Word on Law and Grace #

St. Hilarion. Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia

On the Law given through Moses, and on Grace and Truth revealed through Jesus Christ, and how the Law has passed away, while Grace and Truth have filled the whole earth, and the faith has spread to all nations, and has reached even our Russian people. And praise for our Prince Vladimir, through whom we were baptized. And a prayer to God from all our land.

O Lord: bless, Father.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, the God of the Christians, who has visited His people and has wrought salvation for them, who has not allowed His creation to remain utterly captive in the darkness of idolatry and perish in the service of demons. But first He justified the lineage of Abraham with the tablets and the Law, and afterward, through His Son, He saved all nations, bringing them to renewal and eternal life through the Gospel and Baptism.

Let us therefore praise and glorify Him, who is ceaselessly extolled by the angels, and let us worship Him, to whom the cherubim and seraphim bow, for He has looked upon His people. And it was not a messenger nor an envoy, but He Himself who saved us—not merely appearing in semblance, but truly coming into the world, suffering in the flesh unto death, and raising us up with Himself.

For He came in the flesh to those living upon the earth, and through His crucifixion and burial, He descended to those in Hades—that both the living and the dead might recognize the day of their visitation and the coming of God, and understand that mighty and powerful is the God of the living and the dead. For who is so great a God as our God? He alone works wonders. He established the Law in preparation for Truth and Grace, that human nature, turning away from the idolatrous polytheism, might grow accustomed to believing in the one true God; that humanity, like a defiled vessel, washed by water through the Law and circumcision, might then receive the milk of Grace and Baptism.

For the Law was the forerunner and servant of Grace and Truth, while Grace and Truth are the servants of the Age to Come, of Incorruptible Life. As the Law led those under it to the grace of Baptism, so Baptism leads its children to Eternal Life. For Moses and the prophets foretold the coming of Christ, and Christ and His apostles proclaimed the resurrection and the Age to Come. Yet to recount in this writing the prophetic predictions of Christ and the apostolic teachings on the Age to Come would be superfluous and vain. For to repeat what is written in other books and well known to you would be akin to presumption and self-glorification.

For we do not write to the unlearned, but to those already well satisfied with the sweetness of books—not to those who are strangers to God and at enmity with Him, but to His own sons; not to outsiders, but to the heirs of the Heavenly Kingdom.

But this discourse is about the Law given through Moses and the Grace and Truth revealed through Christ; and of what the Law accomplished, and what Grace has fulfilled. First the Law, then Grace; first the shadow, then the Truth. The image of the Law and of Grace is Hagar and Sarah—Hagar the bondwoman, and Sarah the free woman. First the bondwoman, then the free. Let the reader understand: from his youth, Abraham had Sarah as his wife—a free woman, not a bondwoman.

And indeed, God, before all ages, willed and determined to send His Son into the world and thus reveal Grace. But Sarah did not give birth, for she was barren—not barren by nature, but restrained by God’s Providence, that she might bear a child in her old age. The hidden and mysterious wisdom of God was concealed from angels and men—not as something unknown, but as something kept secret, to be revealed at the end of the ages. Sarah said to Abraham: “Behold, the Lord God has restrained me, and I cannot bear a child. Go in unto my handmaid Hagar, that she may bear a son for you.” And Grace said to God: “If the time has not yet come for me to descend to earth and save the world, then descend Thou upon Mount Sinai and establish the Law.”

Abraham obeyed the words of Sarah and went in unto her handmaid Hagar. Likewise, God heeded the words of Grace and descended upon Sinai.

And Hagar, the bondwoman, bore a son to Abraham, a son of bondage. And Abraham called his name Ishmael. Likewise, Moses brought down from Mount Sinai not Grace, but the Law—not Truth, but a shadow.

