XXXVI.

In a few days, after he had ended this ministry, and emptied all his coffers, in order that the burden of his money might not hinder him from entering in at the narrow gate, on the fortieth day after his father's decease, and in remembrance of him, he called together all his officers, and those who wore soldiers' attire, and of the citizens not a few. Sitting in the front, according to custom, in the audience of all he said, "Lo, as ye see, Abenner, my father the king, has died like any beggar. Neither wealth nor kingly glory, nor I his loving son, nor any of his kith and kindred, has availed to help him, or to save him from the sentence without reprieve. But he is gone to yonder judgement seat, to give account of his life in this world, carrying with him no advocate whatsoever, except his deeds, good or bad. And the same law is ordained by nature for every man born of woman, and there is no escape. Now, therefore, hearken unto me, friends and brethren, people and holy heritage of the Lord, whom Christ our God has purchased with his own precious blood, and delivered from the ancient error, and bondage of the adversary. Ye yourselves know my manner of life among you; that ever since I knew Christ, and was counted worthy to become his servant, I have hated all things, and loved him only, and how this was my desire, to escape from the tempest and vain tumult of the world, and commune alone with him, and in undisturbed peace of soul serve my God and Master. But my father's opposition held me back, and the command that biddeth us to honour our fathers. So, by the grace and help of God, I have not laboured in vain, nor spent these days for naught, I have brought my father nigh to Christ, and have taught you all to know the one true God, the Lord of all; and yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me, which rescued me also from superstitious error, and from the worship of idols, and freed you, O my people, from cruel captivity. So now it is high time to fulfil the service that I promised to God; high time to depart thitherward, where he himself shall lead me, where I may perform my vows which I made unto him. Now, therefore, look you out a man whom ye will, to be your leader and king; for by this time ye have been conformed to the will of the Lord, and of his commandments nothing has been hidden from you. Walk ye therein; turn not aside, neither to the right hand, nor to the left, and the God of peace be with you all!"

When all that company and the common people heard thereof, anon there arose a clamour, an uproar, and a mighty cry and confusion, all weeping like orphans and bewailing their loss. Lamenting bitterly, they protested with oaths and with tears, that they would never let him go, but would restrain him and not suffer in any wise his departure. While the common people, and they in authority, were thus crying aloud, the king broke in, and beckoned with his hand to the multitude and charged them to keep silence. He declared that he gave in to their instancy, and dismissed them still grieving, and bearing on their cheeks the signs of sorrow. And Ioasaph did thus. There was one of the senators first in favour with Ioasaph, a man honoured for his godliness and dignity, Barachias by name, who, as has been already told, when Nachor, feigning to be Barlaam, was disputing with the philosophers, alone was ready to stand by Nachor and fight for him, for his heart was fired with heavenly love. Him the king took apart, and spoke gently with him, and earnestly besought him to receive the kingdom, and, in the fear of God, to shepherd his people; in order that he himself might take the journey that he desired.

But Barachias would put aside and reject his offer, saying, "O king, how wrongful is your judgement, and your word contrary to divine command! If you hast learned to love your neighbour as thyself, with what right art you eager to shift the burden off your back and lay it upon mine? If it be good to be king, keep the good to your self: but, if it be a stone of stumbling and rock of offence to your soul, why put it in my pathway and seek to trip me up?" When Ioasaph perceived that he spoke thus, and that his purpose was fixed, he ceased from communing with him. And now, at about the dead of night, he wrote his people a letter, full of much wisdom, expounding to them all godliness; telling them what they should think concerning God, what life, what hymns and what thanksgiving they should offer unto him. Next, he charged them to receive none other than Barachias to be ruler of the kingdom. Then left he in his bed-chamber the roll containing his letter, and, unobserved of all, went forth from his palace. But he might not win through undetected, for, early on the morrow, the tidings, that he was departed, anon made commotion and mourning among the people, and, in much haste, forth went every man for to seek him; they being minded by all means to cut off his flight. And their zeal was not spent in vain; for, when they had occupied all the high-ways, and encompassed all the mountains, and surrounded the pathless ravines, they discovered him in a watercourse, his hands uplifted to heaven, saying the prayer proper of the Sixth Hour.

When they beheld him, they surrounded him, and besought him with team, upbraiding him for departing from them. "But," said he, "why labour ye in vain? No longer hope to have me to your king." Yet gave he way to their much opposition, and turned again to his palace. And, when he had assembled all the folk, he signified his will. Then with oath he confirmed his word, that he would dwell with them not one day more. "For," said he, "I have fulfilled my ministry toward you, and have omitted naught, neither have I kept back anything that was profitable unto you, in failing to show or teach you, testifying to all the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and pointing out the paths of repentance. And now behold I go the road that I have long time desired, and all ye shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, as says the holy Apostle, that I am pure from the blood of you all, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

When they heard this, and perceived the steadfastness of his purpose, that nothing could hinder him from his resolve, they wept like orphans over their bereavement, but could in no wise over-persuade him. Then did the king take that Barachias, of whom we have already spoken, saying, "This is he, brethren, whom I appoint to be your king." And though Barachias stoutly resisted, yet he established him, unwilling and reluctant, upon the royal throne, and placed the diadem on his head, and gave the kingly ring into his hand. Then he stood facing the cast and made prayer for King Barachias, that his faith toward God might be preserved unwavering, and that he might keep without faltering the path of Christ's commandments. Therewith he prayed for the clergy and all the flock, asking of God succour for them and salvation, and all that might fitly be asked for their welfare.

Thus he prayed, and then turning said unto Barachias, "Behold, brother, I charge you, as the Apostle once adjured his people, 'Take heed unto thyself, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you king, to feed the Lord's people, whom he has purchased with his own blood.' And even as you wast before me in the knowledge of God, and didst serve him with a pure conscience, so now also show the more zeal in pleasing him. For, as you hast received of God a mighty sovereignty, you owest him the greater repayment. Render therefore to your Benefactor the debt of thanksgiving, by the keeping of his holy commandments and by turning aside from every path whose end is destruction. For it is with kingdoms as with ships. If one of the sailors blunder it bringeth but small damage to the crew. But if the steersman err, he causeth the whole ship to perish. Even so it is with sovranty: if a subject err, he harmeth himself more than the state. But if the king err, he causeth injury to the whole realm. Therefore, as one that shall render strict account, if you neglect aught of your duty, guard thyself with all diligence in that which is good. Hate all pleasure that draws into sin: for, says the Apostle, 'Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.' Consider the wheel of men's affairs, how it runs round and round, turning and whirling them now up, now down: and amid all its sudden changes, keep you unchanged a pious mind. To change with every change of affairs betokeneth an unstable heart. But be you steadfast, wholly established upon that which is good. Be not lifted and vainly puffed up because of temporal honour; but, with purified reason, understand the nothingness of your own nature, and the span-length and swift flight of life here, and death the yoke-fellow of the flesh. If you consider these things, you shalt not be cast into the pit of arrogance, but shalt fear God, the true and heavenly King, and verily you shalt be blessed. For he says, 'Blessed are all they that fear the Lord, and walk in his ways,' and 'Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord: he shall have great delight in his commandments.' And which commandments above all shouldest you observe? 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy,' and 'Be ye merciful, as your heavenly Father is merciful.' For the fulfilment of this commandment, above all, is required of them that are in high authority. And, soothly, the holder of great authority ought to imitate the giver of that authority to the best of his ability. And herein shall he best imitate God, by considering that nothing is to be preferred before showing mercy. Nay, further, nothing so surely draws the subject to loyalty toward his Sovereign as the grace of charity bestowed on such as need it. For the service that comes from fear is flattery in disguise, with the pretence of respect cozening them that pay heed to it; and the unwilling subject rebelleth when he finds occasion. Whereas he that is held by the ties of loyalty is steadfast in his obedience to the ruling power. Wherefore be you easy of access to all and open your ears unto the poor, that you mayest find the ear of God open unto you. For as we are to our fellow-servants, such shall we find our Master to us-ward. And, like as we do hear others, so shall we be heard ourselves: and, as we see, so shall we be seen by the divine all-seeing eye. Therefore pay we first mercy for mercy, that we may obtain like for like.

"But hear yet another commandment, the fellow of the former; 'Forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you;' and 'If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly father forgive you your trespasses.' Wherefore bear no malice against them that offend against you; but, when you askest forgiveness of your sins, forgive thyself also them that injure you, because forgiveness is repaid by forgiveness, and by making peace with our fellow-servants we are ourselves delivered from the wrath of our Master. Again, a lack of compassion towards them that trespass against us makes our own trespasses unpardonable, even as you hast heard what befell the man that owed ten thousand talents, how, through his want of pity on his fellow-servant, he was again required to pay all that mighty debt. So we must take good heed lest a like fate betide us. But let us forgive every debt, and cast all anger out of our hearts, in order that our many debts, too, may be forgiven. Beside this, and before all things, keep you that good thing which is committed to your trust, the holy Word of faith wherein you hast been taught and instructed. And let no tare of heresy grow up amongst you, but preserve the heavenly seed pure and sincere, that it may yield a manifold harvest to the master, when he comes to demand account of our lives, and to reward us according to our deeds, when the righteous shall shine forth as the sun, but darkness and everlasting shame shall cover the sinners. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, as it is written, and prayed again in tears. And he turned him round, and kissed Barachias, whom he had chosen to their king, and all the officers. Then came a scene fit, belike, to make one weep. They all crowded around him, as though his presence meant life to them, and his departure would reave them of their very souls; and what piteous pleading, what extravagance of grief did they omit? They kissed him; they hung about him; they were beside themselves for anguish of heart. "Wo is us," cried they, "for this grievous calamity!" They called him, Master, Father, Saviour, Benefactor. "Through your," said they, "we learned to know God, and were redeemed from error, and found rest from every ill. What remaineth us after you are gone? What evils shall not befall us?" Thus saying, they smote upon their breasts, and bewailed the misfortune that had overtaken them. But he with words of comfort hushed their sobs, and promised to be with them still in the spirit though he might no longer abide with them in the body. And when he had thus spoken, in the sight of all he went forth from the palace. And immediately all the people followed him. They despaired of his return; they ran from the city, as from a sight that they could no longer endure. But when they were outside the city, Ioasaph addressed them with sharp words, and chode with them harshly; and so they were parted from him, and unwillingly went home, often turning round to look on him, and stumbling on their road. And some of the hotter spirits also followed afar off weeping, until the shades of night parted them one from another.

