Easter on March 26, 338 AD.
Distress does not prevent me from writing to you
My brothers...even though I travel all this distance for your sake, I do not forget that custom that we received from our fathers, so I do not remain silent without informing you of the date of the Holy Eid...
For even though I have been hindered by those who poured out the sorrows that you heard about, and despite the trials that have befallen me, and the distance that separates me from you, and while the enemies of truth follow our steps and set up nets for us until they find a message from us, with which they increase their wounds by accusing us; In all of this, the Lord comforts us and strengthens us in our hardships. Therefore, no matter how much we are in the midst of conspiracies they are plotting around us, we are not afraid to inform you and inform you of our feast of resurrection, the Savior, even if we are at the ends of the earth.
Likewise, when I wrote to the priests of Alexandria, I asked them to send you these letters under their supervision, despite my knowledge of the dangers surrounding them from the enemies. However, I have commanded them to have the apostolic courage to speak, saying: Let no hardship, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, temptations, or sword separate us from Christ.(1).
As I keep the feast, I long for you to keep it too, my beloved ones.
وإذ أشعر أنه من واجبي على أن أعلن لكم هذا العيد، لهذا لم أتأخر عن أن أقوم بهذا العمل حتى لا توبخني الوصية الرسولية القائلة “فأعطوا الجميع حقوقهم”(2).
I will cross with you even though we are physically apart
As I did all my work towards God, I was eager to celebrate the feast with you, without taking into consideration the distance between us. Because even though space separates us, the Lord is the Giver of the feast that is our feast itself(3)Who is the giver of the Holy Spirit(4)It brings us together in thought and opinion and in the bond of peace(5), because we are all busy with the same things, and offer the same prayers for each other. Therefore, the distance of place cannot separate us, as the Lord brings us together and unites us with each other.
For if he had promised, saying, that if two or three were gathered together in his name, he would be in the midst of them(6)، فأنه من الواضح أنه إذ يكون الرب في وسط أولئك المجتمعين مع بعضهم البعض في كل مكان (رغم بعد المكان عن بعضهم البعض)، فأنه يوحد بينهم ويقبل صلوات جميعهم، كما أنهم لو كانوا مقتربين معًا، وينصت إلى الكل كأنهم يصرخون بفم واحد قائلين “آمين”!
I bear such sorrows and trials as I have mentioned to you, my brothers...
In distress God is glorified
ولكي لا أضايقكم بالمرة، أريد فقط أن أذكركم باختصار، لأن الإنسان لا ينسى ما يذوقه من آلام في التجربة… حتى لا يكون الإنسان غير شاكر فيبتعد عن الاجتماع الإلهي. لأنه لا يوجد وقت فيه يمجد الإنسان الله مثل الوقت الذي فيه تعد الضيقات، ولا يوجد وقت يقدم فيه الإنسان التشكرات مثل الوقت الذي فيه يجد الراحة بعد التعب والضيق.
فحزقيا عندما أهلك الأشوريين سبح الرب شاكرًا قائلاً “الرب لخلاصي. فنعزف بأوتارنا كل أيام حياتنا في بيت الرب”(7).
And the three blessed heroic boys who were tested in Babylon. Ananias, Mishael, and Azariah, when they were safe and the fire became like dew to them, they thanked God, praising and glorifying Him.
وأنا أيضًا كتبت إليكم يا إخوتي، واضعًا هذه الأمور في ذهني، لأن الله إلى أيامنا هذه لا يزال يصنع أمورًا هي في نظر البشر مستحيلة. وما لا يستطيع البشر أن يفعلوا، مستطاع لدى الله… ألا وهو أن يحضرنا إليكم، ولا يسلمنا كفريسة في فم أولئك الذين يريدون أن يبتلعوننا…
God is the satisfaction of all
الله الصالح يضاعف حنو محبته لنا، ليس فقط عندما وهب الخلاص للعالم خلال حكمته، بل أيضًا عندما يضطهدنا الأعداء (الأريوسيين) ويمسكوا بنا، وذلك كقول الطوباوي بولس عندما كان يصف غنى محبة المسيح غير المدركة قائلاً “الله الذي هو غني في الرحمة من أجل محبته الكثيرة التي أحبنا بها. ونحن أموات بالخطايا أحيانًا مع المسيح”(8) Because the power of man and all creatures is weak and poor, while the power that is above man, uncreated, rich and incomprehensible, has no beginning, but is eternal.
God does not use one method of treatment. Rather, because He is rich, He uses many methods for our salvation through His Word, which is not limited, restricted, or obstructed in the methods of treatment that He sanctifies for us. Rather, He is rich and able to shape Himself according to the needs and ability of every soul.
