WORD OF THE DESCENT INTO HELL BY JOHN THE BAPTIST

WORD OF THE DESCENT INTO HELL BY JOHN THE BAPTIST

Literally Translated Direct From Russian


This is a Slavonic text dating back to the Byzantine era. It is odd that the title says, “Word of the Descent Into Hell By John the Baptist” when, in fact, he says very little. The main part of the text focuses on: The devil’s unsuccessful struggle with Christ during his earthly life; Christ destroying all the evil machinations - turning away from sinful deeds, healing the sick, resurrecting his friend Lazarus; And the devil, and his assistant - Judas’ betrayal.


Lord, bless, Father!

Beloved, you must tell you, what was the annunciation Baptist in hell and inquired how it is in hell, because he had sent to the Lord his disciples, saying, "Is that you come or that we expect?" Not without knowing it, sent as would not know about it, but pointed the finger at him, and proclaimed, "Behold the lamb of God who takes to himself the sins of the world", and: "I baptize you with water, but among you stands, which you know not, he will be baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. " And do not be so that only you will know about it. So hear the same terrible secret, because there was a forerunner of the Lord. Why should he was in hell before Christ come, as it is in hell want him to inquire of the LORD: he will get us out of here or not. And not knowing what would have to respond to them, he sent his disciples to the Lord to know: "Is it you come?" And, having gone, they brought him the answer.

Then Herod, sent to prison, beheaded John. He graduated from the Baptist of the Lord his way and went to hell. And they knew being in hell. There were Abraham and Isaac, and Jacob, David and Isaiah and many other holy prophets. And John asked the Lord, as saying: "There will come a free us from our suffering, or not? And I will bring a prophesy about him? "Others said," What if you do not want to die for us? "The prophets also were attached spirit, saying" he was destined to die, and we also are aware that it would be with him, and prophesied of the world. " In reply, John said, "Come, I beg you, tell me about that, as prophesied, and we heard it, awake the spirit." In reply, the First and the great Prophet David: "I anticipated that, no one to tell her he quietly descend from heaven, and said," come down like rain, watering fleece. '" Isaiah said, "I foresee that a virgin he will be born, and said," That will take a virgin's womb and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. '" And another answered and said: "I expected that, instead of the twelve patriarchs of 12 students will serve him, and proclaimed:" In place of your fathers are your sons. '" And another said, "I foresaw the acts and miracles that will do it, and told:" the eyes of the blind and deaf ears to hear. '" And the other, in turn, said: "I expected that the student will want to betray him, and declared:" He who eats my bread, lifted me libel. '" And another said: "I foresee that for thirty pieces of silver to betray his wants, and proclaimed:" Rate me 30 pieces of silver. '" And Isaiah said, "I foresee that it will be brought to the tribunal, and declared:" The Lord himself will appear before the court on the elders of the land. '" Responding, Jeremiah said, "I foresaw that they want him crucified on a tree, and told:" Come, we embed the tree in the bread and deprive him of his life. '" And another answered and said: "I foresee that it will put in the coffin, and announced:" They put me in a deep grave in darkness and in the abode of death. '"

So the prophets and were happy getting the good news from the Baptist. Hell heard the same speech and turned them to the Devil: "Whom so they say, of vysokomyslenny? Who is he that brought them joy? Whom they have brought good tidings, I do not know, but I see them in no small joy. " Responding, the devil said to him: "Do not be afraid and do not be afraid of their words, do not bother them to have fun: this - now come and the joy they brought - John the Baptist mnogoglagolivy. When he was still on earth, many proclaimed that the man and said to the world that he will save the universe. So I went to Herodias, edinomyslennitsu and my followers, and with it angered Caesar, and the John was executed during the feast, and gave it unto the damsel's head, and she with her as the apple to play. And the one about whom it is said that it will come to save the universe, he did not save himself. " Hell devil answered: "Watch out, my brother go, looking back, as if you and I were not disappointed. Find out how he and whose son he is. These prophets are very much happy when hearing about it. Beware and pry, and not until the one going to catch the world will lose, and that I will not only be a loss, but we will be laughed at and outraged. " Hearing this, the devil went to the Jews and set them against the Lord was in the midst of them, and not forsake them, incited to crucify the Lord. And knew damned devil, that death will be the resurrection of the Lord of the world. And soon the paths chosen by greedy, met Judas and Satan started cooking with it a betrayal and nurture it srebrolyubtsa. That is why he, and said to the Jews: "What can I give, and I will give it to you?"

