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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
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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