Humanitext Reader

Gregory of Nazianzus · The Suffering Christ §1.2438-1.2522

Mary Magdalene's Report and Christ's Appearance to Disciples

Passage 31 of 32 · Greek

Summary

Mary Magdalene relates her encounter with the risen Jesus and the angels. She and the others go to Mary's house where the disciples are gathered; while hearing Cleopas's report, Jesus miraculously appears through the closed doors, bestows the Holy Spirit, and commissions them to preach.

§1.2438Οἶδας γὰρ, οἶδας τῷ τάφῳ με πρωΐσαι, §1.2439ὅσα τ’ ἔφην, ἔκλυες.
For you know, you know that I went early to the tomb, and you heard all that I said.
Οὐ χρή μ’ αὖ λέγειν, §1.2440ἅπερ δραμοῦσα πρὸς πανόλβιον τάφον §1.2441σὺν σοὶ τὸ πρῶτον, εἶτα σὺν μύσταις δυοῖν, §1.2442κἀκεῖ δακρυχέουσα, παρισταμένη §1.2443ἀνιστόρησα κἀκριβωσάμην τρανῶς· §1.2444λευχειμονοῦντας τ’ εἶδον ἀγγέλους δύο, §1.2445ἄνω κάτω τε τοῦ τάφου καθημένους, §1.2446τὸν μὲν κεφαλῇ, τόνδε δ’ αὖ πρὸς τοὺς πόδας· §1.2447καὶ τούσδ’ ἀπαστράπτοντας ἰδοῦσ’ ἐνθέως §1.2448ἔστην καταπλαγεῖσα χαρᾷ καὶ φόβῳ· §1.2449εἶτ’ αὖ δι’ γῆρυν, οὐχ ἣν εἰκάσαι, §1.2450ἐδεξάμην γε καὶ μετεστράφην τρόμῳ· §1.2451αὐτίκα δ’ ἀθρῶ Χριστὸν ἐν καινῇ θέᾳ· §1.2452μορφῇ γὰρ οὔτι φαῦλον εἰσβαλεῖν ἔφην, §1.2453πίτνω τε πρὸς γῆν καὶ ποδῶν ἐφηπτόμην· §1.2454ὅδ’ ἀπέπεμπε καὶ φίλοις ἔπεμπέ με· §1.2455καὶ τοῦδ’ ἀκούσασ’, ὧν ἐφιέμην μαθεῖν, §1.2456ὡς πρὸς πόλον γ’ ἄνεισι καὶ τὸν Πατέρα· §1.2457οὔπω δ’ ἀναβέβηκεν, ὡς ἔφη, τέως, §1.2458ἐν γῇ μένων δὲ πρὸς Γαλιλαίαν φίλους, §1.2459ὡς σφίσιν εἶπε, προφθάνειν καὶ προσμένειν· §1.2460μύσταις ἅπαντα ταῦτα τοῖς φίλοις ἔφην.
There is no need for me to tell again what things I, running first with you to the all-blessed tomb, and then with two disciples, and there shedding tears, standing nearby, inquired and verified clearly: I saw two angels clothed in white, sitting at the head and the foot of the tomb, one indeed at the head, and the other in turn at the feet; and seeing them flashing with divine light, I stood astounded by joy and fear; then again, because of a voice not to be imagined, I was addressed and turned around in trembling; and immediately I beheld Christ in a new sight; for I thought that he did not appear in a mean form; and I fell to the ground and touched his feet; but he sent me away and dispatched me to the friends; and from him I heard what things I desired to learn, namely, that he is ascending to heaven and to the Father; but he had not yet ascended, as he said, in the meantime, but remaining on earth, he told the friends to go before and wait for him in Galilee, as he had said to them; all these things I told to the disciples, the friends.
§1.2461Οἵδ’ οὐδὲν ἡγήσαντο τοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους, §1.2462ἀλλ’ ἦλθον αὐτοὶ πρὸς τάφον ταχυδρόμοι §1.2463εἶδόν θ’, ἅπερ γ’ ἔκλυες· οὐ χρή τ’ αὐ λέγειν, §1.2464ἅτε ξυνούσης καὶ σέθεν πρὸ βραχέος §1.2465ἔκλυον ἱστόρησα τ’, οἶδας παγκάλως.
These deemed my words to be nothing, but they themselves came running to the tomb and saw just what you heard; and there is no need to say it again, since you also were present shortly before, and heard and inquired, as you know full well.
§1.2466Τὰ πρὶν γὰρ ἀκούσασα σὺν φίλαις κόραις §1.2467θάμβει καταπλαγεῖσ’ ἐμοὶ ξυνιέναι §1.2468ξὺν δυσὶν ἄλλαις Μαρτίαις φιλουμέυαις §1.2469ἔδραμες ἰδεῖν, ἅπερ ἔκλυες πάρος. §1.2470εἶδές τε πάντα καὶ σὸν Υἱὸν, ὡς ἔδει.
For having heard before with the beloved maidens, confounded by wonder, you ran with me, along with two other beloved Marys, to see what you had heard before; and you saw all things and your Son, as was fitting.
§1.2471Εγὼ δὲ κλύω καὶ φίλων ἄλλους δύο §1.2472νῦν, ἀπιόντας ὡς πρὸς ἀγρὸν, τόνδ’ ἰδεῖν §1.2473καὶ πάντα μαθεῖν, ὧν μαθεῖν εἶχον πόθου. §1.2474οἱ καὶ τρέχουσι τοῖς φίλοις εἰρηκέναι· §1.2475κἀκεῖσ’ ἐπελθεῖν θᾶττον ἡμᾶς νῦν δέον· §1.2476ἴσως ἴδωμεν αὖτε καὶ τὸν Δεσπότην.
And I hear that two others of our friends now, as they went to the country, saw him and learned everything they desired to learn; they also are running to tell the friends; and it is now necessary for us to go there more quickly; perhaps we may see the Lord again in turn.
