In the codex of the Vatican Queen's collection, number 539, this sermon, ascribed to St. Maximus, is by us referred to this class, because the same most holy bishop was accustomed to use a more elegant manner of speaking, and it seems to us to have been composed at a later age. Today, most beloved brothers, let us with all our efforts and a devout mind celebrate the anniversary festival of the consecration of this holy church. Let us therefore knock, dearest ones, with pious affection, with a devout heart, beseeching the mercy of the Lord, that He may grant us the happiness of His clemency and the remission of His indulgence, and open to us the entrance of the heavenly kingdom, that in the heavenly temple, and in the supernal and eternal Church, they may eternally enjoy the fellowship of the saints.
It is therefore holy, brothers, and pleasing to God, that we venerate with special devotion the dedication of this church. Rightly, then, do they venerably keep the festivals and consecrations of holy churches, who know themselves to be sons of God's holy Church. For she is the mother of all believers, who regenerates unto life those born unto death. Therefore, dearest ones, it especially behooves all who are reckoned by the Christian name and are called sons of God to celebrate the consecrations of new churches solemnly and becomingly, and most zealously to venerate them, and with all their efforts to implore the Lord's help in them.
For there is no doubt that the almighty Lord dwells in temples made by hand, and spiritually visits the hearts of those who gather to them and venerably keep their dedications, and helps all who pray there, and comes to the aid of their needs. And so the solemnities of the dedications of new churches, in the New Testament and in this present time, are to be venerated with greater glory and veneration than the observance of the Old Testament and the foregoing of the law appointed. For just as afterwards a greater redemption was made among the Christian people by the blood of Christ, so also greater and far more abundant is the veneration of the dedications and consecrations of churches.
In them daily the body and blood of our very Lord Jesus Christ, offered up, is received by the faithful; this is to be prepared and faithfully embraced. Each faithful person also ought to attend to how great is the consecration of a church's dedication, and how great the prayer offered in it by the bishop, or by the other priests and ministers; how, from the mystery of the dedication and consecration, and from the intention of the prayer, the hearts of the faithful are kindled, and how all most diligently venerate the feasts of the temple's consecration. For with knees bent, the litany is performed by the highest pontiff and by the other priests and ministers of God, then the remaining prayers, as the ecclesiastical order teaches.
For the majesty of the Lord is implored by the bishop, and by his fellow-priests, and by the remaining ministers, in the consecration of a new church, that the prayers of all who come there may be heard by the Lord, that the anxieties of all who pray there may be relaxed, that the sins of those beseeching may be remitted, that sicknesses may be healed, that vows may be received, that things desired may be obtained, that things petitioned may be granted, that all who perpetually flee to it and pray in it may be delivered by the Lord from all evils, and may be preserved by the Lord, or may be mercifully delivered unharmed from all evils; and likewise the other things which are contained in the series of prayers of the dedication and consecration of a church, and it holds the same manner of those who beseech.
Many saints, therefore, who now glory in heaven among the ranks of the saints, consecrated God's temples in the present church, whose buildings together with their consecrations still remain, and whose walls are seen to stand to this day. To no one, therefore, is it doubtful that the prayers of those are heard by the Lord, and that what they have obtained is fulfilled, whose souls are in the heavens, equal to the souls of the saints.
For if, while living in the flesh, they planted and built churches, and by their prayers consecrated them, and merited to obtain—as is certain—those things which in the dedications they sought with holy prayers, how much more now, reigning with the Lord, do their petitions and things obtained by their merits redound upon those who come devoutly to those same temples to pray, and who gather to venerate their dedications festively, or venerably keep them in celebration? For just as the aforesaid saints, or all the holy fathers, received a perpetual recompense from these deeds and merited to attain eternal glory, so also now all who imitate their footsteps, with the Lord granting it, undoubtedly merit to attain eternal rewards.
