinan

evencourse,andreceivestestimonyfromtheprophets,theapostles,andallthe

disciplesas Ihaveprovedthrough those in thebeginning, themiddle, and

the end, and through the entire dispensation of God, that wellgrounded

tradition6whichleadstomanssalvation,namely,ourFaith;which,havingbeen

receivedbytheChurch,wedopreserve,andwhichalways,bytheSpiritofGod,

6TheHarveyEnglish texthere translateswith the term system.Christian teachingbasedona

philosophical systemwasunknownbefore theadventof the systembasedonNeoPlatonism

developedbyAugustineBishopofHippoRegius inNorthAfrica in theearly400s.The term

tradition better reflects the Apostolic practice itself and the practice of those, such as St.

Irenaeus,whohadbeentaughtbySt.PolycarpofSmyrna,adiscipleofSaintJohntheEvangelist,

thebeloveddisciple.(VirtualParishEditor.)


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renewing itsyouth, as if itwere somepreciousdeposit in an excellentvessel,

causesthevesselitselfcontainingittorenewitsyouthalso.

ForthisgiftofGodhasbeenentrustedtotheChurch,asbreathwastothe

first created man, for this purpose, that all the members receiving it maybe

vivified; and the [means of] communion with Christ has been distributed

throughout it, that is, theHolySpirit, theearnestof incorruption, themeansof

confirmingourfaith,andtheladderofourascenttoGod.ForintheChurch,it

is said, God hath set apostles, prophets, teachers,7 and all the othermeans

throughwhichtheSpiritworks;ofwhichallthosearenotpartakerswhodonot

jointhemselvestotheChurch[thus]defraudingthemselvesoflifethroughtheir

perverseopinionsandinfamousbehaviour.

ForwheretheChurchis,thereistheSpiritofGod;andwheretheSpiritof

Godis,thereistheChurch,andeverykindofgrace;buttheSpiritistruth.Those,

therefore,whodonotpartakeofHim,areneithernourished into life from the

mothersbreasts,nordotheyenjoythatmostlimpidfountainwhichissuesfromthebodyofChrist;but theydig for themselvesbrokencisterns8outof earthly

trenches,anddrinkputridwateroutof themire, fleeing from theFaithof the

Church lest theybe convicted; and rejecting the Spirit, that they may notbe

instructed.AgainstHeresiesBook3,24.1Harveypp.369,70.

SAINT IRENAEUS VINDICATES

THE SEPTUAGINT

1. God, then,wasmademan,and theLorddidHimselfsaveus,givingusthetokenoftheVirgin.Butnotassomeallege,amongthosenowpresumingto

expoundtheScripture,[thus:]Beholdavirginshallconceiveinthewomb,and

bring forthason,9asTheodotion theEphesianhas interpreted,andAquilaof

Pontus,10bothJewishproselytes.TheEbionites, following these,assert thatHe

wasbegottenbyJoseph;thusdestroying,asfarasinthemlies,suchamarvellous

dispensation of God, and setting aside the testimony of the prophets which

71Cor.12:28.8Jer.2:139Esaias7:14LXX10Epiphanius,inhisDeMensuris,givesanaccountofthesetwomen.Theformerpublishedhisversionof theOldTestament in theyear181.The latterput forthhis translationhalfacentury

earlier,about129A.D.ThisreferencetotheversionofTheodotionfurnishesanoteofdateasto

thetimewhenIrenaeuspublishedhiswork:itmusthavebeensubsequentlytoA.D.181.


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proceededfromGod.Fortrulythispredictionwasutteredbeforetheremovalof

thepeopletoBabylon;thatis,anteriortothesupremacyacquiredbytheMedes

andPersians.But itwas interpreted intoGreekby theJews themselves,much

beforetheperiodofourLordsadvent,thattheremightremainnosuspicionthat

perchance theJews, complying with our humour, did put this interpretation

uponthesewords.Theyindeed,hadtheybeencognizantofourfutureexistence,

and that we should use these proofs from the Scriptures, would themselves

neverhavehesitatedtoburntheirownScriptures,whichdodeclarethatallother

nations partake of [eternal] life, and show that theywhoboast themselves as

beingthehouseofJacobandthepeopleofIsrael,aredisinheritedfromthegrace

ofGod.