XXXVI

Ἐν ὀλίγαις δὲ ἡμέραις τὴν τοιαύτην τελέσας διακονίαν καὶ πάντας τοὺς θησαυροὺς κατακενώσας, ὅπως μέλλοντι τὴν στενὴν εἰσιέναι πύλην μηδὲν αὐτῷ ἐμποδίσειεν ὁ τῶν χρημάτων ὄγκος, τῇ τεσσαρακοστῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς τοῦ πατρὸς τελευτῆς, μνήμην αὐτῷ τελῶν, συγκαλεῖ πάντας τοὺς ἐν τέλει καὶ τοὺς στρατιωτικὰ περιεζωσμένους καὶ τοῦ πολιτικοῦ λαοῦ οὐκ ὀλίγους. καὶ προκαθίσας, ὡς ἔθος, φησὶν εἰς ἐπήκοον πάντων: Ἰδού, καθὼς ὁρᾶτε, Ἀβεννὴρ πατήρ μου καὶ βασιλεὺς τέθνηκεν ὡς εἷς τῶν πενήτων, καὶ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ οὔτε ὁ πλοῦτος οὔτε ἡ βασιλικὴ δόξα, οὔτε μὴν ἐγὼ ὁ φιλοπάτωρ υἱός, οὔτε τις τῶν λοιπῶν αὐτοῦ φίλων καὶ συγγενῶν, βοηθῆσαι ἴσχυσεν αὐτῷ καὶ τῆς ἀπαραιτήτου ψήφου ἐξελέσθαι. ἀλλ' ὑπάγει πρὸς τὰ ἐκεῖθεν δικαιωτήρια, λόγον ὑφέξων τῆς πολιτείας τοῦ παρόντος βίου, μηδένα τῶν ἁπάντων συνεργὸν ἐπαγόμενος, ἀλλ' ἢ μόνα τὰ αὐτῷ πεπραγμένα ὁποῖα ἂν ᾖ. τὸ αὐτὸ δὲ τοῦτο καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς τὴν βρότειον λαχοῦσι φύσιν συμβαίνειν πέφυκε, καὶ ἄλλως οὐκ ἔστι. νῦν οὖν ἀκούσατέ μου, φίλοι καὶ ἀδελφοί, λαὸς Κυρίου καὶ κλῆρος ἅγιος, οὓς ἐξηγόρασε Χριστὸς ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν τῷ τιμίῳ αὐτοῦ αἵματι καὶ ἐρρύσατο τῆς παλαιᾶς πλάνης καὶ δουλείας τοῦ ἀντικειμένου. αὐτοὶ οἴδατε τὴν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀναστροφήν μου, ὡς ἐξότε τὸν Χριστὸν ἔγνων καὶ δοῦλος αὐτοῦ ἠξιώθην γενέσθαι, πάντα μισήσας, αὐτὸν ἐπεπόθησα μόνον, καὶ τοῦτό μοι ἦν καταθύμιον, τῆς ζάλης τοῦ βίου καὶ ματαίας τύρβης ὑπεξελθόντα, μόνον μόνῳ αὐτῷ συνεῖναι καὶ ἐν ἀταράχῳ γαλήνῃ ψυχῆς δουλεῦσαι τῷ Θεῷ μου καὶ δεσπότῃ. ἀλλά με κατέσχεν ἡ τοῦ πατρός μου ἔνστασις, καὶ ἐντολὴ ἡ τιμᾶν τοὺς γεννήτορας κελεύουσα. ὅθεν, Θεοῦ χάριτι καὶ συνεργείᾳ, οὐκ εἰς μάτην ἐκοπίασα, οὐδ' εἰς κενὸν τὰς τοιαύτας ἀνήλωσα ἡμέρας: ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνόν τε ᾠκείωσα Χριστῷ καὶ πάντας ὑμᾶς τοῦτον μόνον γινώσκειν Θεὸν ἀληθινὸν καὶ Κύριον τοῦ παντὸς ἐδίδαξα, οὐκ ἐγὼ τοῦτο ποιήσας, ἀλλ' ἡ χάρις αὐτοῦ ἡ σὺν ἐμοί, ἥτις κἀμὲ τῆς δεισιδαίμονος πλάνης καὶ λατρείας τῶν εἰδώλων ἐξείλετο, καὶ ὑμᾶς, λαός μου, τῆς χαλεπῆς ἠλευθέρωσεν αἰχμαλωσίας. καιρὸς οὖν ἤδη λοιπὸν τὰ ἐπηγγελμένα τῷ Θεῷ ἔργα πληρῶσαι: καιρὸς ἀπελθεῖν ὅπου ἂν αὐτὸς ὁδηγήσῃ με καὶ ἀποδοῦναι τὰς εὐχάς μου ἃς ηὐξάμην αὐτῷ. νῦν οὖν σκέψασθε ὑμεῖς ὃν ἂν βούλοισθε ἀφηγεῖσθαι ὑμῶν καὶ βασιλεύειν: ἤδη γὰρ κατηρτισμένοι ἐστὲ εἰς τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀποκέκρυπται ὑμῖν τῶν αὐτοῦ προσταγμάτων. ἐν τούτοις πορεύεσθε: μὴ ἐκκλίνητε δεξιὰ ἢ ἀριστερά: καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τῆς εἰρήνης εἴη μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.

