Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume IHippolytus, Antipope
Philosophy
Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume I
Hippolytus, Antipope
Christian heresies -- History -- Early church, ca. 30-600; Occultism; Philosophy, Ancient
9. But the Phrygians further say that the Father of the [Sidenote:
p. 174.] universals is Amygdalus, not a tree, he says, but that
pre-existent almond[145] which containing within itself the perfect
fruit (and) as if pulsating and stirring in the depth, tore asunder
its breasts and gave birth to its own invisible and unnameable and
ineffable boy of whom we are speaking.[146] For “Amyxai” is as if to
burst and cut asunder,[147] as he says, in the case of inflamed bodies
having within them any gathering, the surgeons who cut them open call
them “amychas.” Thus, he says, the Phrygians call the almond from whom
the invisible one proceeded and was born, and through whom all things
came into being and apart from whom nothing came into being.
But the Phrygians say that he who was thence born is a piper, because
that which was born is a melodious spirit. For God, he says, is a
Spirit, wherefore neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem shall
the true worshippers prostrate themselves, but in spirit.[148] For
spiritual, he says, is the prostration of the perfect, not fleshly. But
the Spirit, he says, (is) there where both the Father and the Son are
named, being [Sidenote: p. 175.] there born from this (Son and from)
the Father.[149] This, he says, is the many-named, myriad-eyed[150]
incomprehensible One for whom every nature yearns, but each in a
different way. This, he says, is the Word[151] of God, which is, he
says, the word of announcement of the great Power. Wherefore it will be
sealed and hidden and concealed, lying in the habitation wherein the
root of the universals[152] is established, that is[153] (the root) of
Aeons, Powers, Thoughts, Gods, Angels, Emissary Spirits, things which
are, things which are not, things begotten, things unbegotten, things
incomprehensible, things comprehensible, years, months, days, hours
(and) of an Indivisible Point,[154] from which what is least begins to
increase successively. The Point, he says, being nothing and consisting
of nothing (and) being indivisible will become of itself a certain
magnitude incomprehensible by thought.[155] It, he says, is the kingdom
of the heavens, the grain of mustard seed, the Indivisible Point
inherent to the body which none knoweth, he says, save the spiritual
alone. This, he says, is the saying: “There are no tongues nor speech
where their voice is not [Sidenote: p. 176.] heard.”[156]
Thus they hastily declare that the things which are said and are
done by all men are to be understood in their way, imagining that
all things become spiritual. Whence they also say that not even they
who exhibit (in the) theatres say or do anything not comprehended in
advance.[157] So for example, he says, when the populace have assembled
in the theatres[158] some one makes entrance clad in a notable robe
bearing a cithara and singing to it. Thus he speaks chanting the Great
Mysteries[159] (but) not knowing what he is saying:--
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