2. Forbefore theRomanspossessed theirkingdom,whileasyet theMacedoniansheldAsia,Ptolemy the sonofLagus,beinganxious toadorn the

librarywhichhehadfounded inAlexandriawithacollectionofthewritingsof

allmen,whichwere[works]ofmerit,maderequestofthepeopleofJerusalem,that theyshouldhave theirScriptures translated into theGreek language.And

theyfor at that time they were still subject to the Macedonianssent to

Ptolemyseventyof theirelders,whowere thoroughly skilled in theScriptures

and inboth languages,Godhaving accomplishedwhatHe intended. Buthe,

wishing to test them individually, and fearing lest they might perchance,by

taking counsel together, conceal the truth in the Scriptures by their

interpretation, separated them from each other, and commanded them all to

write thesame translation.Hedid thiswith respect toall thebooks.Butwhen

they came together in the same place before Ptolemy, and each of themcompared his own interpretation with that of every other, God was indeed

glorified,andtheScriptureswereacknowledgedastrulydivine.Forallofthem

readout the common translation [which theyhadprepared] in thevery same

words and the very same names, from beginning to end, so that even the

Gentiles present perceived that the Scriptures had been interpreted by the

inspiration of God. And there was nothing astonishing in God having done

this,He Who, when, during the captivity of the people under

Nabuchodonosor,(Daniel2:1LXX)theScriptureshadbeencorrupted,andwhen,

afterseventyyears,theJewshadreturnedtotheirownland,then,inthetimesof

ArtaxerxeskingofthePersians,inspiredEsdrasthepriest,ofthetribeofLevi,torecastallthewordsoftheformerprophets,andtoreestablishwiththepeople

theMosaiclegislation.AgainstHeresiesBook3.21.15;Harveypp.3516.



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Why there are Four Gospels

and the Significance of Each Gospel.

8. It isnotpossible that theGospelscanbeeithermoreor fewer innumber

thantheyare.For,sincetherearefourzonesoftheworldinwhichwelive,and

fourprincipalwinds,whiletheChurchisscatteredthroughoutalltheworld,and

the pillar and ground of the Church is the Gospel and the Spirit of Life;

itisfittingthatsheshouldhavefourpillars,breathingoutimmortalityonevery

side,andvivifyingmenafresh.FromwhichfactitisevidentthattheWord,the

Artificerofall,He that sittethupon theCherubim,andcontainsall things,He

whowasmanifested tomen,hasgivenus theGospelunder fouraspects, but

bound together by one Spirit. As also David says, when entreating His

manifestation, Thou that sittestbetween theCherubim, shine forth. For the

Cherubim,too,werefourfaced,andtheirfaceswereimagesofthedispensationoftheSonofGod.For,[astheScripture]says, Thefirstlivingcreaturewaslike

alion,symbolizingHiseffectualworking,Hisleadership,androyalpower;the

second living creaturewas like a calf, signifyingHis sacrificial and sacerdotal

order; but the third had, as it were, the face as of a man,an evident

descriptionofHisadventasahumanbeing;thefourthwaslikeaflyingeagle

pointingoutthegiftoftheSpirithoveringwithHiswingsovertheChurch.And

thereforetheGospelsareinaccordwiththesethings,amongwhichChristJesus

isseated.

For that according to John relates His original, effectual, and gloriousgenerationfromtheFather,thusdeclaring,InthebeginningwastheWord,and

theWordwaswithGodandtheWordwasGod.Also,Allthingsweremade

by Him, and without Him was nothing made. For this reason, too, is that

Gospelfullofallconfidence,forsuchisHisPerson.

But thataccording toLuke, takingup [His]priestly character, commenced

withZachariasthepriestofferingsacrificetoGod.Fornowwasmadereadythe

fattedcalf,abouttobeimmolatedforthefindingagainoftheyoungerson.

Matthew, again relatesHis generation as aman, saying, Thebook of the

generationofJesusChrist,thesonofDavid,thesonofAbraham;andalsoThe

birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. This, then, is the Gospel of His



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humanity;11forwhichreasonitis,too,that[thecharacterof]ahumbleandmeek

maniskeptupthroughthewholeGospel.

Mark, on the other hand, commenceswith [a reference to] theprophetical

spiritcomingdownfromonhightomen,saying,ThebeginningoftheGospel

ofJesusChrist,as it iswritten inEsaias theProphetpointing to thewinged

aspectof theGospel;andon thisaccounthemadeacompendiousandcursory

narrative,forsuchisthepropheticalcharacter.

