We begin with you meditations on the Psalms of the Agpeya, so that you may understand the spiritual meaning within them. We shall begin with Psalm 86, 87:
Its foundations are in the holy mountains.
It is one of the psalms of the Sixth Hour…
As for the subject of the psalm, it is the city of God Most High, of which we are its inhabitants or citizens. The city of God can be the human heart, and it can be the Holy Church—the community of believers—in which the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head, and we are the members.
This city the psalmist contemplated for a long time, so he cried out in his psalm from the depth of love:
Its foundations are in the holy mountains…
That is, the foundations which God laid for this city are in the holy mountains. Thus David the prophet spoke of it as one of its inhabitants or citizens. Another citizen is the Apostle Paul, who also says of it: “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Saint Augustine says about the prophets and apostles—as citizens of this city: “Perhaps they are so in that they themselves are the mountains upon which the foundations of the city are.” He deduces this from the saying of the apostle: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…” (Ephesians 2:20). That is, the apostles, by their preaching and evangelism, were themselves foundations for this city, or they laid a foundation for it. For just as they were foundations for us, there is One who was a foundation for them and for us all, and that is Jesus Christ Himself, of whom the same apostle said: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Therefore, when Paul said: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles”, he immediately added: “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).
But how can the apostles be foundations, while Christ is the foundation, and there is no foundation other than Him?! They are foundations—not in themselves—but merely as earthen vessels of God, inasmuch as Christ is the One who works in them. Just as the Apostle Paul, one of these foundations, said: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Also, inasmuch as what happens to them happens to Christ Himself, who did not say to Saul of Tarsus, “Why are you persecuting these?” but rather said to him, “Why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). And the fact that the apostles are the foundations—in Christ—is supported by the saying of John the Seer concerning the heavenly Jerusalem: “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14).
As for these foundations being on the mountains, Saint Augustine observes a beautiful observation, namely that if you are building on the earth, you place the foundation under the ground. But if the building is in heaven—that is, a heavenly city—then its foundations are on the mountains.
He also notes another observation, which is that there is a difference between this city and worldly cities. Worldly cities have a building and inhabitants as two separate things. But this holy city is built from its inhabitants, who are the living stones by which the city is built. Concerning this, the Apostle Peter said to the believers: “as living stones, a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5).
Up to this point, the psalmist has not mentioned the name of the city. If you were to ask him: What is this city whose foundations are on the holy mountains? He would answer:
“The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob” (Psalm 87:2).
Zion is Jerusalem, and it was preferred above all the dwellings of Jacob, since in it was the Temple, and through its gates entered the sacrifices, burnt offerings, and offerings, etc. Therefore the name of the Lord was called upon it, and the Lord Christ Himself called it “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35).
This earthly Zion was a symbol of the heavenly Jerusalem. Concerning this, the Apostle Paul says: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:22–23). This is the Church, the heavenly Jerusalem, of which Saint John says in his vision: “Now I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying: ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men…’” (Revelation 21:2–3). And lest the Gentiles should think that they are strangers to this city that bears Jewish names and memories, the Apostle Paul said to them: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…” (Ephesians 2:19–20).
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God…
The saints see that the city intended by this verse is the Church prepared as a bride for her Bridegroom, and not the earthly Jerusalem which was destroyed and which God delivered into the hands of its enemies; its Temple was defiled, and not one stone was left upon another that was not thrown down.
Who spoke these glorious things about the city of God? It is God who said:
“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’”
Rahab is not from the Jews; she is from Jericho, and Jericho was pagan, and so was Babylon. How then were Rahab and Babylon enabled to know God?! And how could there be there—in Zion—the Philistines, Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia, all of whom are foreign tribes?! It is the salvation of the world, the salvation of the Gentiles. The strangers are no longer strangers! For the apostle says to them: “that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12–13). “…that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God” (1 Peter 2:9–10). Truly, wondrous deeds have been spoken of you, O city of God!