And who would not weep, hearing these words, O beloved! Shaking my hands and feet, the mind itself turbid from the words of those! Again: "What do you want to give me, and I will give it to you." How not ossified his tongue, but his lips were swollen? as not closed his mouth? How not dried up his jaw and not scattered? How not softened his whole body? How not stuck his tongue to the roof when he said these words: "What do you want me to give?" What do you want to take? They're nothing worthwhile can not give. But come and ask you, Judas: "What a devotee? Or he cheated you than other students? Or anything more than another grant? Does not it make you a sense of ownership of his grace? So why betray the creator of heaven and earth? And I repeat: when he was surrounded Leontius and washed the feet of his disciples, then your legs as well as others. You did not pass a single grace. And you decided to betray! He did not want to deny you from among students, and with knowledge of your deception and betrayal, invited to supper with him. Oh do not you think that he did not know that seduced you? That is why it is at the feast, and said, "Obmaknuvshy fingers with me in the dish, and will betray me." And do not tell you: "Get out of my table, a traitor, because you do not deserve to eat with me." Sit at table, and your hand touches the bread, and eat, and the price of your soul ponders.

Woe to you, O Judah, who made a silver took, and the Lord gave, for the silver collusion. Because your apostolic dignity and get another, and your house will be abandoned: silver coins because of the many benefits you lost and incurred the many ills. Because of these pieces of silver will not be forgiven the sin of thy fathers, and shall not be forgiven the iniquity of thy mother. Because of the myriad pieces of silver angels and archangels are thousands and thousands of your enemies, and you are nice to only one devil. Because of those pieces of silver pluck you out of the host of the apostles and landed on the demons, from the throne of the king retreated and glory hath stripped off the noose and put udavlennika themselves. "What do you want to give me, and I will give it to you?" And put him 30 pieces of silver. Woe to you, O Judah! What have you done? For 30 pieces of silver selling creator of heaven and earth, a slave to sell his lord. Think: Who are you selling? If I had a cunning servant, you and him, appreciating the skill it would not sell for 30 pieces of silver. And you're selling, accursed, who created everything that you see around. And you say, "What do I want to give, and I will give it to you?" And put him 30 pieces of silver. "

After the departure of Judas and Histalkut him from among the apostles of Jesus began to mourn and grieve, "grieves my soul to death." Oh lord of mercy! Of Traitors, grieving, death is not feared immortal. But when he heard the devil, the Lord said: "My soul mourns of death", he decided that he is afraid of death, and began to be zealous, and hurried to hell and said, "Ready to be safe and find a place, and we are there shutter Jesus, here I am rigged, he would die, and prepared nails, sharpened spear, and poured vinegar. Jews sharpened it like a weapon, and two days later introduce him to you, my brother, Hell! I repaired a lot of obstacles on the ground and many times angered me. Many vessels emptied my unnoticed: that I worked on his jealousy, he corrected the word, if I someone destroyed joints, it must be attached: a bed, commanded to carry on their shoulders. I blinded another and closed his eyes and was glad when he came across a wall or in the water fell, it just came out of nowhere, despite I worked gave him his word to see. And another when he was still in his mother's womb, I was blinded eyes to not recognize it and the very form of the world, who also found him, kneaded clay, and anointed her eyes, and made him bathe in the font Siluamskoy, and he received his sight. I, not knowing where to go, he took with him six demons, and all the employees of my spirits and went away from him, and met a handsome young man, and entered into it, and dwelt therein. And I do not know how he is about to visit, and went there, I took an oath and ordered me out of the boy. And I went out and did not find a place where to go, and I asked him to at least over the pigs I have the power. And at another time by the will of my woman zaneduzhila twelve years: the blood flowed from her body. And I do not know where he came to the place and saw him, and she rushed to him and touched his sex tunic, and immediately her bleeding stopped. And I was angry at him, not daring to fight with him, and then left there and went to the edge of the edge of the Syrian and Canaanite, and then met a beautiful maiden, and entered it, and dwelt therein, and evil has caused her, then fire her pushed, then dropped to the rapids and had fun this. The mother began to beat her in grief because of her. And I do not know where he came from there too, and settled there. And when I heard about this young woman's mother, rushed to him and told about her daughter, saying, "Have mercy on me, Jesus, Son of God, because my daughter is quite possessed woman." He then, having called the woman and told her, "O woman, great is your faith. So it will be just like you want! "At this time he came to drive me, but gave the woman by sending me away.