But afterward, when Abraham and Sarah had grown old, God appeared to Abraham as he sat at the door of his tent at midday, by the oak of Mamre. And Abraham ran to meet Him, bowed down to the earth, and brought Him into his tent. And when this present age had drawn near to its end, the Lord visited the race of men and descended from Heaven, entering into the womb of the Virgin. The Virgin received Him with reverence, taking Him into the tent of her flesh without travail, saying to the angel: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” Then God opened the womb of Sarah, and she conceived and bore Isaac—a son of the free woman, not of the bondwoman. And when God visited human nature, what had been hidden and unknown was made manifest, and Grace was born—Truth, not the Law; a Son, not a servant.

And when the child Isaac had been weaned and strengthened, Abraham made a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. Likewise, when Christ appeared on earth, Grace was still as a child, growing for more than thirty years, and Christ Himself was yet unknown. But when Grace was fully revealed and made strong, and the Grace of God appeared to all men at the River Jordan, God prepared a banquet and a great feast with the fatted Calf, nourished from eternity—His beloved Son, Jesus Christ—gathering Heaven and earth into one common joy, uniting angels and men.

But then Sarah saw Ishmael, the son of Hagar, playing with her son Isaac, and how Isaac was mocked by Ishmael. And she said to Abraham: “Cast out this bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”

And after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus, when His disciples and others who had already believed in Christ remained in Jerusalem, there was strife between the Jews and the Christians. Baptism by Grace suffered persecution from the circumcision of the Law; and the Church in Jerusalem would not accept a bishop from among the uncircumcised, for the circumcised, having been first, oppressed the Christians—the sons of the bondwoman afflicting the sons of the free. And many disputes and contentions arose between them. But free Grace, seeing her Christian children oppressed by the Jews, the sons of the Law of bondage, cried out to God: “Remove Judaism and its Law, scatter them among the nations—for what communion has shadow with Truth, Judaism with Christianity?”

And so, Hagar the bondwoman was cast out with her son Ishmael; and Isaac, the son of the free woman, inherited Abraham, his father. Likewise, the Jews were cast out and scattered among the nations, and the children of Grace—the Christians—became heirs of God the Father. For the light of the moon fades away when the sun rises; so too the Law has passed, and Grace has appeared. The cold of night vanishes when the warmth of the sun heats the earth. And now mankind is no longer constrained by the Law, but walks freely in Grace. For the Jews justified themselves by the lamp of the Law, but the Christians build their salvation under the radiant sun of Grace.

Thus, the Jews were justified by shadow and the Law, but they were not saved; the Christians, however, are not merely justified by Truth and Grace, but are truly saved. For the Jews have justification, but the Christians have salvation. And since justification belongs to this world, while salvation belongs to the Age to Come, the Jews rejoice in the earthly, while the Christians in that which is in Heaven.

Moreover, the justification of the Jews was narrow, not extending to other nations, but confined to Judea alone because of their jealousy. Christian salvation, however, is good and generous, reaching to the ends of the earth. The blessing was fulfilled, for though Manasseh was the elder, Jacob blessed him with his left hand, while Ephraim, the younger, was blessed with his right hand. Though Manasseh was older than Ephraim, yet through Jacob’s blessing he became the lesser. So too with Judaism: though it came first, yet through Grace, Christianity became greater. When Joseph said to Jacob, “Father, lay thy right hand upon this one, for he is the elder,” Jacob answered: “I know, my son, I know; he too shall be great among the people, but his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall be among many nations.” And so it came to pass. The Law came first, was exalted for a time, and then passed away; but the Christian faith, which came later, became greater than the first and spread among many nations.

And Christ’s Grace has encompassed the whole earth, covering it like the waters of the sea. And all, setting aside the old, which had grown decrepit in the zeal of the Jews, now hold to the new, as prophesied by Isaiah: “The old things have passed away—behold, I declare unto you new things. Sing unto the Lord a new song and praise His Name from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, and the islands and their inhabitants.” And again: “They that serve Me shall be called by a new name, which shall be blessed upon the earth, for they shall bless the true God.”