Rahab the harlot from among the Gentiles became one of the people of God; rather, she became the grandmother of Christ Himself according to the flesh!! And Babylon the enemy, the city of captivity, on whose rivers the children of God wept and could not sing the Lord’s song in that strange land—“Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5)—this also was saved. How amazing is this!! Rahab and Babylon, who symbolize the Gentiles and the wicked, God says of them that they know Him, and that He will remember them just as He will remember the rest of the nations! And as a mere example, Philistia, Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia were mentioned as a symbol of those strangers!…
How did this great salvation occur? How did all these enter Zion, and were there, and became members of the Church as well? What is the secret hidden behind these glorious deeds spoken of the city of God? The psalmist answers, saying:
“And of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her’; and the Most High Himself shall establish her.”
This, then, is the secret of the great salvation. The Most High who established her became a man in her. Do not marvel, for the Virgin became a mother to her God who created her. “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16)! Truly, glorious things have been spoken of you, O city of God… But how did we know and become certain of this great mystery?
“The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples and the princes, those who were born there.”
Those who were born there are the believers, and their princes are the apostles. And the writings of these princes who were born there are the Gospels and the Epistles. In these, the Lord speaks of His birth in the flesh for the salvation of the world… He speaks of the Virgin, of salvation, and of the Kingdom. Therefore, these books were called Gospels, that is, glad tidings. And why were they called so?
Because “all my springs are in you.” Alleluia.
“Rejoice, for unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord… Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). For behold, “the Man,” of whom Zion the mother says that He became in her, bore our sins, died for us, and paid the wages of sin, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…
How amazing is this! Will there be none in Zion except the joyful? Yes… And John the Seer himself testified and said: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). And what else? “And there shall be no more curse… There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:3–5).
A spiritual meditation from the individual, personal aspect
Some take the phrase “the holy mountains” as a symbol of the life of solitude and seclusion, as a praise: “Its foundations are in the mountains—holy by deeds—and adorned with beauty—the mountains of our fathers the monks.”
Here, “the gates of Zion” can symbolize the life of contemplation, and “all the dwellings of Jacob” the life of work. For all the people were working, while Jerusalem—the city of the great King—was for sacrifices and worship.
The phrase “Zion” can also symbolize your heart, which God seeks: “My son, give me your heart” (Proverbs 23:26), more than “all the dwellings of Jacob,” that is, more than all your other occupations and works. And the foundation of worship is in this heart. From it, one judges the feelings of a person and his work, whether it is good or evil, according to the intention within it. Blessed is the one who has placed God’s foundations in his heart. Love then reigns over him, and all his works become spiritual and not merely outward appearances.
“Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God”—that is, God has done wonders with you. He has made changes in your heart and in your soul. What are they?
“I will mention Rahab and Babylon who know Me… behold the foreign tribes…” That is, my old sinful deeds have been transformed into the knowledge of God. The old fornication (Rahab), the captivity of sin (Babylon), the strange thoughts alien to a holy life (the foreign tribes), and the rest of the deeds alien to the Kingdom—all of this has been transformed into good feelings, thoughts, and works… All this—“was there”—has come to know God.
“Zion the mother says that a man, and a man, was born in her”—this refers to the indwelling of God in the heart of man, “was born in her,” and He is the Most High who established her forever. That is, He is God who created me and established me in Him forever. He is the One to whom the credit belongs.
“The Lord will record in the books of the peoples and the princes…” That is, God speaks in the Gospels of the great work He has done with me, for He said: “Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham” (Matthew 8:11), as happened with the faith of the Canaanite woman and the repentance of the tax collector, etc.
“For all my springs are in you, O city of God.” That is, the heart, by living with God, lives a life of joy in the Lord. There is no sin to trouble it, no lust to desire and tire oneself in obtaining, no envy to disturb it, no pang of conscience because of a fixed error… but rather nothing except joy in fellowship with God. As the Apostle Paul said: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.”
¹ An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – First Year – Second and Third Issue, February and March 1965.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
Its Foundations Are in the Holy Mountains
Its Foundations Are in the Holy Mountains¹
We begin with you meditations on the Psalms of the Agpeya, so that you may understand the spiritual meaning within them. We shall begin with Psalm 86, 87:
Its foundations are in the holy mountains.
