Humanitext Reader

Gregory of Nazianzus · The Suffering Christ §1.2523-1.2610

Promise of Forgiveness, Author's Prayer, and Epilogue

Passage 32 of 32 · Greek

Summary

Christ speaks of the forgiveness of sins and baptism, which prompts the author to offer fervent prayers to God and the Virgin Mary for his own salvation and the pardon of his errors. Finally, the author addresses the reader, stating that this drama is true, and concludes the work by promising further explanations.

§1.2523σώσει δ’ ἑαυτὸν, ὃς λόγον δεδεγμένος §1.2524ἀσπάσεται βάπτισμα, ῥύσιον λύθρου· §1.2525ὃς δ’ ἀποδιώξειε τοὺς ὑμῶν λόγους, §1.2526ὅδ’ ὡς ἄπιστος ἐμπέσῃ κατακρίσει.
He will save himself, who, having received the word, shall welcome baptism, the ransom of defilement; but whoever should reject your words, he, as an unbeliever, shall fall into condemnation.
§1.2527Ἐφ’ ᾧ δίδωμι Πνεύματος θείου χάριν· §1.2528οὗ δ’ ἂν λύσητε δεσμὸν ἀμπλακημάτων, §1.2529καὶ δεσμόλυτος εὑρεθήσεται τότε· §1.2530οὗ δ’ ἂν κρατῆτε δεσμὸν αμαρτημάτων, §1.2531δεσμοῖς ἀλύτοις κεκρατημένος μενεῖ.
For this purpose I give the grace of the divine Spirit; whose bond of errors you loose, he shall then be found loosed from his bond; whose bond of sins you hold, he shall remain held by insoluble bonds.
§1.2532τοιῶνδε δεσμῶν ἀλύτων με, παντάναξ, §1.2533ὁ δεσμολύτης αὐτὸς ὢν, Σῶτερ, λῦσον, §1.2534οἷς, φεῦ· με κατέδησεν ἀπροσεξία §1.2535ἐχθρός θ’ ὁ πλάνος κατεβάρυνε φθόνῳ, §1.2536ὁρῶν με τῶν πρὶν ἀλύτων λελυμένον §1.2537τῇ πρὸς σὲ πίστει, δωρεᾷ φιλαγάθῳ.
From such insoluble bonds, O King of all, being yourself the looser of bonds, O Savior, release me, with which, alas, negligence bound me fast, and the deceiving enemy weighed me down with envy, seeing me released from those previously insoluble bonds by faith in you, a gift loving goodness.
§1.2538Χαῖρ’, ἐσθλὸς ἐσθλοῦ Παῖ, βασιλεῦ παντάναξ, §1.2539τὸν ἀρχέκακον καταπατήσας ὄφιν, §1.2540ἔσχατον ἐχθρὸν καμβαλών τε τὸν πότμον, §1.2541οἷς μή μ’ ἐάσῃς κυριευθῆναι πάλιν.
Hail, noble Son of a noble Father, King of all, having trampled upon the serpent, the origin of evil, and having cast down death, the last enemy, by which do not allow me to be mastered again.
§1.2542Ἄναξ Ἄναξ ἄφθιτε, σὺ Θεὸς μέγας §1.2543κριτής τε πανένδικος ἔρχῃ με κρίνων· §1.2544πῶς γοῦν ἐγώ σε τῷ τότ’ ἀθρήσω, Λόγε;
O King, immortal King, you are the great God and the all-just judge, coming to judge me; how indeed shall I then look upon you, O Word?
§1.2545ὄμμασι θ’ οἵοις ἀτενίσω σὸν θρόνον, §1.2546ἐμαυτὸν ἀνάξιον ἐνδείξας τάλας §1.2547πόλου τε καὶ γῆς σῆς τε δημιουργίας;
With what eyes shall I gaze at your throne, having shown myself, wretched as I am, unworthy of heaven and earth and of your creation?
§1.2548Ὁ δυσμενὴς ἥρπασε, κατήγαγε με §1.2549εἰς βόθρον, εἰς τάρταρον, εἰς χάος μέγα· §1.2550σφοδρῶς διώξας κατέλαβέ μ’ ὁ πλάνος, §1.2551ὅλον με κατέπτωσεν εἰς ᾄδου ζόφον.
The enemy snatched me away and brought me down into the pit, into Tartarus, into the great chaos; pursuing me fiercely, the deceiver overtook me, and cast me down entirely into the darkness of Hades.
§1.2552Ἔλεε, Θεέ, νέμε χέρε, φέρε με §1.2553καὶ μή μ’ ἐάσῃς χάρμα τῷ βροτοκτόνῳ.
Have mercy, O God, extend your hand, bear me up, and do not allow me to become a joy to the manslayer.
§1.2554Σόν εἰμι πλάσμα, σύ με παίδευσον, Λόγε. §1.2555καὶ πλῆξον αὐτὸς φιλαγάθως ἐνθάδε §1.2556καὶ μὴ γεέννῃ παραπεμφθῆναι λίπῃς.
I am your creation; do you chastise me, O Word, and strike me yourself in a kindly way here, and do not leave me to be sent away to Gehenna.
§1.2557Ῥύσιε, λισσόμεσθά σ’, ἠδικήκαμεν §1.2558καὶ σῶμα καὶ ψυχή τε καὶ νοῦς ἀθλίως· §1.2559ἡμάρτομεν σοι πολλά τ’ ἠνομήσαμεν.
O Deliverer, we beseech you, we have done wrong, both body and soul and mind, miserably; we have sinned against you and done many lawless deeds.
§1.2560Ὄψ’ ἐμάθομεν, ὅτ’ ἐχρῆν, οὐκ εἰδότες, §1.2561κοὐδ’ ἔκτοτ’ ἐδράσαμεν, ἅπερ σοι φίλα.
Late did we learn, when we ought to have, not knowing, nor even since then did we do what is pleasing to you.
§1.2562Γινώσκομεν σφάλματα, σὺ δὲ παρόρα· §1.2563ἴδμεν δέ σ’ ὀργὰν οὐχ ὁμοιοῦσθαι βροτοῖς.
We recognize our faults, but do you overlook them; for we know that you do not resemble mortals in anger.