§1.2477Ιδοὺ γὰρ ἤδη καὶ κνέφας τῆς ἑσπέρας· §1.2478δράμωμεν οὖν, δράμωμεν, ᾗχι τοὺς φίλους §1.2479τὸ νυκτερινὸν συνάγειν οἶμαι κνέφας.
For behold, already the darkness of evening is at hand; let us run then, let us run, to where I think the darkness of night gathers our friends.
§1.2480Ἰδοὺ κατειλήφαμεν οἶκον Μαρίας, §1.2481ὅποι παρεῖναι καὶ φίλους μύστας κλύω, §1.2482ἐντὸς πυλῶν μένοντας ἐγκεκλεισμένους, §1.2483πάντως τρέμοντας τοὺς μιαιφόνους ἔτι· §1.2484καὶ κλεῖθρα πυλῶν ἠσφαλισμένα μένει.
Behold, we have reached the house of Mary, where I hear that our friend disciples are also present, remaining shut up inside the gates, still entirely trembling before the murderers; and the bolts of the gates remain secured.
§1.2485Πῶς δ’ εἰσίωμεν τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων;
But how shall we enter when the doors are locked?
§1.2486Ἤδη δ’ ἔκλυεν ὑπανοίγει τ’ ἠρέμα §1.2487Μαρία φίλη, συγκαλεῖ τ’ εἰσιέναι.
Already our beloved Mary has heard and gently opens, and summons us to enter.
§1.2488Ἀλλ’ εἰσίωμεν ἡσύχῳ ποδὸς βάσει, §1.2489ὡς μὴ θορυβήσωμεν ἐμφόβους φίλους.
But let us enter with a quiet step, so that we may not disturb our fearful friends.
§1.2490Ἰδοὺ συνηθροίσθημεν ἕνδεκα φίλοις §1.2491ἄλλοις τε πᾶσι τοῖς συνιοῦσι σφίσιν· §1.2492αὖθις δὲ πύλας ἀσφαλίζει Μαρία.
Behold, we are gathered with the eleven friends and all the others who are assembled with them; and Mary secures the gates again.
§1.2493Οὐκοῦν σίγα κλύωμεν αὐτοῦ Κλεόπα· §1.2494πάρεστι καὶ γὰρ, ὡς ὁρῶ, καὶ πόλλ’ ᾄδει §1.2495τὸν Δεσπότην φῆναί τε καὶ δράσαι σφίσιν, §1.2496ὅπως τέ μιν συνῆκαν ἄρτου τῇ κλάσει.
Therefore, let us listen in silence to Cleopas himself; for he is present, as I see, and eagerly relates how the Lord appeared and what he did for them, and how they recognized him in the breaking of bread.
§1.2497Ἄ ἄ·
Ah, ah!
σίγα σίγα·
Silence, silence!
§1.2498Ἕστηκεν ἰδοὺ Δεσπότης θυρῶν ἔσω· §1.2499ὄντως μεγίστου θαύματος τόδ’ ἄξιον.
Behold, the Lord stands within the doors; this is indeed worthy of the greatest wonder.
§1.2500Πῶς πῶς πάρεστι τῶν θυρῶν κεκλεισμένων;
How, how is he present when the doors are locked?
§1.2501τάχ’ ὡς ἀνέστη καὶ τάφου κεκλεισμένου §1.2502καὶ πρὶν προῆλθεν ἐκ πυλῶν τῆς παρθένου, §1.2503ἄλυτα τηρῶν κλεῖθρα μητρὸς πανάγνου.
Perhaps just as he rose when the tomb was sealed, and before came forth from the gates of the virgin, keeping unbroken the bolts of his all-pure mother.
§1.2504Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν.
Peace be unto you.
§1.2505Τί δὴ θροεῖσθε;
Why indeed are you troubled?
χεῖρας ἰδοὺ καὶ πόδας §1.2506αὐτήν τε πλευρὰν τὴν ἐμὴν νενυγμένην §1.2507τρανῶς ἰδόντες γνῶτε μ’, ὡς ἐγὼ πάλιν §1.2508εἴμ’ αὐτός· οὐ γὰρ πνεῦμα σάρκα πως ἔχει, §1.2509οὐδ’ ὀστέα ξύνεστι τῷ πνεύματί που, §1.2510καθάπερ αὐτὸν νῦν ὁρᾶτ’ ἔχοντά με, §1.2511καὶ ψηλαφήσαντές μ’ ἴδηθ’, ὡς πάντ’ ἔχω.
Behold my hands and feet, and my very side which was pierced; seeing these clearly, know that I am he himself again; for a spirit does not have flesh, nor are bones present in a spirit anywhere, just as you now see me having them; and touch me and see, that I have all things.
§1.2512Καθὼς δ’ ὁ Πατὴρ ἐνθάδ’ ἀπέσταλκε με. §1.2513οὕτως ὑμᾶς πρὸς κόσμον ἐκπέμπω κἀγὼ §1.2514καὶ Πνεῦμ᾿ ἅγιον ἐμπνέω φίλοις ὑμῖν, §1.2515ὅπερ λαβόντες παντὶ κηρύξατε με §1.2516σὺν Πατρὶ καὶ Πνεύματι τῷ παναγίῳ.
Even as the Father has sent me here, so I also send you into the world, and I breathe the Holy Spirit upon you, my friends; receiving which, preach me to all, together with the Father and the all-holy Spirit.
§1.2517Ἄπιτε γοῦν, ἄπιτε, κήρυκες φίλοι, §1.2518ᾄσατ’ ἐπινίκι’ ἀνὰ πᾶσαν χθόνα §1.2519καὶ βασιλείους ἀμφιδραμόντες δόμους §1.2520ἐρεῖτε, Δαυΐδου πόλις πᾶσ’ ὡς ἴδη §1.2521σωτήριον τάχιστ’ ἐκ τάφου.
Go then, go, beloved heralds, sing songs of victory throughout the whole earth, and running around the royal palaces, tell them, so that the entire city of David may quickly see salvation from the tomb.
§1.2522Ἔσεσθέ μοι μάρτυρες ἐν πάσῃ χθονί·
You shall be my witnesses in all the earth.

