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Four Homilies

Gregory Thaumaturgus

On the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin Mary.

About this work

Author: Gregory Thaumaturgus

The Third Homily.

On the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin Mary.

Again have we the glad tidings of

‹ On the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin Mary.On the Holy Theophany, or on Christ’s Baptism. ›

joy

,

again

the

announcements

of

liberty

,

again

the

restoration

,

again

the

return

,

again

the

promise

of

gladness

,

again

the

release

from

slavery

.

An

angel

talks

with

the

Virgin

,

in

order

that

the

serpent

may

no

more

have

converse

with

the

woman

.

In

the

sixth

month

,

it

is

said

,

the

angel

Gabriel

was

sent

from

God

to

a

virgin

espoused

to

a

man

.

Gabriel

was

sent

to

declare

the

world

-

wide

salvation

:

Gabriel

was

sent

to

bear

to

Adam

the

signature

of

his

restoration

;

Gabriel

was

sent

to

a

virgin

,

in

order

to

transform

the

dishonour

of

the

female

sex

into

honour

;

Gabriel

was

sent

to

prepare

the

worthy

chamber

for

the

pure

spouse

;

Gabriel

was

sent

to

wed

the

creature

with

the

Creator

;

Gabriel

was

sent

to

the

animate

palace

of

the

King

of

the

angels

;

Gabriel

was

sent

to

a

virgin

espoused

to

Joseph

,

but

preserved

for

Jesus

the

Son

of

God

.

The

incorporeal

servant

was

sent

to

the

virgin

undefiled

.

One

free

from

sin

was

sent

to

one

that

admitted

no

corruption

.

The

light

was

sent

that

should

announce

the

Sun

of

righteousness

.

The

dawn

was

sent

that

should

precede

the

light

of

the

day

.

Gabriel

was

sent

to

proclaim

Him

who

is

in

the

bosom

of

the

Father

,

and

who

yet

was

to

be

in

the

arms

of

the

mother

.

Gabriel

was

sent

to

declare

Him

who

is

upon

the

throne

,

and

yet

also

in

the

cavern

.

The

subaltern

was

sent

to

utter

aloud

the

mystery

of

the

great

King

;

the

mystery

,

I

mean

,

which

is

discerned

by

faith

,

and

which

cannot

be

searched

out

by

officious

curiosity

;

the

mystery

which

is

to

be

adored

,

not

weighed

;

the

mystery

which

is

to

be

taken

as

a

thing

divine

,

and

not

measured

.

“

In

the

sixth

month

Gabriel

was

sent

to

a

virgin

.

”

What

is

meant

by

this

sixth

month

?

What

?

It

is

the

sixth

month

from

the

time

when

Elisabeth

received

the

glad

tidings

,

from

the

time

that

she

conceived

John

.

And

how

is

this

made

plain

?

The

archangel

himself

gives

us

the

interpretation

,

when

he

says

to

the

virgin

:

“

Behold

,

thy

relation

Elisabeth

,

she

hath

also

conceived

a

son

in

her

old

age

:

and

this

is

now

the

sixth

month

with

her

,

who

was

called

barren

.

”

In

the

sixth

month

—

that

is

evidently

,

therefore

,

the

sixth

month

of

the

conception

of

John

.

For

it

was

meet

that

the

subaltern

should

go

before

;

it

was

meet

that

the

attendant

should

precede

;

it

was

meet

that

the

herald

of

the

Lord’s

coming

should

prepare

the

way

for

Him

.

In

the

sixth

month

the

angel

Gabriel

was

sent

to

a

virgin

espoused

to

a

man

;

espoused

,

not

united

;

espoused

,

yet

kept

intact

.

And

for

what

purpose

was

she

espoused

?

In

order

that

the

spoiler

might

not

learn

the

mystery

prematurely

.

For

that

the

King

was

to

come

by

a

virgin

,

was

a

fact

known

to

the

wicked

one

.

For

he

too

heard

these

words

of

Isaiah

:

“

Behold

,

a

virgin

shall

conceive

,

and

bear

a

son

.