Ταῦτα ὡς ἤκουσεν ὁ λαὸς ἐκεῖνος καὶ δῆμος, θόρυβος εὐθὺς καὶ πάταγος καὶ βοὴ πλείστη καὶ σύγχυσις ἦν, κλαιόντων πάντων καὶ ὀδυρομένων τὴν ὀρφανίαν. τοιαῦτα θρηνοῦντες, πρὸς τοῖς θρήνοις καὶ ὅρκοις ἐβεβαίουν μὴ μεθήσειν ὅλως, ἀλλ' ἀνθέξεσθαι, καὶ τὴν ὑποχώρησιν αὐτῷ μὴ τοπαράπαν παραχωρῆσαι. οὕτω βοῶντος τοῦ δήμου καὶ τῶν ἐν τέλει πάντων, ὑπολαβὼν ὁ βασιλεὺς κατασείει τὸν ὄχλον, καὶ σιγᾶν αὐτοῖς διακελεύεται. καὶ εἴκειν τῇ ἐκείνων ἐνστάσει εἰπών, λυπουμένους ὅμως καὶ τὰ τῆς οἰμωγῆς σημεῖα ἐπὶ τῶν παρειῶν φέροντας οἴκαδε ἐκπέμπει. αὐτὸς δὲ ἕνα τῶν ἀρχόντων, ὃς ἦν πρόκριτος αὐτῷ, ἐπ' εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι βίου θαυμαζόμενος, Βαραχίας τοὔνομα ὅνπερ καὶ ἀνωτέρω ἐδήλωσεν ὁ λόγος, ἡνίκα Ναχὼρ τὸν Βαρλαὰμ ὑποκρινόμενος φιλοσόφοις διελέγετο, καὶ μόνος ὁ Βαραχίας ἡτοιμάσθη συμπαραστῆναι αὐτῷ καὶ συναγωνίσασθαι, ζήλῳ θείῳ ἐκκαυθεὶς τὴν καρδίαν, τοῦτον καταμόνας λαβὼν ὁ βασιλεύς, προσηνῶς διελέγετο, καὶ θερμότατα ἐδεῖτο παραλαβεῖν τὴν βασιλείαν, καὶ ἐν φόβῳ Θεοῦ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ποιμᾶναι, ὡς ἂν αὐτὸς τὴν ποθουμένην αὐτῷ πορεύσηται ὁδόν.

