Sermon on the Cross and the Good Thief

8/12/2019 Sermon on the Cross and the Good Thief

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Ps.-Theophilus of Alexandria, Sermon on the Crossand the Good Thief (CPG 2622; clais coptica !"#$%

Posted on February 1, 2014byAlin Suciu

This translation of Ps.-Theophilus of Alexandrias sermon on the Cross and

the Good Thief (CPG 2622; clavis coptica 03!"# $hi%h is preser&ed onl' in

the ahidi% diale%t of Copti%# appeared inA. u%iu# )Ps.-Theophili

AlexandriniSermo de Cruce et Latrone (CPG 2622"* +dition of ,!! $ith

Parallels and Translation#Zeitschrift fr Antikes Christentum Journal of

Ancient Christianity 6 (202" /-22!. or details %on%ernin1 the text# please

refer to this arti%le.

The homil' attriuted to Theophilus of Alexandria %ontains a lon1 h'mn of

the Cross (%f. par. 4" $hi%h is deri&ed from the pseudo-%hr'sostomi%

$or5In venerabilem crucem sermo (CPG !2!".
http://alinsuciu.com/2014/02/01/ps-theophilus-of-alexandria-sermon-on-the-cross-and-the-good-thief-cpg-2622-clavis-coptica-0395/http://alinsuciu.com/2014/02/01/ps-theophilus-of-alexandria-sermon-on-the-cross-and-the-good-thief-cpg-2622-clavis-coptica-0395/http://alinsuciu.com/2014/02/01/ps-theophilus-of-alexandria-sermon-on-the-cross-and-the-good-thief-cpg-2622-clavis-coptica-0395/http://alinsuciu.com/author/suciualin/https://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttp://alinsuciu.com/2014/02/01/ps-theophilus-of-alexandria-sermon-on-the-cross-and-the-good-thief-cpg-2622-clavis-coptica-0395/http://alinsuciu.com/author/suciualin/https://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttps://www.academia.edu/2094217/Ps.-Theophili_Alexandrini_Sermo_de_Cruce_et_Latrone_CPG_2622_Edition_of_M595_with_Parallels_and_Translationhttp://alinsuciu.com/2014/02/01/ps-theophilus-of-alexandria-sermon-on-the-cross-and-the-good-thief-cpg-2622-clavis-coptica-0395/http://alinsuciu.com/2014/02/01/ps-theophilus-of-alexandria-sermon-on-the-cross-and-the-good-thief-cpg-2622-clavis-coptica-0395/


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An exegesis of Apa Theophilus, the archbishop of Alexandria,

which he pronounced concerning the Cross and the thief. In the

peace of God, Amen!

7.Proemium Christolo!ical hymn

The sun of ri1hteousness has appeared from out of the +astern pla%es#

8i1htenin1 those $ho are in the dar5ness and the shado$ of death.

The 5in1 of 9usti%e has orne the %ro$n of the 5in1dom

(And" all his enemies ha&e een &an:uished under his feet.

The 1ood odor has spread out on the altar of sal&ation

(And" has dissipated the sten%h $ith the perfume of its ointment.

The po$erful lion has risen from the forests

(And" the easts ha&e hidden in their dar5 lair.

The hol' ph'si%ian has %ome to us $ith his medi%ines of life

(And" e&er'one $ho is affli%ted has re%ei&ed the %ure for free.

The 9o' of the $hole %reation $as re&ealed*

The' re9oi%e $ith him

77. "he Parable of the t#o kin!s

or# 9ust as if a hostile 5in1 en%ir%les a %it' and esie1es it# then all those $ho

are inside it are in su9u1ation# tormented# 1rie&in1 (and" 1roanin1. e&il. ?e surrounded the entire inhaited


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$orld# affli%ted e&er'one $ith his fetters full of sin# s%attered them ' his

man' pla1ues# these ein1 the idolatr'# the roer'# the os%enit'# the theft#

the murder# the denun%iation# the en&'# the hate# the $rath# the an1er# the

drun5enness# the $it%h%raft# the pollution# the 1uile# the tri%5er'# the

arro1an%e# the false oaths# the aominations# the forni%ations# the %roo5edness

and those of the same 5ind# resemlin1 them. These are the snares ' $hi%h

the >e&il entraps humans until he leads them astra' and rin1s them to

nau1ht. Come no$ to see in $hat $a' Christ# our @in1# fi1hts $ith him until

he ta5es a$a' from him our souls and ma5es them free.