”

And

on

every

occasion

,

consequently

,

he

kept

watch

upon

the

virgin’s

words

,

in

order

that

,

whenever

this

mystery

should

be

fulfilled

,

he

might

prepare

her

dishonour

.

Wherefore

the

Lord

came

by

an

espoused

virgin

,

in

order

to

elude

the

notice

of

the

wicked

one

;

for

one

who

was

espoused

was

pledged

in

fine

to

be

her

husband’s

.

“

In

the

sixth

month

the

angel

Gabriel

was

sent

to

a

virgin

espoused

to

a

man

whose

name

was

Joseph

.

”

Hear

what

the

prophet

says

about

this

man

and

the

virgin

:

“

This

book

that

is

sealed

shall

be

delivered

to

a

man

that

is

learned

.

”

What

is

meant

by

this

sealed

book

,

but

just

the

virgin

undefiled

?

From

whom

is

this

to

be

given

?

From

the

priests

evidently

.

And

to

whom

?

To

the

artisan

Joseph

.

As

,

then

,

the

priests

espoused

Mary

to

Joseph

as

to

a

prudent

husband

,

and

committed

her

to

his

care

in

expectation

of

the

time

of

marriage

,

and

as

it

behoved

him

then

on

obtaining

her

to

keep

the

virgin

untouched

,

this

was

announced

by

the

prophet

long

before

,

when

he

said

:

“

This

book

that

is

sealed

shall

be

delivered

to

a

man

that

is

learned

.

”

And

that

man

will

say

,

I

cannot

read

it

.

But

why

canst

thou

not

read

it

,

O

Joseph

?

I

cannot

read

it

,

he

says

,

because

the

book

is

sealed

.

For

whom

,

then

,

is

it

preserved

?

It

is

preserved

as

a

place

of

sojourn

for

the

Maker

of

the

universe

.

But

let

us

return

to

our

immediate

subject

.

In

the

sixth

month

Gabriel

was

sent

to

a

virgin

—

he

who

received

,

indeed

,

such

injunctions

as

these

:

“

Come

hither

now

,

archangel

,

and

become

the

minister

of

a

dread

mystery

which

has

been

kept

hid

,

and

be

thou

the

agent

in

the

miracle

.

I

am

moved

by

my

compassions

to

descend

to

earth

in

order

to

recover

the

lost

Adam

.

Sin

hath

made

him

decay

who

was

made

in

my

image

,

and

hath

corrupted

the

work

of

my

hands

,

and

hath

obscured

the

beauty

which

I

formed

.

The

wolf

devours

my

nursling

,

the

home

of

paradise

is

desolate

,

the

tree

of

life

is

guarded

by

the

flaming

sword

,

the

location

of

enjoyments

is

closed

.

My

pity

is

evoked

for

the

object

of

this

enmity

,

and

I

desire

to

seize

the

enemy

.

Yet

I

wish

to

keep

this

mystery

,

which

I

confide

to

thee

alone

,

still

hid

from

all

the

powers

of

heaven

.

Go

thou

,

therefore

,

to

the

Virgin

Mary

.

Pass

thou

on

to

that

animate

city

whereof

the

prophet

spake

in

these

words

:

‘

Glorious

things

were

spoken

of

thee

,

O

city

of

God

.

’

Proceed

,

then

,

to

my

rational

paradise

;

proceed

to

the

gate

of

the

east

;

proceed

to

the

place

of

sojourn

that

is

worthy

of

my

word

;

proceed

to

that

second

heaven

on

earth

;

proceed

to

the

light

cloud

,

and

announce

to

it

the

shower

of

my

coming

;

proceed

to

the

sanctuary

prepared

for

me

;

proceed

to

the

hall

of

the

incarnation

;

proceed

to

the

pure

chamber

of

my

generation

after

the

flesh

.

Speak

in

the

ears

of

my

rational

ark

,

so

as

to

prepare

for

me

the

accesses

of

hearing

.