Another time, when he sailed across the sea and went to sleep, I suddenly picked up and moved by the strong winds of the sea, and the waves began to beat, and I picked up a violent storm, about to sink the ship, where he was with his disciples. And when the ship was about to fall apart, the disciples woke him up, he just stood up and took an oath of the sea, and to hear him, the sea and all the winds, and it is completely silent. I saw that here he is, he went to Bethany, and, believing that grieve him, stole his friend Lazarus and brought that to you, my brother, Hell. And bespechalen was thinking that even now can not steal it from you. But four days later, he came, I do not know how, when you - I know not - either sleeping, or other guarded and brought Lazarus from you. "

And blood pressure response to the devil said, "So this is the same man who then brought Lazarus? If you are the one, then, forgive me, and do not bring it here. One only his voice brought me horrified and broke my strength: I can not stand his voice. Is that what you're calling me to conclude? Yes it if it comes here, and those whom I hold here displays. I then firmly rot body of Lazarus, so that it is beginning to stink, and began to break up his joints, but when he called out, "Lazarus, come forth!", He immediately jumped out of the coffin, like a lion coming out of the den to hunt, like a flying eagle, all overcame weakness in the twinkling of an eye. I'm here to not be able to grind. " The devil said, responding to him, "The strength of yours and mine, insatiable maw yours - will be able to accept it, not too much Jabberwocky!". Hell answered and said: "I conjure forces, but by what means? If you had the power, then fought with him, but obviously I want to be justified and the Jews? "The devil said to Him," You coward and unmanly slabodushny! I like it so much harm, and I, still, fought with him. And once you had them, and having overcome this fear came from. But I, when I saw that he was healed bodily ailments outside, began to torment the souls of men invisible. When I learned that he stays here, I found a decent young man named Matthew, and instilled in him the thirst of wealth and put it to collect taxes. And listen to me young man so much that even began to beat the other, and I was happy (looking at him). But he does not know where he went and said, passing the young man, "Follow me!" Immediately, in the words of Matthew left his tax collection, and followed him, and became his student, and me - the enemy. I, many sad, thinking that he was attracted to young boys, and he took it from me. Then I went to the Jericho area and found there a man of small stature, named Zacchaeus, and went down into it, and set it to collect taxes. And he comforted me from the sorrow of St. Matthew, and I hoped that this undersized, he will not be able to love. And he came, I know not whence he passed to the people. Zacchaeus could not see who it is past, and climbed a sycamore tree, and, lifting his eyes, he saw him and said to him, "Zacchaeus! Quickly get off: you need to visit me today in your house. " And received him with joy in his home and then went out and returned in sevenfold size everything will be charged according to the law, and their wealth has given the poor. And followed him and became his student, and my enemy. When I found no where to go, I went to his brothers - Jews and unleash them on him. "

Hell, in response said the devil: "Leave him alone, can not do anything with it." And the devil said to him: "I know a man is afraid of death. On this visit, I saw how he indulges in grief and said: "My soul grieves before his death. '" Hell he said, "Go and do as you like, for you are already experienced in dealing with it. And if you win and we made it here, then you will reign with the Jews. If you overcome it, and came here, izvedet those who have imprisoned here, and will connect you and your servants and Jews and deliver them to me, then woe to you will be damned! "Heard the devil and went to the Jews, and raised them against the Lord. And collected, they consulted as to destroy him.

