Herod's Disturbance and the Magi's Search
When Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and calling the priests, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They answered and did not deny; they confessed and did not lie. They were unable to hide the rays of the sun, and they testified to the voice concerning the Savior being made clear through the prophet, saying: 'In Bethlehem the Christ is born.' For thus it cries through the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come forth one to be a ruler in Israel.'
O, the unyielding Israel! They confessed what was written in the Law, yet they denied the Lawgiver. They themselves testified where the Christ was to be born, and yet they themselves again denied the Christ who was born. What, then, of the Magi? Their minds were unsettled, their hearts were greatly troubled and consumed by grief, their sobs like the violence of waves flooded their ship, their eyes poured out pearl-like tears upon the earth, and their distress was boundless as they sought the Rising Sun, a guide they did not possess, yet they searched while having the desire. Where is the star, the guide of the Magi? Just as the star is hidden from them, look to the truth, and...
Greek
Ἡρώδης ἀκούσας, ἐταράττετο λίαν, καὶ καλέσας τοὺς ἱερεῖς, ἐπυνθάνετο παρ' αὐτῶν, ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται. Οἱ δὲ εἶπον καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσαντο· ὡμολόγησαν καὶ οὐκ ἐψεύσαντο. Τὰς ἀκτῖνας τοῦ ἡλίου κρύπτειν οὐκ ἠδύναντο, τὴν περὶ τοῦ Σωτῆρος φωνὴν διὰ τοῦ προφήτου σαφηνιζομένην ἐμαρτύρησαν λέγοντες· Ἐν Βηθλεὲμ γεννᾶται ὁ Χριστός. Οὕτω γὰρ βοᾷ διὰ τοῦ προφήτου· Καὶ σὺ, Βηθλεὲμ, οὐδαμῶς εἶ ἐλαχίστη ἐν τοῖς ἡγεμόσιν Ἰούδα· ἐκ σοῦ γὰρ ἐξελεύσεται τοῦ εἶναι εἰς ἄρχοντα ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ. Ὢ τοῦ ἀπειθοῦντος Ἰσραήλ! Ὡμολόγηςτὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦ νόμου, καὶ τὸν νομοθέτην ἠρνήσατο· αὐτοὶ ἐμαρτύρησαν ποῦ ὁ Χριστὸς γεννᾶται, καὶ αὐτοὶ πάλιν ἠρνήσαντο τὸν γεννηθέντα Χριστόν. Τί οὖν οἱ μάγοι; ὧν τὸ οἰκεῖον τοῦ νοὸς ἠλλοιώθη, ὧν ἡ καρδία ἐταράττετο λίαν, καὶ ἐσβέννυτο ἐν λύπῃ, ὧν οἱ στεναγμοὶ ὡς κυμάτων βία τὴν ναῦν ἐπόντιζον, ὧν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ μαργαριτοειδέσι δάκρυσι τὴν γῆν κατέῤῥαινον, ὧν ἀφόρητος ἡ θλίψις, τὸν ἀνατολῶν ζητοῦντες ὁδηγὸν, ὃν οὐκ εἶχον, ἔχοντες ἐζήτουν· Ποῦ ὁ ἀστὴρ ὁ τῶν μάγων ὁδηγός; Καθ' οἷον δὲ τρόπον κρύπτεται ἀπ' αὐτῶν ὁ ἀστὴρ, σκόπει τὴν ἀλήθειαν, καὶ
About this text
Epiphanius preaches Mary's glory as Mother of God, weaving Scripture into praise.
Original English Translation of Epiphanius of Salamis’s Homilia in laudes Mariae deiparae — new OET from PG 41–43 Greek.
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.