Ὡς δὲ αὐτὸν ἀπαναινόμενον εἶδε καὶ πάντη ἀπαγορεύοντα, καί, Ὦ βασιλεῦ, λέγοντα, ὡς ἄδικός σου ἡ κρίσις: ὡς οὐ κατ' ἐντολὴν σοῦ ὁ λόγος: εἰ γὰρ ἀγαπῆσαι τὸν πλησίον ὡς ἑαυτὸν ἐδιδάχθης, τίνι λόγῳ ὅπερ αὐτὸς ἀπορρίψαι βάρος σπουδάζεις, ἐμοὶ ἐπιθεῖναι ἐπείγῃ; εἰ μὲν γὰρ καλὸν τὸ βασιλεύειν, αὐτὸς τὸ καλὸν κάτεχε: εἰ δὲ πρόσκομμα τοῦτο ψυχῆς καὶ σκάνδαλον, τί μοι προτίθης καὶ ὑποσκελίζειν βούλει; ὡς οὖν τοιαῦτα λέγοντα καὶ διαβεβαιούμενον εἶδεν, ἐπαύσατο τῆς ὁμιλίας. καὶ δὴ ὑπὸ νύκτα βαθεῖαν ἐπιστολὴν μὲν διαχαράττει πρὸς τὸν λαόν, πολλῆς γέμουσαν φιλοσοφίας καὶ πᾶσαν ὑπαγορεύουσαν τὴν εὐσέβειαν, ὁποίαν τε ὀφείλουσι περὶ Θεοῦ δόξαν ἔχειν, οἷον δὲ βίον αὐτῷ προσφέρειν, οἵους δὲ ὕμνους, οἵας εὐχαριστίας: εἶτα μὴ ἄλλον ἢ τὸν Βαραχίαν δέξασθαι εἰς τὴν βασίλειον κελεύει ἀρχήν. καί, εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ κοιτῶνα τὸν χάρτην ἐν ᾧ ἡ ἐπιστολὴ καταλιπών, λαθὼν ἅπαντας ἐξέρχεται τοῦ παλατίου. ἀλλ' οὐκ ἠδυνήθη λαθεῖν εἰς τέλος. ἅμα γὰρ πρωῒ τοῦτο ἀκουσθὲν τάραχον εὐθὺς καὶ ὀδυρμὸν τῷ λαῷ ἐνεποίησε: καὶ πάντες τάχει πολλῷ εἰς ζήτησιν αὐτοῦ ἐξέρχονται, προκαταλαβεῖν αὐτῷ τὴν φυγὴν ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου διανοούμενοι: ὅθεν οὐδὲ εἰς μάτην αὐτοῖς ἐχώρησεν ἡ σπουδή. ὡς γὰρ πάσας προκατελάμβανον τὰς ὁδούς, ὄρη δὲ πάντα περιεκύκλουν καὶ ἀτριβεῖς περιήρχοντο φάραγγας, ἐν χειμάρρῳ τινὶ τοῦτον εὑρίσκουσι, χεῖρας εἰς οὐρανὸν ἐκτεταμένας ἔχοντα, καὶ τὴν εὐχὴν τῆς ἕκτης ἐπιτελοῦντα ὥρας.

Ἰδόντες δὲ αὐτὸν περιεχύθησαν δάκρυσι δυσωποῦντες καὶ τὴν ἀποδημίαν ὀνειδίζοντες. ὁ δέ: Τί, φησί, μάτην κοπιᾶτε; μηκέτι γὰρ ἐμὲ βασιλέα ἔχειν ἐλπίζετε. τῇ πολλῇ δὲ αὐτῶν ὑπενδοὺς ἐνστάσει, ὑποστρέφει αὖθις εἰς τὸ παλάτιον. καί, συναγαγὼν ἅπαντας, τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἐφανέρωσε βουλήν. εἶτα καὶ ὅρκοις ἐμπεδοῖ τὸν λόγον, ὡς οὐδεμίαν αὐτοῖς τοῦ λοιποῦ συνέσται ἡμέραν. Ἐγὼ γάρ, φησί, τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς διακονίαν μου ἐπληροφόρησα καὶ οὐδὲν ἐνέλιπον, οὐδὲ ὑπεστειλάμην τῶν συμφερόντων, τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι ὑμῖν καὶ διδάξαι διαμαρτυρόμενος πᾶσι τὴν εἰς τὸν Κύριον ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν πίστιν, καὶ μετανοίας ὁδοὺς ὑποδεικνύων. καὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ πορεύομαι τὴν ὁδὸν ἣν ἔκπαλαι ἐπόθουν: καὶ οὐκ ἔτι ὄψεσθε τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ὑμεῖς πάντες. διὸ μαρτύρομαι ὑμῖν τῇ σήμερον ἡμέρᾳ, κατὰ τὸν θεῖον Ἀπόστολον, ὅτι καθαρὸς ἐγώ εἰμι ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵματος πάντων ὑμῶν. οὐ γὰρ ὑπεστειλάμην τοῦ μὴ ἀναγγεῖλαι ὑμῖν πᾶσαν τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ.