Notes

  1. 1.2438πρωΐσαι — The infinitive πρωΐσαι (to go early in the morning) forms an accusative-and-infinitive construction with με as its subject, depending on οἶδας (you know), meaning "that I went early."
  2. 1.2452εἰσβαλεῖν — The infinitive εἰσβαλεῖν (to enter, appear) depends on ἔφην (I thought/said). In this context, it indicates that Mary Magdalene thought or said that Jesus did not appear in a mean or humble form.
  3. 1.2479συνάγειν — The infinitive συνάγειν (to gather) has τὸ νυκτερινὸν κνέφας (the darkness of night) as its subject and τοὺς φίλους (the friends) as its object, depending on οἶμαι (I think), in the relative clause introduced by ᾗχι (where).
  4. 1.2494ᾄδει — The verb ᾄδω (to sing) is used here metaphorically to mean "to speak passionately or repeatedly," describing how Cleopas is eagerly reporting the events at Emmaus to the other disciples.
  5. 1.2503ἄλυτα — The adjective ἄλυτα (unloosed, unbroken) is used predicatively to modify κλεῖθρα (bars, barriers). It draws a parallel between the Virgin Birth (leaving Mary's virginity intact) and the Resurrection appearance through closed doors, emphasizing that divine power penetrates physical barriers without destroying them.

Cite this passage

Gregory of Nazianzus, The Suffering Christ §1.2438-1.2522. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg2022.tlg003.humanitext-grc1:1.2438-1.2522

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