1. The Lord our God, the Lord is one
The Lord, your God, is one Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4), and He is known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is unbegotten. The Son was born as the Word of the Father, without an eternal beginning and without passion. He was called Christ because he anointed the human nature that he took from us. The Holy Spirit comes from the Father, not by birth but by emanation. Our Lord is the only God. He is the true God, the Lord in three persons, who is not divided by nature, will, force, or any of the attributes of divinity.
Love only this Triune God and worship Him alone, with all your mind, with all your heart, and with all your strength. Keep His words and commandments in your heart, so that you can implement them, study them, and repeat them while you sit, walk, in your bed, and when you get up. Remember the Lord your God without ceasing. I am afraid of him alone. Do not forget him or his commandments. Thus, He gives you strength to do His will, because He does not ask you for anything except that you be devoted to Him, love Him, and follow the paths of His commandments. He is your pride and your God.
عندما تعلم أنّ الملائكة السماويين هم بلا هوى وغير منظورين، وأن الشيطان الذي سقط من السماء هو شرير جداً وذكي وقوي ومحنّك في خديعة الإنسان، لا تظنّ أنّ أياً منهم يساوي الله في الشرف. وعندما ترى أيضاً عظمة السماء وتعقيدها، لمعان الشمس، بهاء القمر، نقاوة النجوم الأخرى، سهولة تنشق الهواء، كثرة منتجات الأرض والبحر، لا تؤلّه أيّاً منها. إنّها كلّها خلائق الإله الواحد، وهي تخضع له وهو بكلمته خلقها كلّها من العدم. “لأَنَّهُ قَالَ فَكَانَ. هُوَ أَمَرَ فَصَارَ” (مزمور 9:33). إذاً وحده رب الكون وخالقه أنت تمجّد كإله. تعلّق به بمحبة وتُبْ إليه نهاراً وليلاً عن كل خطاياك الطوعية والكرهية، لأنّه طويل الأناة ورحيم جداً، صبور، وصانع بر إلى الأبد. لقد وعد الذي يحترمه ويعبده ويحبه ويحفظ وصاياه، وهو يعطي بحسب وعده، بالتمتّع بالملكوت السماوي الأزلي والحياة التي بلا ألم ولا موت والنور الذي لا يغرب.
But he is also a jealous god, a just ruler, and a terrible avenger. He has prepared an eternal hell, unquenchable fire, endless pain, inconsolable sorrow, and a dark and narrow place for the first evil traitor, Satan, and He has imposed all this on the ungodly and those who disobey and violate His commandments, and on all those who are deceived by Satan and follow him, once they deny him. Their Creator, with their deeds, words, and thoughts.
2. Do not make for yourself an idol or anything similar to it
“لاَ تَصْنَعْ لَكَ تِمْثَالاً مَنْحُوتاً، وَلاَ صُورَةً مَا مِمَّا فِي السَّمَاءِ مِنْ فَوْقُ، وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مِنْ تَحْتُ، وَمَا فِي الْمَاءِ مِنْ تَحْتِ الأَرْضِ” (خروج 4:20). لأن كل هذه هي خلائق الإله الوحيد الذي في الأزمنة الأخيرة، بعد أن تجسّد في رحم بتولي، ظهر على الأرض وأقام بين البشر. وعندما تألّم ومات وقام لخلاص البشر، صعد بالجسد إلى السماء وجلس في الأعالي عن يمين الله. بجسده سوف يأتي أيضاً في مجد ليدين الأحياء والأموات.
So, out of love for Him, who became a human being for our salvation, make an icon of Him. Through the icon, remember him and worship him. Through the icon, raise your mind to the body of the venerable Savior, seated on high at the right hand of the Father. Also make icons of the saints, and honor them as well, not as gods, because this is forbidden, but because of your relationship with them, your inclination towards them, and the great honor owed to them, while your thoughts will go to them through the icon. This is what Moses did: he made icons of the Cherubim and placed them in the Holy of Holies, to glorify not the creatures but through them the Creator of the world, that is, God (Exodus 25:18-19).
Likewise, do not worship the icons of Christ or the saints, but rather worship Him through them, who, having first created us in His image, was pleased later, because of His indescribable benevolence, to take on a human image and become described according to it. Honor not only the icon of the Lord, but also the image of his cross, because it is an all-powerful symbol and a memorial of Christ’s victory over Satan and all satanic forces. That is why when they see the sign of the cross they are overcome with terror and run away. Even before the crucifixion, the prophets glorified the sign of the cross, which accomplished great miracles. Also, at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was nailed to the cross and who will come to judge the living and the dead, the terrifying sign will precede him with great strength and brilliance. Glorify the Cross today so that you can look at it with courage later and be glorified with it.
Also, revere the icons of the saints because they were crucified with the Lord, drawing the sign of the cross on your face and bringing to your mind their participation in the sufferings of Christ. Honor their places of residence and every relic of their bones, because the grace of God was not separated from them, just as God the Father was not separated from the honored body of Christ through His life-giving death.
إذاً بالتصرّف هكذا وبتمجيد الذين مجّدوا الله، لأنّهم ظهروا بأعمالهم كاملين بمحبته، سوف تتمجّد معهم بالله وسوف تنشد مع داود: “أكرمتُ محبّيك يا ربّ”.
3. Do not swear in the name of the Lord in vain
Do not swear in the name of the Lord in vain (Exodus 20:7), by false oaths or for any other worldly reason, for fear of someone, for shame or for private gain. Breaking an oath is denying God. So never swear. Completely avoid oaths because from swearing comes the breach of the oath, which alienates a person from God and makes the one who breaks his oath a transgressor of the law. If you always tell the truth, people will believe you as if you were swearing.
If it happens by chance that you swore, it is something you should pray that it does not happen, but since it is something consistent with divine law, implement it as if it were legitimate, but consider yourself to blame because you swore. With benevolence, supplication, sorrow, and deprivation of the body, seek mercy from God, who has commanded it not to be divided (Matthew 5:34). But if you swear an oath to do something illegal, be careful not to fulfill your oath just because you swore, so that the Lord will not count you with Judas, the murderer of the prophet, who beheaded the honorable predecessor so that he would not break his oath (Matthew 14:7-12). It is better for you to break that illegal oath and make a law for yourself never to swear, and to seek God’s mercy using the previously mentioned drugs and with more effort and tears.
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy
One day of the week is called Sunday, because it is dedicated to the Lord who rose from the dead on that day, demonstrating and confirming the resurrection of all people (in the Second Coming), when all human work will stop.
Therefore, Sunday was dedicated to the Lord (Exodus 20:8). Do not do any ground work other than what is necessary. And all those who work for you or live with you, may they rest in peace, so that you all glorify the One who purchased us through His death and then rose, residing with Him in our human nature. Keep in mind the life to come, so that you may meditate on all of the Lord’s commandments and laws and examine yourself so that if you have violated or neglected some things, you can correct yourself in everything. On this day also, go to the temple of the Lord, participate in the worship meeting, and participate with pure faith and a pure conscience in the body and blood of Christ. Begin a more holy life, renewing yourself and preparing it to receive the blessings of the life to come.
For the sake of these good things, do not misuse earthly things and concerns on other days as well. On Sunday, being devoted to God, categorically avoid all these cares except the necessary ones without which it is impossible for you to live. Thus, since the Lord is your refuge, you must not go anywhere, must not kindle the fire of passions, and must not bear the burden of sins.
إذاً، كرِّس “يوم السبت” (خروج 8:20)، أي الأحد، لله حافظاً إياه بامتناعك عن كل ما هو شرير. وإلى الآحاد عليك أن تضيف كل الأعياد الكبيرة قائماً بالأمور نفسها وممتنعاً عن كل ما تمتنع عنه يوم الأحد.
5. Honor your father and mother
أكرِم أباك وأمّك (خروج 12:20)، لأنّ من خلالهما أتى بك الرب إلى الحياة، وهما بعد الله سبب وجودك. إذاً، بعد الله أحببهما وأكرمهما طالما، بالطبع، محبتك لهما تساهم في محبتك لله. إذا كانت لا تساهم، ابتعد عنهما مباشرةً. إلى هذا، إذا كانا عائقاً بالنسبة لك وخاصةً الإيمان الحقيقي الخلاصي لأنّ لهما إيمان آخر، ليس فقط عليك أن ترحل بل أيضاً أن تنكرهما مع كل مَن تجمعك به علاقة أو صداقة. عليك أن تنكر حتّى أعضاءك الشخصية وأهواءها وكلّ جسدك ومن خلال الجسد علاقتك بالأهواء لأن المسيح قال: “إِنْ كَانَ أَحَدٌ يَأْتِي إِلَيَّ وَلاَ يُبْغِضُ أَبَاهُ وَأُمَّهُ وَامْرَأَتَهُ وَأَوْلاَدَهُ وَإِخْوَتَهُ وَأَخَوَاتِهِ، حَتَّى نَفْسَهُ أَيْضاً، فَلاَ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي تِلْمِيذاً. وَمَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلُ صَلِيبَهُ وَيَأْتِي وَرَائِي فَلاَ يَقْدِرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي تِلْمِيذاً.” (لوقا 26:14-27 وأنظر متى 37:10).