And theWord of God Himself used to converse with the Patriarchs who

camebeforeMoses, in accordancewithHisdivinity andglory;12but for those

underthelawHeinstitutedasacerdotalandliturgicalservice.Afterwards,being

11TheGreektextofthisclause,literallyrendered,is,ThisGospel,then,isanthropomorphic.

12Saint Irenaeusherebearswitness to the teachingof theOrthodoxFathersof theChurch thatOurLordJesusChristpersonally kept in touchwith thefallen sonsofAdamuntil theAnnunciation ofHisIncarnationtoOurLadytheTheotokos.Hestayedwithus.HeneverturnedHisbacktous.EverystepthatHetookafterAdamandEvesAncestralSinwasadeliberateefforttobringusbackto

Himassoonaspossible.AsSt. Irenaeuswrites inTheProofof theApostolicPreaching12Butmanwasachildwithoutperfectunderstandingand for thatreasonwaseasilydeceivedby the

Deceiver.IntheGarden,ChristwentlookingforHislostchild,Adam.Hekeptcalling,Adam,

whereartthou? AndtheyheardthevoiceoftheLordGod(i.e.theLordJesusChristbeforeHe

becamemanforoursakes)walkingintheafternoon;andbothAdamandhiswifehidthemselves

fromthefaceoftheLordGod inthemidstofthegarden(Gen.3:9LXX). TheLordJesuswas

callingouttoAdaminthehopethatAdamwouldsay,Lord,IdidwhatYoutoldmenottodo.Forgiveme.ButtheLorddidnothearthewordsofrepentancethatHehadwishedtohearfrom

Adam.Adam,having lost thegarments ofuncreated light andpowerwithwhichhe andhis

helpmeethadbeenclothedwhentheywerecreated,nowawareoftheirnakedness,saidnothing.

Hehidhimself,asdidhiswifefromthefaceoftheLordGodinthemidstofthegarden.Had

Adamrepented,hewouldhavediedinthegarden.Asunrepentant,itwastheLordsmercythat

casthimandhiswifeoutof thegarden.Whatmercyof theLordwas that?Had they,having

chosennottorepent,beenallowedtostayinthegarden,theycouldhaveeatenfromtheTreeof

Life.Thentheirunrepentancewouldhavebecomeimmortal;theirimmortalunrepentancewould

haveshut thedoorofsalvation.Theynevercouldhavecried,Lordhavemercy!Outside the

garden,Adam, seeingnowwhathehad lost throughhis stubborn failure to repent, finally, in

bitter tears, did repent. This merciful expulsion from the garden kept the opportunity forrepentancealiveforAdamandhisdescendants.TheLordalsospokewithCainbeforeandafter

hehadslainAbel.HeevenSetamarkonCainsothatnoonethatfoundhimmightslayhim

(Gen.4:13LXX).AsHespokewithCain,soHecontinuestoaddressusinmanyways.TheLord

hasnever,ever,stoppedaskingustorepentandruntoHim.Hesays,Repentyeandbelievethe

Gospel (Mk.1:15)and,OJerusalem,Jerusalem,whichkillest theprophets,andstonest them

thataresentunto thee;howoftenwould Ihavegathered thychildren together,asahen [doth

gather]herbroodunder [her]wings,andyewouldnot! (Luke13:34).Blessed is themanwho

findsandentersthedoorofrepentance.[VirtualParishEditor]


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made man for us, he sent the gift of the celestial Spirit over all the earth,

protectinguswithHiswings.

Such,thenwasthecoursefollowedbytheSonofGod,soalsowastheformof

thelivingcreatures;andsuchaswastheformofthelivingcreaturessowasalso

the character of the Gospel. For the living creatures are quadriform, and the

Gospelisquadriform,asisalsothecoursefollowedbytheLord.Forthisreason

werefourprincipaltestamentsgiventothehumanraceone,priortothedeluge,

underAdam;thesecond,thatafterthedeluge,underNoah,thethird,thegiving

ofthelawunderMoses;thefourth,whichrenovatesman,andsumsupallthings

in itselfbymeansof theGospel,raisingandbringingmenupon itswings into

theheavenlyKingdom.13AgainstHeresiesBook3.11.8;Harveypp.293295.

