26. Farewell my Anastasia,
Anastasia. The little church “of the
Resurrection” in which the orthodox Christians worshipped with S.
Gregory at first on his arrival, while the churches of the city were
held by the heretics. whose name is redolent of piety: for
thou hast raised up for us the doctrine which was in contempt:
farewell, scene of our common victory, modern Shiloh, Josh. xviii. 1. where the tabernacle was first fixed, after
being carried about in its wanderings for forty years in the
wilderness. Farewell likewise, grand and renowned temple, our new
inheritance, whose greatness is now due to the Word, which once wast a
Jebus, 1 Chron. xi. 4. and hast now been
made by us a Jerusalem. Farewell, all ye others, inferior only to
this in beauty, scattered through the various parts of the city, like
so many links, uniting together each your own neighbourhood, which have
been filled with worshippers of whose existence we had despaired, not
by me, in my weakness, but by the grace which was with me. 1 Cor. xv. 10. Farewell, ye Apostles, Apostles.
The Church of the Holy Apostles, to which Constantius translated the
relics of SS. Andrew, Luke and Timothy. noble settlers here, my masters in the
strife; if I have not often kept festival with you, it has been
possibly due to the Satan Satan, i.e.,
“thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan”—in S.
Gregory’s case serious ill health. which I, like S.
Paul, 2 Cor. xii. 7. who was one of you, carry about in my body
for my own profit, and which is the cause of my now leaving you.
Farewell, my throne, envied and perilous height; farewell assembly of
high priests, honoured by the dignity and age of its priests, and all
ye others ministers of God round the holy table, drawing nigh to the
God Who draws nigh to you. S. James iv. 8. Farewell,
choirs of Nazarites, harmonies of the Psalter, night-long stations,
venerable virgins, decorous matrons, gatherings of widows and orphans,
and ye eyes of the poor, turned towards God and towards me.
Farewell, hospitable and Christ-loved dwellings, helpers of my
infirmity. Farewell, ye lovers of my discourses, in your
eagerness and concourse, ye pencils seen and unseen, and thou
balustrade, pressed upon by those who thrust themselves forward to hear
the word. Farewell, Emperors, and palace, and ministers and
household of the Emperor, whether faithful or not to him, I know not,
but for the most part, unfaithful to God. Clap your hands, shout
aloud, extol your orator to the skies. This pestilent and
garrulous tongue has ceased to speak to you. Though it will not
utterly cease to speak: for it will fight with hand and
ink: but for the present we have ceased to speak.