And so when they were gathered together, Judas came to them, saying, "Whom I shall kiss, that grab." And he came to Jesus, kissed him and said, "Hail, Master," the Lord said to him: "Young man! Dare has finally happened that the thought of! "Oh kiss, full of iniquity! About the kiss, disastrous for the soul! On assignment blazing inferno! Whore, kiss the feet of the Lord, his soul cleansed of evil. The same with a kiss, his life will lose. She kissed a list of their sins severed, the same, kissing, struck himself out of the book of life. On the wisdom of a woman! About unreason disciple! When she kissed the feet of the Lord, the angels rejoiced and the crown she was prepared when the kiss - demons rejoice and weave the rope for hanging. "Hail, Master!" He is happy, and you - weep, for joy lost. "Hail, Rabbi," and kissed him. And rushed wicked Jews, grabbed him, holding his hand is in the earth, and brought him to Pilate. Pilate sat to do justice, and the one who will judge the living and the dead, was coming to him, and he endured; dust of the earth sat on the throne, and the creator of heaven and earth was coming to him. Was judged by Pilate for the salvation of the Lord of the world. And when it was tried, the wife Pilátová sent to her husband: "Do not do anything that you are righteous, much that night I suffered because of it." About Jewish iniquity: the woman, not knowing the law and the prophets, Jesus called his righteous and said, "Do not do anything that you are holy," and Jews who honor the law and the prophets, called him a villain, saying: "If it was not the villain, the would not have delivered him. " Then Pilate commanded to beat him and put him on the cross. Cursed the devil, seeing the signs that were at the crucifixion: pomerkshee sun, the earth shudders apron church rent, which fell apart and the stones of the temple itself is mocked - ran to hell and told him, "Oh, woe is me, wretched, disgraced me! Help my okayanstvu, shutter gate to not enter it here, constipation and strengthen nails, and all the power of your will oppose his coming. " Hurried and shut the gates of Hell, and strengthened them with iron bars. And the Lord came to Hell, chasing the devil, and it was preceded by the Force. The gates of hell as were fortified. And shouts of the Force, called out: "Lift up the gates, your arches and gates shall be broken forever, and will enter the King of glory." As if not knowing hell inside asked, "Who is this - the King of glory? Tell me. " The forces of the saints said, "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." In return, Hell said: "If it is, what he is looking for here? Why leave heaven and come here? "Holy Force said," If he is the king of glory, is pursuing his enemy, went to link it and give it to you, and to withdraw its soldiers from here. " And he said to the devil in Hell answer: "Three-headed Beelzebub, hath the angels, saints ridicule, disease accomplice! Did I not tell you not to fight with him? And, as I said, are all in front of you, and what to do now, accursed? Why am I disobeyed? Come out if you are strong, and we meet him, but I can not help you. " Cursed the devil, crying, said in reply, "Have pity on me, do not open until it goes back, try me, for even though I disgraced. Who would not misled like that? It was he, as if fearing death, said, "grieves my soul to death." Another time, he offered up a prayer to the Father, saying, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me." And those words have deceived me. " And as they say so, Force, here abides, he cried, "Lift up the gates, arches of your." And the prophets cried out: "Open the gates, let the King of glory will go." And Hell trembled with fear. Answered the prophet David as saying: "Do not touch him, and let my prophecy come true. When I was still on the ground, then foresaw and proclaimed: "The gates of brass and bars of iron smashed broke. '" And come to pass written, "Where deadly sting? Where is thy victory, Hell? "And met Jesus as a prophet, rejoicing and proclaiming:" Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord. " And then the Lord grabbed devil, and bound him indissoluble bond, the prophets also brought out of hell, saying, "Go to heaven!" And so they got out of hell. The first one is a prophet - the great David cried, rattling the harp, "Come, let us rejoice Lord, shout to God and our Savior, that our king, for us right away, defeated." And said, "Hallelujah." And again, all the same David exclaimed: "All people applaud together, shout to the LORD with the voice of joy, that our king, defeated, defeated." And he echoed another prophet: "rejoice, O daughter of Zion!" And then, "uprising, Jerusalem, revive their glory, for thy king, pleading for us beat." So all in fun hastened to heaven, praising our savior Jesus Christ, to whom every kind befitting glory, honor and worship to the Father without beginning and holy and life-giving Spirit yours, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.