For formerly, God was worshiped in Jerusalem alone, but now He is worshiped throughout the whole earth. As Gideon said to God: “If Thou wilt save Israel by my hand, let there be dew upon the fleece alone, and upon all the earth, let there be dryness.” And so it was. For previously, there was dryness over all the earth: the nations were held captive by the deception of idolatry, and so they did not receive the dew of Grace. Only in Judea was God known, and in Israel was His Name great, and in Jerusalem alone was He glorified. Yet again, Gideon said to God: “Let there be dryness upon the fleece alone, and upon all the earth let there be dew.” And so it was.

For Judaism has ended, and the Law has passed away. Sacrifices are no longer accepted, the Ark, the tablets, and the mercy seat have been taken away. But upon all the earth, the dew of Grace has descended, faith has spread throughout all lands, and the gracious rain has watered the font of regeneration, that it might clothe its children in incorruption.

As the Savior Himself said to the Samaritan woman, the hour is coming—and now is—when the Father shall no longer be worshiped on this mountain nor in Jerusalem, but the true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth, for the Father seeks such to worship Him—that is, those who worship together with the Son and the Holy Spirit. And so it has come to pass: throughout the whole earth, the Holy Trinity is glorified and receives worship from all creation. Both small and great praise God, as prophesied: “No man shall teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest.” And as Christ the Savior said to the Father: “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hidden these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes; even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”

And so gracious is God’s mercy upon the human race, that though men are flesh, through Baptism and good works, they become sons of God and partakers of Christ. For as the Evangelist said: “To as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” By the Holy Spirit, they are born in the holy font. All this, our God, who is in Heaven and on earth, has done according to His will. And so, who will not glorify, who will not magnify, who will not bow before the majesty of His glory, and who will not marvel at His boundless love for mankind?

Before all ages, He was begotten of the Father, one with Him in the throne, consubstantial, like light to the sun. He descended to earth and visited His people without departing from the Father. He was incarnate of the pure, untouched, and immaculate Virgin; He entered her as He alone knows, took on flesh, and came forth as He entered. One of the Trinity, in two natures—Divine and human.

Perfect man in His incarnation, yet not a mere apparition; perfect God in His Divinity, yet not a mere man, manifesting both the Divine and the human on earth.

For as man, He lay heavy in the womb of His mother; and as God, He came forth without breaking her virginity.

As man, He received His mother’s milk; and as God, He commanded angels to sing with the shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest!”

As man, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes; and as God, He led the Magi by a star.

As man, He lay in a manger; and as God, He received gifts and worship from the Magi.

As man, He fled to Egypt; and as God, the handmade gods of Egypt bowed before Him.

As man, He came to be baptized; and as God, the Jordan turned back in fear of Him.

As man, He entered the water naked; and as God, He received the Father’s witness: “This is My beloved Son.”

As man, He fasted forty days and hungered; and as God, He overcame the tempter.

As man, He attended the wedding in Cana of Galilee; and as God, He turned water into wine.

As man, He slept in the boat; and as God, He rebuked the winds and the sea, and they obeyed Him.

As man, He wept for Lazarus; and as God, He raised him from the dead.

As man, He rode upon a donkey; and as God, the people cried out to Him: “Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord!”

As man, He was crucified; and as God, He, by His own authority, granted the thief entrance into Paradise.

As man, He tasted vinegar and gave up the spirit; and as God, He darkened the sun and shook the earth.

As man, He was laid in the tomb; and as God, He destroyed Hades and set souls free.

As man, He was sealed in the tomb; and as God, He came forth, leaving the seals unbroken.

As man, the Jews sought to conceal His Resurrection, bribing the guards; but as God, He was known and proclaimed to the ends of the earth.