Note: Saint Irenus teachingnot only on the QuadriformGospelbut also on theassociationofeachof the four living creatureswithaGospelwright, i.e.Ss.Matthew,

Mark, Luke and John,found, so far as can be determined, immediate and

unquestionedacceptancethroughouttheChurch.St.IrenuswasmartyredinA.D.207.

The African Code, or Council of Carthage, in A.D. 416 is, after Canon 85 of the 85

ApostolicCanons, the first togivea listofCanonicalScripture.All theCanonicalOld

TestamentScripturesaretobefoundonlyintheSeptuagint.TheFourGospelsarelisted

bytheholyFathersofCarthageinthesameorderasgivenbySaintIrenus.TheCover

of the highly illuminated Book ofKells,which is abook of theGospels, now in the

UniversityofDublin,IrelanddatesfromA.D.800,andfaithfullydisplaysSaintIrenus

fourwinged creaturesdiscussed above.St. Irenusdesignation anddesignhasheld

fastforovereighteenhundredyearsupuntilthisveryday.[VirtualParishEditor.]

CHRIST RECAPITULATED ALL THE PHASES OF HUMAN

LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE US IN EVERY STAGE OF OUR LIVES.

ButasourLord isalone trulyMaster,so theSonofGod is trulygoodand

patient,theWordofGodtheFatherhavingbeenmadetheSonofman.ForHe

foughtandconquered;forHewasamancontendingforthefathers,andthroughobediencedoingawaywithdisobedience completely: forHebound the strong

man,14andsetfreetheweakandendowedHisownhandiworkwithsalvationby

13Saint Irenaeususes the term quadriform tocallattention to the fourfoldnatureofboth the

wingedcreaturesaroundthethrone(Rev.4:67)andthefourGospelsthemselves.

14Matt.12:29


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destroyingsin.ForHe isamostholyandmercifulLord,and loves thehuman

race.

7.Therefore,asIhavealreadysaid,Hecausedman(humannature)tocleaveto

andtobecomeonewithGod.Forunlessmanhadovercometheenemyofman,

the enemywouldnothavebeen legitimatelyvanquished.Andagain:unless it

hadbeenGodwhohadfreelygivensalvation,wecouldneverhavepossessedit

securely. AndunlessmanhadbeenjoinedtoGod,hecouldneverhavebecome

apartakerofincorruptibility.15ForitwasincumbentupontheMediatorbetween

God and men, by His relationship toboth, tobringboth to friendship and

concord,andpresentman toGodwhileHerevealedGod toman.For, inwhat

way couldwebepartakers of the adoption of sons,16unlesswehad received

fromthroughtheSonthatfellowshipwhichreferstoHimself,unlessHisWord,

havingbeenmade flesh,hadentered intocommunionwithus?Whereforealso

Hepassedthrougheverystageoflife,restoringalltocommunionwithGod.

AgainstHeresiesBook3.18.6;Harveypp.342f.Note:IntheeditorsnoteontheThirdTheologicalOrationofSaintGregoryNazianzen,

NPNFVol.VIIp.308 ,apoint relevant toSt. IrenusdoctrineofRecapitulation is

made.St.Irenusremarks,Hepassedthrougheverystageoflife,inordertorestore

allthestagesofhuman life tounionwithGod.HadHeomittedastage,wecouldnot

havebeensaved.StIrenusdoesnotdrawthisconclusionbutSaintGregorywrites,If

anydoesnot admitMary tobe theMotherofGod (),he is separated from

God.IfanysaythatHepassedthroughtheVirginasthroughaconduit,andthatHewas

not formed in herboth divinely and humanly (divinely,because without a human

father;humanly,becauseinaccordancewiththelawsofgestation),heisinlikemanner

15OrthodoxChristiansthroughtheirHolyBaptism,even inthislife,havebecomepartakersof

incorruptibilityasPartakersoftheDivineNature2Pet1:4.Ouradoptionassons,thatis,our

deification,beginswithourOrthodoxBaptism,asSaintJohnsays tous,Beloved,nowarewe

thesonsofGod,anditdothnotyetappearwhatweshallbe:butweknowthat,whenHeshall

appear,weshallbelikeHim;forweshallseeHimasHeis(1John3:2).AdamandEvehadhid

themselvesfromthefaceoftheLordGodinthemidstofthegarden(Gen3:9).Nowweseeon

theIconostasisinourChurchesaswellasintheIconsofChristinourhomesthefaceofGod.

