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ISTVÁN PÁSZTORI-KUPÁN could ever rationally demonstrate this, because if one removes width from a line, the length will surely disappear with it. Still, the geometer commands us to think like this, and the one who desires to study these geometric forms submits oneself and believes readily.” After presenting the analogies of faith, according to which “every person who wishes to learn a certain profession goes to a school of a specialist capable of teaching him and cherishes the lessons presented” by the master, Theodoret concludes: You see now, my dear friends, that faith is a certain common property [koivév] of everyone: both of those who long to learn any art [...]. Knowledge, on the contrary, does not belong to all, but only to specialists.*° It is at this point that he emphasizes the importance of initiation into the Christian community by faith: This is also why we bring forth the teaching of faith [tiv tio niotews didacKadiav mpoogépouev] before everything else to those who approach us and desire to learn the divine things; and once they have been consecrated and initiated /teAoupévoic Kai uvovuévois], we show them the hidden meaning of the mysteries /dnAodpev, tivwv Eotiv alviyuata T& yıvöueval.?' Ihe initial faith required of the novices, then, is followed by their consecration and initiation consisting of the subsequent and gradual revelation of the meaning of the mysteries for them during the period of their catechumenate. Furthermore, the amount of information transmitted to different members of the community is conditioned by their own level of initiation, much as happens in the case of some mystery rites: Neither among you does everyone know what the hierophant® says; the masses watch the sacred performance and those who are called priests accomplish the ritual ceremonies, yet the hierophant is the only one who knows the meaning of the words and he makes them known only to those he deems fit.** 29 Theodoret, Curatio I, 90-95. 30 Theodoret, Curatio I, 104. 31 Theodoret, Curatio I, 109. 52 The hierophant’s duty was to teach the rites. In Eleusis, he also initiated the uninitiated into the mysteries. See Canivet’s observation in SC 57, 132, note 2. 33 Theodoret, Curatio I, 110. + 88 + Daréczi-Sepsi-Vassänyi_Initiation_155x240.indb 88 6 2020. 06.15. 11:04:15
