Constantine the Great,
Oration on the Pascha of Christ
Written by Constantine the
Great.
Emperor and Equal to the
Apostles, Constantine the Great (early 4th century) was the first Roman emperor
to convert to Christianity, establishing a policy of religious toleration that
paved the way for the freer expansion of the Church.
This text is taken from
his great oration 'To the Assembly of the Saints' - an extensive examination of
several Christian topics. That presented here is the opening chapter, dealing
with the life-creating Resurrection of the Lord.
To the Assembly of the
Saints, 1
That light which far
outshines the day and sun, first pledge of resurrection, and renovation of
bodies long since dissolved, the divine token of promise, the path which leads
to everlasting life -- in a word, the day of the Passion -- is arrived, best
beloved doctors; and ye, my friends who are assembled here, ye blessed
multitudes who worship Him who is the author of all worship and praise Him
continually with heart and voice, according to the precepts of His holy word.
But thou, Nature, parent
of all things: what blessing like to this hast thou ever accomplished for
mankind? Nay rather, what is in any sense thy workmanship, since He who formed
the universe is Himself the author of thy being? For it is He who has arrayed
thee in thy beauty; and the beauty of Nature is life according to Nature's
laws.
But principles quite
opposed to Nature have mightily prevailed, in that men have agreed in
withholding His rightful worship from the Lord of all, believing that the order
of the universe depended, not on His providence, but on the blind uncertainty
of chance. And this they did, notwithstanding the clearest announcement of the
truth by His inspired prophets, whose words should have claimed belief, but
were in every way resisted by that impious wickedness which hates the light of
truth and loves the obscure mazes of darkness. Nor was this error unaccompanied
by violence and cruelty, especially in that the will of princes encouraged the
blind impetuosity of the multitude, or rather itself led the way in the career
of reckless folly.
Such principles as these,
confirmed by the practice of many generations, became the source of terrible
evils in those early times: but no sooner had the radiance of the Saviour's
presence appeared, than justice took the place of wrong, a calm succeeded the
confusion of the storm, and the predictions of the prophets were all fulfilled.
For after He had
enlightened the world by the glorious discretion and purity of His character,
and had ascended to the mansions of His Father's house, He founded His Church
on earth, as a holy temple of virtue, an immortal, imperishable temple, wherein
the worship due to the Supreme Father and to Himself should be piously
performed.