777. "he Je#s re$ect Christ

hen it pleased him# God the Almi1ht' sent his elo&ed on to the $orld

throu1h his 1reat lo&e $ith $hi%h he lo&ed us. ?e $ent to the defiled people

(and" prea%hed to them* )Bepent# for the 5in1dom of the hea&ens has dra$n

near


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74. "he t#o thieves on the cross

The' ha&e %ru%ified him $ith t$o other thie&es. And one of them# $ho $as not

$orth' for the 1lor' of God# said to the 8ord mo%5in1 at him* )7f 'ou are the

Christ# sa&e 'ourself and sa&e us too The other one reu5ed him $ith fur'*

)>ont 'ou fear GodF or $e are re%ei&in1 a%%ordin1 to the merit of the sins

that $e ha&e done ut this one has not done an'thin1 ad. And he said*

)Bememer me to the 8ord $hen 'ou enter into 'our 5in1dom. =esus said to

him $ith 1reat 9o'* )Toda' 'ou $ill e $ith me in m' Paradise. The 1ate of

Paradise is %losed sin%e the moment $hen Adam trans1ressed ut 7 $ill open

it to 'ou and re%ei&e 'ou inside.

Eou ha&e re%o1nied the hi1hness of m' Godhead ein1 on the %ross# 'ou $ill

e m' %ompanion in the 9o' of m' 5in1dom.

Eou ha&e 1lorified me in the midst of the sinners# 7 $ill 1lorif' 'ou in m' turn

in the midst of m' an1eli% host.

ti%5 to me on the Cross# ein1 s$eet to$ards me ' 'our hearts desire (and"

7 $ill lo&e 'ou in m' turn and m' an1els $ill ser&e 'ou at the feast of the

saints

Eou used to e in the %ompan' of murderers# ehold# 7 ha&e made 'ou m'

%ompanion. 7 am the life of e&er'one.

or 'ou $ere $al5in1 in the ni1hts $ith the sons of dar5ness (and" ehold# 7

ha&e made 'ou $al5in1 $ith me. 7 am the li1ht of the $orld.

irst 'ou $ere ta5in1 %ounsel $ith the murderers (and" 7 ha&e made 'ou m'

%ompanion. 7 am the a&ior.

7 $ill 1rant 'ou all these e%ause 'ou ha&e %onfessed m' di&init' in the

presen%e of those $ho ha&e denied me. The' ha&e seen all the mira%les that 7

ha&e done (and" the' did not elie&e in me.


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7 $ill ma5e 'our od' to e perfe%t until 7 raise 'ou up.


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his 1oodness. As for him# our 8ord =esus Christ# the' are nailin1 his hands and

the' are slappin1 his fa%e# the' are stri5in1 on his head# the' are 1i&in1 him to

drin5 &ine1ar and 1all# the' are di&idin1 his 1arments amon1 them# the' are

%astin1 lots for them and the' are stri5in1 his head $ith a reed; durin1 all

these he did not 1et an1r' nor had he 1uile in his heart a1ainst them. >o 'ou

$ant to 5no$F 8isten and 7 $ill inform 'ou. ?ear him de%larin1* ),' ather#

for1i&e them e%ause the' do not 5no$ $hat the' are doin1. Eou ha&e seen

no$ the 1reat enduran%e of the ather and of his on to$ard us.

477. "he crucified Christ purifies the creation

?e as%ended on the Cross sa&in1 the entire %reation. 7n the moment $hen he

$as han1ed on the Cross he purified the entire %reation# those of the hea&en

and those of the earth. ?e has %leaned the entire air purif'in1 it $ith Gods

od'. 8i5e$ise# his hol' lood that $as shed has %leaned the earth from the

pollution $hi%h $as on it. ,oreo&er# he des%ended into Amente (and" spoiled

it. ?e freed the souls that $ere imprisoned in the %hamers of dar5ness (and"

released them. or he promised us $ith his mouth of truth# from $hi%h no lie

e&er %ame out* )hen 7 $ill e lifted up from the earth# 7 $ill dra$ e&er'one to

me ' the ond of m' lo&e.

