The Ascent to the Heavenly Jerusalem
The height of it: for thus it is possible to worship in spirit and truth 'the Lord King Pantocrator'.
Regarding the revealed understanding, the feast of the booths must be understood otherwise. Our human bodies are thus presented. Immediately indeed the most holy Peter, a disciple of Christ, writes: 'The Lord Jesus Christ revealed to me that the removal of my dwelling is near' (2 Cor 5:1). In agreement also the lawgiver Paul says: 'We who are in the tent groan, being weighed down, because we do not wish to be stripped off but to be clothed, so that the mortal might be swallowed up by life' (2 Cor 5:4).
Moreover the feast of the booths is fulfilled previously and especially by those promising 'rejoicing', not by men alone with women not having been defiled, but also by women hastening to have holiness in spirit and body.
In addition to these, those entering the honorable marriage also adorn their own booths, being pure and guarding their bed undefiled.
Furthermore, the festival of the booths is fulfilled even more highly, being crowned and made glorious in the expected time of the resurrection, of the corruptible body being raised incorruptible and of the psychic spiritual body being raised. Does not the body become a divine booth, sown in weakness and dishonor, so that it might rise in power and glory?
It is worthy to learn how this spiritual feast is celebrated on the fifteenth of the seventh month. For the celebrant must, through the interpreted booths, surpass the cosmos made in six days, resting from all service of worship, sabbath-keeping according to the 'Sabbath having been given to the people of God', which Jesus alone confirms saying: 'I will give you all who come rest' (Matt 11:28), and again: 'You will find rest for your souls' (Matt 11:29).
On the fifteenth day of this seventh month, those celebrating are 'those who have given a portion to the seven and also to the eight', adhering to the old and the new covenant; for through the seven the old is signified because of sabbath-keeping, but through the eight is the resurrection of Christ after the cross, having occurred on the eighth day, the Lord's day. [Zechariah 14:17: And it shall be that whoever does not ascend from all the tribes of the earth into Jerusalem to worship...].
To the King Lord Pantokrator, and these things shall be added to those.
Since the spiritual Jerusalem lies on high according to the philosophy of the writing Apostle, where it says: 'But the Jerusalem above', and where it says: 'You have ascended to Zion, the mountain and city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem', only those are ascending upon it who are able to say: 'But our citizenship is in the heavens' (Phil 3:20), and again: 'He raised us up' (Eph 2:6), God clearly, 'and seated us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus' (Eph 2:6), while those of the tribes of the earth who are still 'bearing the image of the swine' (Ps 50:16) and 'thinking of earthly things' (Col 3:2) exist and are not ascending to see the beautiful city lying on high in peace.
Those not ascending shall be added to those from among all the nations who did not ascend, being persuaded by the same things as them.
Those thinking of earthly things who are not ascending because they are being carried down by the weight of earthly works, those having hurried to ascend into the city having broken foundations, through the one laying the foundation, the 'artisan and builder of it, the Lord' (Matt 7:24), shall worship the King Lord the Pantokrator with the angels. For it has been written: 'All the angels of God shall worship him' (Ps 90:7).
A Lord existing as a King and Pantokrator is declared not the Father without the Son nor the Son without the Father. For one kingdom and lordship is the same, and the pantokratic power is the same of the Trinity. Therefore, if a desire enters into us to worship the Trinity as King Lord Pantokrator, let us not remain among the tribes of the earth, but having stored up the heart there in heaven, so that we might... being in Jerusalem, we might worship with all the rational creation, 'bowing every knee to the King of the heavens and earth and those under the earth, for the glory of God the Father, every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord' (Rom 14:11).
If the tribe of Egypt does not ascend and does not come there, and upon this there shall be the fall, which the Lord will strike all the nations, as many as do not ascend to celebrate the feast of the tabernacles: this shall be the sin of Egypt and the sin of all the nations, as many as do not ascend to celebrate the feast of the tabernacles (Zech 14:18).
That which has been lifted up in Jerusalem...
