From a Discourse Against the Pagans by Saint Athanasius, bishop
By his own wisdom and Word, who is our Lord and Savior Christ, the all-holy Father (whose excellence far exceeds that of any creature), like a skillful steersman guides to…
From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr
No one can know the Father apart from God’s Word, that is, unless the Son reveals him, and no one can know the Son unless the Father so wills. Now…
From the Detailed Rules for Monks by Saint Basil the Great, bishop
Love of God is not something that we can be taught. We did not learn from someone else how to rejoice in light or want to live, or to love…
From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement I, pope and martyr
For his chosen ones scattered throughout the world, we shall make our constant prayer to the Creator of the universe. May he allow none of them to fall away, but…
From a Sermon by Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, bishop
Today let us do honor to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the…
From a sermon by Saint Maximus of Turin, bishop
The Gospel tells us that the Lord went to the Jordan River to be baptized and that he wished to consecrate himself in the river by signs from heaven. Reason…
From a commentary on the Gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop
In a plan of surpassing beauty the Creator of the universe decreed the renewal of all things in Christ. In his design for restoring human nature to its original condition,…
From a sermon by Saint Proclus of Constantinople, bishop
Christ appeared in the world, and, bringing beauty out of disarray, gave it luster and joy. He bore the world’s sins and crushed the world’s enemy. He sanctified the fountains…
From a sermon on the Epiphany attributed to Saint Hippolytus, priest and martyr
That Jesus should come and be baptized by John is surely cause for amazement. To think of the infinite river that gladdens the city of God being bathed in a…