Truly, who is so great a God as our God? He is God, who works wonders! He accomplished salvation in the midst of the earth by His Cross and Passion upon the Place of the Skull, tasting vinegar and gall, that by tasting bitterness, He might cut off the transgression and sin of Adam’s sweet tasting of the tree. But those who did these things with Him stumbled against Him as upon a stone and were broken, as the Lord said: “Whosoever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” For He came to them in fulfillment of the prophecies spoken concerning Him, as He Himself said: “I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And again: “I came not to destroy [the Law], but to fulfill.” And to the Canaanite woman, a foreigner who begged Him to heal her daughter, He said: “It is not meet to take the children’s bread and to cast it to the dogs.”

But they called Him a liar, one born of fornication, and one who cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Yet Christ opened the eyes of their blind, cleansed their lepers, straightened the crippled, healed the possessed, strengthened the lame, and raised the dead. But they tormented Him like a malefactor and nailed Him to the Cross. And so, the wrath of God came upon them—a wrath unto death.

For they themselves hastened their own destruction. When the Savior told the parable of the vineyard and the laborers, He asked: “What will He do to those husbandmen?” They answered: “He will miserably destroy those wicked men and will let out the vineyard to other husbandmen who will render Him the fruits in their seasons.”

Thus, they prophesied their own ruin. For He came to visit them upon the earth, and they did not receive Him. Because their deeds were evil, they did not love the light, lest their works should be exposed, for they were wicked. And so, as He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, Jesus wept over it, saying: “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hidden from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” And again: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee! How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” And so it came to pass, for the Romans came, took Jerusalem captive, and razed it to the ground. From that time, Judaism perished, and the Law with it, like the evening twilight fading away, and the Jews were scattered among the nations—that evil should not endure together in one place!

For the Savior came, but Israel did not receive Him. And according to the word of the Gospel, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” But He was received by the Gentiles, as Jacob had foretold: “He shall be the expectation of the nations.” For even at His birth, it was the Magi from among the Gentiles who first worshiped Him, while the Jews sought to kill Him, and because of Him, the massacre of the infants was carried out. And thus was fulfilled the word of the Savior: “Many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness.” And again: “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” For He sent His disciples to them, saying: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” And again: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

And it was fitting that Grace and Truth should shine forth upon new nations. For, as the Lord said, new wine—the new teaching of Grace—must not be poured into old wineskins, which have grown worn-out in Judaism, lest the wineskins burst and the wine be lost. How could they, who could not keep even the shadow of the Law, who so often fell into idolatry, preserve the teaching of true Grace? Rather, new wine is poured into new wineskins—that is, new nations—and thus both are preserved. And so it is. For the faith of Grace has spread throughout the whole earth and has reached even our Russian people. The lake of the Law has dried up, while the Gospel’s fountain has been filled with water, covering the whole earth and overflowing even to us. For behold, we, together with all Christians, glorify the Holy Trinity, while Judea is silent. Christ is magnified, while the Jews are accursed; the Gentiles have been brought in, while the Jews have been cast out. As the prophet Malachi says: “I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, My Name shall be great among the Gentiles, and in every place incense shall be offered unto My Name, and a pure offering: for My Name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.” And David: “Let all the earth worship Thee, and sing unto Thee.” And again: “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth!”

And no longer are we called idolaters, but Christians; no longer are we without hope, but we trust in Eternal Life.

No longer do we erect temples to Satan, but we build churches of Christ. No longer do we slaughter one another as sacrifices to demons, but Christ is sacrificed for us and is broken as an offering to God the Father.

No longer do we partake of the blood of sacrifices and perish, but we partake of the Most Pure Blood of Christ and are saved. The Good God has had mercy on all nations and has not despised us but has willed to save us and has brought us to the knowledge of Truth. For when our land lay desolate and barren, when the burning heat of idolatry had withered it, suddenly, the fountain of the Gospel began to flow, watering all our land. As Isaiah said: “Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.”