Ταῦτα ἀκούσαντες, καὶ τὸ τῆς γνώμης αὐτοῦ στερρὸν ἐπιστάμενοι, ὡς οὐδὲν τῆς προθέσεως κωλῦσαι δύναται, ὠδύροντο μὲν τὴν ὀρφανίαν, οὐκ εἶχον δὲ ὅλως αὐτὸν πειθόμενον. τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸν Βαραχίαν ἐκεῖνον, ὃν καὶ φθάσας ὁ λόγος ἐδήλωσε, κατασχών, Τοῦτον, εἶπεν ἀδελφοί, ὑμῖν προχειρίζομαι βασιλέα. τοῦ δὲ ἰσχυρῶς πρὸς τὸ πρᾶγμα ἀπειθοῦντος, ἄκοντα καὶ μὴ βουλόμενον τῇ βασιλικῇ ἀρχῇ ἐγκαθίστησι, καὶ τῇ κεφαλῇ αὐτοῦ τὸ διάδημα περιτίθησι, τὸν βασιλικόν τε δακτύλιον δίδωσιν εἰς τὴν χεῖρα. καὶ στὰς κατὰ ἀνατολὰς ηὔξατο εὐχὴν τῷ βασιλεῖ Βαραχίᾳ: ἀπερίτρεπτον αὐτῷ τὴν εἰς Θεὸν φυλαχθῆναι πίστιν καὶ ἀκλινῆ τὴν κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ Χριστοῦ εὑρεῖν πορείαν. σὺν τούτῳ δὲ ὑπερηύχετο τοῦ κλήρου καὶ τοῦ ποιμνίου παντός, αἰτούμενος ἀντίληψιν αὐτοῖς παρὰ Κυρίου καὶ σωτηρίαν, καὶ πᾶν ὅτιπερ ἂν αὐτοῖς εἰς αἴτησιν ᾖ πρὸς τὸ συμφέρον οἰκονομούμενον.

Οὕτως εὐξάμενος ἐπιστραφεὶς λέγει τῷ Βαραχίᾳ: Ἰδού σοι, ἀδελφέ, ἐντέλλομαι καθώς ποτε ὁ Ἀπόστολος διεμαρτύρατο: Πρόσεχε σεαυτῷ καὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ, ἐν ᾧ σε τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον ἔθετο βασιλέα, ποιμαίνειν τὸν λαὸν τοῦ Κυρίου ὃν περιεποιήσατο διὰ τοῦ αἵματος τοῦ ἰδίου. καὶ καθὼς πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἔγνως τὸν Θεὸν καὶ ἐλάτρευσας αὐτῷ ἐν καθαρῷ συνειδότι, οὕτω καὶ νῦν πλείονα σπουδὴν ἐνδείκνυσο εὐαρεστῆσαι αὐτῷ. ὡς γὰρ καὶ μεγάλης ἠξιώθης παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀρχῆς, τοσούτῳ μείζονος ἀμοιβῆς ὀφειλέτης ὑπάρχεις. οὐκοῦν ἀπόδος τῷ εὐεργέτῃ τὸ χρέος τῆς εὐχαριστίας, τὰς ἁγίας αὐτοῦ φυλάσσων ἐντολὰς καὶ πάσης ἐκκλίνων ὁδοῦ εἰς ἀπώλειαν φερούσης. ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν πλεόντων, ὅταν μὲν ναύτης σφαλῇ, μικρὰν φέρει τοῖς πλέουσι βλάβην: ὅταν δὲ ὁ κυβερνήτης, παντὸς ἐργάζεται τοῦ πλοίου ἀπώλειαν: οὕτω καὶ ἐν βασιλείοις, ἂν μέν τις τῶν ἀρχομένων ἁμάρτῃ, οὐ τοσοῦτον τὸ κοινὸν ὅσον ἑαυτὸν ἀδικεῖ, ἂν δὲ αὐτὸς ὁ βασιλεύς, πάσης ἐργάζεται τῆς πολιτείας βλάβην. ὡς μεγάλας οὖν ὑφέξων εὐθύνας, εἴ τι παρίδοις τῶν δεόντων, μετὰ πολλῆς ἀκριβείας φύλαττε σεαυτὸν ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ. μίσησον πᾶσαν ἡδονὴν πρὸς ἁμαρτίαν ἕλκουσαν: φησὶ γὰρ ὁ Ἀπόστολος: Εἰρήνην διώκετε μετὰ πάντων, καὶ τὸν ἁγιασμὸν οὗ χωρὶς οὐδεὶς ὄψεται τὸν Κύριον. τὸν κύκλον πρόσεχε ὅστις περιτρέχει τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων, ἄλλοτε ἄλλως φέρων αὐτὰ καὶ περιφέρων: καὶ ἐν τῇ τούτων ἀγχιστρόφῳ μεταβολῇ ἀμετάβλητον ἔχε τὸν εὐσεβῆ λογισμόν. τὸ γὰρ συμμεταβάλλεσθαι ταῖς τῶν πραγμάτων μεταβολαῖς διανοίας ἀβεβαίου τεκμήριον. σὺ δὲ πάγιος ἔσο, ἐν τῷ ἀγαθῷ ὅλως ἐρηρεισμένος. μὴ ἐπαίρου διὰ τῆς προσκαίρου δόξης πρὸς μάταιον φύσημα: ἀλλὰ κεκαθαρμένῳ λογισμῷ τὸ οὐτιδανὸν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ νόει φύσεως, τὸ βραχύ τε καὶ ὠκύμορον τῆς ἐνταῦθα ζωῆς καὶ τὸν συνεζευγμένον τῇ σαρκὶ θάνατον. καὶ ταῦτα λογιζόμενος εἰς τὸν τῆς ὑπεροψίας οὐ βληθήσῃ βόθρον, ἀλλὰ φοβηθήσῃ τὸν Θεόν, τὸν ἀληθινὸν καὶ ἐπουράνιον βασιλέα, καὶ ὄντως μακάριος ἔσῃ. Μακάριοι γάρ, φησί, πάντες οἱ φοβούμενοι τὸν Κύριον, οἱ πορευόμενοι ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ: καί: Μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὁ φοβούμενος τὸν Κύριον: ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ θελήσει σφόδρα. ποίας δὲ πρὸ πάντων ὀφείλεις τηρεῖν ἐντολάς; Μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται: καί: Γίνεσθε οἰκτίρμονες, ὡς ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος οἰκτίρμων ἐστί. ταύτην γὰρ τὴν ἐντολὴν πρὸ πάντων ἀπαιτοῦνται οἱ ἐν μεγίστῃ ὄντες ἀρχῇ. καὶ ἀληθῶς ὁ μεγάλης ἐξουσίας ἐπιλαβόμενος τὸν δοτῆρα τῆς ἐξουσίας ὀφείλει μιμεῖσθαι κατὰ δύναμιν: ἐν τούτῳ δὲ μάλιστα τὸν Θεὸν μιμήσεται, ἐν τῷ μηδὲν ἡγεῖσθαι τοῦ ἐλεεῖν προτιμότερον. ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸ ὑπήκοον οὐδὲν οὕτως εἰς εὔνοιαν ἐφέλκεται, ὡς εὐποιΐας χάρις διδομένη τοῖς χρῄζουσιν: ἡ γὰρ διὰ φόβον γινομένη θεραπεία κατεσχηματισμένη ἐστὶ θωπεία, πεπλασμένῳ τιμῆς ὀνόματι φενακίζουσα τοὺς αὐτῇ προσέχοντας: καὶ τὸ ἀκουσίως ὑποτεταγμένον στασιάζει καιροῦ λαβόμενον: τὸ δὲ τοῖς δεσμοῖς τῆς εὐνοίας κρατούμενον βεβαίαν ἔχει πρὸς τὸ κρατοῦν τὴν εὐπείθειαν. διὸ εὐπρόσιτος ἔσο τοῖς δεομένοις, καὶ ἄνοιγε τὰ ὦτα τοῖς πενομένοις, ἵνα εὕρῃς τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀκοὴν ἀνεῳγμένην: οἷοι γὰρ τοῖς ἡμετέροις γινόμεθα συνδούλοις, τοιοῦτον περὶ ἡμᾶς εὑρήσομεν τὸν δεσπότην, καὶ ὡς ἀκούομεν ἀκουσθησόμεθα, ὡς ὁρῶμεν ὁραθησόμεθα ὑπὸ τοῦ θείου καὶ παντεφόρου βλέμματος. προεισενέγκωμεν οὖν τοῦ ἐλέου τὸν ἔλεον, ἵνα τῷ ὁμοίῳ τὸ ὅμοιον ἀντιλάβωμεν.