4777. Christ sacrificed himself #illin!ly for our sakeHo$ $hat lo&e is as 1reat as this ' $hi%h he mounted on the $ood of the

Cross and onded himself aloneF or if it had not een his $ish# $ho $ould

ha&e een ale to seie himF


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mouth# >athan and Airam and the sons of @orah# the ones $ho rose up

a1ainst ,oses in the desert.

.An )ld "estament prophecy about the Cross

Ho$ let us return a1ain to the 1reatness of the in&isile Cross and dis%uss

aout it and to 5no$ the prophe%ies that the prophets ha&e said aout it sin%e

the e1innin1 until the end. Eou in 'our turn# J hearers# spread forth 'our

senses and listen :uietl'. Come to open the 1reat hol' treasure and rin1 out

the spiritual ornaments to adorn the souls of the 8o1os-lo&in1 people.

ummon $ith me the God-lo&er# the 8o1os-lo&er and the one $ho is $ith the

an1els# this ein1 Araham# Gods friend. 8et him %ome and tea%h us

%on%ernin1 the t'pe of this tree# ae5# that has %au1ht the ram in it. or the

interpretation of ae5 is )the restin1-pla%e of the a&ior# this ein1 the $ood

of the Cross on $hi%h the lam of God has mounted in a 1reat splendor in

order to fulfill the oikonomiafull of sal&ation. ?e reposed on it li5e a man that

has %ome from the field $here he $or5ed# thre$ himself upon the ed and

rested from his toil. This is ho$ the a&ior has done $hen he rested on his

ed# this ein1 the Cross of truth. ?e suffered on it until he sa&ed the entire

human 5ind.

7. Christ's mercy% "he persecutors did not kno# #ho he #as?e has not een disheartened nor has he een trouled nor furious $hen the'

nailed him nor irritated ($hen" the' put a %ro$n of thorns upon him nor has

he %ursed $hen the' hit him in his fa%e nor has he een %o$ard $hen the'

1a&e him to drin5 &ine1ar mixed $ith 1all. or he has not opposed to those

$ho mo%5ed him nor has he een furious $hen the' di&ided his 1arments and

%ast lots for them.

>o 'ou $ant to 5no$ $hi%h is the truthF 7 am tellin1 it# listen and 7 $ill inform

'ou. 7n the moment $hen the' ha&e done all these to him# he raised his e'es

to$ard his ather (and" e11ed him* ),' ather# for1i&e them for the' do not

5no$ $hat the' are doin1. 7n this $a' 'ou $ill 5no$ $hat the ather is doin1

and has done at that time# for his mer%ies to us are 1reat# or else he $ould

ha&e sent upon them the in%urale fur'. Thus the &oi%e of his onl'-e1otten

rea%hed him and summoned his mer%' to turn a%5 his fur' and $rath.

And he sent a po$erful an1el (and" he %ut in t$o the %urtain of the temple.

The earth mo&ed# the ro%5s split# the sun 1re$ dar5. This 1reat luminar' has


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dar5ened the entire earth in order to o&ershado$ his hol' od' on the Cross

e%ause the' ha&e stripped off his %lothes (and" di&ided them amon1 them.

8oo5# J m' friends# and see Gods enduran%e. The' ha&e stripped off his

1arments on the Cross# the one $ho has %lothed the entire %reation# ut the

sun %o&ered his 8ord in dar5ness. This has happened e%ause the' $ere not

$orth' for the 1reat m'ster' $hi%h $as on the Cross.


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The $ood of life#

The $ood of the 1ra%e of our 8ord =esus Christ# the one $hi%h has een

han1ed on the $ood of the Cross.

74. "he confession of the &ood "hief after the vision

)7 ha&e seen the entire %reation estalished and arran1ed in the ima1e of the

Cross.

4. "he hymn of the Cross

(The Cross" is the one $ho ma5es man 'oun1 a1ain after he 1ro$s old# si1ns

him throu1h the hol' aptism ' ma5in1 him $ith the oil and Christs seal.