When we were blind and did not see the true light, but wandered in the falsehood of idolatry, and when we were also deaf to the saving teaching, God had mercy on us, and the light of understanding shone within us, that we might come to know Him, according to the prophecy: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear.” And when we stumbled on the paths of destruction, following demons and not knowing the way that leads to life, when we muttered with our tongues, praying to idols and not to our God and Creator—then God’s love for mankind visited us. And now we no longer follow demons, but clearly glorify Christ, our God, according to the prophecy: “Then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the stammerers shall speak plainly.”

And when we were like beasts and cattle, lacking understanding, not knowing our right hand from our left, being wholly devoted to the earthly and caring nothing for the heavenly, the Lord also gave us commandments leading to eternal life, according to the prophecy of Hosea: “And it shall be in that day, saith the Lord, I will make a covenant for them with the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and I will say to them that were not My people, ‘Ye are My people,’ and they shall say to Me, ‘Thou art the Lord our God.’” And thus, being once strangers, we were called the people of God; and though we were once His enemies, we were named His sons. And we no longer blaspheme as the Jews do, but bless as Christians do. We no longer take counsel to crucify Him, but rather to worship the Crucified One. We do not nail the Savior to the Cross, but lift our hands to Him in prayer. We do not pierce His side, but drink from it the fountain of incorruption. We do not seek to gain thirty pieces of silver from Him, but we surrender ourselves and our whole lives to Him. We do not conceal His Resurrection, but proclaim in all our homes: Christ is risen from the dead! We do not say that He was stolen away, but that He ascended to where He was before. We do not doubt, but with Peter we confess: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God; and with Thomas: My Lord and my God; and with the thief: Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom!

And thus, believing in Him and keeping the traditions of the holy fathers of the Seven Councils, we beseech God yet again to labor for us and to direct us in the path of His commandments. The prophecy concerning the Gentiles has been fulfilled upon us: “The Lord hath made bare His holy arm in the sight of all nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” And again: “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess God.” And Isaiah: “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” And Daniel: “All peoples, nations, and languages shall serve Him.” And David: “Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, O God; let all the peoples give thanks unto Thee. Let the nations be glad and rejoice.” And again: “O clap your hands, all ye nations! Shout unto God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord is the Most High, and is to be feared: He is the great King over all the earth.” And further: “Sing praises to our God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is King over all the earth. Sing ye praises with understanding! God reigneth over the nations.” And again: “Let all the earth worship Thee and sing unto Thee; let them sing to Thy Name, O Most High!” And: “Praise the Lord, all ye nations! Laud Him, all ye peoples!” And yet again: “From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, the Name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory is above the heavens.”

As Thy Name, O God, so also is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth! Hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of them that are afar off upon the sea! “That we may know upon the earth Thy way, and among all nations Thy salvation.” And: “Let the kings of the earth and all nations, the princes and all the judges of the earth, the young men and maidens, the elders and children, praise the Name of the Lord.” And Isaiah: “Hearken unto Me, My people, [saith God], and ye kings, give ear unto Me; for a Law shall proceed from Me, and My judgment shall be a light to the nations. My righteousness is near, and My salvation shall go forth as a light. The islands shall wait for Me, and on My arm shall the nations trust.”

And with a voice of praise, the land of Rome magnifies Peter and Paul, who led it to faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Asia and Ephesus, and Patmos, glorify John the Theologian. India honors Thomas. Egypt reveres Mark. Every land, every city, and every nation honors and glorifies its own teacher, who enlightened them in the Orthodox faith. Let us therefore also, according to our strength, offer humble praise to Him who has done great and wondrous things—to our teacher and guide, the great prince of our land, Vladimir, grandson of the elder Igor, and son of the glorious Sviatoslav. They, in the days of their reign, became renowned in many lands for their courage and bravery, and even now they are remembered and glorified for their victories and strength.

For your dominion is not in a weak or unknown land, but in Rus’, a land known and heard of in all four corners of the earth.