§1.2564Οἴκτειρον, ὦ Σῶτερ, με μηδὲ ταῖς ἐμαῖς §1.2565ἀμπλακίαισιν ἀπολέσθαι καλλίπῃς.
Pity me, O Savior, and do not abandon me to perish in my errors.
§1.2566Παῖς γὰρ ἐγὼ σὸς παῖς τε παιδίσκης σέθεν, §1.2567ἐμοῦ δ’ ἕκητι πότμον ὑπέστης, Λόγε, §1.2568καὶ δυσμενεῖ με χάρμα μὴ καταλίπῃς, §1.2569ῥάβδῳ δὲ σῇ παίδευε, πλὴν φιλαγάθως.
For I am your servant, and the son of your handmaid, and for my sake you underwent death, O Word; do not leave me as a joy to the enemy, but chastise me with your rod, yet in a kindly way.
§1.2570Πρέσβιν δέδεξο μητέρα σὴν, ὦ Λόγε, §1.2571σφᾶς δ’, οἷς ἔδωκας δεσμολύτιν σου χάριν.
Accept your Mother as an intercessor, O Word, and those to whom you gave your bond-loosing grace.
§1.2572Πότνια, πότνα, παμμάκαιρα Παρθένε, §1.2573σὺ μὲν μακάρων δάπεδον ναίεις, πόλον, §1.2574ἅπαν πάχος βρότειον ἀλλαξαμένη §1.2575ἀφθαρσίας τ’ ἄμφιον ἐστολισμένη §1.2576ἀεί τ’ ἀγήρως ὡς Θεὸς δ’ ἐγνωσμένη· §1.2577λόγοις δ’ ἐμοῖς ἄνωθεν εὐμενὴς ἕσο.
O Lady, Lady, all-blessed Virgin, you indeed dwell in the land of the blessed, the heaven, having exchanged all mortal heaviness and being clothed in the garment of incorruption, known always as ageless and like a god; be favorable from above to my words.
§1.2578Ναὶ ναὶ, Κόρη πάγκλυτε, τοὺς λόγους δέχου· §1.2579μόνον γάρ ἐστι τοῦτό σοι βροτῶν γέρας, §1.2580ὡς τοῦ Λόγου σοι μητρὶ, κἂν ὑπὲρ λόγον.
Yes, yes, all-glorious Maiden, receive my words; for this alone is the honor of mortals to you, as to the Mother of the Word, even if beyond word.
§1.2581Ὅθεν πεποιθώς σ’ ἐν λόγοις ἀμείβομαι §1.2582καί σοι στέφανον πλεκτὸν ἐξ ἀκηράτου §1.2583λειμῶνος, ὦ δέσποινα, κοσμήσας φέρω, §1.2584ἀνθ’ ὧν με πολλῶν ἠξίωσας χαρίτων §1.2585ἀεί τε ῥύῃ συμφορῶν πολυτρόπων, §1.2586ἐχθρῶν ὁρατῶν ἀοράτων τε πλέον.
Therefore, trusting, I answer you in words, and I bring to you, O Queen, a woven crown from an undefiled meadow, having adorned it, in return for the many favors you have deemed me worthy of, and because you always rescue me from manifold misfortunes, and especially from enemies visible and invisible.
§1.2587Τέλος δὲ κάμψαιμ’, ὥσπερ ἠρξάμην, βίου, §1.2588πλουτῶν ἀεί σε προστάτιν παντὸς βίου §1.2589καὶ πρέσβιν εὐπρόσδεκτον ἐς σὸν Υἱέα §1.2590σὺν εὐαρεστήσασιν αὐτῷ φιλάγνοις.
And may I round the end of my life, just as I began, always being rich in you as the protector of my whole life and as an acceptable intercessor to your Son, together with the pure who have well-pleased him.
§1.2591Μὴ γοῦν ἐάσῃς ἐκδοθῆναι βασάνοις §1.2592καὶ χάρμ’ ἔσεσθαι δυσμενεῖ ψυχοφθόρῳ· §1.2593Πρόστηθι καὶ ῥῦσαι δὲ πυρὸς καὶ σκότους, §1.2594πίστει δικαιοῦσά με καὶ χάριτί σου· §1.2595ἐν σοὶ γὰρ ὦπται χάρις ἡμῖν ἐκ Θεοῦ, §1.2596καὶ σοὶ χαριστήριον ὕμνον νῦν πλέκω.
Do not then allow me to be delivered to torments and to become a joy to the soul-destroying enemy; stand before me and rescue me from fire and darkness, justifying me by faith and by your grace; for in you, grace from God has been seen by us, and to you I now weave a hymn of thanksgiving.
§1.2597Χαῖρ’, ὦ Κόρη πάγχαρτε, μῆτερ παρθένε, §1.2598καλλίστα πασῶν παρθένων, ὑπερτάτη, §1.2599Οὐρανιώνων ταγμάτων ὑπέρτερα, §1.2600δέσποινα, παντάνασσα, χάρμα τοῦ γένους· §1.2601ἀεί ποτ᾿ εὖ φρονοῦσα τυγχάνεις γένει §1.2602κἀμοὶ μεγίστη πανταχοῦ σωτηρία.
Hail, all-joyful Maiden, Virgin Mother, fairest of all virgins, highest, superior to the heavenly hosts, O Queen, sovereign of all, joy of our race; you always happen to be well-disposed to our race, and to me, a greatest salvation everywhere.
§1.2603Δός μοι, κυρία, τὴν λύσιν τῶν πταισμάτων §1.2604καὶ μοι πάρασχε ψυχικὴν σωτηρίαν.
Grant me, Lady, the release from my failings, and provide for me salvation of the soul.
§1.2605Ἔχεις ἀληθὲς δρᾶμα κοὐ πεπλασμένον §1.2606πεφυρμένον τε μυθικῶν λήρων κόπρῳ, §1.2607ὁ φιλομαθὴς εὐσεβοφρόνων λόγων.
You have a true drama, and not one fabricated, nor defiled with the filth of mythical nonsense, O lover of learning pious words.
§1.2608Εἰ γοῦν θέλεις σὺ, καὶ Λυκόφρονος τρόπῳ §1.2609γλυχόφρονος νῦν ὡς θέμις ἐγνωσμένου §1.2610λέξω τὰ πολλὰ νητρεκῶς, ὧν μ’ ἱστορεῖς.
If indeed you wish, even in the manner of Lycophron, now justly known as sweet-minded, I will tell the many things truly, about which you inquire of me.