It is one of the psalms of the Sixth Hour…
As for the subject of the psalm, it is the city of God Most High, of which we are its inhabitants or citizens. The city of God can be the human heart, and it can be the Holy Church—the community of believers—in which the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head, and we are the members.
This city the psalmist contemplated for a long time, so he cried out in his psalm from the depth of love:
Its foundations are in the holy mountains…
That is, the foundations which God laid for this city are in the holy mountains. Thus David the prophet spoke of it as one of its inhabitants or citizens. Another citizen is the Apostle Paul, who also says of it: “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Saint Augustine says about the prophets and apostles—as citizens of this city: “Perhaps they are so in that they themselves are the mountains upon which the foundations of the city are.” He deduces this from the saying of the apostle: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…” (Ephesians 2:20). That is, the apostles, by their preaching and evangelism, were themselves foundations for this city, or they laid a foundation for it. For just as they were foundations for us, there is One who was a foundation for them and for us all, and that is Jesus Christ Himself, of whom the same apostle said: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Therefore, when Paul said: “having been built on the foundation of the apostles”, he immediately added: “Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).
But how can the apostles be foundations, while Christ is the foundation, and there is no foundation other than Him?! They are foundations—not in themselves—but merely as earthen vessels of God, inasmuch as Christ is the One who works in them. Just as the Apostle Paul, one of these foundations, said: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Also, inasmuch as what happens to them happens to Christ Himself, who did not say to Saul of Tarsus, “Why are you persecuting these?” but rather said to him, “Why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4). And the fact that the apostles are the foundations—in Christ—is supported by the saying of John the Seer concerning the heavenly Jerusalem: “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14).
As for these foundations being on the mountains, Saint Augustine observes a beautiful observation, namely that if you are building on the earth, you place the foundation under the ground. But if the building is in heaven—that is, a heavenly city—then its foundations are on the mountains.
He also notes another observation, which is that there is a difference between this city and worldly cities. Worldly cities have a building and inhabitants as two separate things. But this holy city is built from its inhabitants, who are the living stones by which the city is built. Concerning this, the Apostle Peter said to the believers: “as living stones, a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5).
Up to this point, the psalmist has not mentioned the name of the city. If you were to ask him: What is this city whose foundations are on the holy mountains? He would answer:
“The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob” (Psalm 87:2).
Zion is Jerusalem, and it was preferred above all the dwellings of Jacob, since in it was the Temple, and through its gates entered the sacrifices, burnt offerings, and offerings, etc. Therefore the name of the Lord was called upon it, and the Lord Christ Himself called it “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35).
This earthly Zion was a symbol of the heavenly Jerusalem. Concerning this, the Apostle Paul says: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:22–23). This is the Church, the heavenly Jerusalem, of which Saint John says in his vision: “Now I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying: ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men…’” (Revelation 21:2–3). And lest the Gentiles should think that they are strangers to this city that bears Jewish names and memories, the Apostle Paul said to them: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets…” (Ephesians 2:19–20).
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God…
The saints see that the city intended by this verse is the Church prepared as a bride for her Bridegroom, and not the earthly Jerusalem which was destroyed and which God delivered into the hands of its enemies; its Temple was defiled, and not one stone was left upon another that was not thrown down.
Who spoke these glorious things about the city of God? It is God who said:
“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’”
Rahab is not from the Jews; she is from Jericho, and Jericho was pagan, and so was Babylon. How then were Rahab and Babylon enabled to know God?! And how could there be there—in Zion—the Philistines, Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia, all of whom are foreign tribes?! It is the salvation of the world, the salvation of the Gentiles. The strangers are no longer strangers! For the apostle says to them: “that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12–13). “…that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God” (1 Peter 2:9–10). Truly, wondrous deeds have been spoken of you, O city of God!