هذه الإرشادات تتعلّق بوالديك الجسديين وأقربائك وأصدقائك. عليك أن تُكرِم وتحب مَن لهم نفس إيمانك ولا يمنعونك عن الخلاص. وإذا كان يتبغي بك أن تكرِم والديك الجسديين فكم بالأحرى عليك أن تكرِم وتحب آباءك الروحيين. لقد نقلوك من الحياة الجسدية البسيطة إلى حياة البِرّ الروحية. لقد منحوك استنارة المعرفة. لقد علّموك الحقّ. لقد أعطوك إعادة الولادة بحميم التجدد. لقد وضعوا فيك رجاء القيامة وعدم الموت والملكوت السماوي. لقد نقلوك من غير مستحق إلى مستحق للخيرات الأبدية، من الأرضي إلى السماوي، ومن الوقتي إلى الأبدي. لقد جعلوك ابناً وتلميذاً، لا لإنسان بل ليسوع المسيح الإله-الإنسان الذي منحك الروح القدس الذي يجعل الناس أبناء لله، والذي قال: “وَلاَ تَدْعُوا لَكُمْ أَباً عَلَى الأَرْضِ، لأَنَّ أَبَاكُمْ وَاحِدٌ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ. وَلاَ تُدْعَوْا مُعَلِّمِينَ، لأَنَّ مُعَلِّمَكُمْ وَاحِدٌ الْمَسِيحُ” (متى 9:23-10).
Thus, you owe all honor and love to your spiritual fathers, because the honor you return to them goes to Christ and to the All-Holy Spirit who made you a son of God, and to the Heavenly Father who gives life and existence to all heavenly and earthly beings. Above all, strive to have a spiritual father throughout your life to whom you can confess all your sins and lustful thoughts and receive healing and absolution from Him. Spiritual fathers were given the authority to forgive souls or not to forgive. Whatever they leave unresolved on earth will be unresolved in heaven as well. They receive this grace and power from Christ. That is why you will obey them without hesitation, so as not to lead yourself to destruction. If, according to the Law of Moses, anyone who rejects the words of his family is to be killed, even if they are discussing matters forbidden by the Law of God, then how is it possible for the Spirit of God not to expel the person who rejects the words of his spiritual father, and how can this person not lose his spirit? For this reason, take their advice and obey them until the end of your life so that you may save yourself and be an inheritor of eternal and imperishable goodness.
6. Do not commit adultery
Do not practice fornication (Exodus 20:14) or fornication so that you do not become a member of the immoral woman instead of a member of Christ, thus being cut off from the divine body, dropped from the holy inheritance, and thrown into hell. Because, if according to the law of Moses, the priest’s daughter who is caught in immorality should be burned because she exposed her father to disgrace, shouldn’t the one who attached this impurity to the body of Christ be burned in eternal fire? Not only are you forbidden from committing adultery, but you must practice virginity, if possible, and be completely devoted to God, attached to Him with complete love, and residing near Him throughout your life. Always strive without confusion to live a life that pleases God, enjoying the life ahead and living like an angel on earth. Virginity is the characteristic of angels, and everyone who practices it becomes like them, as much as possible, even though he has a body. In addition, he becomes more than them, for he becomes similar to the Father who before the ages begot the Son in a virginal way. He also becomes similar to the virginal Son who was born before the ages from the virginal Father and was incarnated at the end of time from a virgin mother. He also becomes similar to the Holy Spirit who came out in a virginal way. It is not described from the Father alone, not by birth but by emanation. Whoever chooses true virginity, that is, one who is celibate in soul and body, and who beautifies all his senses, thought, and mind with the splendor of virginity, imitates God and unites with Him, establishing an incorruptible marriage with Him.
If you do not prefer to live a virginal life, nor have you promised to the Lord to do so, you can, according to the law of the Lord, take a wife by marriage. It alone resides, and it alone takes place. This and your goal is holiness. With all your might, stay away from women. You will be able to protect yourself from them if you avoid unnecessary conversations with them, if you turn the eyes of your body and yourself away from them, as much as possible, and if you do not find pleasure in hearing lustful words and do not become accustomed to staring at beautiful faces. Anyone who looks at a woman with disgusting desire has committed adultery with her, and for this reason he is impure before Christ, who looks at hearts. Moreover, from this evil view, the unfortunate person can end up committing the sin of prostitution in the body as well. But why am I only talking about immorality, adultery, and all the impurity associated with natural functions? Humans tend, in violation of the laws, to lewd and unnatural acts when they curiously gaze at the beauty of bodies.