Wherefore it must be most earnestly weighed by all, that they imitate their footsteps as far as they can, and that they humbly assemble at the churches which those saints consecrated, or which their successors afterwards dedicated, or daily dedicate; so that they may be able to obtain for themselves those saints' petitions, both by their own good intentions and good deeds, and by the prayers of those priests who dedicate those very churches, and of the very saints whose relics they place there, and who are venerated in those churches—that by their prayers they may merit to obtain what they petition. Therefore, dearest brothers, we admonish you not to take these things up in vain, nor to allow them to cease;
because if you venerably keep the dedications of new churches, and most zealously celebrate their solemnities, then those things which the holy priests themselves, in the very dedications of the churches, petitioned on behalf of you and of all who pray there, you shall, with the Lord's help, mercifully rejoice to obtain;
that is, that your prayers in the places consecrated by them and in God's churches may be heard, and the things which you strive to obtain in them—both from the present age and from all tribulations and from sins, or from all tribulations and evils—you may be delivered from; and those things which pertain to the heavenly things, and to the fellowship of the saints or eternal rest, you shall, with the Lord having mercy, sweetly obtain; and moreover all things which you humbly and faithfully petition in them, you shall be able to attain, the Lord mercifully granting it.
If, therefore, the Lord our Master Jesus Christ deigned to come to the feast of the dedication of the temple, how much more ought we to come to the festivals of the dedications of churches, and to celebrate them solemnly—as far as we are able and the Lord grants—solemnly and venerably in mind and heart? For you have heard, dearest brothers, from the Gospel lesson, that the feast of dedication took place at Jerusalem, and it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the porch of Solomon (John X). Now the dedication-feasts (encaenia) were called the solemnities of the consecration and dedication of the holy temple, which God's people, from the tradition of the fathers and from ancient custom, were accustomed to celebrate each and every year.
Imitating whose examples on this present day, according to the custom of the Christian world, we are zealous to keep the annual day of our Church's dedication as a solemn one, with divine praises, vigils, or other good pursuits and prayers. For the festivals of the dedications of churches are in no way less to be kept and venerated than the birthdays of the saints, since in those very churches dedicated to God many saints, by praying and lawfully contending, merited to attain the glory and fellowship of the saints.
If therefore our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who was weighed down by no burden of sin, willed to come to the dedication of the new temple, to the covering of the consecrated temple, and to the day of its consecration, and took care to celebrate that festival solemnly together with the other people, how much more ought we, who are weighed down and pressed by the burdens of many sins, fittingly to come to the aforesaid feasts together with the people subject to us and with all the rest, and to celebrate them solemnly, so that, the Lord granting it, we may deserve to obtain what the holy priests who consecrated them prayed and asked for. This festival too we ought to celebrate with the greater devotion, in that we know it to be most pleasing to our Redeemer. And indeed to the Lord [the town...]
[...] this festival of the temple's devotion was pleasing to the Lord, since He Himself willed to enter into the temple and to make an address to the people, and deigned to unfold there the mysteries of His divinity. For in the churches dedicated to God by bishops and priests through divine prayers, innumerable signs are visibly wrought, but invisibly miracles of greater power come forth. For bodies are healed outwardly, but the wounds of the soul are loosed inwardly. And this which is visibly shown outwardly by the Lord's grace, the divine power invisibly works inwardly in a spiritual manner. For it is a far greater thing for souls to be renewed inwardly and raised up from their wounds, than for bodies to be healed outwardly.
For one thing is shown carnally to bodily eyes, while another the divine power works invisibly. In the dedications of churches too we see many signs accomplished in our own times. Therefore we ought solemnly to venerate the dedications and solemnities of the consecrations of new churches, so that, just as we see the bodies of others healed and restored in them, so may our souls be healed, and inwardly be renewed by the Lord's mercy and raised up from sins. Let sins also be loosed, and the divine mercies be implored. For in the churches dedicated to God the blind are visibly enlightened, but the hearts of the faithful are invisibly illumined in them by the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Lepers therefore are visibly healed, but invisibly those who have been sprinkled with various doctrines and thoughts, or with heresies, have their hearts spiritually touched in the churches dedicated to God, and are converted to the catholic faith and to right conduct. In the aforesaid holy places too the deaf visibly receive their hearing, but invisibly the ears of the heart are opened by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, so that they may be able to hear and understand the things that are of God. And likewise the other things which are visibly shown in the miracles wrought in places dedicated to God are seen to contain a like appointed meaning.