This glorious prince, born of the noble and the illustrious, our Vladimir, grew, strengthened from childhood, and matured, excelling in strength and might, advancing in wisdom and courage, and became the sole ruler of his land, subjugating neighboring nations—some by peace, and the disobedient by the sword. And lo, while he was living in his time, governing his land with justice, might, and wisdom, the visitation of the Most High came upon him, and the Merciful Eye of the Good God looked upon him. And understanding shone within his heart, so that he might comprehend the vanity of idolatrous falsehood and seek the One God, the Creator of all things visible and invisible.

And he had always heard of the pious Greek land, a land filled with love for Christ and strong in faith: how there they honored the One God in the Trinity and worshiped Him, how miracles, signs, and wonders were manifest there, how the churches were filled with people, how the villages and cities were faithful, how all stood in prayer, and how all served God. And hearing this, he desired in his heart and was inflamed in spirit to become a Christian, and to make his land Christian as well. And this came to pass according to God’s good will concerning the human race.

For our prince put off the old man with his garments, cast away corruption, shook off the dust of unbelief, entered the holy font, was reborn of water and the Spirit, was baptized into Christ, and put on Christ. And he emerged from the font made white, becoming a son of incorruption, a son of the Resurrection, receiving a name eternal and renowned for generations and generations—Basil, by which he was inscribed in the Book of Life, in the upper city, in the incorruptible Jerusalem.

And after this had come to pass, he did not abandon the struggle of faith, nor did he reveal his love for God by this act alone. Rather, he pressed on even further, commanding that throughout all his land, all should be baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And he ordered that in every city, the Holy Trinity should be glorified openly and mightily, and that all should become Christians—both small and great, slaves and free, young and old, nobles and commoners, rich and poor.

And there was not a single one who opposed his pious command. For if anyone did not receive baptism out of love, they did so out of fear of the one who commanded it—for his piety was accompanied by authority. And in a single moment, our whole land glorified Christ with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Then the darkness of idolatry began to depart, and the dawn of true faith appeared. Then the gloom of demon-worship was dispelled, and the word of the Gospel shone upon our land.

The pagan shrines were torn down, and churches were raised in their place; idols were shattered, and icons of the saints were revealed; demons fled, and the Cross sanctified the cities.

The shepherds of Christ’s rational sheep—the bishops—stood before the holy altar, offering the Unbloody Sacrifice. The presbyters, the deacons, and the entire clergy adorned and clothed the holy churches in splendor. The apostolic trumpet and the thunder of the Gospel resounded throughout all the cities. The incense, rising unto God, sanctified the air. Monasteries were built upon the mountains; monks appeared; men and women, young and old, great and small—all the people filled the holy churches, glorifying God and singing:

One is Holy, One is the Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father! Amen.

Christ has conquered! Christ has prevailed! Christ has reigned! Christ is glorified!

Great art ThYou, O Lord, and wondrous are Thy works! O our God, glory to Thee!

How then shall we praise you, most honorable and glorious among the rulers of the earth, most valiant Basil? How shall we marvel at your majesty, strength, and might? What gratitude shall we render to you, for through you we have come to know the Lord and have been delivered from the falsehood of idolatry, and through your command, Christ is glorified throughout all your land?

What shall we call you, lover of Christ? A friend of righteousness, a treasury of wisdom, a dwelling place of mercy! How did you come to believe? How were you inflamed with the love of Christ? How did wisdom beyond the wisdom of earthly sages dwell within you, that you should love the Unseen and aspire to the heavenly?

How did you seek Christ, and how did you give yourself to Him? Tell us, your servants! Tell us, our teacher! From where did the fragrance of the Holy Spirit breathe upon you? Where did you drink from the sweet cup of the remembrance of the Life to Come? Where did you taste and see that the Lord is good?

You did not see Christ, nor did you walk after Him—how then did you become His disciple? Others saw Him and yet did not believe. But you, having not seen, believed. Truly, upon you was fulfilled the blessing of the Lord Jesus, spoken to Thomas:

“Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

Therefore, with boldness and without doubt, we cry to you, blessed one! The Savior Himself has called you blessed, for you have believed in Him and were not offended in Him, according to His unfailing word:

“Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in Me.”