The Cross purifies the man that pursues the ener1ies %ast forth from it.

The Cross is the hol' m'ster'. or $hen the' seal the read and the %hali%e on

the hol' tale and the' a%%omplish them# it is not an'more read nor $ine ut

it is hol' od' and lood.

The Cross is the %onsolation of those $ho are in distress e%ause of their sins.

The Cross is the strai1ht $a'# not leadin1 astra' those $ho $al5 on it $hen

the' are estran1ed.

The Cross is the hi1h to$er $hi%h re%ei&es those $ho are runnin1 to it.

The Cross is the ladder $hi%h raises man to the s5'.

The Cross is the 1arment $hi%h the Christians are $earin1.

The Cross is the helper of the poor and the help for those $ho are distressed.

The Cross is the one $ho has destro'ed the temple of the =e$s# opened the

Chur%h and has %ro$ned it.

The Cross destro'ed the demons (and" %ast them a$a' in fear.

The Cross is the stailit' of the ships that are sailin1 in eaut'.


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The Cross is the estalishment of the priests that are in the house of God $ith

$isdom.

The Cross is the immutale 9ud1e of the apostles.

The Cross is the lamp of 1old $hose hol' flame is shinin1.

The Cross is the father of the orphans# ta5in1 %are of them.

The Cross is the 9ud1e of the $ido$s# $ipin1 out the tears from their e'es.

The Cross is the %onsolation of the so9ourners.

The Cross is the %ompanion of those $ho are in the desert.

The Cross is the ornament of the hol' altars.

The Cross is the s$eetness of those $ho $ere itter.

The Cross is the help of man in the moment of his ne%essit'# $hen he 1oes out

from the od'.

The Cross is the 1o&ernor of the %ompassionates.

The Cross is the administratorof those $ho ha&e put their %are in it.

The Cross is the %hastit' of the &ir1ins.

The Cross is the fortified $all.

The Cross is the ph'si%ian $ho %ures e&er' si%5ness.

Come# all tries of the earth# re9oi%e and 9uilate e%ause the 8ord has rei1ned

from the $ood of the Cross


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Eou ha&e seen of $hat sort is the 1reatness of the Cross and its 1reat help for

the entire %reation.

47.*+hortation to prayer

or in the moment $hen man $ill spread his arms on the ima1e of the Cross

and $ill pra' $ith faith# the an1els entreat God until he fulfills his demand.

Ke%hariah pra'ed (and" Gariel %ame to him (and" fulfilled his demand# this

ein1 =ohn. Peter pra'ed (and" the an1el %ame to him (and" made the %hains

of iron to loosen and the 1ate of iron to open aloneD. 8i5e$ise a1ain# he

pra'ed (and" resurre%ted Taitha. Cornelius pra'ed (and" the an1el %ame to

him. Paul and ilas pra'ed and the an1el %ame to them (and" the foundations

of the prison ha&e mo&ed. ,oses pra'ed (and" he defeated the Amale5. Toias

pra'ed and Baphael %ame to him (and" healed him.

Therefore# let us pra' %ontinuall' $ith e&er' o%%asion. The apostle said* )Pra'

%ontinuall'. The pra'er %ures those possessed ' demons. or this reason 7

ha&e estalished toda' for us to fast and pra' in the hol' pla%e. 8et the pra'er

e 'our %ompanion e&er'$here 'ou are. Pra' $hen 'ou la' do$n and 'ou $ill

e safe in the trial. Pra' $hile 'ou are in the triunal and God $ill fi1ht for

'ou. Pra' $hen 'ou emar5 on $aters and 'ou $ill e safe from sumer1in1.

7f the' in&ite 'ou to a feast pra'# do not eat# and God $ill less 'our read ande&er'thin1 that 'ou $ill prepare. hether 'ou eat# $hether 'ou drin5#

$hether 'ou do somethin1 else# do e&er'thin1 so as to 1lorif' God.

477.,o+olo!y

7n all these# let us 1lorif' his hol' name ' e&er' 1ood thin1# our 8ord =esus

Christ# the one $hom efits the 1lor' and the honor and the lessin1 until all

the 1enerations and until all the eternities of eternities# Amen.

Sermon on the Cross and the Good Thief

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