Therefore, brethren, in order to obtain or gain such benefits, it behoves both you and us, indeed all, humbly to come together to the churches consecrated by divine prayers, and to venerate reverently the dedications of new churches and to celebrate them solemnly, so that, the Lord granting it, we may deserve to obtain and receive in them the aforesaid benefits, or greater ones. O how venerable is the day on which the walls of this temple have been consecrated by divine prayers! O lovable and blessed day, on which this house has been dedicated to the Lord with divine worship and sacred rites, that in it perpetually [the name of the Lord may be invoked...]
[...] the name of the Lord may be invoked, and the prayers of all who devoutly beseech in it may be heard by the Lord, and the vows of their petitions may be obtained through prayers by all, and the remedies of eternal salvation may be received! O most holy day, on which the walls of this house [F. edifice] have been anointed with the sacred unctions of holy chrism, that in it at last the offerings of the people may be offered to the Lord, and the Lord's priests may consecrate sacrifices in it; and that the things which formerly it was not lawful to do in it, might after the consecration of this present day become lawful; and that what before was not now lawful to be performed in it, might for all priests thereafter be lawful to enjoy in priestly fashion!
O day to be embraced and loved with all our strength, and to be reverently honoured by all, on which the altars of this temple have been anointed with the Lord's divine unctions, and reverently anointed by the bishop with the anointing of holy chrism, and consecrated by divine prayers, so that upon them the priests in times to come may immolate victims, and may lawfully and in priestly manner confect upon them the body of the Lord by divine prayers; and that whatever it was not lawful to touch in them before their consecration, might after the consecration be done anew; so that the lawful consecration of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ may profit us for present and everlasting salvation, and may become an expiation both for the rest of the people and for us, and may mercifully grant the rewards of eternal blessedness!
O truly lovable and solemnly to-be-honoured blessed day of today's festivity and of the dedication of this holy temple, on which the foundations and pavements and roofs of this temple have been dedicated by the bishop with divine prayers, so that what before was called a house, might afterwards be called a church for worship and assembly; that those coming religiously to it, and devoutly praying in it, might receive what they asked for in their righteous desires, and obtain pardon, and find consolation, and might ever keep themselves in it from idle talk and vain thoughts; that they might also persevere in prayer, direct the ears of heart and body to the Lord, implore the Lord's mercy, and receive the rewards of eternal life!
For among our fathers the dedications of churches and their solemnities were held in as great veneration as the days of the Lord's own Resurrection and Nativity, or of Pentecost. For certain holy Fathers, as we read, seeking the relics of the holy martyrs in whose honour they desired to have churches, but not finding them—since neither had their bodies yet been discovered, nor could they obtain their relics—the aforesaid holy Fathers nevertheless built churches, and erected altars in them, and consecrated them with divine worship and prayers in honour of those saints whose relics they desired to possess.
They placed cloths upon the altars already consecrated, and afterwards laid them upon the dead, who at once, in the names and by the merits of those saints in whose honour those altars had been consecrated, were raised up and made whole as before. Therefore, as [the matter itself teaches], no one can recount or write with how great a veneration the consecrated temples and altars are to be honoured and venerated, concerning which and in which these and innumerable miracles are read of, and are wondrously and most manifestly displayed.
For the many miracles openly wrought by the mercy of God in the solemnities of the dedications of churches in our own times, in wondrous ways and by most manifest tokens, and most manifestly displayed and delivered to us who beheld them—I can neither recall nor write nor judge them, on account of their multitude! Therefore the dedications of new churches, or their reconciliations, are to be honoured by all with all our strength and most devoutly venerated, so that in like manner in times to come the like, or even more, may be wrought in them, and the name of the Lord may be gloriously praised by all men in all offspring and generations.
