On the Annunciation (Homily I) · §14 · Gregory Thaumaturgus

David's prophecy: Hear, O daughter

Asking and pleading for this, David spoke in prophecy to the rod that was to put forth from him the flower of that most beautiful fruit (Isaiah 11:1), and said: Hear, O daughter, and see, and incline your ear; and forget your people and your father's house; and the King will desire your beauty, for He is the Lord your God, and you will worship Him (Psalm 45:10-11). Hear, O daughter, the things foretold of you before, so that you may also behold the realities themselves with the eyes of knowledge. Hear me, who signify them to you beforehand, and hear the Archangel, who plainly announces to you the mysteries fulfilled.

Latin

Haec postulans ac deprecans David, ad virgam, quae ex ipso pulcherrimi illius fructus florem germinatura erat, vaticinans dicebat: Audi filia, et vide, et inclina aurem tuam; et obliviscere populum tuum, et domum patris tui: et concupiscet rex decorem tuum: quoniam ipse est Dominus Deus tuus, et adorabis eum. Audi filia, quae antea in te praedicta sunt: ut et cognitionis oculis res ipsas contempleris. Audi me, tibi praesignificantem; et Archangelum perfecta tibi mysteria diserte adnuntiantem.

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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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