إنه كلمة الله وقوته وحكمته كما يشهد سليمان عن الحكمة قائلاً: “وهي واحدة وقادرة على كل شيء وثابتة في ذاتها ومجددة الكل ومنتقلة إلى النفوس القديسة في أجيال الأجيال وتجعل أحباء وأنبياء لله” (حك 27:7).
فبالنسبة للذين لم يبلغوا بعد طريق الكمال، يكون (الكلمة) بالنسبة لهم (1 كو 2:3) كقطيعٍ يقدم لهم لبنًا. وهذا ما خدم به بولس إذ يقول: “سقيتم لبنًا لا طعامًا”.
أما بالنسبة للذين تقدموا وتعدوا دور الطفولة الكاملة، ولكنهم لازالوا ضعفاء إذ هم يطلبون الكمال، هؤلاء أيضًا يكون (الكلمة) بالنسبة لهم كطعامٍ قدر طاقة احتمالهم. وقد خدم به بولس أيضًا، إذ قال “أما الضعيف فيأكل بقولاً” (رو 2:14).
وبالنسبة للإنسان الذي يبدأ في السلوك في طريق الكمال، فإنه لا يعود يأكل من الأشياء السابقة بل يكون “الكلمة” للخبز، والجسد للطعام، إذ مكتوب: “أما الطعام القوي فللبالغين الذين بسبب التمرن قد صارت لهم الحواس مدربة” (عب 14:5).
Rather, when you sow the word, it does not produce equal fruit among all people, but rather produces abundant and varied fruit, yielding one hundred and sixty and thirty (Matthew 13:8), as the Savior, the sower of grace and the giver of the Spirit, taught us.
This is not something that is doubtful, nor does it need someone to support it. Rather, we can look to the field in which He (the Lord) sows, as we find that the word is clear and fruitful in the Church. Not only do virgins alone adorn the field, nor do monks alone, but also those who are married in honorable marriages. With the chastity of everyone...
The Lord has prepared many mansions with His Father (John 14:2), but although the place of dwelling is found in various degrees according to the progress of each one, we will all be within the strongholds, kept within the same fence where the enemy (Satan) and all his company are expelled. out.
لأنه خارج النور تكون الظلمة، وبالابتعاد عن البركة توجد اللعنة، هكذا يكون الشيطان بعيدًا عن القديسين، والخطية بعيدة عن الفضيلة. لهذا ينتهر الإنجيل الشيطان قائلاً “اذهب يا شيطان” (مت 10:4). بينما يدعونا نحن قائلاً: “ادخلوا من الباب الضيق” (مت 13:7) ومرة أخرى يقول “تعالوا يا مباركي أبي رثوا الملكوت المعد لكم”.
وهكذا أيضًا يصرخ الروح من قبل في المزامير قائلاً “ادخلوا أبوابه بحمد (بمزامير)(9).
Because through virtue, man enters God as Moses did in the dense cloud where God was.
But through vice, a person leaves the presence of the Lord, as happened with Cain when he killed his brother(10)When he left the presence of the Lord as much as his soul was worried about.
والمرتل يدخل قائلاً “فآتي إلى مذبح الله، إلى بهجة فرحي (شبابي)”(11).
The Bible bears testimony against Satan that he left the presence of God and struck Job with sores (Job 2:7). Because this is the character of those who leave the presence of God, striking men and harming them. Likewise, the characteristics of those who deviate from the faith (Arians) persecute and harm the faith.
وعلى العكس نجد القديسين إذ يقتربون منهم (رجال الله) وينظرون إليهم كأصدقاء، كما فعل داود متحدثًا بأسلوب صريح قائلاً “عيناي على أمناء الأرض لكي أجلسهم معي” (مز6:101).
Paul urges us to accept those who are weak in faith(12) Because virtue is charitable (i.e. a person loves good for others)... and sin makes a person love evil for others. This is what Saul did - as a sinner - when he persecuted David. However, when David found an opportunity to kill Saul, he did not kill him.
Esau also persecuted Jacob, but Jacob defeated his evil through meekness.
The eleven sold Joseph, but Joseph, in his kindness and compassion, had compassion on them.
The ruin of the Jews and their loss of every divine blessing
What is the need to prolong this conversation?! When our Lord and Savior persecuted him, the Pharisees wept because of their ruin!
They harassed him, but he did not threaten them, not even when they made him sad or killed him! But sadness for those who committed this!
تألم هذا المخلص لأجل الإنسان، أما هم فاحتقروا “الحياة” والنور، والنعمة” وطردوه!
They could have received all of this through the Savior who suffered for us. But because of their injustice and blindness, he cried!
لأنهم لو فهموا ما قد كتب في المزامير ما كانوا يتجرأون هكذا ضد المخلص، إذ يقول الروح “لماذا ارتجت الأمم وتفكرت الشعوب في الباطل؟!”(13).
