READINGS: LENT WEDNESDAY V

Invitatory Psalm & BACK

PSALMS and BACK

שׁוּבוּ וְהָשִׁיבוּ מִכָּל־פִּשְׁעֵיכֶם — וַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם לֵב חָדָשׁ וְרוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה

Even Years: Number 16:1-11,16-35 1 וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח בֶּן־יִצְהָר בֶּן־קְהָת בֶּן־לֵוִי וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וְאוֹן בֶּן־פֶּלֶת בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן׃ 2 וַיָּקֻמוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה וַאֲנָשִׁים מִבְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתָיִם נְשִׂיאֵי עֵדָה קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד אַנְשֵׁי־שֵׁם׃ 3 וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ עַל־מֹשֶׁה וְעַל־אַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵהֶם רַב־לָכֶם כִּי כָל־הָעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדֹשִׁים וּבְתוֹכָם יְהוָה וּמַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ עַל־קְהַל יְהוָה׃ 4 וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפֹּל עַל־פָּנָיו׃ 5 וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל־קֹרַח וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲדָתוֹ לֵאמֹר בֹּקֶר וְיֹדַע יְהוָה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ וְאֶת־הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהִקְרִיב אֵלָיו וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר־בּוֹ יַקְרִיב אֵלָיו׃ 6 זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחוּ־לָכֶם מַחְתּוֹת קֹרַח וְכָל־עֲדָתוֹ׃ 7 וּתְנוּ בָהֵן אֵשׁ וְשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶן קְטֹרֶת לִפְנֵי יְהוָה מָחָר וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַר יְהוָה הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ רַב־לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי׃ 8 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־קֹרַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִי׃ 9 הַמְעַט מִכֶּם כִּי־הִבְדִּיל אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶתְכֶם מֵעֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַקְרִיב אֶתְכֶם אֵלָיו לַעֲבֹד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת מִשְׁכַּן יְהוָה וְלַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הָעֵדָה לְשָׁרְתָם׃ 10 וַיַּקְרֵב אֹתְךָ וְאֶת־כָּל־אַחֶיךָ בְנֵי־לֵוִי אִתָּךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם גַּם־כְּהֻנָּה׃ 11 לָכֵן אַתָּה וְכָל־עֲדָתְךָ הַנֹּעָדִים עַל־יְהוָה וְאַהֲרֹן מַה־הוּא כִּי תִלּוֹנוּ עָלָיו׃... 16 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־קֹרַח אַתָּה וְכָל־עֲדָתְךָ הֱיוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אַתָּה וָהֵם וְאַהֲרֹן מָחָר׃ 17 וּקְחוּ אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וּנְתַתֶּם עֲלֵיהֶם קְטֹרֶת וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם מַחְתֹּת וְאַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ׃ 18 וַיִּקְחוּ אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֵשׁ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶם קְטֹרֶת וַיַּעַמְדוּ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן׃ 19 וַיַּקְהֵל עֲלֵיהֶם קֹרַח אֶת־כָּל־הָעֵדָה אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַיֵּרָא כְבוֹד־יְהוָה אֶל־כָּל־הָעֵדָה׃ פ 20 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר׃ 21 הִבָּדְלוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאַכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָגַע׃ 22 וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל־בָּשָׂר הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא וְעַל כָּל־הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹף׃ פ 23 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃ 24 דַּבֵּר אֶל־הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר הֵעָלוּ מִסָּבִיב לְמִשְׁכַּן־קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם׃ 25 וַיָּקָם מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל־דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃ 26 וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל־הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר סוּרוּ נָא מֵעַל אָהֳלֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָרְשָׁעִים הָאֵלֶּה וְאַל־תִּגְּעוּ בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם פֶּן־תִּסָּפוּ בְּכָל־חַטֹּאתָם׃ 27 וַיֵּעָלוּ מֵעַל מִשְׁכַּן־קֹרֶח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם מִסָּבִיב וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם יָצְאוּ נִצָּבִים פֶּתַח אָהֳלֵיהֶם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וְטַפָּם׃ 28 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן כִּי־יְהוָה שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כָּל־הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי־לֹא מִלִּבִּי׃ 29 אִם־כְּמוֹת כָּל־הָאָדָם יְמֻתוּן אֵלֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת כָּל־הָאָדָם יִפָּקֵד עֲלֵיהֶם לֹא יְהוָה שְׁלָחָנִי׃ 30 וְאִם־בְּרִיאָה יִבְרָא יְהוָה וּפָצְתָה הָאֲדָמָה אֶת־פִּיהָ וּבָלְעָה אֹתָם וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְיָרְדוּ חַיִּים שְׁאֹלָה וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי נִאֲצוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֶת־יְהוָה׃ 31 וַיְהִי כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתִּבָּקַע הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר תַּחְתֵּיהֶם׃ 32 וַתִּפְתַּח הָאָרֶץ אֶת־פִּיהָ וַתִּבְלַע אֹתָם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיהֶם וְאֵת כָּל־הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר לְקֹרַח וְאֵת כָּל־הָרֲכוּשׁ׃ 33 וַיֵּרְדוּ הֵם וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם חַיִּים שְׁאֹלָה וַתְּכַס עֲלֵיהֶם הָאָרֶץ וַיֹּאבְדוּ מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָל׃ 34 וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶם נָסוּ לְקֹלָם כִּי אָמְרוּ פֶּן־תִּבְלָעֵנוּ הָאָרֶץ׃ 35 וְאֵשׁ יָצְאָה מֵאֵת יְהוָה וַתֹּאכַל אֵת הַחֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ מַקְרִיבֵי הַקְּטֹרֶת׃	1 Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath the Levite, and the Reubenites Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth were proud 2 and rebelled against Moses with two hundred and fifty Israelites who were leaders of the community, prominent at the solemn feasts, men of repute. 3 These banded together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'You take too much on yourselves! The whole community, all its members, are consecrated, and Yahweh lives among them. Why set yourselves higher than Yahweh's community?' 4 On hearing this, Moses threw himself on his face. 5 Then he said to Korah and all in his party, 'Tomorrow morning Yahweh will reveal who is his, who the consecrated man whom he will allow to approach him. The one he allows to approach is the one whom he has chosen. 6 This is what you must do: take the censers of Korah and all in his party, 7 put fire in them and put incense in them before Yahweh tomorrow, and the one whom Yahweh chooses will be the consecrated man. Levites, you take too much on yourselves! 8 Moses then said to Korah, 'Now listen, you Levites! 9 Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has singled you out of the community of Israel, and called you to be near him, to serve in Yahweh's Dwelling and to represent the community by officiating on its behalf? 10 He has called you to be near him, you and all your brother Levites with you, and now you want to be priests as well! 11 For which reason, you and all in your party have banded together against Yahweh himself: for what is Aaron, that you should mutter against him?' 16 Moses said to Korah, 'You and all your party, come before Yahweh tomorrow, you and they, and Aaron too. 17 Each will take his censer, put incense in it, and bring his censer before Yahweh—two hundred and fifty censers. You and Aaron too will each bring his censer.' 18 Each of them took his censer, put fire in it and placed incense on it, and stood at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 Then, Korah having assembled the whole community to confront them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of Yahweh appeared to the whole community. 20 Yahweh then spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, 21 'Get away from this community. I am going to destroy them here and now.' 22 They threw themselves on their faces and cried out, 'O God, God of the spirits that give life to every living thing, will you be angry with the whole community because one man has sinned?' 23 Yahweh then said to Moses, 24 'Speak to the community and say, "Stand well clear of Korah's tent." 25 Moses stood up and went to Dathan and Abiram; the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He spoke to the community and said, 'Stand away, I tell you, from the tents of these sinners, and touch nothing that belongs to them, for fear that with all their sins you too will be swept away.' 27 So they moved away from Korah's tent. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at their tent doors, with their wives, their sons and their little ones. 28 Moses said, 'This is how you will know that Yahweh himself has sent me to perform all these tasks and that I am not doing them of my own accord. 29 If these people die a natural death such as people commonly die, then Yahweh has not sent me. 30 But if Yahweh does something utterly new, if the earth should open its mouth and swallow them and all their belongings, so that they go down alive to Sheol, then you will know that they held Yahweh in contempt.' 31 The moment he finished saying all this, the ground split apart under their feet, 32 the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their families, all Korah's people and all their property. 33 They went down alive to Sheol with all their belongings. The earth closed over them and they disappeared in the middle of the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites round them took to their heels, saying, 'We do not want the earth to swallow us too!' 35 Fire then shot out from Yahweh and consumed the two hundred and fifty men offering incense.
