November: Day 5: Teaching 2: Holy Apostle Hermas

November: Day 5: Teaching 2:
Holy Apostle Hermas
 
(The Vision of Saint Hermas of the Church in the Form of a Tower Under Construction and Moral Lessons From This for Believers)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Hermas, whose memory is celebrated today, lived in Rome during the time of the apostles. He was known to the Apostle Paul and is praised by him in his Epistle to the Romans (16:14) as one of the best Christians of Rome. The distinguishing qualities of his soul were the most sincere simplicity of faith and unquestioning submission to the suggestions of God. These qualities of the heart attracted God's special favor to him, and the Lord honored him with special visions and revelations, of which his whole life is composed. Since these wonderful signs of God, edifying in themselves, were accompanied by edifying interpretations, Hermas received the order to write down everything that was revealed to him, for the benefit of the entire Holy Church of God. Hermas fulfilled the order and compiled a book he called "The Shepherd", which, in the early days, was read in the churches along with the apostolic writings.

II. We intend to tell you, beloved brethren, one vision of Saint Hermas.

The old woman who appeared to Hermas in a dream, by whom we must understand to be the Church, showed him a great tower, which was being built over the waters from shining square stones. I ask you, brethren, to pay attention to the construction of this tower, in it is the essence of this vision. The plan of the tower was square. Six youths built it, many thousands of other people carried stones. Some drew these stones from the depths of the waters, some took them from the earth, and bringing them, gave them to those six youths. The stones drawn from the depths of the waters were completely hewn, so that it remained only to lay them. They joined together so well with the others that no marks were visible at the junction, and the tower seemed to be composed of one stone. As for the stones brought from the earth, among them were some that the youths used for the building, and there were some that they threw away and broke. Around the tower were many useless stones, for some were uneven, others had cracks, others were white but round, so that it was impossible to fit them into the building. Some of the useless stones were thrown far from the tower and fell on the road, where, however, they did not stop, but rolled further into the desert, others fell into the fire and burned, others fell near the water, but could not roll into it, no matter what efforts, apparently, they did not use. Around the building stood seven women.

Amazed by everything that was happening, Hermas asked the old woman to explain to him what everything he had seen meant.

a) The old woman said: “The tower that you see being built is myself, that is, the Church. It is being built over water because you are saved by water with the invocation of the name of the Most Glorious Trinity (by this she was indicating baptism). The six youths building the tower are the six angels of God, to whom He gave power over all creatures. And those who bring the stones are also angels of God, but the first are higher than them. When the building is finished, they will all together hold a celebration before God and glorify God.”

b) Now listen to what the stones mean!

The shining square stones, which fit well during construction, are the apostles, bishops, teachers, priests and deacons, whether living or already dead, who have fulfilled and fulfill their duty with all holiness and with tireless care for God's chosen ones, carefully preserving agreement among themselves.

The stones that are taken from the depths of the waters and seem to merge with the building during laying are those of the dead who suffered for the name of the Lord.

The stones brought from the earth and used in the building are the newly converted believers.

Of the stones that are thrown away, those that fall near the tower signify those who sin after baptism, but who nevertheless feel contrition and are ready to repent. If they repent while the building is in progress, they can be used for the building; but when the building is completed once and for all, they will no longer find a place there.

Then the stones which, having broken, they throw far from the tower, are evil people, who have accepted the faith in pretense, without changing anything from their former morals. Such cannot be used for construction, and there is no salvation for them.

As for the other worthless stones, the uneven ones signify those who knew the truth, but did not remain faithful to it and did not care to enter into one spirit with all the saints.

Cracked ones mean those who nourish discord in their hearts and have peace with others only in appearance.

The stones that are too small are those who have accepted the faith, but have retained most of their former vices.

The white and round stones are the rich who remained passionate about wealth even after accepting the faith. When persecution comes, they will deny the Lord because of their wealth. They can be suitable for building only when their passions are cut off, just as the sides of round stones must be cut off so that they are suitable for a building. "Judge for yourself, Hermas," the old woman added; "when you were rich, you were useless, but now you are capable of life. After all, you are one of these stones."

Listen to what the other stones mean. The stones thrown far from the tower, rolling to the road and from there into the desert, are those who believed, but, in their own foolishness, turned away from the first path and rushed to who knows where, dreaming of finding a better path there: they wander, poor things, finding no peace for themselves.

The stones that fall into the fire are those who have fallen away forever from the ever-living God. They are so devoted to vices and passions that it never even occurs to them to repent. This is the ready-made food of the fire of Gehenna.

The stones that fall near the water and cannot roll into it are those who, hearing the word of God, desire baptism; but when they then think of the holiness required by faith, they immediately turn back and fall into their former passions. Thus the Church explained to Hermas the vision of the tower.

c) Then she showed him seven more women surrounding this building. The first was faith, then her daughter, abstinence, then followed one after the other, simplicity, innocence, meekness, strict correctness in everything, and love. Each of them is the daughter of the previous one: simplicity is the daughter of abstinence, innocence is the daughter of simplicity, and so on. They supported the tower and opened the entrance to it for those who served them, i.e., for those who were distinguished by these virtues.

III. Look, brethren, more attentively at the vision of the tower – the Church: it is very edifying! All of us Christians are destined to enter into the body of the Church. Will we enter?! Grant it, Lord!. But for this, let us take care to show ourselves to be like white and square stones – polished, that is, let us take care to preserve the holy faith, which makes white, to implant in the heart a harmonious combination of virtues, pure and perfect, and let there be among us no unhewn stones, neither broken, nor round, nor any other, unfit for construction. Amen.

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.