The Birth of Christ and the Adoration of the Shepherds and Magi
The Virgin, having conceived the Sovereign of heaven and earth in a cave, placed Him in a manger; then ranks of angels surrounded the Virgin, crying out and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men.' Therefore the shepherds, while watching in the fields, heard such a doxology of the angels concerning the Savior, and having run on their way, they worshiped the Light, beholding a strange wonder: the handmaid of the Sovereign and the earthly Virgin, the heavenly bride.
For she appeared in the cave as both bride and mother, and as the Mother of God, when she gave birth to the child Christ, according to the prophetic voice of Isaiah: 'For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.'
After this he says: 'The Magi from the east, being illuminated and guided by a bright star, having traveled the length of the road from the east, arrived to worship Him who was born in Bethlehem.' Therefore, upon reaching the city of Jerusalem, the star was hidden from them; and they, being troubled at having lost their guide, were compelled by necessity to ask those in the city, inquiring of them: 'Where is the Christ to be born?' For this was considered a strange wonder by all. Concerning which...
Greek
Παρθένος ἀπόνως τὸν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς ∆εσπότην ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ κυήσασα, ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ ἔθετο, τότε καὶ τάξεις ἀγγέλων τὴν Παρθένον ἐκύκλωσαν βοῶντες καὶ λέγοντες· ∆όξα ἐν ὑψίστοις Θεῷ, καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς εἰρήνη, ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία. Ὅθεν καὶ ποιμένες ἀγραυλοῦντες τὴν τοιαύτην δοξολογίαν τῶν ἀγγέλων ἤκουσάν τε περὶ τοῦ Σωτῆρος, καὶ τῷ δρόμῳ βαδίσαντες, τὸ φῶς προσεκύνησαν, ξένον θαῦμα θεασάμενοι, τὴν δούλην τοῦ ∆εσπότου καὶ τὴν ἐπίγειον παρθένον, οὐράνιον νύμφην. Αὕτη γὰρ καὶ νύμφη, καὶ παστὰς, καὶ Θεοῦ μήτηρ ὤφθη ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ, ὅτε τὸ βρέφος ἔτεκε Χριστὸν, κατὰ τὴν προφητικὴν Ἡσαΐου φωνήν· ὅτι Παιδίον ἐγεννήθη ἡμῖν· υἱὸς καὶ ἐδόθη ἡμῖν, οὗ ἡ ἀρχὴ ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου αὐτοῦ, καὶ καλεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μεγάλης βουλῆς Ἄγγελος, Θεὸς ἰσχυρὸς, ἐξουσιαστὴς, Ἄρχων εἰρήνης, Πατὴρ τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος. Εἶτά φησι μετὰ ταῦτα· Μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ὑπὸ ἀστέρος φωτεινοῦ καταλαμπόμενοι, καὶ ὁδηγούμενοι, τὸ μῆκος τῆς ἐξ ἀνατολῆς ὁδοῦ βαδίσαντες, ἥκασιν εἰς προσκύνησιν τοῦ τεχθέντος ἐν Βηθλεέμ. Ὅθεν καὶ τὴν πόλιν Ἱερουσαλὴμ καταλαβόντες, κρύπτεται ἀπ' αὐτῶν ὁ ἀστήρ· οἱ δὲ θορυβηθέντες τὸν ὁδηγὸν ἀπολέσαντες, ἀνάγκης τῇ βίᾳ τοὺς ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐρωτῶντες, ἐπυνθάνοντο παρ' αὐτῶν· Ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται; ξένον δὲ θαῦμα πᾶσιν ἐνομίζετο. Περὶ οὗ
About this text
Epiphanius preaches Mary's glory as Mother of God, weaving Scripture into praise.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 41–43 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.