Wehave, inourunionwithChrist,beenrestored toastatebeforeGodevenbetter thanAdam

had when he was created from the dust of the earth. In our Orthodox worship we are

compassed aboutwith so great a cloud ofwitnesses that is, thosewho now seeHim, eventhoughtheyarenotyetclothedupon(2Cor.5:4)withtheirresurrectedbodies,asHeis(Heb.12:2).Brethren, let us take comfort in the uncreated powers of theLordbywhichwe are so

mercifullyenabledtorejoiceinourtearsandrunwithpatiencetheracethatissetbeforeusin

thefirmhopeofbeingsetdownwithourChristattherighthandofthethroneofGod(Heb.

12:2). We walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7) praying, turn me not away in shame from mine

expectation(Ps.118:116LXX).[VirtualParishEditor]

16Thatis,partakersoftheDivineNature(2Peter1:4),ordeification.


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atheistic.Ifanyassertthatthehumanitywasthusformed,andtheDeitysubsequently

added, he is condemned; for this is not a generation of God, but an evasion of

generation(S.G.N.adCledonius,Ep.i).GregorymerelymeansthattheGodheadofthe

LordwasnotderivedfromHisBlessedMother,justashisManhoodwasnotderivedfromanyman;but,asanextractatthebeginningofthenoteshows,hewouldbethelast

to take up Nestorius notion, which was afterwards condemned at the Council ofEphesus.TheThirdEcumenicalCouncilwasconvened inA.D.430 inEphesus.Saint

Irenus likewisewouldnotallow foranevasionofgeneration.That,since itwould

omita stageofhuman life,wouldnotallow the stage thusomitted tobeunitedwith

God and saved. We see that the Fathers of the Sixth Ecumenical Council, which

convened in Constantinople in A. D. 551 to condemn Monothelitism, used a single

phrasewhichhearkensback toSaint IrenusDoctrineofRecapitulation:Thatwhich

wasnot assumedwasnot redeemed. In their case theHolyFathersdeterminedand

decreed thatwereChrist tohavebutonewill,and thatdivine,wecouldnotbesaved

becauseourhumanwillwasnotassumedbyChrist.

Ithas taken some time tomake thispoint,but it iswellworth it on at least twocounts:First, thedoctrine:ThatwhichwasnotassumedbyChristwasnotredeemed

andhealedbyHimisclear.Thus,aheretic,suchasNestorius,andhisheresy,dealsin

deathsimplybecausehedeniesoursalvation. Secondly,wehavehadachance tosee

howonethreadoftheChurchsteachingisstoutlymaintainedbecauseChristhasmade

it so. (SaintAthanasius alwayswants us to include what he calls, the scope of the

GospelinourstudiesoftheChurchandherlife.)AsSaintIrenuswrites,Following

theonlytrueandsteadfastteacher,theWordofGod,ourLordJesusChrist,Whodid,

throughHistranscendentlove,becomewhatweare,thatHemightbringustobeeven

whatHeisHimself.(Seep.3top)He,inHisunboundedcompassionforus,becameall

thatweare,withoutsin,inorderthatwemightbecomeallthatHeis,exceptforidentityofessence.

TheHolyFathersoftheChurchareallofonemind.[VirtualParishEditor]

The Two Hands of God

Nowmanisamixedorganizationofsoulandflesh,whowasformedafterthe

likenessofGod,andmouldedbyHishands,thatis,bytheSonandHolySpirit,

toWhomalsoHesaid,Letusmakeman.17AgainstHeresiesBook4Preface4Harveyp.377.

The Certain Gift of Truth

17BytheWordoftheLordweretheheavensestablished,andallthemightofthembytheSpirit

ofHismouth(Ps.32:6LXX).