For those who knew the Law and the prophets crucified Him. But you, who had neither the Law nor the prophets, bowed down before the Crucified One!

How was your heart opened? How did the fear of God enter you? How were you filled with love for Him? You did not see an apostle come to your land, humbling your heart with his poverty, nakedness, hunger, and thirst. You did not witness demons being cast out in the name of Jesus Christ, the sick being healed, the mute speaking, fire being transformed into cold, or the dead being raised. Without seeing any of this, how did you come to believe? What a wondrous mystery! Other kings and rulers, seeing such miracles performed by holy men, did not believe but instead handed them over to torment and suffering. Yet you, blessed one, came to Christ without seeing these things, simply through good reasoning and wisdom, understanding that there is one God—the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly—who sent His beloved Son into the world for our salvation. Reflecting on this, you entered the holy font.

What others considered foolishness became for you the power of God. And who can recount the many acts of mercy you performed by night and the generosity you showed by day to the poor, the orphans, the sick, the debtors, the widows, and all who sought your kindness? For you heard the words spoken by Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar:

“Let my counsel be acceptable to you, O king Nebuchadnezzar: break off your sins by showing mercy to the poor, and your iniquities by acts of kindness.”

You, most honored one, did not let these words pass unheard but fulfilled them in deed: giving to those who asked, clothing the naked, satisfying the thirsty and the hungry, sending all comfort to the sick, redeeming debtors, and granting freedom to slaves. Your acts of mercy and kindness are still remembered among the people, and even more so before God and His angels. Because of this love of mercy, so pleasing to God, you have great boldness before Him as a faithful servant of Christ.

The one who spoke these words helps me: “Mercy triumphs over judgment,” and “A man’s kindness is like a seal before God.” More surely, the Lord Himself has said:

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

And let us bring forth another clear and true testimony concerning you from the Holy Scriptures, spoken by the Apostle James:

“Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

If such a reward is given by the Good God to one who turns a single person from sin, what salvation have you gained, O Basil? How great a burden of sin have you cast off, having turned not one person from the deception of idolatry, not ten, not a city, but an entire land?

The Savior Christ Himself reveals to us and affirms what glory and honor He has bestowed upon you in heaven, saying:

“Whoever confesses Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father who is in heaven.”

And if Christ pleads before God the Father for the one who merely confesses Him before people, how much more will He glorify you, not only for confessing that Christ is the Son of God but for establishing faith in Him—not in one assembly, but throughout this entire land—building churches for Christ and bringing servants to Him?

You are like the great Constantine, equal to him in wisdom, equal in love for Christ, equal in honoring His servants. He, together with the holy fathers of the Council of Nicaea, established the Law for all people. You, together with our new fathers, the bishops, frequently gathered in great humility to determine how to establish the Law among this people who had newly come to know the Lord.

He subjected the kingdoms of the Greeks and Romans to God; you subjected Rus’. Now Christ is called King not only among them but among us as well. He, with his mother Helen, brought the Cross from Jerusalem and sent it throughout his empire, strengthening the faith. You, with your grandmother Olga, brought the Cross from the New Jerusalem, the city of Constantine, and established it throughout your land, confirming the faith.

For you are truly like him. Because of the faith you held in this life, the Lord has made you a partaker of the same glory and honor in Heaven.

Your noble guide in faith, blessed one, was the Holy Church of the Most Holy God-bearer Mary, which you built upon a foundation of true belief, and where now your valiant body rests, awaiting the trumpet of the archangel.

A good and faithful witness is your son George, whom the Lord has established as the successor to your reign—not one who overturns your statutes, but who upholds them; not one who diminishes the treasury of your faith, but who increases it; not one who merely speaks, but one who fulfills in action what you left unfinished, as Solomon completed the works of David.

