Added by Boutros Al-Qassar:We then decide that the addition that Peter the Shorter added to the hymn of consecration is blasphemy, because it brings us a fourth hypostasis, placing the Son of God and the hypostatic power of the Father on the one hand, and the crucified on the other hand as not being powerful. Or it glorifies the suffering Holy Trinity, crucifying the Father and the Holy Spirit with the Son. So far from this blasphemy and this delirium!

General Divine Names: As for us, we attribute the term “Holy of God” to the Father, not assigning the name of divinity to Him alone, but realizing that the Son is God and the Holy Spirit as well. And the term “Holy Strong” we assign to the Son, not removing power from the Father and the Holy Spirit. And the term “Holy Immortal” we assign to the Holy Spirit, not leaving the Father and the Son apart from eternity, but attributing to each of the Persons all the divine names in a simple and general relation, following the divine Apostle who said: “For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and we exist in him” (1 Corinthians 8:6). And imitating Gregory the Theologian, who is no less than the Apostle in his expression when he says: “For us there is one Lord, the Father, from whom are all things; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things; and one Holy Spirit, in whom are all things.” The words “from Him,” “through Him,” and “in Him” are not meant to separate natures—because these prepositions are not to be changed or the order of words is not to be changed—but rather to distinguish the characteristics of one nature without confusion. This is clear from the fact that these letters return to one when we read carefully in the words of the Apostle himself, who says: “All things are from Him and through Him and to Him to Him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).

The thrice-holy hymn is addressed to the Holy Trinity, not to the Son alone: The divine bishops Athanasius, Basil, Gregory, and the whole choir of the God-bearing fathers testify that the thrice-holy hymn is said not of the Son alone, but of the Most Holy Trinity. For the holy seraphim in their thrice-holy consecration show us the three persons of the transcendent Godhead, and make known to us the unity of dominion and the unity of kingdom of the divine Trinity’s headship. Accordingly Gregory the Theologian says: “Thus, the most holy of holies, which is hidden from the seraphim also and receives glorification by thrice-holy consecration, is united in one dominion and one Godhead. And this is what our righteous predecessors before us also concluded with more beautiful and sublime words.”

The Church's tradition of this hymn, in the time of the Pontiff Proclus: Accordingly, the church historians have agreed that while the people of Constantinople, during the time of Archbishop Proclus, were praying to avert a divine tribulation, a child from the people was caught up in the spirit and taught - by angelic instruction - the thrice-holy hymn as follows: “Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal. Have mercy on us.” When the child regained consciousness, he told what he had learned. The whole congregation began to sing the hymn and the tribulation ceased immediately. At the Fourth Great and Holy Ecumenical Council, that is, the Council of Chalcedon, the thrice-holy hymn was handed over as is for singing, and in this way it was recorded in the acts of the aforementioned holy council. It is indeed a ridiculous irony that the thrice-holy hymn, which was suggested by the angels, brought about by their inspiration, and solemnly confirmed in a council of numerous fathers, and which had previously been sung by the seraphim, as illustrating the three persons of the Godhead, should end up being trampled upon by the absurd reasoning of the little ones, and then exposed to being corrected by the exaggeration of the seraphim! What self-importance, not to say, what foolishness! – but we continue to chant thus, to the shame of the demons, and say: “Holy God. Holy Mighty One. Holy Immortal One. Have mercy on us.”

Please return to the Christological Controversy in the Second Period of the History of the Church of Antioch in the History section to learn more about Peter the Shorter.

About the book “The Hundred Articles on the Orthodox Faith” by Saint John of Damascus