But if the heathen kept the dedications of their idols festively, and still their place, as is read of Nebuchadnezzar and of many other heathen, how much more ought Christians to keep the solemnities of the dedications of holy churches, and honourably to venerate them, and solemnly to celebrate them—in which the sacraments of the body and blood of Christ are confected by the priests with divine prayers, and greater miracles and signs than among the idols of the nations are innumerably shown forth day by day, most openly, by the grace of the Lord!
O how venerable and reverently to be honoured is the consecration of today's festival of this holy church, in which angels visit, praying and seeking the Lord with their whole heart, and by their wondrous protection keep watch, as the prophet says: In the sight of the angels I will sing praise to Thee, and I will confess to Thy name (Ps. 137)! O how venerable is this place dedicated to the Lord, in which the heavenly spirits, angels also and archangels, thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, by day and night unceasingly penetrate spiritually the hearts of the faithful, and by divine impulse urge all to right conduct, and by urging and accompanying, and very often visiting and harmoniously guarding, lead them on to everlasting eternities!
How much better it is to pray and to offer sacrifices in the churches dedicated to God than in other unconsecrated places is shown in the prayers of the dedication of a church, and the very signs and miracles which are divinely wrought in them by the prayers of those saints in whose memory and honour they are dedicated most manifestly declare and most openly demonstrate. But who ever saw so many signs and miracles wrought in unconsecrated places as in those consecrated and dedicated by bishops and priests with divine prayers? Let anyone say so, if he wishes, that answer may be given him; and if he does not wish to say it, let him blush, and be silent for ever.
For if he will not, and cannot, having a blind heart, spiritually understand, let him at least learn from the signs and many miracles which are divinely wrought in them. But signs and miracles, as Truth itself says, are not for the faithful, but for the unfaithful. Now one thing is not forbidden to be done in houses and unconsecrated churches, but another is by no means permitted. For it is not forbidden to pray everywhere, since the Lord is prayed to everywhere, and is found by those who rightly seek Him; but in consecrated churches we more often receive what we ask for—as we ourselves know and have very often learned by experience—than in other unconsecrated places, as is declared by most manifest tokens in many who are sick and in distress.
For in the churches and oratories dedicated to God we very often see the blind enlightened, the lame restored, the lepers cleansed, and countless other signs most manifestly wrought; but in other places we do not find these things so wrought, except by the devotion of going to, or returning from, the holy places, or of persevering in good devotion. Therefore we neither read nor truly know that sacrifices may rightly be offered, or the body of the Lord confected, in other places, except in places dedicated to God by bishops, unless by reason of hostile attack or of the greatest necessity; and this not in dwellings or unconsecrated houses, but in tabernacles dedicated by bishops and upon altars anointed by pontiffs with sacred unction and consecrated by divine prayers.
But this, we read, was granted—for those placed far from a church by the greatest necessity and by journeying, lest the people should be left without the solemnity of Mass and the reception of the sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ—by the ancient Fathers and our holy predecessors, from no other occasion, nor from sloth, presumption, but from the aforesaid necessity. Otherwise, except as has been laid down, it is not permitted to perform the solemnities of Mass in unconsecrated places; and this, unless from the greatest and aforesaid necessities, it is by no means permitted to be done, since the divine law, most strictly commanding, says: See that thou offer not thy holocausts in every place, but in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose (Deut. 12). And elsewhere:
He offers rightly, but he does not divide rightly (Gen. 4). He offers rightly who cannot come to a church, being prevented by necessity or by infirmity, and goes where God is worshipped; but he does not divide rightly who performs the celebrations of Mass in unlawful and unconsecrated places. It is far better not to sing or hear Mass than to sing or hear Mass in unlawful places. For he who does unlawful things and performs what is forbidden errs not a little, and sins exceedingly. And unless he does penance for this canonically and justly in this world, he will without doubt receive the greatest condemnation at the judgment to come on account of this.
