St. Germanus I (c. 634–740) served as Patriarch of Constantinople from 715 to 730. A confessor of the Faith who was deposed by the Iconoclast Emperor Leo III the Isaurian for his defense of holy images, he is venerated as a saint by both the Eastern and Western Churches (feast day: May 12). His extant works include orations, epistles, theological treatises, liturgical hymns, and a celebrated Rerum Ecclesiasticarum Contemplatio (Theoria). The following passages are drawn from Patrologia Graeca, vol. 98 (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1865), which contains his Opera Omnia. The Latin text of PG 98 is given first, followed by an English translation.
I. The Jews Reproach the Church — Their Customary Perfidy Toward the Holy Spirit (Supersessionism)
From the Epistola ad Thomam Episcopum Claudiopolitanum (Epistle to Thomas, Bishop of Claudiopolis), PG 98, col. 167–168. This letter was submitted to the Second Council of Nicaea (787) in defense of holy images.
Latin (PG 98:167): “Hoc igitur in primis scire oportet, quia non tantum nunc, sed frequenter etiam Judæi talia nobis intulerunt in opprobrium, et hi qui vere idolatriæ cultores exsistunt, vituperare solum intemeratam et divinam fidem nostram conantes, et non ut manufactis intenderent, perurgentes.”
English: “It is necessary to know this first of all: that not only now, but frequently also, the Jews have brought such things upon us as a reproach, as have those who are truly the worshippers of idolatry, attempting only to vilify our spotless and divine faith, and pressing forward not so that attention might be turned away from man-made things.”
Latin (PG 98:167–168): “Judæos autem alius erubescere facit, quod non solum patres eorum ad idola prolapsi sunt, exprobrans, sed et quod contra legem, quam illi tenere se gloriantur, agant: sed loco quodam definito ea quæ typicarum sunt hostiarum, offerre decreverit, isti in omni loco orbis terrarum hoc agere non detrectent, consuetam in sanctum Spiritum perfidiam paterna consequentia adinvenientes, et hoc modo immolantes dæmoniis et non Deo.”
English: “Another [argument] makes the Jews blush: not only by reproaching them that their fathers fell into idolatry, but also that they act contrary to the very Law which they boast of keeping. For whereas the Law decreed that the typological sacrifices be offered in a specific, designated place, they do not hesitate to do this in every place on the face of the earth, following with ancestral consistency their customary perfidy toward the Holy Spirit, and thus sacrificing to demons and not to God.”
II. The Jews Called Serpents and Offspring of Vipers in Scripture
From the Oratio in Vivificam Crucem (Oration on the Life-Giving Cross), PG 98, cols. 233–234.
Latin (PG 98:233): “Sæpe invenio Judæos in Scriptura nominari serpentes et genimina viperarum, ob furorem et insaniam quam in bene de se meritos expromebant.”
English: “I frequently find the Jews in Scripture called serpents and offspring of vipers, on account of the rage and madness which they displayed toward those who had done good to them.”
Latin (PG 98:233–234): “Repunt autem per solitudinem integri venenatorum serpentium exercitus, et observant transeuntium calcaneum, mordendoque interficiunt, nec alii sunt, quam qui, ut Isaias ait, semitam pedum conturbant, eorum videlicet, qui viam Christo consentaneam ambulant, prohibentque ad eum salutis consequendæ gratia adire; qui dicunt: Num et vos seducti estis? Sed turba hæc, quæ non novit legem, maledicti sunt. Sic acuerunt linguam suam instar serpentis, et venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum, quasi inundabat. Hoc de Judæis.”
English: “Whole armies of venomous serpents crawl through the wilderness, watching for the heels of those who pass by and killing them with their bite; and these are none other than those who, as Isaiah says, disturb the path of feet — namely, of those who walk in the way conformed to Christ, and who hinder them from approaching Him to obtain salvation; who say: ‘Have you also been led astray? But this crowd that does not know the Law, they are accursed.’ So they sharpened their tongue like a serpent, and the venom of asps was as if overflowing under their lips. This is said of the Jews.”
Latin (PG 98:292): “multæ myriades malignorum Judæorum, veneno malitiæ ejecto, relictisque fraudis et doli anfractibus, et obliquitatibus, et recta via electa, transtulerunt sese ad vitam virtuti consentaneam.”