So, if you cut off the bitter roots from yourself, you will not reap the deadly fruits, but you will reap the purity and holiness that come with it, without which you will not see the Master.
7. Do not kill
لا تقتل (خروج 13:20) حتى لا تكفّ عن كونك ابناً للذي أقام الموتى، وحتى لا تصير بأعمالك ولداً للذي كان منذ البداية قاتلاً للإنسان. يأتي القتل من العراك، والعراك من الشتم، والشتم من الغضب والغضب من الأذى أو الضرب أو السباب للآخر. لهذا السبب قال المسيح: “وَمَنْ أَخَذَ رِدَاءَكَ فَلاَ تَمْنَعْهُ ثَوْبَكَ أَيْضاً” (لوقا 29:6). إذا ضربك أحدهم لا تردّ له الضربة. إذا شتمك أحدهم فلا ترد له الشتيمة. وهكذا سوف تنجو من خطيئة القتل، أنت والذي يؤذيك. إلى هذا، سوف تحصل على غفران خطاياك من الله لأنّه هو قال: “فَإِنَّهُ إِنْ غَفَرْتُمْ لِلنَّاسِ زَّلاَتِهِمْ، يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ أَيْضاً أَبُوكُمُ السَّمَاوِيُّ.” (متى 14:6). في أي حال، إنّ مَن ينطق بالشر أو يقوم به سوف يُدان في النار الأبدية لأن المسيح قال أيضاً: “وَمَنْ قَالَ لأَخِيهِ: رَقَا، يَكُونُ مُسْتَوْجِبَ الْمَجْمَعِ، وَمَنْ قَالَ: يَا أَحْمَقُ، يَكُونُ مُسْتَوْجِبَ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ” (متى 22:5).
So, if you are able to uproot evil and its roots, securing grace and blessing for yourself, glorify Christ, our teacher and colleague in achieving virtues. Without Him, as you have learned, we cannot do any good work. Then again, if you are unable to remain calm without getting angry, blame yourself for getting angry and ask forgiveness from God as well as from the one who heard or endured the hurt from you. Anyone who does not feel the pain of remorse for his small sins will subsequently fall into major sins as well.
8. Do not steal
Do not steal (Exodus 20:15), so that God, who knows your secret deeds, will not return the punishment to you many times over. It is better for you to give a secret of what you have to those in need, so that you may receive from God, who sees all that is hidden, hundreds of times more with eternal life in the world to come.
9. Do not bear false witness
“لاَ تَشْهَدْ عَلَى قَرِيبِكَ شَهَادَةَ زُورٍ” (خروج 16:20)، حتى لا تكون مشابهاً للشيطان الذي ذمّ الله أمام حواء، وصار ملعوناً لعمله هذا. إلى هذا، من الأفضل أن تغطي على خطيئة قريبك، إلا إذا كانت تؤذي آخرين، حتى تكون مشابهاً لسام ويافث وليس لحام، وهكذا تحصل على البركة. كان سام وحام ويافث أبناءً لنوح. وفي مرة شرب نوح خمراً كثيراً وسكِر وتعرّى. عندما رأى حام عورة أبيه أخبر أخويه بشكل هزلي. أمّا الأخوان فهما ليس فقط لم يضحكا من أبيهما بل مباشرة أخذا عباءة وسارا إلى الخلف حتى لا يريا عورة أبيهما وغطياه باحترام. عندما استيقظ نوح وعرف بما جرى، لعن حام، بينما بارك سام ويافث (تكوين 18:9-27).
10. Do not desire what others have
You should not covet what your neighbor has, neither possessions, nor money, nor glory, nor anything else that is his (see Exodus 20:17), because when lust arises in the soul, it gives birth to sin. When sin is complete, it generates death. If you do not desire the things of others, you will stay away from greed and from usurping the things of others. It is better for you to give what you have to those who ask, and to do good to those in need as much as you can. If someone wants to borrow from you, do not refuse them. If you find a lost item, return it to its owner, even if he is your enemy. Thus, you will be reconciled with Him and shame evil with good as Christ commands you.
If you keep all of these with all your might and act according to these commandments, you will store within yourself the treasure of piety, please God, benefit from Him and His people, and become an inheritor of the eternal goodness that we all obtain by the grace of our Lord, our God, and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His love for mankind. To Him be glory, honor, and prostration, with His beginningless Father and His all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and at all times and to the ages of ages. Amen.
Saint Gregory Palamas
Translated into Arabic by Father Antoine Melki
Quoted from Orthodox Heritage Magazine