Odd Years: Hebrews 11:32-40             καὶ τί ἔτι λέγω;             ἐπιλείψει με γὰρ διηγούμενον ὁ χρόνος περὶ Γεδεών, Βαράκ,             Σαμψών, Ἰεφθάε, Δαυίδ τε καὶ Σαμουὴλ καὶ τῶν προφητῶν,             οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας,             εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν,             ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων,             ἔσβεσαν δύναμιν πυρός,             ἔφυγον στόματα μαχαίρης,             ἐδυναμώθησαν ἀπὸ ἀσθενείας,             ἐγενήθησαν ἰσχυροὶ ἐν πολέμῳ,             παρεμβολὰς ἔκλιναν ἀλλοτρίων:             ἔλαβον γυναῖκες ἐξ ἀναστάσεως τοὺς νεκροὺς αὐτῶν:       ἄλλοι δὲ ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, οὐ προσδεξάμενοι τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν,       ἵνα κρείττονος ἀναστάσεως τύχωσιν:       ἕτεροι δὲ ἐμπαιγμῶν καὶ μαστίγων πεῖραν ἔλαβον,       ἔτι δὲ δεσμῶν καὶ φυλακῆς:       ἐλιθάσθησαν, ἐπρίσθησαν, ἐν φόνῳ μαχαίρης ἀπέθανον,       περιῆλθον ἐν μηλωταῖς, ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, ὑστερούμενοι, θλιβόμενοι, κακουχούμενοι,       ὧν οὐκ ἦν ἄξιος ὁ κόσμος,       ἐπὶ ἐρημίαις πλανώμενοι καὶ ὄρεσιν καὶ σπηλαίοις καὶ ταῖς ὀπαῖς τῆς γῆς. καὶ οὗτοι πάντες μαρτυρηθέντες διὰ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἐκομίσαντο τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν, τοῦ θεοῦ περὶ ἡμῶν κρεῖττόν τι προβλεψαμένου, ἵνα μὴ χωρὶς ἡμῶν τελειωθῶσιν.
Hebrews 11:32-40 32 What more shall I say? There is not time for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, or of David, Samuel and the prophets. 33 These were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what was upright and earned the promises. They could keep a lion's mouth shut, 34 put out blazing fires and emerge unscathed from battle. They were weak people who were given strength to be brave in war and drive back foreign invaders. 35 Some returned to their wives from the dead by resurrection; and others submitted to torture, refusing release so that they would rise again to a better life. 36 Some had to bear being pilloried and flogged, or even chained up in prison. 37 They were stoned, or sawn in half, or killed by the sword; they were homeless, and wore only the skins of sheep and goats; they were in want and hardship, and maltreated. 38 They were too good for the world and they wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and ravines. 39 These all won acknowledgement through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfection except with us.

Even Years: Cyril of Alexandria, Worship in spirit and truth, Book 9 (PG 68, 587-589) Ἀγάπης μὲν οὖν εἰς Θεόν τε καὶ ἀδελφοὺς περιφανῆ τὰ αὐχήματα, καὶ ἀποπεραίνεται μὲν δι' ἀμφοῖν ὁ νόμος. εὐκλείας γε μὴν εἰς τοῦτο κατηντηκὼς ἅπας τις οὖν, λαμπρός τε καὶ ἀξιάγαστος, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ὅτι μάλιστα γνησίοις κατατετάξεται, Χριστοῦ βοῶντος καὶ λέγοντος, Εὖ, δοῦλε ἀγαθὲ καὶ πιστὲ, ἐπὶ ὀλίγα ἦς πιστὸς, ἐπὶ πολλῶν σε καταστήσω· εἴσελθε εἰς τὴν χαρὰν τοῦ Κυρίου σου. Εἰσελεύσεται γὰρ δὴ καὶ μάλα ἑτοίμως εἰς τὴν ἐπουράνιον Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ταῖς ἄνω μοναῖς ἐνδιαιτήσεται, τοῖς ὑπὲρ νοῦν καὶ λόγον ἐντρυφῶν ἀγαθοῖς. Τοιουτονί τι καὶ ὁ προφήτης Ἡσαΐας φησίν· Οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὄψονται, Ἱερουσαλὴμ, πόλεις πλουσίας, σκηνὰς, αἳ οὐ μὴ σεισθῶσιν, οὐδὲ μὴ κινηθῶσιν οἱ πάσσαλοι τῆς σκηνῆς, οὐδὲ τὰ σχοινία αὐτῆς οὐ μὴ διαῤῥαγῶσι. Παράγει μὲν γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, κατὰ τὰς Γραφάς. Ἑδραιοτάτη δὲ σφόδρα καὶ ἀκράδαντος πάντως ἡ τῶν ἐσομένων ἐλπίς. Ἀλλὰ τούτων ἁπάντων λυομένων, καθὰ καὶ τοῦ Σωτῆρος διισχυρίσατο μαθητὴς, ποταμοὺς δεῖ εὑρεθῆναι ἡμᾶς, ἁγίους καὶ ἀμώμους κατ' ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ, πνευματικαῖς μὲν θυσίαις καταγεραίροντας ὡς Σωτῆρα καὶ Λυτρωτὴν, ἱερὰν δὲ καὶ ἀπόλεκτον, καὶ τοῖς εὐαγγελικοῖς συμβαίνουσαν νόμοις ἐπιτηδεύοντας πολιτείαν· καθάπερ ἀμέλει τοῖς ἀρχαιοτέροις ὁ νόμος τὴν οὕτω σεπτήν τε καὶ ἀξιόληπτον ἐσκιαγράφει ζωήν· μηλοσφαγεῖν ἐπιτάττων, καὶ τὰς δι' αἱμάτων ποιεῖσθαι προσαγωγὰς, δεκάτας τε καὶ ἀπαρχὰς ἀφιεροῦν τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ πρὸς τούτοις ἔτι χαριστήρια. Πλὴν, οὐκ ἔξω ταυτὶ τῆς ἁγίας πράττεσθαι δεῖν ἐνομοθέτει σκηνῆς. Ἀπόλεκτον δὲ τὸ ἐκ Λευῒ γένος ἀνετίθει τῷ Θεῷ, τύπον ἡμῖν καὶ εἰς ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς τὸ χρῆμα τιθείς. Κεκλήμεθα γὰρ καὶ ἡμεῖς παρά γε ταῖς θείαις Γραφαῖς γένος ἐκλεκτὸν, βασίλειον ἱεράτευμα, ἔθνος ἅγιον, λαὸς εἰς περιποίησιν. Εἰσελαύνομεν δὲ καὶ εἰς σκηνὴν τὴν ἀληθεστέραν, ἣν ἔπηξεν ὁ Κύριος καὶ οὐκ ἄνθρωπος, τοῦτ' ἔστι τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν, οὐ διὰ μόσχων καὶ τράγων ἐκμειλισσόμενοι τὸν τῶν ὅλων Δημιουργὸν, ἀλλ' ὡς ἐν ὀρθῇ τε καὶ ἀμωμήτῳ πίστει διαπρέποντες, καὶ πνευματικαῖς καρποφορίαις νοητῶς εὐωδιάζοντες. Τοιαύταις γὰρ δὴ θυσίαις εὐαρεστεῖται Θεὸς, καὶ τοὺς προσκυνοῦντας αὐτὸν, ἐν πνεύματι καὶ ἀληθείᾳ δεῖ προσκυνεῖν, κατὰ τὴν τοῦ Σωτῆρος φωνήν.

Odd Years: Basil, The Holy Spirit, ch. 15:35 (PG 32 128-129) Ἡ τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Σωτῆρος ἡμῶν περὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον οἰκονομία ἀνάκλησίς ἐστιν ἀπὸ τῆς ἐκπτώσεως, καὶ ἐπάνοδος εἰς οἰκείωσιν Θεοῦ ἀπὸ τῆς διὰ τὴν παρακοὴν γενομένης ἀλλοτριώσεως. Διὰ τοῦτο ἡ μετὰ σαρκὸς ἐπιδημία Χριστοῦ, αἱ τῶν εὐανγγελικῶν πολιτευμάτων ὑποτυπώσεις, τὰ πάθη, ὁ σταυρὸς, ἡ ταφὴ, ἡ ἀνάστασις· ὥστε τὸν σωζόμενον ἄνθρωπον διὰ μιμήσεως Χριστοῦ τὴν ἀρχαίαν ἐκεινην υἱοθεσίαν ἀπολαβεῖν. Ἀναγκαία τοίνυν ἐστὶ πρὸς τελείωσιν ζωῆς ἡ Χριστοῦ μίμησις οὐ μόνον ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν βίον ὑποδείγμασιν ἀοργησίας καὶ ταπεινοφροσύνης καὶ μακροθυμίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοῦ τοῦ τοῦ θανάτου, ὡς Παῦλος φησιν ὁ μιμητὴς τοῦ Χριστου· Συμμορφούμενος τῷ θανάτῳ αὐτοῦ, εἴ πως καταντήσω εἰς τὴν ἐκ νεκρῳν ἐξανάστασιν. Πῶς οὖν γινόμεθα ἐν τῷ ὁμοιώματι τοῦ θανάτου αύτοῦ; Συνταφέντες αὐτῷ διὰ τοῦ βαπτίσματος. Τίς οὖν ὁ τρόπος τῆς ταφῆς; καί τί τὸ ἐκ τῆς μιμήσεως χρήσιμον; Πρῶτον μὲν ἀναγκαῖον, τὴν ἀκολουθίαν τοῦ προτέρου βίου διακοπῆναι. Τοῦτο δὲ ἀδύνατον, μὴ ἄνωθεν γεννηθέντα, κατὰ τὴν τοῦ Κυρίου φωνήν. ἡ γὰρ παλιγγενεσία, ὥς καὶ αὐτὸ δηλοῖ τὸ ὄνομα, δευτέρου βίου ἐστὶν ἀρχή. Ὥστε πρὶν ἄρξασθαι τοῦ δευτέρου, πέρας χρὴ δοῦναι τῷ προλαβόντι. ὡς γὰρ ἐπὶ τῶν τὸν δίαυλον ἀνακαμπτόντων στάσις τις καὶ ἐπηρέμησις τὰς ἐναντίας κινήσεις διαλαμβάνει· οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς τῶν βίων μεταβολῆς ἀνάγκαῖον ἐφάνη θάνατον ἀμφοτέροις μεσιτεῦσα· τοῖς βίοις, περατοῦντα μὲν τὰ προάγοντα, ἀρχὴν δὲ διδόντα τοῖς ἐφεξῆς. Πῶς οὖν κατορθοῦμεν τὴν εἰς ᾅδου κάθοδον; Μιμούμενοι τὴν ταφὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ διὰ τοῦ βαπτίσματος. Οἱονεὶ γὰρ ἐνθάπτεται τῷ ὕδατι τῶν βαπτιζομένων τὰ σώματα. Ἀπόθεσιν οὖν τῶν ἔργων τῆς σαρκὸς συμβολικῶς ὑποφαίνει τὸ βάπτισμα, κατὰ τὸν Ἀποστολον λέγοντα, ὅτι Περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ, ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος τῆς σαρκὸς, ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ, συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ βαπτίσματι. Καὶ οἱονεὶ καθάρσιόν ἐστι ψυχῆς τοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ σαρκικοῦ φρονήματος αὐτῇ προσγενομένου ῥύπου, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, ὅτι Πλυνεῖς με, καὶ ὑπὲρ χιόνα λευκανθήσομαι. Διὰ τουτο ἓν οἴδαμεν τὸ σωτήριον βάπτισμα· ἐπειδὴ εἷς ἐστιν ὁ ὑπὲρ τοῦ κόσμου θάνατος, καὶ μία ἡ ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐξανάστασις, ὥς τύπος ἐστί τὸ βάπτισμα.

Prayer