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Gregory the Theologian
Bilingual Anthologyfrom the Speech on the Theophany
(38), * §§
7-11 & 13, Patrologia Graeca 36.317-325
translated
by C. G. Browne, J. E. Swallow. Greek Fonts / Gregory Theologian Home Page
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| IX. But since this movement of self-contemplation alone could not satisfy Goodness, but Good must be poured out and go forth beyond Itself to multiply the objects of Its beneficence, for this was essential to the highest Goodness, He first conceived the Heavenly and Angelic Powers. And this conception was a work fulfilled by His Word, and perfected by His Spirit. And so the secondary Splendours came into being, as the Ministers of the Primary Splendour; whether we are to conceive of them as intelligent Spirits, or as Fire of an immaterial and incorruptible kind, or as some other nature approaching this as near as may be. I should like to say that they were incapable of movement in the direction of evil, and susceptible only of the movement of good, as being about God, and illumined with the first rays from God-for earthly beings have but the second illumination; but I am obliged to stop short of saying that, and to conceive and speak of them only as difficult to move because of him, who for his splendour was called Lucifer, but became and is called Darkness through his pride; and the apostate hosts who are subject to him, creators of evil by their revolt against good and our inciters. |
Ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐκ ἤρκει τῇ ἀγαθότητι τοῦτο͵ τὸ κινεῖσθαι μόνον τῇ ἑαυτῆς θεωρίᾳ͵ ἀλλ΄ ἔδει χεθῆναι τὸ ἀγαθὸν καὶ ὁδεῦσαι͵ ὡς πλείονα εἶναι τὰ εὐεργετούμενα (τοῦτο γὰρ τῆς ἄκρας ἦν ἀγαθότητος)͵ πρῶτον μὲν ἐννοεῖ τὰς ἀγγελικὰς δυνάμεις καὶ οὐρανίους· καὶ τὸ ἐννόημα ἔργον ἦν͵ Λόγῳ συμπληρούμενον καὶ Πνεύματι τελειούμενον. Καὶ οὕτως ὑπέστησαν λαμπρότητες δεύτεραι͵ λειτουργοὶ τῆς πρώτης λαμπρότητος· εἴτε νοερὰ πνεύματα͵ εἴτε πῦρ οἷον ἄϋλον καὶ ἀσώματον͵ εἴτε τινὰ φύσιν ἄλλην͵ ὅτι ἐγγυτάτω τῶν εἰρημένων͵ ταύτας ὑποληπτέον. Βούλομαι μὲν εἰπεῖν͵ ὅτι ἀκινήτους πρὸς τὸ κακὸν καὶ μόνην ἐχούσας τὴν τοῦ καλοῦ κίνησιν͵ ἅτε περὶ Θεὸν οὔσας καὶ τὰ πρῶτα ἐκ Θεοῦ λαμπομένας· τὰ γὰρ ἐνταῦθα͵ δευτέρας ἐλλάμψεως. Πείθει δέ με μὴ ἀκινήτους͵ ἀλλὰ δυσκινήτους καὶ ὑπολαμβάνειν ταύτας καὶ λέγειν͵ ὁ διὰ τὴν λαμπρότητα Ἑωσφόρος͵ σκότος διὰ τὴν ἔπαρσιν καὶ γενόμενος καὶ λεγόμενος͵ αἵ τε ὑπ΄ αὐτὸν ἀποστατικαὶ δυνάμεις͵ δημιουργοὶ τῆς κακίας͵ τῇ τοῦ καλοῦ φυγῇ καὶ ἡμῖν πρόξενοι. ... |
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Reference address : https://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/gregory-theologian-godwithgods.asp?pg=4
