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.The taking of immaterial flesh and all the heretical ideas about appearance which follow and the true birth from the Virgin has come to them from the madness of the Manichaeans and similar heresies which preceded them.9.They say that the angels which fell, having heard that Satanael38 had promised the Father to fill up their places in heaven from the race of men, looked shamelessly on the daughters of men and took them to wife, so that their descendants might ascend to heaven to take the place of their fathers.For they say, ‘the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair, and they took them as wives for themselves’ [Gen.6.2].39 From their union came the giants who resisted Satanael40 and triumphed over his overthrow on men’s behalf.He was enraged and brought down on them the flood, and destroyed along with them all human flesh.Only Noah, who had no daughter, knew nothing of the rebellion of Satan,41 and continued to worship him.Satanael,42 pleased with his devotion, suggested all that concerned the Ark [Gen.6.5–9.18], and he alone was saved with those who were in it.10.They say that Moses was led astray by Satanael,43 and returned to Egypt, that he deceived the people of the Jews and led them out, having Holding this doctrine, they say that the whole plan of the incarnation of the Saviour took place only in appearance.’35 Ficker (introduction, p.6): ‘But having been called not only Samael but Satanael, he became Satan.’36 Ficker has ‘Satanael’.37 Ficker, chap.5: ‘They say that the Son and Word took over the first rank which was Samael’s and took his position as first born and this throne.’ In Bogomil doctrine the effect of the life (and apparent death) of Christ was to strip Satan of his divinity.38 Ficker has ‘Samael’.39 Ficker, chap.19: ‘They call them the sons of God, begotten from him.’40 Ficker has ‘Samael’.41 Ficker has ‘Samael’.42 Ficker has ‘Samael’.43 Ficker has ‘Satanael’.P187CDH118711/28/97, 10:52 AMCHRISTIAN DUALIST HERESIESdone some signs and wonders through the power of Satanael.44 They came to Mount Sinai and received the Law, led by Satanael.45 Countless thousands of them were destroyed, and the Apostle bears witness to this, when he says, ‘I had not known sins but by the Law’ [Rom.7.7, 9, 12]and again, ‘When the commandment came, sin revived.’ O learned in evil, why do you dishonestly leave out the next phrase? It is written immediately: ‘The law is holy, the commandment holy and just and good.’ [Rom.7.12].11.They say that the only saints are those in the genealogies of Matthew and Luke, as is said above, and the sixteen prophets and the apostles and martyrs, all those who were executed for refusing to bend the knee to idols.They reject all the bishops and the Fathers altogether, on the grounds that they are idol-worshippers, because they bow the knee to icons.And they banish all the pious emperors from the fold of Christians, and they say that only the Iconoclasts are orthodox and faithful, especially Copronymus.46 They do not honour the venerable icons, saying, ‘The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the works of men’s hands’ [Ps.115.4], in their ignorance that an idol is one thing and an icon another.The prototypes of idols are insubstantial and false, for they call gods those who are not gods, but demons, falsely claiming divinity.The prototypes of our icons really are in truth what they are called.Those are the idols of criminals, these the icons of saints.4712.When I asked the leader of this heresy of theirs, ‘Why do you reject the bishops among the saints and the blessed Fathers whose relics we venerate?’, opening his polluted lips and vomiting forth an evil word, he said, ‘Because the demons are among their number, who taught them while they were still alive, who remain near their tombs48 and do wonders to deceive the foolish and persuade them to honour the impure as saints [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]