But

neither

disturb

nor

vex

the

soul

of

the

virgin

.

Manifest

thyself

in

a

manner

befitting

that

sanctuary

,

and

hail

her

first

with

the

voice

of

gladness

.

And

address

Mary

with

the

salutation

,

‘

Hail

,

thou

that

art

highly

favoured

,

’

that

I

may

show

compassion

for

Eve

in

her

depravation

.

”

The

archangel

heard

these

things

,

and

considered

them

within

himself

,

as

was

reasonable

,

and

said

:

“

Strange

is

this

matter

;

passing

comprehension

is

this

thing

that

is

spoken

.

He

who

is

the

object

of

dread

to

the

cherubim

,

He

who

cannot

be

looked

upon

by

the

seraphim

,

He

who

is

incomprehensible

to

all

the

heavenly

powers

,

does

He

give

the

assurance

of

His

connection

with

a

maiden

?

does

He

announce

His

own

personal

coming

?

yea

more

,

does

He

hold

out

an

access

by

hearing

?

and

is

He

who

condemned

Eve

,

urgent

to

put

such

honour

upon

her

daughter

?

For

He

says

:

‘

So

as

to

prepare

for

me

the

accesses

of

hearing

.

’

But

can

the

womb

contain

Him

who

cannot

be

contained

in

space

?

Truly

this

is

a

dread

mystery

.

”

While

the

angel

is

indulging

such

reflections

,

the

Lord

says

to

Him

:

“

Why

art

thou

troubled

and

perplexed

,

O

Gabriel

?

Hast

thou

not

already

been

sent

by

me

to

Zacharias

the

priest

?

Hast

thou

not

conveyed

to

him

the

glad

tidings

of

the

nativity

of

John

?

Didst

thou

not

inflict

upon

the

incredulous

priest

the

penalty

of

speechlessness

?

Didst

thou

not

punish

the

aged

man

with

dumbness

?

Didst

thou

not

make

thy

declaration

,

and

I

confirmed

it

?

And

has

not

the

actual

fact

followed

upon

thy

announcement

of

good

?

Did

not

the

barren

woman

conceive

?

Did

not

the

womb

obey

the

word

?

Did

not

the

malady

of

sterility

depart

?

Did

not

the

inert

disposition

of

nature

take

to

flight

?

Is

not

she

now

one

that

shows

fruitfulness

,

who

before

was

never

pregnant

?

Can

anything

be

impossible

with

me

,

the

Creator

of

all

?

Wherefore

,

then

,

art

thou

tossed

with

doubt

?

”

What

is

the

angel’s

answer

to

this

?

“

O

Lord

,

”

he

says

,

“

to

remedy

the

defects

of

nature

,

to

do

away

with

the

blast

of

evils

,

to

recall

the

dead

members

to

the

power

of

life

,

to

enjoin

on

nature

the

potency

of

generation

,

to

remove

barrenness

in

the

case

of

members

that

have

passed

the

common

limit

,

to

change

the

old

and

withered

stalk

into

the

appearance

of

verdant

vigour

,

to

set

forth

the

fruitless

soil

suddenly

as

the

producer

of

sheaves

of

corn

,

—

to

do

all

this

is

a

work

which

,

as

it

is

ever

the

case

,

demands

Thy

power

.

And

Sarah

is

a

witness

thereto

,

and

along

with

her

also

Rebecca

,

and

again

Anna

,

who

all

,

though

bound

by

the

dread

ill

of

barrenness

,

were

afterwards

gifted

by

Thee

with

deliverance

from

that

malady

.

But

that

a

virgin

should

bring

forth

,

without

knowledge

of

a

man

,

is

something

that

goes

beyond

all

the

laws

of

nature

;

and

dost

Thou

yet

announce

Thy

coming

to

the

maiden

?

The

bounds

of

heaven

and

earth

do

not

contain

Thee

,

and

how

shall

the

womb

of

a

virgin

contain

Thee

?

”

And

the

Lord

says

:

“

How

did

the

tent

of

Abraham

contain

me

?