Rahab the harlot from among the Gentiles became one of the people of God; rather, she became the grandmother of Christ Himself according to the flesh!! And Babylon the enemy, the city of captivity, on whose rivers the children of God wept and could not sing the Lord’s song in that strange land—“Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5)—this also was saved. How amazing is this!! Rahab and Babylon, who symbolize the Gentiles and the wicked, God says of them that they know Him, and that He will remember them just as He will remember the rest of the nations! And as a mere example, Philistia, Tyre, and the people of Ethiopia were mentioned as a symbol of those strangers!…
How did this great salvation occur? How did all these enter Zion, and were there, and became members of the Church as well? What is the secret hidden behind these glorious deeds spoken of the city of God? The psalmist answers, saying:
“And of Zion it will be said, ‘This one and that one were born in her’; and the Most High Himself shall establish her.”
This, then, is the secret of the great salvation. The Most High who established her became a man in her. Do not marvel, for the Virgin became a mother to her God who created her. “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16)! Truly, glorious things have been spoken of you, O city of God… But how did we know and become certain of this great mystery?
“The Lord will record, when He registers the peoples and the princes, those who were born there.”
Those who were born there are the believers, and their princes are the apostles. And the writings of these princes who were born there are the Gospels and the Epistles. In these, the Lord speaks of His birth in the flesh for the salvation of the world… He speaks of the Virgin, of salvation, and of the Kingdom. Therefore, these books were called Gospels, that is, glad tidings. And why were they called so?
Because “all my springs are in you.” Alleluia.
“Rejoice, for unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord… Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). For behold, “the Man,” of whom Zion the mother says that He became in her, bore our sins, died for us, and paid the wages of sin, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…
How amazing is this! Will there be none in Zion except the joyful? Yes… And John the Seer himself testified and said: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). And what else? “And there shall be no more curse… There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:3–5).
A spiritual meditation from the individual, personal aspect
Some take the phrase “the holy mountains” as a symbol of the life of solitude and seclusion, as a praise: “Its foundations are in the mountains—holy by deeds—and adorned with beauty—the mountains of our fathers the monks.”
Here, “the gates of Zion” can symbolize the life of contemplation, and “all the dwellings of Jacob” the life of work. For all the people were working, while Jerusalem—the city of the great King—was for sacrifices and worship.
The phrase “Zion” can also symbolize your heart, which God seeks: “My son, give me your heart” (Proverbs 23:26), more than “all the dwellings of Jacob,” that is, more than all your other occupations and works. And the foundation of worship is in this heart. From it, one judges the feelings of a person and his work, whether it is good or evil, according to the intention within it. Blessed is the one who has placed God’s foundations in his heart. Love then reigns over him, and all his works become spiritual and not merely outward appearances.
“Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God”—that is, God has done wonders with you. He has made changes in your heart and in your soul. What are they?
“I will mention Rahab and Babylon who know Me… behold the foreign tribes…” That is, my old sinful deeds have been transformed into the knowledge of God. The old fornication (Rahab), the captivity of sin (Babylon), the strange thoughts alien to a holy life (the foreign tribes), and the rest of the deeds alien to the Kingdom—all of this has been transformed into good feelings, thoughts, and works… All this—“was there”—has come to know God.
“Zion the mother says that a man, and a man, was born in her”—this refers to the indwelling of God in the heart of man, “was born in her,” and He is the Most High who established her forever. That is, He is God who created me and established me in Him forever. He is the One to whom the credit belongs.
“The Lord will record in the books of the peoples and the princes…” That is, God speaks in the Gospels of the great work He has done with me, for He said: “Many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham” (Matthew 8:11), as happened with the faith of the Canaanite woman and the repentance of the tax collector, etc.
“For all my springs are in you, O city of God.” That is, the heart, by living with God, lives a life of joy in the Lord. There is no sin to trouble it, no lust to desire and tire oneself in obtaining, no envy to disturb it, no pang of conscience because of a fixed error… but rather nothing except joy in fellowship with God. As the Apostle Paul said: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.”
¹ An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – First Year – Second and Third Issue, February and March 1965.
For better translation support, please contact the center.