Homily II on Saint Lazarus · §4

Final Judgment

The gift of eternal life is in danger of being lost in the tomb, where the body lies lifeless. However, the story of the Jews' wickedness reminds me of Lazarus' resurrection, which in turn reminds me of the resurrection of the dead, when the tombs will be shaken and the dead will rise incorruptible. At that time, the earth will be troubled with fear, and the heavenly trumpets will sound to the people, signaling the start of the final judgment.

The judge will come down from heaven, accompanied by the armies of angels, and the righteous will meet him in the clouds. The demons will be led to judgment, and the devil will be brought bound, while the tyrants will be dragged to the fearful tribunal. The plunder of the rich will be punished, and the patience of the poor will be crowned. The conspiracies of kings will be confessed, and the lives of priests will be examined. The ranks of virgins will be honored, and the hidden adulteries will be punished. The dignity of the sober will be rewarded, and the licentiousness of the adulterers will be punished. The kindness of the long-suffering will be crowned, and the denunciation of the slanderers will be hidden. The crowds of those who have truly repented will be blessed, and the hypocrisy of the hypocrites will be scourged. As the apostle Paul says, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and each will receive what they have done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, being reminded of these things, let the lover of pleasure mourn, for matter is the fuel of the fire of hell. Let the luxurious one punish his belly, for it is the source of many evils.

The prophet rebuked the Sodomites for their gluttony, which is a burdensome thing, and he declared that their sin was that they had an abundance of bread and lived in luxury. The rich are warned to hate greed, just as they would hate a reed that fuels unquenchable fire. On the other hand, the poor are encouraged to be strengthened in endurance, for patience is a pious cooling of hell.

The Greek is urged to learn from impiety, and the heretic is warned to search out heretical doctrines as one would search out tombs, before the voice that will shout to the dead comes. This voice is the bridegroom, Christ our God, who will judge the living and the dead. Let us glorify him with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Greek

δωρεὰν ἐν τῷ τάφῳ κινδυνεύει ἀπολέσαι. 9 Τί τὸν λόγον περὶ τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων ἀσχολῶ πονηρίαν, τῆς ἐγέρσεως Λαζάρου πρὸς τὴν τῆς ἀναστάσεως μνήμην με παραπεμπούσης; Ὅταν τινάσσωνται τάφοι τοὺς νεκροὺς ἀπαιτού μενοι, ταράττεται γῆ σειομένη τῷ φόβῳ, σαλπίγγων ἐξ οὐρανοῦ τοῖς ἀνθρώποις ἀλαλάζουσι κτύποι· «Σαλπίσει γάρ», φησίν, «καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ ἐγερθήσονται ἄφθαρτοι.» Ἀστράπτων ἐκεῖθεν ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ὁ κριτὴς καταβαίνει, τὰ τῶν ἀγγέλων τοῦ κριτοῦ προτρέχει στρατόπεδα τῷ τῶν γινομένων ταραττόμενα φόβῳ· «αἱ δυνάμεις γάρ», φησίν, «τῶν οὐρανῶν σαλευθήσονται»· ἀπάντησις δικαίων ἐν νεφέλαις μετάρσιος, θρῆνος δαιμόνων συρομένων εἰς κρίσιν, πενθήρης διάβολος προσαγόμενος δέσμιος, ἑλκόμενοι τύραννοι πρὸς φοβερὸν λογοθέσιον, πλουτούντων ἁρπαγαὶ κολαζόμεναι, πενήτων ὑπομοναὶ στεφανούμεναι, ἐξομολογούμεναι συμμορίαι βασιλέων, ἱερέων ἐρευνώμενοι βίοι, τάγματα παρθένων τιμώμενα, πομπευόμεναι κεκρυμμέναι πορνεῖαι, σωφρόνων τιμωμένη σεμνότης, ἀκολασία κολαζομένη μοιχῶν, χρηστότης μακροθύμων στεφανουμένη, καταλάλων ἔλεγχος ἀφανής, μετανοησάντων γνησίως μακαριζόμενοι δῆμοι, ὑποκριτῶν εἰρωνεία μαστιζομένη. 10 Οὐκ ἐμὸς ὁ λόγος, ἠκούσατε πάντες πᾶσι κεκραγότος τοῦ Παύλου· «Πάντες παραστησόμεθα τῷ βήματι» «τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα κομίσηται ἕκαστος τὰ διὰ τοῦ σώματος πρὸς ἃ ἔπραξεν εἴτε ἀγαθὰ εἴτε κακά». Τῇ τούτων τοίνυν πάντες ῥυθμιζόμενοι μνήμῃ, μάρανον τὴν ἡδονήν, ὁ φιλήδονος· ὕλη γάρ ἐστι τοῦ τῆς γεέννης πυρός. Κόλασον, ὁ τρυφητής, τὴν γαστέρα· καύσιμον γὰρ γαστριμαργία φορτίον, καὶ τοῦτο μεμφόμενος ὁ προφήτης Σοδομίταις ἐβόα· «Πλήν», φησίν, «τοῦτο ἀνόμημα Σοδόμων ὅτι εὐθηνίᾳ καὶ πλησμονῇ ἄρτων ἐσπατάλων.» Μίσησον πλεονεξίαν, ὁ πλούσιος, ὡς καλάμην τῆς ἀσβέστου φλογώσεως. Νευρώθητι πρὸς καρτερίαν, ὁ πένης· ὑπομονὴ γὰρ εὐσεβὴς γεέννης κατάψυξις. Μετάμαθε τὴν ἀσέβειαν, ὁ Ἕλλην· μόνῳ γὰρ πυρὶ χρησιμεύου σιν ἄκανθαι. Ἀνάζησον ἐξ αἱρετικῶν δογμάτων ὡς ἐκ τάφων, αἱρετικέ, πρὶν ἐλθεῖν τὴν τοῖς νεκροῖς βοῶσαν ἐκείνην φωνήν· «Ἰδοὺ ὁ νυμφίος ἔρχεται, ἐξέλθετε εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτοῦ», Χριστὸς ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν, «ὁ μέλλων κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς». Αὐτὸν δοξάσωμεν σὺν τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν. 3

About this text

Hesychius of Jerusalem, Homilia ii in sanctum Lazarum (Greek).

Original English Translation of Hesychius of Jerusalem’s Homilia ii in sanctum Lazarum — new OET from PG 93 Greek.

Catalogue & scope

Khazarzar scan

Witnesses

Copy-text PG 93 (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.