English: “Many tens of thousands of the malicious Jews, having cast out the venom of wickedness and abandoned the crooked turnings of fraud and guile, and having chosen the straight way, transferred themselves to a life in accordance with virtue.”
III. Jewish Hostility and Spiritual Blindness: Israel Surpasses Even Brute Beasts in Unreason
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam (Oration on the Burial of the Lord’s Body, delivered on Great Saturday), PG 98, cols. 245–246.
Latin (PG 98:246): “Verum non placet ea res Judæis. Nec enim Dei hostes, paternam murmurationis facilitatem emendaverint.”
English: “But this thing does not please the Jews. For the enemies of God have not amended their ancestral readiness to murmur.”
Latin (PG 98:246): “Cognovit bos possessorem suum, ac asinus præsepe domini sui. Israel autem nedum Dominum ac nutritium non cognovit, ut etiam tationem in eum magnificaverit; ac terra mello ac lacte manante saturatus, pulli instar adversus eum qui aleret, recalcitraverit.”
English: “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel, so far from knowing its Lord and Nourisher, made great its kicking against Him; and, satiated with the land flowing with milk and honey, it kicked back against the One who nourished it, like a young colt.”
Latin (PG 98:248): “tu quidem Judæe, qui invidus sis, ac hominum osor, ad corvos, ac rem malam vade, hominumque cadaveribus pariter inside, atque male habentium infirmitatibus, quando rem ejusmodi, tui Sabbati honorem existimas, deliciare.”
English: “As for you, O Jew, who are envious and a hater of men — go to the ravens, go to destruction, settle alongside human corpses, and take your delight in the infirmities of the afflicted, since you consider such a thing to be the honor of your Sabbath.”
IV. Jewish Spiritual Blindness at the Passion of Christ
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam, PG 98, cols. 251–252.
Latin (PG 98:252): “Soli Judæi juxta Isaiam, habentes oculos non vident. Sicut enim tenebræ eorum, ita et lumen eorum: habentesque aures, non audiunt cælos, quanquam ii penetrabili voce enarrent gloriam Christi.”
English: “The Jews alone, according to Isaiah, having eyes do not see. For as their darkness, so also is their light; and having ears, they do not hear the heavens, although these declare with penetrating voice the glory of Christ.”
Latin (PG 98:252): “solusque Israel doloris expers agit, ac insensibilis. Sic Christicidæ, nedum brutis animantibus irrationabiliores, sed et rebus insensatis insensibiliores exstitere.”
English: “Israel alone remains unmoved and without feeling. Thus the Christ-slayers have shown themselves to be not only more irrational than brute beasts, but even more insensible than inanimate things.”
V. The Synagogue as a Den of Robbers — Jewish Greed and Corruption
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam, PG 98, cols. 267–270.
Latin (PG 98:268): “…nisi occupans Judæorum pravitas, illorum quoque animum datis argenteis suffurata esset: qua prius ratione Judam quoque, vim vocalem gutturis perstringens argenteis vinculis, miserabili laqueo præfocasset.”
English: “…had not the wickedness of the Jews, pressing forward, stolen away also their [the soldiers’] minds by giving them silver, by the same means by which it had previously strangled Judas, wrapping the power of his voice with silver chains and choking him with a wretched noose.”
Latin (PG 98:268): “Filii hominum, utquid gravi corde, gravi pecuniæ pondere oneretis?”
English: “O sons of men, why do you weigh down your hearts with the heavy burden of money?”
Latin (PG 98:269): “Quid enimvero Judæorum Synagoga prædatorium magis, quibus etiam clementis Dei templum, in latronum speluncam commutatum est? Qui etiam spoliantes eum, ac plagas imponentes; puta, nunc quidem flagellantes, nunc clavis configentes, reliquerunt semivivum.”
English: “For what is more robber-like than the Synagogue of the Jews, by whom even the temple of the merciful God was converted into a den of robbers? They too, stripping Him and laying blows upon Him — now scourging, now nailing — left Him half-dead.”
VI. The Israelites Drunk with Madness Rise Against the Word of God
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam, PG 98, cols. 271–272.
Latin (PG 98:272): “Furore ebrii Israelitæ, surrexerunt, o Dei Verbum, adversus te ludere.”