He built a great and holy House of God, dedicated to His divine Wisdom, for the sanctification and blessing of your city, adorning it with every beauty—gold and silver, precious stones, and sacred vessels—creating a church so wondrous and glorious among the surrounding nations that none like it can be found in all the northern lands, from east to west. He has surrounded your glorious city of Kiev with majesty like a crown, entrusting your people and the city to the swift aid of the All-Glorious Holy God-bearer. To her, he also built a church at the Great Gates in honor of the first feast of the Lord, the holy Annunciation.

Just as the archangel brought a greeting to the Virgin, so also shall it be to this city. As he said to her:

“Rejoice, O highly favored one! The Lord is with thee!”

So it shall be said to Kiev:

“Rejoice, O city of faith, the Lord is with thee!”

Rise, O honored head, from your tomb! Rise, shake off sleep, for you have not died, but sleep until the universal resurrection! Rise, for you have not perished, for it is not fitting that one who has believed in Christ, the Life of the whole world, should die! Shake off slumber, lift up your eyes, and behold what honor the Lord has bestowed upon you in heaven, and how on earth He has not left you forgotten in your son.

Rise and look upon your child, George! Look upon your lineage! Look upon your beloved! Behold the one whom the Lord has brought forth from your loins! Look upon the one who now adorns the throne of your land—rejoice and be glad!

Look also upon your faithful daughter-in-law, Irene. Look upon your grandchildren and great-grandchildren—how they live, how they are preserved by the Lord, how they hold fast to faith according to your testament, how they frequent the holy churches, how they glorify Christ and bow before His Name. Look upon the city, shining in majesty! Look upon the churches flourishing! Look upon the Christian faith increasing! Look upon the city, sanctified and radiant with icons of the saints, fragrant with incense, resounding with hymns, divine names, and sacred songs!

Seeing all this, rejoice, be glad, and glorify the Good God, the Creator of all things. You have already seen it, if not with your body, then in spirit—for the Lord reveals all these things to you. Therefore, rejoice and exult, for the seeds of your faith have not been scorched by the heat of unbelief, but with the rain of God’s favor, they have brought forth abundant fruit.

Rejoice, O apostle among rulers! You did not raise the dead in body, but you resurrected us, who were dead in soul—perishing from the sickness of idolatry—and brought us to life. By your will, we came to know the life of Christ. We were crippled by the deceit of demons, but by your will, we were made upright and set upon the path of life. We were blind in the darkness of demonic falsehood, but by your will, we opened the eyes of our hearts; we were blinded by ignorance, but by your will, we saw the light of the Triune Godhead. We were mute, but by your will, we spoke. And now, both small and great glorify the Consubstantial Trinity.

Rejoice, our teacher and guide in true faith! You were clothed in righteousness, girded with strength, shod with truth, crowned with wisdom, and adorned with mercy as with a golden ornament.

O honored head! You were clothing to the naked, nourishment to the hungry, refreshment to the thirsty, a helper to widows, a refuge for strangers, a shelter for the homeless, a defender of the oppressed, and enrichment to the poor. For these and all your good deeds, receiving now the heavenly reward—the blessings that God has prepared “for those who love Him”—and being filled with the sweet vision of His face, pray for your land and for the people over whom you faithfully ruled. May the Lord preserve them in peace and in the true faith that you entrusted to them; may Orthodoxy be glorified among them, and every heresy be cast away.

May the Lord God protect them from every war and captivity, from famine, distress, and sorrow.

Above all, pray for your son, our faithful prince George, that he may pass through the tempest of this life in peace and good health, reaching safely the haven of the heavenly refuge. That, preserving the ship of his soul and holding fast to the faith, governing the people entrusted to him by God with righteousness and a wealth of good works, he may stand unashamed before the Throne of the Almighty. And that, for his labor in shepherding his people, he may receive from Him the unfading crown of glory together with all the righteous who have toiled for His sake.