Many and innumerable examples of these things are found in the aforesaid legal books, and in other canonical and divine books, which here, for the sake of brevity, we have forborne to insert, and on account of the tedium and labour of writers or readers we have not inserted here. For if anyone desires to find more excellent and more numerous examples, he will be able to find them in the aforesaid books by reading sufficiently and seeking diligently. But for us it is enough to believe the examples set before us, and to obey the precepts of the Lord, and not to violate the decrees of the holy Fathers, and to shun unlawful things. In the canons therefore we read that the aforesaid things are strongly forbidden by the holy Fathers, and we know that to do unlawful things is unlawful.
Let no one therefore do forbidden things without inevitable necessity, because unless he corrects himself and amends through satisfaction, he will not remain without certain damnation. And no one acts against the prophets, or against the Gospels, or against the decrees of the holy Fathers, without peril. Let us therefore see, dearest brethren, that we do not act against the statutes of the holy Fathers. Let us run then to the churches dedicated to God, and there let us pray, and there let us sacrifice, so that we may receive there the remission of our sins and find consolation from our anxieties—the holy ones who are honoured there interceding—that we may perform our ministries in consecrated places more justly and more holily, and be found not despisers, but obedient to the precepts of the Lord.
Let us hasten then devoutly to run to the churches, and let us reverently honour their dedications, and with all our strength let us praise the Lord on today's festival of dedication, that we may be able to obtain the grace of God. For our ancient fathers rebuilt the temples that had been destroyed, and restored the old or diminished altars, and performed their consecrations fittingly and solemnly, most devoutly summoning and gathering to themselves many companions; and they adorned the very temples of God with golden crowns, and decorated the altars themselves with purest gold and most precious gems. By their good zeal, therefore, and most ready will, they even built the walls with purest gold, and refashioned both the panelled ceilings and the pavements and the doors with purest gold.
For the dedications of the temples in which they performed the divine office they venerated for eight days, living reverently and holily, and in those eight days they persevered always in hymns and canticles and other divine praises in veneration of the dedications of the temples; and passing the eight days solemnly in all worship, they always gave thanks and praise to the Lord, and humbly begged pardon for their own crimes and for those of the whole people, imploring forgiveness, and with hands stretched out to heaven most intently and most devoutly praised the Lord above all things.
But we, whom the Redeemer of the world at last redeemed with His most precious blood, ought much more to praise Him, and with all our strength to venerate the dedications of our churches, and always to give Him thanks—Him for whom He shed His blood, and whom He redeemed from the gates of hell, and to whom He proclaimed and gave everlasting life.
For if in the aforesaid matters, and in the venerations, or the institutions of the churches, we are found more remiss and more useless than they, we shall in no way be able to attain to that glory which they received; how much more shall we be able to attain to that which the Lord afterwards promised us—which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, which God hath prepared for them that love Him (1 Cor. 2)? Therefore, most beloved brethren, we ought above all to venerate the dedication of the churches and their solemnities, lest with the negligent we should hear that sentence, which God forbid: Cursed be the man who does the work of God negligently (Jer. 48), He says;
that we may deserve to hear from the Lord that word which the Lord Himself promised in the Gospel to the faithful of the holy Church of God, and to just souls, or to those who lovingly persevere in divine worship, saying: Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord (Matt. 25). O how great a mystery and how admirable a sacrament is celebrated today on earth! For we all venerate on this present day the dedication of the holy Church of God, and we sing praise to the Lord God with human voices on earth, but the angels sing heavenly hymns above. We too pray on earth, the angels praise the Lord in heaven. We also rejoice on earth, the angels and saints of God rejoice over so great a solemnity in heaven.
Let us therefore pray on earth, solemnly keeping today's dedication with psalms, and let us rejoice over so great a festival, that we may deserve to be found partakers in heaven. Here ends.