English: “Drunk with madness, the Israelites rose up, O Word of God, to mock Thee.”
VII. The Inconstancy and Faithlessness of the Jewish Nation
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam, PG 98, cols. 275–276.
Latin (PG 98:275): “Lumen, tenebras vident; et tenebras, lumen. Dulce putant amarum, ac amarum confidenter dulce. O generatio prava atque perversa!”
English: “Light they see as darkness, and darkness as light. They think the sweet is bitter, and boldly call the bitter sweet. O crooked and perverse generation!”
Latin (PG 98:275–276): “O genus inconstans ac infidele! Heri sternebant vestimenta tanquam regi; hodie tanquam servum flagrionem nudant. Celebres heri acclamationes; hodie maledicentiæ. Heri illud: Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini; hodie: Maledictus qui pendet in ligno. Heri, Rex Israel; hodie, tyrannus adversus Cæsarem.”
English: “O inconstant and faithless race! Yesterday they spread their garments before Him as before a king; today they strip Him like a contemptible slave. Yesterday, glorious acclamations; today, curses. Yesterday: ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’; today: ‘Cursed is he who hangs upon the wood.’ Yesterday: ‘King of Israel’; today: ‘A rebel against Caesar.'”
VIII. The Hebrew Synagogue, Gone Whoring from God, Attacks, Slanders, and Kills Christ
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam, PG 98, cols. 281–282.
Latin (PG 98:282): “ut et ipse venundaretur; ut in ipsum quoque Hebræorum Synagoga a Deo exfornicata irrueret, calumniaretur, occideret, in caliginis lacum detruderet, hæc nimirum tenebrosa ergastula.”
English: “That He too should be sold; that upon Him too the Synagogue of the Hebrews — which had gone whoring from God — should rush, should slander, should kill, should thrust Him into the murky pit — these, assuredly, are dark prisons.”
IX. Jewish Blindness and the Demonic Inspiration of the Crucifiers
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam, PG 98, cols. 275–276.
Latin (PG 98:276): “Universæ tenebrarum turmæ cum principe suo in crucifixores irruerunt. Porro invenerunt opportuna cædi, quam moliebantur, organa. Ingressi subierunt, inhabitarunt, in furorem miseros egerunt. Non videtis ut stridant dentibus? Ut vestimenta discindant? ut stulte loquantur, blasphemiæ crimen Deo inferentes? Ut ore spument, Domino in faciem spuentes? Ut habeant perversos oculos? videntesque Barabbam latronem, Christum existiment, ac salvent: videntes autem Christum, latronem putantes, necent? Lumen, tenebras vident; et tenebras, lumen.”
English: “All the ranks of darkness, together with their prince, rushed upon the crucifiers. They found fitting instruments for the murder they were plotting. They entered in, they took up residence, they drove the wretched men into frenzy. Do you not see how they gnash their teeth? How they rend their garments? How they speak foolishly, heaping upon God the charge of blasphemy? How they foam at the mouth, spitting in the face of the Lord? How their eyes are perverted? — seeing Barabbas the robber, they take him for Christ and would save him; but seeing Christ, they take Him for a robber and put Him to death. Light they see as darkness, and darkness as light.”
X. The Wood Cast Into the Bread — The Deicide of the Jews
From the Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam, PG 98, col. 302.
Latin (PG 98:302): “Fuit quidem Judæorum manibus immissum lignum pani illi qui de cælo descendit.”
English: “It was indeed by the hands of the Jews that the wood was cast into that bread which came down from heaven.”
XI. Deicide: The Synagogue of God-Slayers Stands Against Christ
From the Hymni: Kanon pro Magno Sabbato (Canons for Great Saturday), PG 98, cols. 485–486. These are liturgical canons attributed to St. Germanus.
Latin (PG 98:485–486): “Perniciosa caterva Deo invisorum sontium, deicidarum Synagoga astitit, Christe, tibi, et tanquam iniquum traxit creatorem omnium, quem magnificamus.”
English: “A pernicious band of wicked men, hated by God — the synagogue of God-slayers — stood against Thee, O Christ, and dragged away as though unjust the Creator of all things, Whom we magnify.”
