Christian saints -- India -- Romances; Gautama Buddha -- Legends -- Adaptations; Princes -- India -- Romances
"Faithfully worship, with honour and reverence, the venerable likeness
of the features of the Lord, the Word of God, who for our sake was made
man, thinking to behold in the Image thy Creator himself. 'For the
honour of the Image, saith one of the Saints, passeth over to the
original.' The original is the thing imaged, and from it cometh the
derivation. For when we see the drawing in the Image, in our mind's
eye we pass over to the true form of which it is an Image, and devoutly
worship the form of him who for our sake was made flesh, not making a
god of it, but saluting it as an image of God made flesh, with desire
and love of him who for us men emptied himself, and even took the form
of a servant. Likewise also for this reason we salute the pictures of
his undefiled Mother, and of all the Saints. In the same spirit also
faithfully worship and salute the emblem of the life-giving and
venerable Cross, for the sake of him that hung thereon in the flesh,
for the salvation of our race, Christ the God and Saviour of the world,
who gave it to us as the sign of victory over the devil; for the devil
trembleth and quaketh at the virtue thereof, and endureth not to behold
it. In such doctrines and in such faith shalt thou be baptized,
keeping thy faith unwavering and pure of all heresy until thy latest
breath. But all teaching and every speech of doctrine contrary to this
blameless faith abhor, and consider it an alienation from God. For, as
saith the Apostle, 'Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any
other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let
him be accursed.' For there is none other Gospel or none other Faith
than that which hath been preached by the Apostles, and established by
the inspired Fathers at divers Councils, and delivered to the Catholick
Church."
When Barlaam had thus spoken, and taught the king's son the Creed which
was set forth at the Council of Nicaea, he baptized him in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, in the pool of water
which was in his garden. And there came upon him the grace of the Holy
Spirit. Then did Barlaam come back to his chamber, and offer the holy
Mysteries of the unbloody Sacrifice, and communicate him with the
undefiled Mysteries of Christ: and Ioasaph rejoiced in spirit, giving
thanks to Christ his God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account