”

And

the

angel

says

:

“

As

there

were

there

the

deeps

of

hospitality

,

O

Lord

,

Thou

didst

show

Thyself

there

to

Abraham

at

the

door

of

the

tent

,

and

didst

pass

quickly

by

it

,

as

He

who

filleth

all

things

.

But

how

can

Mary

sustain

the

fire

of

the

divinity

?

Thy

throne

blazes

with

the

illumination

of

its

splendour

,

and

can

the

virgin

receive

Thee

without

being

consumed

?

”

Then

the

Lord

says

:

“

Yea

surely

,

if

the

fire

in

the

wilderness

injured

the

bush

,

my

coming

will

indeed

also

injure

Mary

;

but

if

that

fire

which

served

as

the

adumbration

of

the

advent

of

the

fire

of

divinity

from

heaven

fertilized

the

bush

,

and

did

not

burn

it

,

what

wilt

thou

say

of

the

Truth

that

descends

not

in

a

flame

of

fire

,

but

in

the

form

of

rain

?

”

Thereupon

the

angel

set

himself

to

carry

out

the

commission

given

him

,

and

repaired

to

the

Virgin

,

and

addressed

her

with

a

loud

voice

,

saying

:

“

Hail

,

thou

that

are

highly

favoured

!

the

Lord

is

with

thee

.

No

longer

shalt

the

devil

be

against

thee

;

for

where

of

old

that

adversary

inflicted

the

wound

,

there

now

first

of

all

does

the

Physician

apply

the

salve

of

deliverance

.

Where

death

came

forth

,

there

has

life

now

prepared

its

entrance

.

By

a

woman

came

the

flood

of

our

ills

,

and

by

a

woman

also

our

blessings

have

their

spring

.

Hail

,

thou

that

are

highly

favoured

!

Be

not

thou

ashamed

,

as

if

thou

wert

the

cause

of

our

condemnation

.

For

thou

art

made

the

mother

of

Him

who

is

at

once

Judge

and

Redeemer

.

Hail

,

thou

stainless

mother

of

the

Bridegroom

of

a

world

bereft

!

Hail

,

thou

that

hast

sunk

in

thy

womb

the

death

(

that

came

)

of

the

mother

(

Eve

)

!

Hail

,

thou

animate

temple

of

temple

of

God

!

Hail

,

thou

equal

home

of

heaven

and

earth

alike

!

Hail

,

thou

amplest

receptacle

of

the

illimitable

nature

!

”

But

as

these

things

are

so

,

through

her

has

come

for

the

sick

the

Physician

;

for

them

that

sit

in

darkness

,

the

Sun

of

righteousness

;

for

all

that

are

tossed

and

tempest

-

beaten

,

the

Anchor

and

the

Port

undisturbed

by

storm

.

For

the

servants

in

irreconcilable

enmity

has

been

born

the

Lord

;

and

One

has

sojourned

with

us

to

be

the

bond

of

peace

and

the

Redeemer

of

those

led

captive

,

and

to

be

the

peace

for

those

involved

in

hostility

.

For

He

is

our

peace

;

and

of

that

peace

may

it

be

granted

that

all

we

may

receive

the

enjoyment

,

by

the

grace

and

kindness

of

our

Lord

Jesus

Christ

;

to

whom

be

the

glory

,

honour

,

and

power

,

now

and

ever

,

and

unto

all

the

ages

of

the

ages

.

Amen

.

Notes

2
Luke i. 26, 27.
3
Luke i. 36.
4
Isa. vii. 14.
5
Isa. xxix. 11.
6
Ps. lxxxvii. 3.
7
Or, angelic.
8
ὑπερορίοις μέλεσιν.
9
Or, and after her.
10
Gen. xviii.
11
Ps. lxxii. 6. [A sub-allusion, in bad taste, to Semele.]
12
νυμφοτόκε. The Latin version gives it as = sponsa, simul et mater. [Apostrophe not worship.]
13
ἱσόῤῥοπον.
14
Eph. ii. 14.