The Thrice Holy, Misread by the Arians, and Its True Meaning

How do these impious men dare to speak foolishness as they ought not, when they are only men and cannot even find a way to describe what is on the earth? But why do I say “what is on the earth”? Let them tell us their own nature, if they can find a way to look into their own nature! Rash and self-willed they are indeed, not trembling to form opinions about things that angels long to look into, angels so far above them both in nature and in rank. For what is nearer to God than the cherubim or the seraphim? And yet they, without even seeing him, without standing on their feet, not with uncovered faces but, as it were, with veiled ones, offer their praises. With tireless lips they do nothing else but glorify the divine and inexpressible nature with the Thrice Holy. [a]

And nowhere has any one of the prophets who spoke from God, men specially chosen for such a vision, reported to us that at the first “Holy” the voice is raised aloud, at the second it is lower, and at the third quite low, and that therefore the first means lordship, the second subordination, and the third a still lower rank. But away with the folly of these haters of God and senseless men! For the Triad, praised, revered, and adored, is one and indivisible and without degrees. It is united without confusion, just as the Monad also is distinguished without separation. For when those venerable living creatures offer their praises three times, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” it proves that the three hypostases are perfect, just as by saying “Lord” they declare the one substance.

Those, then, who belittle the only Son of God blaspheme God. They slander his perfection and accuse him of imperfection, and they make themselves liable to the severest punishment. For whoever blasphemes any one of the hypostases will have forgiveness neither in this world nor in the world to come. But God is able to open the eyes of their heart to behold the Sun of Righteousness, so that, coming to know him whom they once despised, they may with unwavering piety of mind glorify him together with us. For to him belongs the kingdom, to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.