[Page] 78

[... break down] the fence of barrenness of the ancestral traditions, lest ye be struck by the serpent, venomous and incurable. Ye rational physicians and overseers of souls, who possess the Divine infirmary: be not pitiless and uncompassionate toward those bitten by the willful serpent, and [toward those] beset by natural and unnatural afflictions; be not healers of evil and dispellers of pain" (cf. Job 13:4). The divine Paul writeth an admonition unto you and unto all the faithful, and saith: "Remember your prelates, who have spoken unto you the word of God, and beholding the end of their conversation, be ye imitators of their faith" (Heb. 13:7). Now, therefore, remember ye also the guide of your life and salvation, and call to mind the intolerable torments of the divinely compassionate Father, the Enlightener of souls, and ascetic martyr, Saint Gregory; and forget not that which astonished the heavenly hosts—even the sufferings of his earthly body. Stand in awe of his so dreadful, austere manner of life, the fruits of whose field, sown with the blood of his sweat and the dew of his tears, ye now enjoy. Look now upon the end of his conversation: how he lived in the world, or what manner of departure was the end of his course; for that is the door of the pastorship of the sheep, through which he entered by afflictions, and purchased for himself a people by the scraping of the bones of his body, and by the shedding of his blood built up this nation into a Church of God, even as the Lord by the blood of His own side [did build up] all nations and the whole world. He was roasted by the scorching of fire for the sake of his fair lambs; by unspeakable torments he hung upon the gallows and prayed for his faithful flock; in the dark pit, amid venomous serpents, he remained for thirteen years on account of our sinking into the pit of sin, and the strikes of serpents, and venomous passions. This is the door of the spiritual pastorship: "He that entereth not by this door is a thief and a robber." Truly, as an ever-living awakener of conscience, let this whole discourse of ours be sealed with the adorable Gospel word of our Life-giver, Jesus Christ: "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:23).

THE END.