site: migne

title: Epistolae ad diversos

author: Dorotheus of Gaza (Dorotheus Archimandrita)

languages: en grc

source_edition: Migne, Patrologia Graeca, vol. 88, coll. 1837–1841

source_text: [1837] Α'. — Πρὸς ἀδελφὸν στενοχωρούμενον ὑπὸ πειρασμοῦ. Πρῶτον μὲν, τέκνον, οὐχ οἴδαμεν τὰς οἰκονομίας τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ὀφείλομεν παραχωρεῖν αὐτῷ τὴν διοίκησιν ἡμῶν, ὅπερ καὶ νῦν μάλιστα ὀφείλομεν ποιεῖν. Ἐὰν γὰρ θελήσῃς ἀνθρωπίνοις λογισμοῖς κρίνειν τὰ [bid:c1837d]ἀπαντῶντα, καὶ μὴ μᾶλλον ἐπὶ τὸν Θεὸν ἐπιῤῥίπτειν τὴν μέριμνάν σου, κοποῦσαι. Δεῖ οὖν, ὅτε ἔρχονται στενοῦντές σε ἐναντίοι λογισμοὶ, κράζειν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν· Κύριε ὡς θέλεις καὶ ὡς οἶδας, οἰκονόμει σὺ τὸ πρᾶγμα. Πολλὰ γὰρ παρ' ὃ νομίζομεν ἢ παρ' ἐλπίδας ποιεῖ ἡ πρόνοια τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἄλλως ἐλπι[1840][bid:c1840a]ζόμενα πράγματα, ἐπὶ τῆς πείρας εὑρίθησεν ἑτέρως· καὶ ἁπλῶς μὴ ἀνθρωπίνοις λογισμοῖς θέλειν, ὡς εἶπον, ἢ νομίζειν περιγενέσθαι λογισμῶν δαιμονικῶν. Ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν εἰδὼς ταῦτα, τό, Μὴ μεριμνῆσαι περὶ τῆς αὔριον, φησί, ἀνθρώπῳ εἴρηται ἐν πειρασμῷ ὄντι. Πιστεύων οὖν ἀληθῆ ταῦτα εἶναι, τέκνον, ἄφες πάντα λογισμὸν ἴδιον, κἂν συνετὸς ᾖ, καὶ κράτει τὴν εἰς Θεὸν ἐλπίδα, τὸν ἐκ περισσοῦ ποιοῦντα ὧν αἰτούμεθα, ἢ νοοῦμεν. Ἠδυνάμην πᾶσιν οἷς εἶπας ἀντιθῆναι· ἀλλ' οὐ θέλω ἀντιστῆναί σοι, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ἐμαυτῷ· εἰ μὴ μᾶλλον τὴν ἐπὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα τοῦ Θεοῦ ὁδὸν ὑποδεῖξαι· αὕτη γὰρ ἀμεριμνοτέρα καὶ ἀσφαλεστέρα ἐστίν. Ὁ Κύριος [bid:c1840b]μετὰ σοῦ. Β'. — Πρὸς τὸν αὐτόν. Μνήσθητι, τέκνον, τοῦ εἰπόντος, ὅτι Διὰ πολλῶν θλίψεων δεῖ ἡμᾶς εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ μὴ διορίσαντος, τοιῶνδε, ἀλλ' εἰπόντος ἀδιορίστως, ὅτι διὰ πολλῶν θλίψεων. Καὶ οὕτως ὑπόμεινον τὰ ἐπερχόμενα μετ' εὐχαριστίας, ἐν γνώσει, ὡς ἡδέα, ἐὰν ἔχεις ἁμαρτίας· εἰ δὲ μὴ ἔχεις, ὡς καθαίροντά σε ἀπὸ παθῶν, ἢ προξενοῦντα τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν. Ὁ Θεὸς ὁ φιλάνθρωπος καὶ φιλόψυχος, ὁ ἐπιτιμήσας τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ ποιήσας γαλήνην μεγάλην, ἐπιτιμήσει καὶ τῷ σῷ πειρασμῷ, τέκνον, καὶ δώῃ σοι πλάτος καρδίας, εἰς τὸ εἰδέναι τὴν κακουργίαν τοῦ ἐχθροῦ. Ἀμήν. [bid:c1840c]Γ'. — Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀδελφὸν ἐμπεσόντα εἰς μακρὰν ἀσθένειαν, καὶ συμπτώματα διάφορα. Παρακαλῶ σε, τέκνον, ὑπόμεινον καὶ εὐχαρίστει ἐπὶ τοῖς συμβαίνουσιν ἐν τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ συμπτώμασι, κατὰ τὸν λέγοντα· Πάντα τὰ ἐπερχόμενά σοι ὡς ἀγαθὰ προσδέχου, ἵνα ὁ σκοπὸς τῆς Προνοίας εὐάρεστον αὐτῇ πληρωθῇ ἐπὶ σοί, τέκνον μου. Ἀνδρίζου τοίνυν καὶ κραταιοῦ ἐν Κυρίῳ, καὶ τῇ περὶ σὲ οἰκονομίᾳ. Ὁ Θεὸς μετὰ σοῦ. Δ'. — Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀδελφὸν ἐν πειρασμῷ ὄντα. Εἰρήνη σοι ἐν Χριστῷ, ἀδελφέ. Πεῖσον τὴν καρδίαν σου, ὅτι σὺ πάντως τὴν ἀφορμὴν παρέσχες τῷ πειρασμῷ, κἂν νῦν πρὸς τὸ παρὸν τὴν αἰτίαν οὐχ εὑρίσκῃς· καὶ μέμψαι σεαυτὸν καὶ ὑπόμεινον καὶ εὖξαι. Καὶ πιστεύω εἰς τὴν εὐσπλαγχνίαν τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ [bid:c1840d]Δεσπότου Χριστοῦ, ὅτι παράγει τὸν πειρασμόν. Εἶπεν ὁ Ἀπόστολος· Ἡ δὲ εἰρήνη τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἡ ὑπερέχουσα πάντα νοῦν, φρουρήσει τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν. Ε'. — Πρὸς τὸν αὐτόν. Ὥσπερ τοῖς σώμασιν αἱ σκιαί, οὕτω καὶ ταῖς ἐντολαῖς οἱ πειρασμοὶ παρακολουθοῦσιν. «Οὐδεὶς γάρ, φησὶν ὁ μέγας Ἀντώνιος, ἀπείραστος εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.» Μὴ οὖν θαυμάσῃς, τέκνον, ἐὰν συμβουλευόμενος περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας σου, πειρασμοὺς εὑρίσκῃς καὶ θλίψεις, ἀλλ' ὑπόμεινον ἀταράχως καὶ εὔχου εὐχαριστῶν, ὅτι ὅλως ἀξιοῦσαι πρὸς γυμνασίαν καὶ δοκιμὴν τῆς ψυχῆς σου πει[1841][bid:c1841a]ρασθῆναι ὑπὲρ τῆς ἐντολῆς. Ὁ ἀγαθὸς Θεὸς χαρίσεταί σοι νῆψιν ἐν καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ καὶ ὑπομονήν. Ϛ'. — Πρὸς τὸν αὐτόν. Ἀγαθοῦ καὶ φιλανθρώπου Θεοῦ ἐσμεν πλάσμα καὶ ἔργον, τοῦ εἰπόντος· Ζῶ ἐγὼ, λέγει Κύριος, οὐ βούλομαι τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ, ὡς τὸ ἐπιστρέψαι καὶ ζῆν αὐτόν. Πάλιν· Οὐκ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους, ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλοὺς εἰς μετάνοιαν. Εἰ οὖν οὕτως ἐστὶ καὶ οὕτως πιστεύομεν, ἐπιῤῥίψωμεν ἐπὶ Κύριον τὴν μέριμναν ἡμῶν· καὶ αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς διαθρέψει, ἤτοι σώσει. Αὐτῷ γὰρ μέλει περὶ ἡμῶν· αὐτὸς καὶ τὴν καρδίαν σου παρακαλέσει, τέκνον, εὐχαῖς ἁγίων. Ἀμήν. Ζ'. — Πρὸς τὸν αὐτόν. [bid:c1841b]Καλῶς ὁ ἀββᾶς Ποιμὴν ἐνόησε, τὸ μὴ μεριμνῆσαί τινας περὶ τῆς αὔριον, πρὸς ἄνθρωπον εἰρῆσθαι ἐν πειρασμῷ ὄντα. Καὶ τό, Ἐπίῤῥιψον ἐπὶ Κύριον τὴν μέριμνάν σου, εἰς τὸ αὐτὸ φέρει. Ἀπόστα οὖν, τέκνον, ἀνθρωπίνων λογισμῶν, καὶ κράτει τὴν εἰς Θεὸν ἐλπίδα, πολλὰ ποιοῦντα ὑπὲρ ἃ διανοούμεθα, καὶ ἀναπαύσει σε ἡ εἰς Θεὸν ἐλπίς. Ὁ Κύριος βοηθῆσαι σοι, τέκνον, διὰ τῆς εὐχῆς τῶν ἁγίων. Δεῖ οὖν ἡμᾶς ἀφιστᾷν ἑαυτοὺς τῶν τοιούτων λογισμῶν, μὴ ἔχοντας θάρσος περὶ τῆς αὔριον ζωῆς. Η'. — Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀσθενέστερόν τινα ἀδελφὸν, λαμβάνοντα διαφόρους λογισμοὺς περὶ τὸν οἰκονομοῦντα τὰ πρὸς τὴν χρείαν αὐτοῦ. Ἐν ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Ἀδελφέ μου, οὐδὲν [bid:c1841c]ἔχομεν δίκαιον πρὸς τὸν πλησίον. Χρεωστοῦμεν γὰρ τοῦτον διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης ὑπερβῆναι καὶ καταπιεῖν. Οὐδεὶς λέγει τῷ πλησίον· Διὰ τί οὐκ ἀγαπᾷς με; ἀλλ’ αὐτὸς ποιῶν τὰ ἄξια τῆς ἀγάπης ἐφέλκεται καὶ τὸν πλησίον εἰς ἀγάπην. Περὶ δὲ τῆς χρείας τοῦ σώματος ἐάν τις ᾖ ἄξιος τοῦ ἀναπαυσθῆναι, καὶ Σαρακηνῶν καρδίαν πληροφορεῖ ὁ Θεὸς ποιῆσαι μετ’ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος κατὰ τὴν χρείαν αὐτοῦ. Ἐὰν δὲ οὐκ ἔστιν ἄξιος, ἢ οὐ συμφέρει αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ παιδείᾳ αὐτοῦ παρακληθῆναι· καινὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ καινὴν γῆν ἐὰν ποιήσῃ, εὑρίσκει ἀνάπαυσιν. Περὶ δὲ τοῦ εἰπεῖν σε ὅτι βαρεῖς τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς, ὁμολογούμενον δικαίωμά ἐστιν. Οὐδεὶς γὰρ προξενῶν ἐντολὴν Θεοῦ ἐργάσασθαι τῷ πλησίον βουλομένῳ σωθῆναι, λέγει ὅτι Βαρῶ αὐτόν. Ὁ μισῶν ἐρεθίζοντας μισεῖ πραότητα. Ὁ φεύγων θλίβοντας, φεύγει τὴν ἐν Χριστῷ ἀνά[bid:c1841d]παυσιν. Ὁ Θεὸς ὁ φιλάνθρωπος, τέκνον, σκεπάσει ἡμᾶς τῇ αὐτοῦ χάριτι, εὐχαῖς πάντων τῶν ἁγίων. Ἀμήν.

english:
[1837] I. — To a brother straitened by temptation.

First of all, child, we do not know the dispensations of God, and we ought to yield to him the governance of ourselves — which now above all we ought to do. For if thou wilt judge by human reasonings the things that [bid:c1837d]meet thee, and not rather cast thy care upon God, thou art worn out. It is needful therefore, when contrary thoughts come pressing hard upon thee, to cry out to God: "Lord, as thou willest and as thou knowest, order thou the matter thyself." For the providence of God does many things beyond what we suppose or beyond our hopes, and things hoped [1840] [bid:c1840a]for in one way were found by experience to be otherwise; and, in a word, one must not will, as I said, or suppose, to get the better of demonic thoughts by human reasonings. The abba Poemen, knowing these things, says that the saying, "Not to be anxious about the morrow," [n: Matth. vi, 34.] was spoken to a man who is in temptation. Believing therefore that these things are true, child, let go every reasoning of thine own, even if it be a prudent one, and hold fast the hope that is toward God, who does more abundantly than the things we ask or conceive. [n: Ephes. iii, 20.] [var: Gk *τῷ δυναμένῳ ὑπὲρ πάντα ποιῆσαι ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ*, "to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all"; Migne prints neither *δυναμένῳ* nor *ὑπὲρ πάντα*, and *ἐκ περισσοῦ* for *ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ*] I could have answered everything thou hast said; but I do not wish to contend with thee, nor with myself either, but rather to point out the road that leads to hope in God; for that road is freer from care and safer. The Lord [bid:c1840b]be with thee.

