Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil of Caesarea and John Chrysostom (Cambridge, University Library, MS Nn.1.23)

since? fear? and endan-? gered? many? of them? many? of the? worlds? of men? they prevailed? by the grace? of our? fathers? and the-? ologians? and the-? ologians? we are not ashamed? to hide? and not? are they? blessed? but this? belongs? to us? ...through the imitation of the darkness. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men!" original: "δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία" (doxa en hypsistois theō...). Gregory is quoting the angelic song from the Nativity (Luke 2:14) to show that the Resurrection completes the promise made at Christ's birth. With these [angels] we also converse, speaking these things. Already we say that the dignity of the angelic rank shines forth, and of all the unseen hosts. Easter! u A small 'u' (υ) is inserted here, likely a scribal correction for a spelling error or a mark to denote a specific liturgical emphasis. Easter! And again I will say: Easter, in honor of the Trinity! This is the feast of feasts for us, and the festival of festivals, surpassing all others—not only those of human origin and those that walk upon the ground, but even those of Christ himself that are celebrated for Him—as much as the sun exceeds the stars. Truly beautiful was yesterday’s lamp-bearing original: λαμπροφορία (lamprophoria). This refers to the tradition of carrying lit candles during the Easter Vigil, symbolizing the light of Christ entering the world. and illumination, which we

conducted both privately and publicly. Every race of men, and almost every rank, illuminated the night with an abundance of fire, as an image of the Great Light, insofar as the light from heaven shines upon us, brightening the whole world with its own beauties. It is a super-heavenly light, existing in the first radiant natures of the angels In Gregory’s theology, angels are "secondary lights" reflecting the "First Light" of God., after the First [Nature], which flows from that source. We celebrate in the Trinity; an indivisible light from fire has dawned. However much you might divide the light for those being divided and honored, today is even more beautiful and more radiant. For yesterday’s light was a precursor to the rising of the Great Light, and was as it were a precursor of joy...

Easter (original: Πάσχα/Pascha), Trinity (Τριάς), Light (φῶς), Lamp-bearing (λαμπροφορία), Feast (ἑορτή), Christ (Χριστός), Angels (ἄγγελοι)