Greek
ὕψος αὐτῆς· οὕτω γὰρ δυνατὸν «προσκυνῆσαι» πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ «τῷ βασιλεῖ Κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι». 5.172 Πρὸς τῇ φανείσῃ νοήσει καὶ ἑτέρως νοητέον τὴν περὶ τῶν σκηνῶν ἑορτήν. Τὰ σώμ̣ατα ἡμῶν τῶν ἀνθρώπων οὕτω προσαγορεύονται. Αὐτίκα γοῦν ο῾̣ τῶν Χριστοῦ μαθητῶν α῾̣γ̣ιώτατος Πέτρος γράφει· «Ὁ Κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐδήλωσέν μοι ὅτι ταχινή ἐστιν ἡ ἀπόθεσις τοῦ σκηνώματός μου.» Συμφώνως καὶ ὁ θεσπέσιος Παῦλοσ· «Οἱ ὄντες ἐν τῷ σκήνει στενάζομεν βαρούμενοι, ἐφ' ᾧ οὐ θέλομεν ἐκδύσασθαι ἀλλ' ἐπενδύσασθαι, ἵνα καταποθῇ τὸ θνητὸν ὑπὸ τῆς ζωῆς.» 5.173 Ἐπιτελεῖται δὲ ἡ ἑορτὴ τῶν σκηνῶν προηγουμένως τε καὶ μάλιστα ὑπὸ τῶν «ἀγαλλ̣ιᾶν» ἐπ̣αγγελλομένων, οὐκ ἀνδρῶν μόνων μετὰ γυναικῶν μὴ μ̣ολυνθέντων, ἀλλὰ καὶ θηλειῶν σπευδουσῶν πνεύματι καὶ σώματι ἁγιότητα ἔχειν. 5.174 Πρὸς τούτοις κοσμοῦσιν τὰς ἑαυτῶν σκηνὰς καὶ οἱ τίμιον γάμον μετερχόμενοι, ἁγνεύοντες καὶ τὴν κοίτην αὐτῶν ἀμίαντον φυλάττοντες. 5.175 Ἔτι δὲ μᾶλλον ἄνω τελεῖται ἡ πανήγυρις τῶν σκηνωμάτων στεφομένων τε καὶ ἀγλαϊζομ̣ένων ἐν τῷ προσδοκωμένῳ καιρῷ τῆς ἀναστάσεως, τοῦ φθαρτοῦ σώματος ἀφθάρτου ἐγειρομένου καὶ τοῦ ψυχικοῦ πνευματικ̣οῦ σώματος ἐγειρομένου. Ἦ οὐ σκηνὴ θεία 164 γίνεται τὸ σῶμα σπαρὲν ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ καὶ ἀτιμίᾳ, ἵν' ἐν δυνάμει καὶ δόξῃ ἀναστῇ; 5.176 Ἄξιον ἐπιστῆσαι πῶς ἡ πνευματικὴ αὕτη ἑορτὴ ἐν τῇ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ τοῦ ἑβδόμου μηνὸς ἄγεσθαι̣ ··ι̣ται. ∆εῖ γὰρ τὸν ἑορτάζοντα διὰ τὰς ἡρμηνευμένας σκηνὰς ὑπερβάντα τὸν ἐν ἓξ ἡμέραις γενόμενον κόσμον, ἀργήσαντα ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔργου λατρευτοῦ, σαββατίζοντα κατὰ τὸν «ἀποδοθέντα σαββα̣τισμὸν τῷ λαῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ», ὃν μόνος Ἰησοῦς βεβαιοῖ φάσκων· «Πάντας ἐρχομένους ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἀναπαύσω», καὶ ἔτι· «Εὑρήσετε ἀνάπα̣υσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν.» 5.177 Τούτου τοῦ ἑβδόμου μηνὸς ἐν τῇ πεντεκαιδεκάτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἑορτάζουσιν οἱ «δεδωκότες μερίδα τοῖς ἑπτὰ καί γε τοῖς ὀκτώ», προσηκάμενοι τὴν παλαιὰν καὶ καινὴν διαθήκην· διὰ γὰρ τῶν ἑπτὰ ἡ παλαιὰ σημαίνεται διὰ τὸ σαββατίζειν, δια`̣ δὲ τω῀̣ν ὀκτὼ ἡ μετὰ τὸν σταυρὸν ἀνάστασις τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ τῇ κυριακῇ γεγενημένη. 5.178 Zach. XIV, 17: Καὶ ἔσται ὅσοι ἐὰν μὴ ἀναβῶσιν ἐκ πασῶν τῶν φυλῶν τῆς γῆς εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴμ τοῦ προσκυνῆσαι τῷ βασιλεῖ Κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι, καὶ οὗτοι ἐκείνοις προστεθήσονται. 