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

...of my preachings and dogmas. To me, the doors are being called and then closed. But perhaps a day will come which shall also overtake them—the last and final plague, the heaviest for our pursuers original: "πληγή." This refers to the tenth plague of Egypt, the death of the firstborn., and one truly worthy of the night original: "μυκτὸς," likely a transcription error for "νυκτὸς" (night)..

And let the firstborn and prototype in every Egyptian house be mourned—that which is even called Machaldaikon original: "μαχαλδαϊκὸν." This is an unusual term in the manuscript; in standard editions of this text, Gregory refers to the "chameleon" (χαμαιλέοντα), a creature that changes color, symbolizing the instability of sin. when it is singled out in the Scripture. And infants shall be rolled against the rocks, dashed and destroyed A stark reference to Psalm 137:9, interpreted here as the destruction of "infant" or nascent sins before they grow.. There shall be immeasurable dust and cries in various forms. But from us, such a destroyer shall depart, out of reverence and fear for the anointing original: "χρίσματος." Gregory refers to the blood of the lamb on the doorposts as a "chrism" or "anointing," a prefiguration of the seal of the Holy Spirit or the blood of Christ..

And there are seven days of unleavened bread, which is a gentle original: "ἡμέρος." Gregory makes a wordplay between "seven days" (hepta hemerai) and "gentle" (hemeros). number. For this number is mixed into the counts of time and is the order of this world original: "κόσμου τούτου στίχος." The number seven often represents the completed cycle of the physical world (the seven days of creation).. We must be free of the old and sour malice—not the kind of leaven used in life-giving bread-making, but the malice we must avoid so that we are not still fed like infants on the raw dough and the bitter herbs of Pharisaic and godless teaching Gregory warns against legalism and false doctrine, comparing them to the "old leaven" mentioned by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8..

And while those others may mourn, we shall set forth what has been written before: that at the consummation of the ages, the Passion of Christ original: "χῦ πάθος." "Χῦ" is a standard scribal abbreviation for "Christou." occurred. This was a common gift of the mystery to the disciples, dissolving the darkness of sin. It is not something merely to be cut original: "τόμενος," likely referring to the literal cutting of the Passover lamb., but something to be beheld original: "πτόμενος," likely for "ἐπτόμενος" or "θεώμενος.", so that nothing remains unobserved, nor...