And again: 'I know nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby justified' (1 Cor 4:4). The psalmist likewise says: 'Though a man walks in the image of God,' that is, by the power of the spirit, 'he is troubled in vain' (Ps 38:7), that is, through the weakness of the flesh.
Carnelian, with its deep blood-like color, symbolizes the glory of the martyrs, of which it is said: 'Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints' (Ps 115:6).
The chrysolite stone shines like gold and blazes with golden sparks. It recalls those who, shining with understanding of heavenly things and with true wisdom, pour out upon their neighbors words of encouragement, or even signs of power, like fiery sparks. [...] And because such a thing is possible only by the gift of the Spirit, chrysolite rightly occupies the place of the seventh foundation.
The grace of the Holy Spirit is often symbolized by the number seven, as was said above: 'From the seven spirits who are before His throne' (Rev 1:4). This meaning also agrees with the fact that this stone may be blue-green in color.
The Hebrews call this variety tare, because the color of such a stone resembles the color of the sea. Green signifies the purity of faith, which is called the beginning of wisdom. Water symbolizes the Holy Spirit, as the words of the Lord Himself bear witness: 'He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'
'This He said of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive' (Jn 7:38-39). This may refer to the place where the stone was discovered.
Beryl, like water pierced by sunlight, glows with a beautiful red color. Yet it does not truly shine until it is cut into a hexagonal form and polished. Its brilliance becomes brighter as it is reflected from the angles.
This stone symbolizes those people who are endowed by nature with keen understanding, but who shine still more brightly by reflecting the light of heavenly grace. Solomon bore witness that water symbolizes the depth of understanding when he said: 'The words of a man's mouth are deep waters' (Prov 18:4).
Topaz is a rare stone, and for that reason it is more precious. It consists of two colors: one of pure gold, and the other of clear air. It is marked by a rich rosy hue and modest purity.
In brightness of color it resembles chrysoprase, since it sparkles most of all when illumined by sunlight. It surpasses all precious stones in radiance and offers the eyes an incomparable delight. Yet if you wish to polish it, it grows dull.
If you leave it as it is by nature, it will shine. Even kings value its splendor highly, and among all their treasures they cannot find anything like it.
Its most beautiful natural qualities are rightly compared with the beauty of the contemplative life. For the holy kings, whose heart is in the hand of God, worthily displayed the treasure of the fullness of good works and the precious stones of all the virtues.
They directed upon them the penetrating gaze of their most pure understanding. And the more ardently their soul was seized by the sweetness of heavenly life, the more often it reflected the radiance of grace from on high. [...]
They say that topaz comes from one of the islands of the Thebaid named Topazion, from which its name derives. This may be understood in two ways. First, in that region, that is, in Egypt, there are many monks.
Second, whoever lives near the Sun of righteousness will necessarily be colored by the radiance of heavenly light. And as the precious stone that represents the perfection of the active life stands in the eighth place, so in the ninth stands the delight of the contemplative life.
Or it is because from Holy Scripture we know of nine ranks of angels, whose life the contemplative life imitates. Or again, because only one step, so to speak, separates it from the tithe of perfect blessedness, namely death.
The prophet expressed the substance of this longing with the following sigh: 'I love Your commandments more than gold and topaz' (Ps 118:127). That is, with sweet love I have loved Your commandments more than the splendor of all worthy deeds.
I have loved them more than every height and joy of contemplation possible in this life. The first and greatest of the commandments is: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength' (Deut 6:5).
The full perfection of this, of course, can be attained only in the height of the Kingdom of Heaven. Cf. Gregory the Great, Homilies on the Gospels 34.
Chrysoprase, a green quartz, is a mixture of gold and green, even with a certain purple tint, and with drops of gold interspersed. It comes from India and symbolizes those who, through the radiance of perfect love, have deserved the greenness of the eternal homeland.
They also open the way to it for others by the purple light of their martyrdom. Those who hate the present life prefer eternal glory to it, following the example of the Lord manifested in the flesh.
Therefore even now they show the world the radiance of their merits, as though in India, that is, in the land of the rising sun. They hope to shine like the Sun in the Kingdom of the Father and to reign in it with their King, with whom they now suffer.
For this reason they are rightly placed in the tenth position. For the denarius, which the workers in the Lord's vineyard received as payment (cf. Mt 20:2), displays the image of the eternal King.
There the perfection of love for God and neighbor is fulfilled, the whole Decalogue, which was not possible on the ninth step.
Hyacinth is found in Ethiopia. It is dark blue, neither soft nor too hard, but gently luminous, pure, and pleasant to the eye. On the other hand, its radiance is not always the same and changes with the condition of the sky.
When the sky is clear, the stone is transparent and pleasing to behold. But when clouds pass over the sky, it grows dim and is harder to see.
Hyacinth symbolizes souls whose gaze is always turned to heavenly things, and who, as far as is possible for mortals, lead a life like that of the angels. They have been instructed to guard the heart with all diligence.
They must not become hardened through excessive subtlety of perception, nor desire to seek what is higher and more powerful. For 'the glory of God is to conceal a matter' (Prov 25:2), that is, to speak cautiously about the Godhead or humanity of Christ.
They must also take care lest, growing frozen in inactivity and numbness, they be carried back to the beginnings of faith, to the foundations of teaching about God. Those who follow the royal road are guarded on the right and on the left by the weapons of righteousness.
Observing the weather, they change with the sky, saying to those who look upon them: 'If we are beside ourselves, it is for God. If we are sober-minded, it is for you' (2 Cor 5:13).
Wrapped in clouds, as though they were the sky, they say: 'You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own hearts' (2 Cor 6:12). And again: 'I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified' (1 Cor 2:2).
And as though in the light of a fair day, it was said: 'Yet among the mature we speak wisdom' (1 Cor 2:6).
Amethyst is a purple-violet stone, with an almost rosy sheen, sparkling gently. Yet at times its purple seems not only fiery, but like red wine.
The purple recalls the beauty of the Kingdom of Heaven, while the violet-rose color symbolizes the humility of the saints and their precious death. Without doubt, their mind strives chiefly upward, even when outwardly they endure various circumstances.
Amid trials they constantly remember what the Lord promised: 'Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom' (Lk 12:32). And they pass the flame of love not only to one another, but even to their persecutors.
On their knees they implore: 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them' (Acts 7:60). More than this, as they drink the cup of sufferings, they become still more intoxicated with this wine that gladdens the heart of man.
They remember that the Lord promised to drink it anew with His disciples in the Kingdom of the Father (cf. Mt 26:29).
THEOSIS