If they contemplate the prophecy of Moses(14) When they crucified Him who is their life!
If they had examined with understanding what was written, those prophecies that came against them would not have been fulfilled in them, and their city would not have now become desolate, and grace would be taken away from them, and they would become without the law (because they disobeyed it and rejected the Giver of the law) and would become strangers and childless.
Thus, the Psalms had previously declared that the sons of strangers had done wrong to Him(15)، وجاء في أشعياء النبي “ربيت بنينًا ونشأتهم. أما هم فعصوا علي”(16). Thus, they were no longer the people of God or the holy nation, but rather the rulers of Sodom and the people of Gomorrah became better than them. Like the Prophet saying, “Sodom, your sister, did not do anything like you.”(17). Because the people of Sodom underestimated the angels, but the angels underestimated the Lord God, the King of all, and they dared to kill the Lord of the angels, not knowing that the Christ whom they slaughtered was alive.
But those Jews who conspired for the death of the Lord rejoiced little in these matters and lost eternity.
They were ignorant of this. The eternal reward does not lie in temporal gifts, but rather in the hope of eternal things. Because through tribulations, labors, and sorrows, the saints enter the kingdom of heaven, and when they reach the kingdom, grief, distress, and sighing flee from them, and they remain in comfort.
Thus, when Job was tempted there, he became the famous friend of the Lord!
As for the one who loves pleasures and enjoys them for a while, he then passes into a life full of sorrows, like Esau, who had temporary food, but after that he went into debt because of it...
Let us endure the pain
Ah, dear and beloved ones! If we are to gain consolation from sorrows, relief from labors, health from labors, and immortality after death, then we should not be sad about the human diseases that befall humanity, nor should we worry about the trials that befall us.
We must not be afraid if those who fight Christ (the Arians) conspire against the righteous. Rather, we please God more because of these matters, as we prepare more and train for a life of virtue. Because how can we gain patience unless there are troubles and sorrows?
How can chivalry appear except by our tolerance of ridicule and injustice?
How can one test the possibility unless there is an attack from enemies (Arians and others)?
How can our long-suffering be justified if there are no snitches from those who are against Christ (the Arians)?!
Finally, how can a person realize virtue unless the evils of the wicked are revealed first?!
Thus, our Lord preceded us in this when He wanted to show people how to endure...
When he was beaten, he endured with patience; when he was reviled, he did not curse; and when he suffered, he did not threaten, but presented his back to those who struck him, and his cheeks to those who struck him, and did not turn his face away from spitting (1 Pet. 2:23; Isaiah 50:6).
Finally, His will was to be led to death so that we would see in Him the image of all virtues and immortality, so we would follow in His footsteps, trampling with truth on serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy (sin).
Paul's example
هكذا إذ سلك أيضًا بولس على منوال ربه، أوصانا قائلاً “كونوا متمثلين بي كما أنا أيضًا بالمسيح”(18).
بهذا تغلب بولس على انقسامات الشيطان كاتبًا “فأني متيقن أنه لا موت ولا حياة ولا ملائكة ولا رؤساء ولا قوات ولا أمور حاضرة ولا مستقبلة ولا علو ولا عمق ولا خليقة أخرى تقدر أن تفصلنا عن محبة الله التي في المسيح يسوع ربنا”(19). لأن العدو يقترب منا وقت الأحزان والتجارب والأتعاب مجاهدًا أن يهلكنا، ولكن الإنسان الذي في المسيح يناضل هذه الأمور المضادة، فيقابل الغضب بطول الأناة، والاستهزاء بالوداعة، والرذيلة بالفضيلة، عندئذ ينال النصرة ويعلن قائلاً “أستطيع كل شيء في المسيح يسوع الذي يقويني”(20)، و”لكننا في هذه جميعها يعظم انتصارنا بالذي أحبنا”(21).
This is God's grace, and these are God's ways of reforming human beings, for He suffered to free those who suffer in Him.
He came down to know us, before he was born, so that we could love him who is not (an ordinary human being). He came down to where (death) was to grant us immortality. He became weak for us so that we might gain strength...
أخيرًا صار إنسانًا حتى نقوم مرة أخرى نحن الذين نموت كبشر، ولا يعود يملك الموت علينا، إذ تعلن الكلمات الرسولية قائلة “لا يسود علينا الموت بعد”(22).
The Arians are ungrateful!
