On Christmas Day.

Today the Sun of Truth rose and hid what had previously risen; I am freed from darkness - and do not use rays; light was born again for me - and I am darkened with fear; I rejoice at the birth - and am embarrassed by its image; I see that a new source is flowing and running away from ancient wickedness; I see that a baby is born, and the sky bows down to worship Him; the mother gives birth - and the womb does not open; the child seals its own conception; the parent is not a husband, and the son is without a father; The Savior is born, and creates a star for Himself; the baby is swaddled and holds the earth; the manger represents the throne of heaven, and the cattle represent the cherubic presence; the torch appears and a miracle is announced; angels foretell, and shepherds prophesy; the wise men theologize, and the priests fight against God; Herod falls and death is mourned; Adam is freed, Eve rejoices, and the serpent mourns; prisoners are released and rapists are punished; the baby feeds on milk, and nourishes the nourishing; carried on the hands, and carried by the wearer; the creature recognizes, and nature is afraid. Hence I am amazed at the miracle, trembling at the mystery. I will boldly trust Gabriel and cast out my fear. The words to Mary explain the miracle. Which? And Gabriel says: “Rejoice, full of grace” (Lk. 1:28), the immeasurable arable land of the heavenly ear; Rejoice, Gracious, unfailingly virginal mother of the true vine; Rejoice, gracious, unshakable network of the immeasurable deity; Rejoice, Blessed One, vast place of immense nature; Rejoice, full of grace, bride of the widowed world, virgin birth; Rejoice, O Blessed One, who wove for the creation a crown not made by hands; Rejoice, Blessed One, holy abode of fire; Rejoice, O Blessed One, return of the fleeing universe; Rejoice, O Blessed One, inexhaustible breadbasket of the starving creature; Rejoice, Blessed, endless grace of the Holy Virgin; Rejoice, O Most Gracious One, bearer of a lamp, adorned with many virtues, (bearer of) unquenchable and brighter light (than) the sun; Rejoice, O Blessed One, bait of a spiritual fishing rod; Rejoice, O Most Gracious One, spiritual ark of glory; Rejoice, Blessed One, golden reservoir with heavenly manna; Rejoice, O Blessed One, who gave the thirsty the sweet drink of the eternal spring to drink; Rejoice, full of grace, spiritual sea with the heavenly pearl, Christ; Rejoice, O Blessed One, brilliant sky, which contains in itself in the heavens the incontainable God, immense and spacious; Rejoice, O full of grace, pillar-shaped cloud having God, who guided Israel in the wilderness. What should I say and what should I pronounce? How can I please the all-rooting glory? Apart from God, you are above everyone.” She is embarrassed by this word and, averting her gaze, stands with her body (and) depicts the spectacle of the story of the cross; stands hesitantly in front of the angel - he neither dares to run nor dares to stand. Seeing that the incorporeal one stood like a man, she was ashamed to remain, valuing virginity; I didn’t dare ask someone unlike myself. And the Virgin’s face was filled with fear; says to herself: “What kind of greeting is this? Who greeted me? He surpasses the brilliance of the sun, and converses with dirt; came down from heaven and greeted the virgin; not clothed with a body, and stands next to his wife, walking on the ground with wings like feet. What is he asking the earth about? In my opinion, he is an angel, but he speaks like a man; a voice comes to me from disembodied saints; the face is decorated lighter than a lamp; clothed with clothes; I see a young man, not clothed with flesh, walking on the floor and leaving no traces; He has no tongue, and exclaims to me: “Rejoice”; does not move his lips, and prophesies joy to me. I don’t know what to think about this scary vision? If I don’t know the one sent, how will I know the one who sent? If the messenger is terrible, then the announcer is more terrible. If so brilliant has darkened my mind, with what body will I cover the Sun of Truth? If the creation frightens me, how will I carry the Creator? If I am amazed at the slave, then how can I make the face of the Lord?” The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Miriam” (Lk. 1:30); you will not fall like Eve; from her death - from you immortal life; from her the fruit of dying is from you the fruit of life-giving; from it deception - from you love; from it people are removed from God - from you an inexplicable union of God and flesh; from her the dark dream of hell - from you the bright lamp of the world; from her is a curse - from you is a blessing; from her rejection - from you forgiveness; from it is torment - from you is faith; from her tears are from you rivers of living water; from her labors - from you peace; from it ancient wickedness - from you the life of the Trinity; from it brotherly hatred - from you love of mankind; from her the flood is from you the washing of immortality; from it is murder - from you is rebirth; from her is the slaughter of the living - from you is the resurrection of the dead; from her, the hated twelve-tribe - from you are twelve apostles, united by love; from her is death spreading in the world, from you - she falls, having achieved success; from it is the fall - from you is the resurrection. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth" (Lk. 1:30–31) Him who is in the Father and in the flesh; and you will bring forth a Son older than Adam; You will give birth to a Son older than me; You will give birth to a Son higher than heaven; You will give birth to a Son above the cherubim; You will give birth to a Son, the founder of the ages; you will give birth to a Son, co-eternal with the Father: you will give birth to a Son, co-eternal with the Spirit; You will give birth to a Son, Whose (domain) is all things that exist; You will give birth to a Son, whom we (cannot) see; You will give birth to a Son, whose image is hidden from me; You will give birth to a Son, to whom I stand with trembling.” And her birthday was fulfilled, and she gave birth to her firstborn son, whom no husband planted; she gave birth to a Son, whom the father did not bear; she gave birth to an ear of grain, which the body did not sow; gave birth to the Creator, who became a man; She gave birth in a cave, and He appeared in Persida. “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” ("Christ was born in Bethlehem Judea... behold, a wolf came from the east to Jerusalem, saying: Where is the king of the Jews born?") (Matthew 2:1-2). Where is He who was born without seed, who sent His star before Himself? Where is He who draws us with a strange ray to an unknown light? Where is the one who protects the universe with his immeasurable hand? Where is he who appears everywhere and hides in the flesh? Where is the One who freed us from error and the guide to grace? Where is the one who appeared under the oak tree as an angelic trinity? Where is the one who did not burn the thorns and destroy the mother? Where is (born) from the Father, invisible, and held by the mother? Where is he who dried up the Red Sea and fed on milk? Where is the one who punished Pharaoh and is hiding from Herod? Where is the one who drowned the dragon and lies in swaddling clothes? Where is He whom angels have not seen and men contemplate?” “And behold, the star that they saw in the east walked in front of them, when it finally came and stood over the place where the Child was... and, falling, they worshiped Him; and, having opened their treasures, they brought Him gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. And, having received a revelation in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed another way to their country” (“And behold, the star that they saw in the east, walking before them, until he came to the top, where the boy... and... bowed down, bringing him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Let us sing and glorify the born Christ, our God, together with His Father (and) the Holy Spirit, now and ever, forever. Amen. Creations attributed to St. John Chrysostom and in the Patrology of Min, classified as Spuria. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith”