Foolish who worships not th’ eternal Word
as equal to the high Father in heaven.
Foolish who worships not th’ incarnate Word,
as equal to the heavenly Word on High,
but cuts from Father’s might His Word, or else
severs the Word from human shape, our breadth.
The Father’s Word was God, but made our man
so that, with mortals mixed, He’d mix in God.
A single god comprising both: a man,
to make man into gods: have mercy, thou
who by those words art wounded yet again!
For you, no more– why seek from me the knowledge
of that ineffable and holy mixture.
Oh mortals, mind the bound'ries of your speech!
Should I persuade thee, that is all the better;
yet if you'd stain your page with myriad lines,
come here and I will scratch these letters few
onto your books, with pen that bears no stain.
Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus (325 - 389) Turkey
(also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen)
Translated by Alex Poulos
Source: Gregory of Nazianzus
as equal to the high Father in heaven.
Foolish who worships not th’ incarnate Word,
as equal to the heavenly Word on High,
but cuts from Father’s might His Word, or else
severs the Word from human shape, our breadth.
The Father’s Word was God, but made our man
so that, with mortals mixed, He’d mix in God.
A single god comprising both: a man,
to make man into gods: have mercy, thou
who by those words art wounded yet again!
For you, no more– why seek from me the knowledge
of that ineffable and holy mixture.
Oh mortals, mind the bound'ries of your speech!
Should I persuade thee, that is all the better;
yet if you'd stain your page with myriad lines,
come here and I will scratch these letters few
onto your books, with pen that bears no stain.
Gregory, Bishop of Nazianzus (325 - 389) Turkey
(also known as Gregory the Theologian or Gregory Nazianzen)
Translated by Alex Poulos
Source: Gregory of Nazianzus
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