On the Annunciation (Homily I) · §12 · Gregory Thaumaturgus

What prophets longed to see came to Mary alone

Many of the holy fathers, patriarchs, and prophets longed to see Him and to become eyewitnesses, and could not (Matthew 13:17; Luke 10:24). Some of them saw Him in visions, dimly and in riddles; others heard the divine voice in the pillar of cloud (Psalm 99:7) and were granted the sight of holy angels. But to Mary alone, the holy Virgin, the Archangel Gabriel came in clear light, announcing to her: Hail, full of grace (Luke 1:28). And so she received the Word, and in the time of bodily fulfilment she brought forth the precious Pearl.

Latin

Plurimi sanctorum Patrum, Patriarcharum, et prophetarum desiderarunt eum videre, et coram spectatores fieri, et non potuerunt. Et alii quidem ex ipsis per visiones adumbratim in aenigmatibus conspexerunt: alii vero in columna nubis divinam vocem audierunt, et sanctorum Angelorum aspectibus potiti sunt: ad Mariam autem virginem solam sanctam, Gabriel Archangelus claro lumine venit, Ave gratia plena, ei adnuntians: et sic ipsa Verbum suscepit, et in tempore corporeae completionis, pretiosam Margaritam produxit.

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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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