Since the Arians and Manichaeans do not accept this(23)، إذ هم ضد المسيح وهراطقة، يشتمون بألسنتهم ذاك الذي هو “معين”، ويجدفون على من يحررهم، ويفكرون بأفكار متنوعة ضد المخلص. لأنه عند نزوله من أجل خير الإنسان ينكرون لاهوته، ناظرين إلى مجيئه من العذراء مع شكهم في كونه إبن الله. وإذ جاء متجسدًا يرفضون سرمديته. وإذ يرونه متألمًا لأجلنا ينكرون ما لجوهر أبديته، سامحين لأنفسهم بأعمال الجحود، مزدرين بالمخلص، شاتمين إياه عوض أن يعرفوا نعمته.
إننا نوجه لهؤلاء (أي للأريوسيين) هذه الكلمات بحق قائلين: “آه أيها الجاحد المضاد للمسيح! إنك بكليتك شرير وذابح لربك، وأعمى تمامًا، ويهودي في تفكيرك! هل فهمت الكتاب المقدس وأنصت إلى القديسين، إذ يقول “أنر بوجهك فنخلص”(24)، “نورك وحقك يهديانني”(25).
Don't you know that the Lord did not come down for His own sake, but for our sake, and because of this, you are amazed at the tenderness of His love?!
If you had contemplated the Father and the Son, you would not have blasphemed the Son as if he had a different nature?!
If you understood His special work of tender love toward us, you would not make the Son a stranger to the Father, nor would you regard Him as a stranger, the One who reconciled us to the Father...
إن الرب كان يهزأ دومًا بالشيطان لا يزال إلى يومنا يصنع هذا (قائلاً للأريوسيين) “أنا في الآب والآب فيّ”(26).
This is the Lord revealed in the Father, and also the Father is revealed in the Son, who is truly the Son of the Father, as he was incarnated for us in the last days, to present himself to the Father in our place, and to save us through his offering and sacrifice!...
هذا هو الذي في القديم ذبح كخروف، إذ رمز له الخروف، لكنه بعد ذلك جاء وذبح لأجلنا “لأن فصحنا أيضًا المسيح قد ذبح لأجلنا”(27).
This is the one who saved us from the nets of the fishermen of the Antichrists (the tricks and machinations of the Arians)...and saved us, his church...
Let us glorify the Lord and thank Him
What is it if we, my brothers, do this deed, except to glorify God and thank the King of all?!
أولاً لنهتف بكلمات المزامير قائلين “مبارك الرب الذي لم يسلمنا فريسة لأسنانهم”(28).
Let us preserve the feast in this way that our Savior indicated to us - the holy day of Resurrection - so that we may sanctify the feast that is in the heavens with the angels!..
In ancient times, people used to chant a blessing when they came out of sadness...
In the days of Esther, they kept a feast for the Lord(29) As they were saved from the destructive post that called for death, they considered this a holiday, offering thanks to the Lord and glorifying Him...
I wish we could fulfill our vows to the Lord, confess our sins, keep the feast for the Lord in our conversations, our behavior, and our way of life, praising our Lord, who disciplined us for a little while, but did not abandon us or destroy us... nor turn away silently from us.
Now that we have come out of the deception of the famous anti-Christs (the Arians)... and have crossed, as in the wilderness, to His holy church, enduring trials and sorrows in the wilderness, we are sending to you and waiting from you messages as usual.
For this... I offer my thanks to God myself, and I recommend that you also thank Him with me...
وإذ هي عادة رسولية (أن أرسل إليكم رسالة) لهذا فإن أضداد المسيح وأصحاب الانشقاقات رغبوا في أن يفسدوا هذه العادة ويوقفونها. لكن الله لم يسمح بهذا، بل جدد وحفظ ما قد أمرنا به بواسطة الرسول، حتى نحفظ العيد مع بعضنا البعض، حافظين يومًا مقدسًا حسب تقليد الآباء ووصيتهم…
(1) Romans 8:35.
(2) Romans 7:13.
(3)1 Corinthians 7:5.
(4) Luke 13:11.
(5) Ephesians 3:4.
(6) Matthew 20:18
(7) Isaiah 38:2.
(8) Ephesians 4:2,5.
(9) Psalm 100:4.
(10) Genesis 16:4.
(11) Psalm 43:4.
(12) Romans 1:14.
(13) Psalm 1:2.
(14) Deuteronomy 66:28.
(15) See Psalm 45:18.
(16) Isaiah 2:1.
(17) See Mark 4:6, Ezekiel 16:48.
(18) 1 Corinthians 1:11.
(19) Romans 8:38,39.
(20) Philippians 13:4.
(21) Romans 8:37.
(22) See Romans 9:6,14.
(23) Ario-Maniacs and in the Syriac text Arius, Manetes.
(24) Psalm 80:7.
(25) Psalm 43:3.
(26) John 11:14.
(27) 1 Corinthians 7:5.
(28) Psalm 124:6.
(29) Isa 9:3, 21:9.