On the Annunciation (Homily I) · §19 · Gregory Thaumaturgus

In the Father's bosom and in His mother's arms; closing doxology

He who carried out the whole providence and ordering of the hidden mysteries of the dispensation, in heaven in the bosom of the Father and in the cave in His mother's arms, rested in the manger. Choirs of angels surrounded Him, singing glory in heaven and announcing peace on earth (Luke 2:13-14). In heaven He sat at the right hand of the Father; and in the manger He rested as upon the cherubim. Truly this too was a throne of the cherubim, a royal throne: the holy of holies, alone glorious upon earth, holier than the holy, in which Christ our God rested.

To Him be glory, honor, and dominion, with the all-pure Father and the most holy and life-giving Spirit, now and always, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Latin

Qui occultorum dispensationis mysteriorum omnem implevit providentiam ac dispositionem in caelo in sinu Patris, et in spelunca in ulnis matris, in praesepio requievit. Chori Angelici circumcingebant eum, in caelo gloriam concinentes, et in terra pacem adnuntiantes. In caelo a dextris Patris sedebat; et in praesepio, ut super Cherubim requiescebat. Thronus revera et hic erat Cherubicus; Thronus regalis; sanctus sanctorum; solus super terram gloriosus; sanctis sanctior; in quo requievit Christus Deus noster. Cui gloria, honor, et imperium, cum immaculatissimo Patre, et sanctissimo ac vivifico Spiritu: nunc et semper, et in saecula saeculorum, Amen.

Report a mistake in this passage

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.

Report a mistake