5.179 Ἐν ὕψει κειμένη̣ς τῆς πνευματικῆς Ἰερουσαλὴμ κατὰ τὴν φιλοσοφίαν τοῦ γράφοντος Ἀποστόλου, ὅπου μέν· «Ἡ δὲ ἄνω Ἰερουσαλήμ», ὅπου δέ· «Προσεληλύθατε Σιὼν ὄρει καὶ πόλει Θεοῦ ζῶντος, Ἰερουσαλὴμ ἐπουρανίῳ», μόνοι ἀναβαίνουσιν ἐπ' αὐτὴν οἱ δυνάμενοι φάναι· «Ἡμῶν δὲ τὸ πολίτευμα ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὑπάρχει», καὶ πάλιν· «Συνήγειρεν ἡμᾶς», ὁ Θεὸς δηλονότι, «καὶ συνεκάθισεν ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ», τῶν ἔτι «φορούντων τὴν εἰκόνα τοῦ χοϊκοῦ» καὶ «τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονούντων» φυλῶν τῆς γῆς ὑπαρχόντω̣ν καὶ οὐκ ἀναβαινόντων εἰς τὴν ἐν ὕψει κειμένην καλλίπολιν εἰρήνην̣ ὁρῶσαν. 5.180 Οἱ μὴ ἀναβαίνοντες προστεθήσονται τοῖς ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν μὴ ἀναβᾶσιν, τὰ αὐτὰ ἐκείνοις πεισόμενοι. 5.181 Τῶν τὰ ἐπίγεια φρονούντων οὐκ ἀναβαινόντων διὰ τὸ κάτω̣ φέρεσθαι διὰ τὸ ἄχθος τῶν γηΐνων ἔργων, οἱ σπεύσαντες ἀναβῆναι εἰς τὴν πόλιν τὴν ἀρραγεῖς θεμελίους ἔχουσαν διὰ τὸν θεμελιώσαντα «τεχνίτην καὶ δημιουργὸν αὐτῆς Κύριον», τὸν βασιλέα Κύριον τὸν παντοκράτορα προσκυνήσουσιν σὺν τοῖς ἀγγέλοις. Γέγραπται γάρ· «Προσκυνήσουσιν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι Θεοῦ.» 5.182 Βασιλεὺς προσκυνούμενος ὑπάρχων Κύριος καὶ παν̣τοκράτ̣ω̣ρ̣ οὐχ ὁ Πατὴρ χωρὶς Υἱοῦ οὐδὲ ὁ Υἱὸς ἄνευ τοῦ Πατρὸς δηλοῦται. Μία γὰρ βασιλεία καὶ κυριότης ἡ αὐτὴ καὶ παντοκρατορικὴ δύναμις τῆς Τριάδος ἡ αὐτή ἐστιν. ∆ιὸ εἰ πόθος ἡμῖν εἰσέρχεται τὴν Τριάδα προσκυνῆσαι ὡς βασιλέα Κύριον παντοκράτο̣ρα, μὴ φυλαὶ τῆς γῆς μείνωμεν, α᾿̣λλ' ἐν οὐρανῷ θησαυρίσαντες ἐκεῖ τὴν καρ̣δ̣ίαν σχῶμεν, ἵνα α̣···· ε᾿̣ν̣ τῇ Ἰερουσαλὴμ ὄντες προσκυνήσωμεν σὺν πάσῃ τῇ λογικῇ κτίσει, «καμψάντων πᾶν γόνυ τῷ β̣ασιλ̣εῖ τῶν ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων, εἰς δόξαν Θεοῦ Πατρὸς πα´̣σης γλώσσης ἐξομολογούσης ὅτι Κύριος Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν.» 5.183 Zach. XIV, 18–19: Ἐὰν δὲ φυλὴ Αἰγύπτου μὴ ἀναβῇ μηδὲ ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἔσται ἡ πτῶσις, ἣν πατάξει Κύριος πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, ὅσα ἐὰν μὴ ἀναβῇ τοῦ ἑορτάσαι τὴν ἑορτὴν τῆς σκηνοπηγίας· αὕτη ἔσται ἡ ἁμαρτία Αἰγύπτου καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία πάντων τῶν ἐθνῶν, ὅσα ἂν μὴ ἀναβῇ τοῦ ἑορτάσαι τὴν ἑορτὴν τῆς σκηνοπηγίας. 5.184 Τὸ ἀνηγμένως ἐν τῇ Ἰερουσαλὴμ
About this text
Didymus the Blind on Zechariah.
Original English Translation — new OET from PG Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.