are the Shrines of the Mysteries, the Ordinances of the holy Intercessions, the Mysteries of the Priestly Vesture, the Definitions of the Church, the Interpretations of the Sacred Temples, the Arrangements of the Hierarchies of the Church, the Fourfold sense of Scripture, the Scripture Proofs of CHRIST the true Messiah, the thundering Preaching of the Disciples, the manifold supplies of Divine Grace, Paraphrases of the Articles of the Creed, Selections from the Ecumenical Councils, the poisonous array of Heresiarchs, the incomparable excellence of the Mother of GOD, the Fourfold GOD-revealed Dowry of the Blessed, Sketches of what is necessary to Salvation, the orders of the heavenly Hierarchies, the pious ordinances of the Queen of Cities, the secrets of the great things of GOD and of the marvels wrought by the Holy Bread. And what say I further? The Notes and Questions on all the divine and holy Liturgy—all is explained in few words indeed, but thoughtfully and in harmony with the inspired teaching of the godly Fathers most orderly and excellently. I thought I was perusing Simplicius, Ammonius and Philoponus, the Commentators on the Peripatetic, those who in style pursued the Stagirite's teaching, as you in all accuracy have followed up the teaching of the most holy Initiation, by simplicity of style gratifying the most part. All is full of orthodoxy, this is the crown and sum of every work and discourse. I rejoice therefore soul and body, and pray for you and more than pray, as a son in age, though a brother in art. Also the most Reverend and wise Servant of CHRIST, to you brother most dear, to us Shepherd and Chief, may the LORD GOD preserve in health and long life to rule us and all the Flock. Farewell, illustrious pair of brothers." This holy Catechism then as we have described it, the admired Nicolas, like the wise scribe in the Gospel, bringing from the rich 1 "From my house, in the year of salvation 1678, 19th Poseidon, your eminence's servant in all things most devoted, James Ricces, Chief Physician of Corcyra." treasures of the knowledge of GOD things new and old (Matt. xiii. 52), wove together and composed, and brought and gave it to the faithful, wherein he very clearly unfolds the whole and confirms and explains by the divine Scriptures and traditions. This holy Catechism was first printed at Venice by the author himself in 1681. After that, when by reason of its general usefulness and instructiveness it became very scarce, many often reprinted it in many places. One in particular of the editors named Blantes (Venice, 1818) actually altered the style of the whole work to make it more elegant; but another eight years ago in Corcyra, deemed it unjust to clothe it with a different garb and alienate the progeny from the character derived from its own sire, so he issued it as it was first printed, only correcting casual errors of the copyist or printer. Besides these, another edition of this holy Catechism (this was about the fifth) appeared at Athens lately. However this had hardly left the press and come into the hands of the faithful there, but it was in great demand among us in the Imperial City; thereupon two students of the same race, thinking the loss of such a people-nourishing book very calamitous, and urged by the exhortations and advice of illustrious men in and out of holy orders, consulted their own desire of ministering to our most reverend mother Church, and of proving helpful, as far as possible, to the Fulness which bears CHRIST'S Name; and like noble soldiers, sparing neither pains nor money, undertook the editing of this highly-prized holy Catechism. They were moreover persuaded both by their own judgment and that of others wiser and better skilled in such matters that it was altogether unsuitable and quite improper for such bright and lofty thoughts to be clothed in a dress so poor and uncomely; so weighing the then condition of the language against what it is now, they determined to get rid of the barbarian element and the vulgar common speech of that epoch, and to change the style to the better-expressed and more harmonious language of the present day, that so they may present their honoured readers with this work of such good theology and philosophy in a far sweeter guise, more agreeable to the times, and not prove distasteful and coarse in exhibiting such graceless and unpleasing language as there was, and indeed, as the comic poet puts it, a stinking pot laden with most valuable ointment.1 At no small expense therefore they effected this change in the work, leaving everything else, as it stands in the Corcyra edition of 1852, the footnotes, the alphabetical table2 of subjects and some other matters; and having long since begun the printing of the work, they have by GOD's help brought it now to a conclusion, and hand it to their pious and GOD-loving kinsfolk with no difference at all from heretofore, saving the outward clothing. And you, my brethren, regard the zeal and diligence of the GOD-loving editors, and their gift at the same time, and graciously accept with indulgence this holy Book. For when you read it, you will perceive how useful and necessary it is. And take care to have the book not merely in possession, but far rather in use, that we may thoroughly learn the true intention and signification of each ceremony of our mother, the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and for the future assist in them, as we ought, in the fear of GOD, in faith and love. Dated at Chalki, 6 Feb. 1861. 1 The very thing which others of the same race long since began doing in many works of general use, thinking thus to render them more available and acceptable. For often the extensive use of the vulgar language even involved the argument in such obscurity, besides distortion of words, that the whole became unintelligible. Hence therefore Nicolas called Logades translated the Parallel of Philosophy into purer and simpler language, and printed it at Constantinople in 1830; and his famous disciple, the wise Euthybules, translated the Ecclesiastical History of Meletius, printed at Constantinople in 1853. See the Prefaces of both. 2 This forms the basis of the Index in the present volume.-Tr. |