THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
The people asked me, the prophet, “Will you not reveal to us the meaning of your actions?” And I answered them, “The word of the Lord has come to me, saying, ‘Speak to the house of Israel, saying, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will desecrate my sacred places, the glory of your strength, your cherished desires, and they shall spare your very souls. Your sons and daughters whom you abandon shall fall by the sword. You shall experience what I have exemplified: you will not find comfort from their words, nor partake in the bread offered by men. Your heads shall remain uncovered, and your feet bare.
Read more (205 words)
You shall endure no affliction, neither weep nor persist in your sins, and you shall not offer solace to one another.’ And Ezekiel shall mourn in amazement, ‘According to all that I have done, I will do: when these events unfold, you shall know that I am the Lord God.’ Through my actions, I have demonstrated prophecy, and I have revealed the future to you. For as I refrained from engaging in customary mourning when my spouse passed away—neither did I grieve, weep, nor adopt a sorrowful demeanor—so too shall you not express grief when your sons and daughters are slain and when the barbaric invaders desecrate the holy temple, which you have long exalted and taken pride in. In addition to this calamity, you will face countless other tribulations. You will have no right to mourn, no permission to perform traditional acts of sorrow, such as shaving your head or removing your shoes, nor will you ease your sorrow with tears, partake in a comforting meal, or any of the customary practices. You will remember the actions of the Prophet and, by the end of these events, recognize that the Prophet has served as a sign for you, foretelling the future through his deeds.”