On the Annunciation (Homily I) · §11 · Gregory Thaumaturgus

Like the pearl, Christ is born of the Virgin

And as the pearl comes from two natures, namely lightning and water, arising through certain hidden tokens and signs of the sea, so too our Lord Jesus Christ comes forth, without confusion and without change, from the pure and chaste, undefiled and holy Virgin Mary. He is perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, like the Father in all things and consubstantial with us in all things, but without any sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Latin

Et sicut Margarita ex duabus naturis, ex fulgure nimirum et aqua, occultis quibusdam indiciis ac signis maris provenit: ita quoque Dominus noster Iesus Christus, inconfuse et immutabiliter ex pura ac casta, et impolluta, ac sancta Maria virgine progreditur, in Deitate perfectus, et in humanitate perfectus, Patri per omnia similis, et nobis per omnia consubstantialis, sed omnis peccati expers.

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About this text

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Annunciation: the first sermon, in a fresh English translation. Three sermons survive; this volume covers the first only.

Gregory Thaumaturgus (c. 213–c. 270) was Origen's most famous pupil and the apostle of Pontus. Much else was later published under his name.

The Homilies on the Annunciation celebrate Gabriel's visit to Mary — David's oracle, the angel's greeting, and Mary's reply. They are transmitted under Gregory's name, though scholars generally count them the work of a later hand.

This volume holds the whole First Discourse, from the joy of the day through Gabriel's message and Mary's reply. The second and third discourses are not translated here.

Part only: Homily I

Fresh English translation of the whole first sermon from the Latin column of the Opera omnia print (Paris, 1622) (printed pp.

Printed text used

Translated from Opera omnia, Greek and Latin (Paris: Sonnius, Morel and Cramoisy, 1622), page images (Latin column (Greek damaged))
Also checked Archive DjVu machine-read text (Latin/Greek mixed machine-read text)
Translated from Latin opening (Latin)

Where the prints differ

Sermo I — Long-s and column joins expanded from the Latin face; Greek face left aside as damaged machine-read text.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We made this study translation with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open Latin on any section, or the Latin source link, to see the source text. It is not a critical edition.

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