Introduction

Catechesis 60 contains a number of interesting details. Who, for example, if the ‘holy father and teacher’ referred to in the opening sentence? If the Short Catecheses were given during St Theodore’s exile to the Propontis in 820, it cannot be St Platon, who had died in 812. The most likely person is St Nikephoros, the Patriarch. The latter, despite certain earlier difficulties, had a great respect for St Theodore. Cf. in particular Life A chap. 120 (PG 99:221-224). The Patriarch called himself St Theodore’s ‘son’ (Letters II:79 — PG 99:1317C), and St Theodore refers to himself as the Patriarch’s ‘child’ (Ibid., II:18. PG 99:1176A). St Nikephoros had been deposed in 815 and was at this time also in exile in his own monastery on the Propontis. That he should visit his friend St Theodore and his monks is, to say the least, not improbable.

The reference to ‘the story of the Flood’ suggests that the readings at Vespers were the same in St Theodore’s day as they are today.

In number 63 the reference to ‘the ruler’ in Bulgaria is almost certainly to Omurgat (813-831), whose father, Kroumos (802-814) had carried off into captivity some 30,000 Christians some years before. If the Catecheses were all given at the same time, they must be dated between 820 (the death of Metropolitan Michael, the subject of Catechesis 21) and 826 (the death of St Theodore himself).

Catechesis 60

On our sudden departure from here and teaching about keeping safe watch over our senses and our mind from unseemly desires. Given on Wednesday of the 3rd Week.

Brethren and fathers, in the presence of our holy father and teacher we have no need to discourse; but nevertheless because of our custom let us say just a little. Day by day our life, as you see, is passing and we are getting nearer to death, and we must remove hence and be joined to our brothers and fathers; so that there is need of much vigilance and attention and preparation of heart. We hear the story of the Flood being read, and the Lord in the Gospels saying: As in the days of Noë they were eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling and suddenly the flood came, so too it will be at the coming of the Son of Man [Cf. Mt. 24:37-39, Lk 17:26].^[fn] And perhaps we wonder in this case how insensibly they were disposed, and were not rather trembling and terrified. Let us be on the watch then lest we find ourselves without realising it in the same state of which we accuse them. Already it is not the ark which is being got ready, which was being filled up during one hundred years, but every day the tomb is seen filled, into which we are about to crawl. Already each day death is at work [Cf. 2 Cor. 4:12], when each one of our brothers departs. Things here are more fearful than those there; and so we should be on our guard. I don’t say: we shouldn’t eat, drink, or clothe ourselves. I don’t say that; but whether we eat, or drink, or whatever we do, let us do everything to the glory of God, [1 Cor. 10:31-32] giving no offense to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God, as the Apostle teaches.

Yes, I exhort, yes, I implore, my brothers, make my joy complete, as the Apostle again says, be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or vainglory; but in humility think of others as better than yourselves [Phil. 2:2-3]. Let us secure our senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, through them death enters. Let us bridle our mind not to be carried off to things it should not, not to step into the pitfall of unseemly things, not to picture to ourselves evil images nor to conceive sinful desires, from which we gain no profit or pleasure; on the contrary we are pained and crushed accomplishing nothing useful. There is one repose then and one pleasure, to cleanse the soul and to look towards dispassion. And let us not grow despondent^[fn] when called to repose and the joy of dispassion, but let us hasten and press forward intently with diligence to right every defect; and God is our helper; for the Lord is near those who wait for him. And by living thus may we reach the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and might with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Introduction, translation, and notes by Fr Ephrem Lash.