Latin (PG 98:486): “Legem nescientes impii, prophetarumque voces meditantes inaniter, ceu ovem traxere te omnium Dominum injuste ad occidendum, quem magnificamus.”
English: “The impious ones, not knowing the Law and meditating vainly on the voices of the prophets, dragged Thee — the Lord of all — as a sheep unjustly to be slain, Whom we magnify.”
Latin (PG 98:486): “Gentibus traditam vitam cum Scribis, ut interficeretur, sacerdotes prodiderunt, sauciati malitia nullam invidiæ causam habente; eum, inquam, qui natura vitæ auctor est, quem magnificamus.”
English: “The priests, together with the Scribes, betrayed to the Gentiles the Life, that He might be put to death, wounded by a malice that had no cause for its envy — Him, I say, Who is by nature the Author of life, Whom we magnify.”
Latin (PG 98:486): “Circumdederunt, tanquam canes multi, ceciderunt, o rex, genam tuam colapho; interrogarunt te, et contra te falsa testimonia dixerunt. Sed omnia sustinens, universos salvasti.”
English: “They surrounded Thee like many dogs; they struck, O King, Thy cheek with a blow; they interrogated Thee and bore false witness against Thee. But bearing all things, Thou didst save all men.”
XII. The Diaspora: “A Time of Love” and “A Time of Hatred” — Israel’s Punishment for Laying Hands on Christ
From the Commentary on Ecclesiastes (attributed in this volume, PG 98, col. 848, as the commentary of Gregory of Agrigentum, whose Opera appear alongside Germanus in this volume; this passage is a patristic citation within the commentary):
Latin (PG 98:848): “tempus dispergendi Israel, et tempus in unum congregandi; tempus quasi cingulum et balteum circumdari Deo populum Judæorum, et tempus ducendi eos in Babyloniam captivitatem, et ibi computrescere trans Euphratem…; tempus dilectionis, qua eos sub patribus ante dilexit, et tempus odii, quia in Christum intulerunt manus; tempus præliilii, modo non agentibus eis pœnitentiam, et tempus pacis in futuro, quando intrante plenitudine gentium, omnis Israel salvus erit.”
English: “A time of dispersing Israel, and a time of gathering them together; a time for the people of the Jews to be girded by God as with a belt and a sash, and a time for leading them into Babylonian captivity and causing them to rot there beyond the Euphrates…; a time of love, with which He formerly loved them under the Patriarchs, and a time of hatred, because they laid hands on Christ; a time of warfare, since they do not now do penance, and a time of peace in the future, when the fullness of the Gentiles shall have entered in, and all Israel shall be saved.”
XIII. “O Wicked Imitators of the Jews!” — The Judaizing Spirit Condemned
From the Vita S. Gregorii Agrigentini (Life of St. Gregory of Agrigentum), PG 98, col. 679–680. This Life is included in the PG 98 volume alongside Germanus’s works. The following is spoken by Bishop Protus of Ancyra in the presence of a synod, addressing false accusers:
Latin (PG 98:680): “O scelesti Deoque exosi Judæ imitatores, idne crimen malitia vestra confinxit, an viri hujus justi pietas admisit?”
English: “O wicked men, hated by God, imitators of Judas — did your malice fabricate that crime, or did the piety of this just man commit it?”
Sources
- Patrologia Graeca, Tomus XCVIII: S. Gregorius Agrigentinus, SS. Germanus et Tarasius CP., Cosmas Hierosolymitanus, Pantaleon Diaconus CP., etc. Ed. J.-P. Migne. Paris, 1865. Available via Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=4LO33nBPHLkC
- The works of St. Germanus I contained in PG 98 include:
- Rerum Ecclesiasticarum Contemplatio (Theoria), cols. 383–454
- Epistola ad Thomam Episcopum Claudiopolitanum, cols. 165–168
- Oratio in Vivificam Crucem, cols. 219–240
- Oratio in Dominici Corporis Sepulturam (Great Saturday Oration), cols. 244–316
- Hymni / Kanones pro Magno Sabbato, cols. 485–486 et passim
- For the Vita S. Gregorii Agrigentini, see PG 98, cols. 549–716 (Leontius of Rome, author), included in this same volume.
- For the Commentary on Ecclesiastes (Gregory of Agrigentum), see PG 98, cols. 741–1074, included in this same volume.