Notes

  1. 1.2536ὁρῶν — The participle `ὁρῶν` (present active nominative singular masculine) agrees with the subject of the previous line, `ἐχθρός θ’ ὁ πλάνος` (the deceiving enemy). It indicates that the enemy, "seeing me released from those previously insoluble bonds by faith and grace, weighed me down with envy." The entire participle clause modifies the main verb `κατεβάρυνε`.
  2. 1.2546ἐμαυτὸν ἀνάξιον — The adjective `ἀνάξιον` (unworthy) governs the genitive nouns in line 1.2547: `πόλου` (heaven), `γῆς` (earth), and `δημιουργίας` (creation). Although the insertion of the nominative `τάλας` (wretched) complicates the word order, the core syntax is "having shown myself (`ἐμαυτὸν`) unworthy of heaven, earth, and your creation."
  3. 1.2560ὅτ’ ἐχρῆν — A combination of the conjunction `ὅτε` and the impersonal verb in the imperfect tense `ἐχρῆν` (it was necessary / one ought to). In this context, it means "when we ought to have [learned]," where the infinitive acting as the complement of the impersonal verb (here `μανθάνειν`, corresponding to `ἐμάθομεν` in the main clause) is omitted.
  4. 1.2580τοῦ Λόγου σοι μητρὶ, κἂν ὑπὲρ λόγον — A wordplay utilizing the double meaning of `Λόγος` (the divine Word / Christ) and `λόγος` (human word / speech / reason). It translates as "to you, the Mother of the Word, even if beyond [human] word/reason," poetically emphasizing Mary's holiness and the mystery of the Incarnation that transcends human comprehension.
  5. 1.2607ὁ φιλομαθὴς — The nominative form with the definite article `ὁ φιλομαθὴς` functions as a vocative (Vocative). This is a grammatical feature frequently observed in Classical and Byzantine Greek when directly addressing the reader or a specific person.

Cite this passage

Gregory of Nazianzus, The Suffering Christ §1.2523-1.2610. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg2022.tlg003.humanitext-grc1:1.2523-1.2610

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