a guide to the four gospels - bishop averky

8/12/2019 A Guide to the Four Gospels - Bishop Averky

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A GuideTo the Four Gospels

By Archbishop Averky (Tauchev 1906-1976)

Tra!slated by "eraphi# $ari! % Tatia!a &avlova

Content:

The Coming into the World ofOur Lord Jesus Christ.

The Gospels preface: Their authenticity and purpose.The Pre-Eternal Birth and the Incarnation

of the Son of God.The Observations by rchpriest !ichael Po"a#ans$y.%n addition to bp.

ver$ys ori&inal te't(.The conception of )hrists *orerunner+ ,ohn.The nnunciation to the

oly ir&in !ary.The "eetin& of the oly ir&in !ary /ith Eli#abeth.The Birth of Saint ,ohnthe Baptist.The Earthly 0inea&e of the 0ord ,esus )hrist.

The Nativity of Christ.

The 1evelation of the "ystery of the incarnation to the betrothed ,oseph.The )ircu"stances and

Ti"e of the 2ativity of )hrist.The )ircu"cision and !eetin& of the 0ord.The doration of the!a&i.The *li&ht into E&ypt and the Slayin& of the Infants.,esus )hrists adolescence.

The Saviors Social Service.

,ohn the Baptist and his testi"ony about our 0ord ,esus )hrist.

The Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The *orty-3ay *ast and Te"ptin& by the 3evil. The *irst 3isciples of )hrist.The *irst !iracle

at the 4eddin& at )ana of Galilee.

The irst !ascha.
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3rivin& the sellers out of the Te"ple.The 0ord ,esus )hrists dialo&ue /ith 2icode"us.The

0ast Testi"ony of ,ohn the Baptist.The I"prison"ent of Saint ,ohn.The Tal$ /ith a Sa"aritan

/o"an.The rrival to Galilee and the Be&innin& of the Ser"on.The ealin& of the 2oble"ansSon.The )allin& of the *isher"an.ealin& in )apernau".The ealin& of Peters !other-in-

0a/.The Ser"on in Galilee.The Ser"on in the 2a#areth Syna&o&ue.The ealin& of the 0eper.

The ealin& of a Paralytic in )apernau".The )allin& of !atthe/.

The Second !ascha.

The ealin& of a Paralytic at the Sheep Gate Pool.On the E5uality of the *ather and the Son.

The Pluc$in& of )ornheads on Saturday.The ealin& of the !an /ith a 4ithered and.The

0ord voids *a"e.)hoosin& the 3isciples.

The Sermon on the "ount.

The Beatitudes.The 0i&ht of the 4orld.T/o !easures of 1i&hteousness.The !ain Tas$ is to

Please God.The Prayer 6Our *ather6.The Eternal Treasure.3o 2ot ,ud&e.Steadfastness inPrayer.The 2arro/ Path.bout the *alse Prophets.The ealin& of the 0eper.The ealin& of

the )apernau" )enturions Servant.The 1esurrection of the 2ain 4ido/s Son.The!essen&ers of ,ohn the Baptist.E'posin& the )ities of Galilee.*or&ivin& the Sinful 4o"an in

the ouse of Si"on the Pharisee.The ealin& of the Possessed and the E'posure of the

Pharisees.The 0ords ns/er to Those+ 4aitin& for the Si&ns fro" i". 4o"an Glorifiesthe !other of ,esus.

The Lord Jesus Christs Teaching in !ara#les.

The Parable about the So/er.The Parable about the Tares.The Parable about the Invisibly

Gro/in& Seed.The Parable about the !ustard Seed.The Parable about the 0eaven.The Parableabout the Treasure idden in the *ield.The Parable about the Pearl.The Parable about the3ra&net+ )ast into the Sea.bout the O/ner+ Preservin& the 2e/ and the Old.The 0ords

1esponse to Those esitatin& to *ollo/ i".)al"in& the Stor".The )astin& Out of a 0e&ion

of 3e"ons.The ealin& of a 4o"an /ith a *lo/ of Blood and the 1esurrection of ,airuss3au&hter.The ealin& of T/o Blind !en.The Second isit to 2a#areth.The Plentiful arvest+

but *e/ 0aborers.)hrist Sends is postles on their !ission.The Beheadin& of ,ohn the

*orerunner.The !iraculous *eedin& of *ive Thousand People.The 0ords 4al$ on the 4ater.The Tal$ about the eavenly Bread.