II. — To the same.

Remember, child, him who said that "Through many afflictions must we enter into the kingdom of the heavens," [n: Act. xiv, 21.] [var: Gk *τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ*, "the kingdom of God"] and who did not define them as of such a sort, but said indefinitely, "through many afflictions." And so endure the things that come upon thee with thanksgiving, in knowledge, as things pleasant, if thou hast sins; but if thou hast none, as things that cleanse thee from the passions, or that procure for thee the kingdom of the heavens. God, who loves mankind and loves souls, [n: Sap. xi, 27.] who rebuked the wind and the sea and made a great calm, [n: Matth. viii, 26.] will rebuke thy temptation also, child; and may he give thee largeness of heart, to know the malice of the enemy. Amen.

[bid:c1840c]III. — Of the same, to a brother who had fallen into a long sickness, and into divers accidents.

I exhort thee, child: endure, and give thanks for the accidents that befall thee in thy sickness, according to him who says: "Receive all the things that come upon thee as good things," that the aim of Providence may be fulfilled in thee in a manner well-pleasing to it, my child. Play the man, therefore, and be strong in the Lord, and in his dispensation concerning thee. God be with thee.

IV. — Of the same, to a brother who is in temptation.

Peace to thee in Christ, brother. Persuade thy heart that it was altogether thou that gavest the occasion to the temptation, even if for the present thou findest not the cause; and blame thyself, and endure, and pray. And I trust in the tender mercy of the good [bid:c1840d]Master Christ, that he will lead the temptation away. The Apostle said: "And the peace of Christ, which surpasses every mind, shall guard your heart." [n: Philipp. iv, 7.] [var: Gk *ἡ εἰρήνη τοῦ Θεοῦ*, "the peace of God"; and the plural *τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν*, "your hearts"]

V. — To the same.

As shadows follow bodies, so do temptations follow the commandments. «For no one, says the great Antony, shall enter untempted into the kingdom of the heavens.» Do not wonder then, child, if, while thou art taking counsel concerning thy salvation, thou findest temptations and afflictions, but endure them undisturbed and pray, giving thanks that thou art counted worthy at all to be tempted [1841] [bid:c1841a]for the commandment's sake, for the exercise and proving of thy soul. The good God will grant thee sobriety in the time of temptation, and endurance.

VI. — To the same.

We are the moulding and the work of a good God who loves mankind, who said: "As I live, says the Lord, I do not will the death of the sinner, so much as that he should turn and live." [n: Ezech. xxxiii, 11.] [var: LXX *τοῦ ἀσεβοῦς*, "of the ungodly", and *ἀποστρέψαι τὸν ἀσεβῆ ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ*, "that the ungodly turn from his way", a clause Migne does not print] Again: "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." [n: Matth. ix, 13.] If then it is so, and so we believe, let us cast our care upon the Lord; and he himself will feed us, that is, will save us. [n: Psal. liv, 23.] For he has a care about us; he himself will comfort thy heart also, child, by the prayers of the saints. Amen.

VII. — To the same.

[bid:c1841b]Well did the abba Poemen understand that the saying, that men are not to be anxious about the morrow, [n: Matth. vi, 34.] was spoken to a man who is in temptation. And the saying, "Cast thy care upon the Lord," [n: Psal. liv, 23.] tends to the same. Stand away then, child, from human reasonings, and hold fast the hope that is toward God, who does many things beyond what we have in mind; and the hope that is toward God will give thee rest. May the Lord help thee, child, through the prayer of the saints. It behoves us therefore to withdraw ourselves from reasonings of that sort, having no confidence about tomorrow's life. [lat: the Latin gives *ne habeamus curam vitæ crastinæ*, "that we may not have care for tomorrow's life"]

VIII. — Of the same, to a certain weaker brother, who was taking up divers thoughts about the man who administered the things pertaining to his need.

In the name of Jesus Christ. My brother, we have no [bid:c1841c]right against our neighbour. For we are bound to pass this man over and to swallow him up through love. No one says to his neighbour, "Why dost thou not love me?" but by himself doing the things worthy of love he draws his neighbour also into love. But concerning the need of the body: if a man be worthy to be given rest, God assures even the heart of Saracens to show mercy with him according to his need. But if he is not worthy, or it is not expedient for him to be consoled in the midst of his chastening; though he make a new heaven and a new earth, he finds rest. But as to thy saying that thou burdenest the brothers, it is an avowed claim of right. For no one who procures for a neighbour who wishes to be saved the working of a commandment of God says, "I burden him." He who hates those that provoke him hates gentleness. He who flees those that afflict him flees the rest [bid:c1841d]that is in Christ. God who loves mankind, child, will shelter us by his own grace, through the prayers of all the saints. Amen.

license_source: Public Domain Mark 1.0

license_translation: CC BY-NC 4.0

license_apparatus: CC BY-NC 4.0

key: dorotheus-epistolae-ad-diversos