Ἀλλὰ καὶ ἑτέραν ἄκουε ἐντολὴν σύζυγον τῆς προτέρας: Ἄφετε, καὶ ἀφεθήσεται ὑμῖν: καί, Ἐὰν οὐκ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ὑμῖν ἀφήσει ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τὰ παραπτώματα ὑμῶν. διὸ μὴ μνησικακήσῃς τοῖς πταίουσιν: ἀλλά, συγγνώμην αἰτούμενος ἁμαρτημάτων, συγγίνωσκε καὶ αὐτὸς τοῖς εἰς σὲ πλημμελοῦσιν, ὅτι ἀφέσει ἀντιδίδοται ἄφεσις, καὶ τῇ πρὸς τοὺς ὁμοδούλους ἡμῶν καταλλαγῇ τῆς δεσποτικῆς ὀργῆς γίνεται ἀπαλλαγή. καὶ αὖθις τὸ ἀσυμπαθὲς ἡμῶν πρὸς τοὺς πταίοντας ἀσύγγνωστα ποιεῖ ἡμῖν τὰ ἡμέτερα πταίσματα: καθάπερ ἀκούεις τί ὁ τῶν μυρίων πέπονθεν ὀφειλέτης ταλάντων, τῇ πρὸς τὸν σύνδουλον ἀσπλαγχνίᾳ ἑαυτῷ τὴν εἴσπραξιν ἀνανεώσας τοῦ τοσούτου χρέους. διὸ προσεκτέον ἀκριβῶς, μὴ καὶ ἡμεῖς τὰ ὅμοια πάθοιμεν: ἀλλ' ἀφήσωμεν πᾶσαν ὀφειλήν, καὶ πᾶσαν μῆνιν ἐκ καρδίας ἐκβάλλωμεν, ἵνα καὶ ἡμῖν ἀφεθῇ τὰ πολλὰ ἡμῶν ὀφλήματα. ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ καὶ πρὸ πάντων τὴν καλὴν φύλαττε παρακαταθήκην, τὸν εὐσεβῆ τῆς πίστεως λόγον, ὃν ἔμαθες καὶ ἐδιδάχθης: καὶ πᾶν ζιζάνιον αἱρέσεως μὴ ἐκφυέσθω ἐν ὑμῖν: ἀλλὰ καθαρὸν καὶ ἄδολον τὸν θεῖον διατήρησον σπόρον, ἵνα πολύχουν τὸν καρπὸν ὑποδείξῃς τῷ δεσπότῃ, ἡνίκα ἔλθῃ λόγον ἀπαιτῶν ἑκάστῳ τῶν βεβιωμένων καὶ ἀποδιδοὺς καθὰ ἐπράξαμεν, ὅταν οἱ μὲν δίκαιοι λάμψωσιν ὡς ὁ ἥλιος, τοὺς ἁμαρτωλοὺς δὲ τὸ σκότος καλύψῃ καὶ αἰσχύνη αἰώνιος. καὶ τὰ νῦν, ἀδελφοί, παρατίθεμαι ὑμᾶς τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ τῷ Λόγῳ τῆς χάριτος αὐτοῦ, τῷ δυναμένῳ ὑμᾶς ἐποικοδομῆσαι καὶ δοῦναι ὑμῖν κληρονομίαν ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πᾶσι.

Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπών, θεὶς τὰ γόνατα αὐτοῦ, καθὼς γέγραπται, μετὰ δακρύων αὖθις προσηύξατο. καὶ ἐπιστραφεὶς κατεφίλησε τὸν Βαραχίαν ὃν βασιλέα προεχειρίσατο, καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐν τέλει. τότε δὴ γίνεται πρᾶγμα δακρύων ὡς ἀληθῶς ἄξιον. περιστάντες γὰρ αὐτὸν ἅπαντες, ὥσπερ τῷ ἐκείνῳ συνεῖναι ζῶντες καὶ τῇ διαιρέσει μέλλοντες συναφαιρεῖσθαι καὶ τὰς ψυχάς, τί μὴ πρὸς οἶκτον ἔλεγον; ποίαν θρήνων ὑπερβολὴν ἀπελίμπανον; κατεφίλουν αὐτόν, περιέβαλλον: παραφρονεῖν αὐτοὺς ἐποίει τὸ πάθος. Οὐαὶ ἡμῖν, ἐβόων, τῆς χαλεπῆς ταύτης δυστυχίας: δεσπότην αὐτὸν ἀνεκαλοῦντο, πατέρα, σωτῆρα, εὐεργέτην: Διά σου, φησί, τὸν Θεὸν ἔγνωμεν: τῆς πλάνης λελυτρώμεθα: τῶν κακῶν πάντων ἀνάπαυσιν εὕρομεν. τί λοιπὸν ἔσται ἡμῖν μετὰ τὸν σὸν χωρισμόν; ποῖα οὐ καταλήψεται κακά; τοιαῦτα λέγοντες, τὰ στήθη ἔπαιον, καὶ τὴν κατασχοῦσαν αὐτοὺς ἀνωλοφύροντο συμφοράν. ὁ δὲ λόγοις αὐτοὺς παρακλήσεως τῶν πολλῶν κατασιγήσας οἰμωγῶν, καὶ συνεῖναι τῷ πνεύματι ἐπαγγειλάμενος, ὡς τῷ γε σώματι ἀδύνατον ἤδη τοῦτο γενέσθαι, τοιαῦτα εἰπών, πάντων ὁρώντων ἐξέρχεται τοῦ παλατίου. καὶ εὐθὺς πάντες συνείποντο. τὴν ὑποστροφὴν ἀπηγόρευον: τὴν πόλιν, ὡς μηκέτι δυνατὸν ὄμμασιν ὀφθῆναι τοῖς ἑαυτῶν, ἀπεδίδρασκον. ὡς δὲ τῆς πόλεως ἔξω γεγόνασι, μόλις ποτέ, τῇ τομῇ τοῦ λόγου παραινοῦντος αὐτοῦ καὶ δριμυτέραν που τὴν ἐπιτίμησιν ἐπιφέροντος, ἀπ' αὐτοῦ διερράγησαν, καὶ ἄκοντες ἐπανήρχοντο, πυκνῶς αὐτοῖς τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἐπιστρεφομένων, καὶ τὴν πορείαν τοῖς ποσὶν ἐγκοπτόντων. τινὲς δὲ τῶν θερμοτέρων καὶ ὀδυρόμενοι μακρόθεν ἠκολούθουν αὐτῷ, ἕως ἡ νὺξ ἐπελθοῦσα διέστησεν αὐτοὺς ἀπ' ἀλλήλων.