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WhereforeitincumbenttoobeythepresbyterswhoareintheChurchthose

who,asIhaveshown,possessthesuccessionfromtheApostles;thosewho,with

the succession of the episcopate, have received the certain gift of the truth,

accordingtothegoodpleasureoftheFather.But[itisalsoincumbent]toholdin

suspicion others who depart from the primitive succession, and assemble

themselves together in any place whatsoever, [looking upon them] either as

heretics of perverseminds, or as schismatics puffed up and selfpleasing, or

againashypocrites,actingthus forthesakeoflucreandvainglory.Forallthese

havefallenfromthetruth.Andtheheretics,indeed,whobringstrangefiretothe

altar of Godnamely, strange doctrinesshall be burned by the fire from

heaven,asNadabandAbiud.18Butsuchasriseupinoppositiontothetruth,and

exhort others against theChurch ofGod, [shall] remain among those in hell,

being swallowed upby an earthquake, even as those who were with Chore,

Dathan, and Abiron.19 But those who cleave asunder, and separate from the

unityoftheChurch,[shall]receivefromGodthesamepunishmentasJeroboamdid

AgainstHeresiesBook4:24:2;Harveypp.462,463.

Even Barbarians Are Made Wise

Because of Faith

e off as far as

pos

rchnordoctrinehasever

bee AgainstHeresies,Book3;4.2;Harvey,p.265

.

Thosewho,intheabsenceofwrittendocuments,havebelievedthisfaith,are

barbarians,sofarasregardsourlanguage,butasregardsdoctrine,mannerandtenoroflife,theyare,becauseoffaith,verywiseindeed;andtheydopleaseGod,

orderingtheirconversationinallrighteousness,chastityandwisdom.Ifanyone

were topreachto thesemen the inventionsoftheheretics,speaking to them in

their own language, theywould at once stop their ears and fle

sible,notevenenduringtolistentotheblasphemousaddress.

Thus,bymeansof thatancient traditionof theapostles, theydonot suffer

theirmind toconceiveanythingof [thedoctrinessuggestedby the]portentous

languageof these teachersamongwhomneitherChu

nestablished.

18Lev.10:1,2LXX

19Num.16:33


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THE PROOF OF THE APOSTOLIC PREACHING

Saint Irenaeus of Lyons

42Thatallthismustbeso,theSpiritofGodhadmadeknownbytheProphets,

so that faith might be established by the truth in them, that is, the true

worshippersofGod.Forthatwhichwasimpossibletoournaturesandtherefore

would causeunbelief inman,Godmade knownbeforehandby theprophets,

thatbyforetellingit,thatisalongtimebeforehandandbyitsbeingfulfilledat

theendasGodhad foretold,wemightknow that itwasGod thatbeforehand

revealedtousoursalvation.

86.IfthentheprophetsprophesiedthattheSonofGodwastoappearuponthe

earth,andprophesiedalsowhereontheearthandhowandinwhatmannerHe

should make known His appearance, and all these prophecies the Lord tookupon Himself; our faith in Him was wellfounded, and the tradition of the

preaching(is) true: that is tosay, the testimonyof theapostles,whobeingsent

forthbytheLordpreachedinalltheworldtheSonofGod,whocametosuffer,

andenduredtothedestructionofdeathandthequickeningoftheflesh:thatby

the putting away of the enmity towards God, which is unrighteousness, we

shouldobtainpeacewithHim,doing thatwhich ispleasing toHim.And this

wasdeclaredbytheprophetsinthewords:Asthefeetofonepreachinggladtidingsofpeace,asonepreachinggoodnews(Esaias52:7LXX).And that thesewere togoforthfromJudaeaandfromJerusalem,todeclaretousthe

word

ofGod,whichis

thelawforus,Isaiahsaysthus:ForoutofSionshallgoforththelaw,andthewordoftheLordoutofJerusalem(Esaias2:3LXX).And that inall theearth theywere topreach,David says:Their soundhathgoneforthuntoall the earth,and theirwordsuntotheendsoftheworld(Ps.18:4LXX).97. NowbyJacoband Israelhemeans theSonofGod,who receivedpowerfromtheFatheroverourlife,andafterhavingreceivedthisbrought itdownto

uswhowerefarofffromHim,whenHeappearedonearthandwasconversantwithmen,(Baruch3:37LXX),minglingandmixing theSpiritofGod theFatherwiththe creature formedbyGod, thatmanmightbe with the formation [sic] ofGod.

98.This,beloved, is thepreachingof the truth,and this is themannerofour

redemption, and this is the way of life, which the prophets proclaimed, and

Christestablished,and theapostlesdelivered,and theChurch inall theworld



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handsontoherchildren.Thismustwekeepwithallcertainty,withasoundwill

andpleasingtoGod,withgoodworksandrightwilleddisposition.

Our Panagia of Dechani

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23.2 Irenaeus of Lyons