The Third !ascha.

E'posin& the Pharisees Traditions.The ealin& of a )anaanite 4o"ans dau&hter.The ealin&

of the Speech-I"peded 3eaf Person.The !iraculous *eedin& of *our Thousand People.The

E'posure of the Pharisees See$in& the Si&ns.The ealin& of a Blind Person in Bethsaida.Peters)onfession: ,esus is )hrist+ the Son of God.The 0ord *oretells is 3eath and 1esurrection.The

Transfi&uration of the 0ord.The ealin& of the Possessed dolescent.The !iraculous Pay"ent

of the Te"ple Ta'.The Tal$ about 4ho is the Greatest in the 7in&do" of eaven.4or$in&4onders in )hrists 2a"e.The Teachin& about the Stru&&le /ith Te"ptations.The Parable
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about the 0ost Sheep.The Parable about the 8n"erciful 3ebtor.)hrist Goes to the *east of

,erusale".The Sa"aritans do not ccept )hrist.Sendin& Seventy 3isciples to Preach.,esus at

the *east of the Tabernacles.The ,ud&"ent of the dulteress.The )onversation /ith the ,e/s inthe Te"ple.The ealin& of the Born Blind !an.The Ser"on about the Good Shepherd.The

Ser"on at the *east of the 3edication.The 1eturn of the 9 3isciples.The Parable about the

Good Sa"aritan.The 0ord ,esus )hrist in the ouse of !artha and !ary.The Parable about thePersistent ppeal.The E'posure of the Scribes and Pharisees.The Parable about the 1ec$less

1ich !an.The Parable about the Servants+ /aitin& the 1eturn of their !aster.The Parable

about the 4ise ouse-Ste/ard.bout the 3ivisions a"on& the People.The *all of the Siloa"To/er.The Parable about the *ruitless *i& Tree.The ealin& of the 3efor"ed 4o"an.The

2arro/ Path to/ards the eavenly 7in&do".erods Threats.The ealin& of the !an /ith

3ropsy.The Parable about Those that 0ove to be *irst.The Parable about the Invitees to the

Supper.bout the True *ollo/ers of )hrist.The Parable about the Prodi&al Son.The Parableabout the 8n;ust ouse-Ste/ard.The Parable about the 1ich !an and 0a#arus.The Teachin& on

the Sanctity of !arria&e and on )elibacy.bout the Po/er of *aith.The )leansin& of ten

0epers.)hrists Second )o"in&.The Parable about the 8nri&hteous ,ud&e.The Parable about

the Publican and the Pharisee.The Blessin& of the )hildren.The 1ich


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)onversation.The )ontinuation of the *are/ell )onversation.The rchpriest Prayer.The

ppeal about the )up.The 0ords rrest.

The Trial over the Lord& 'eld #y the 'igh !riests.

Peters 1enounce"ent.

%reat riday.

The Sanhedrins Sentence.The 3eath of ,udas.t the Trial of Pilate.The )ruciferous 4ay to

Gol&otha.

The Crucifi(ion.

The 1epentance of the 4ise 1obber.The !other of God at the )ross.The 3eath of )hrist.TheBurial of the 0ord ,esus )hrist.

The )esurrection.

The rrival of the 4o"en !yrrh-Bearers at the To"b.,esus ppears to !ary !a&dalene.The

Bribin& of the Guards.0ords ppearance to is 3isciples on the 1oad to E""aus.The

ppearance to the Ten 3isciples.Tho"ass 3isbelief.The ppearance at the Sea of Tiberias.The 1estoration of postle Peter.The ppearance in Galilee.

The *scension of the Lord.

ddendu".

The Selected Sermons of Christ.

Christs "iracles.

The %ospels !ara#les.

The 'o#i! i!to the orld o*

+ur $ord ,esus 'hrist
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The Gospels pre*ace. Their authe!ticity a!d purpose

%0u$e >:>-?+ ,ohn @:A>(.

The preface of the four Gospels can be re&arded to be the first four verses of the first chapter of0u$e+ in /hich the postle spea$s of the careful study done for everythin& that he /rites and

describes the purpose of /ritin& the Gospel: to $no/ the fir" basis of the )hristian teachin&s. To

this end+ the postle ,ohn the Theolo&ian adds in the A>st para&raph of the @th chapter of his

Gospel that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in Hisname.

s can be seen fro" St. 0u$es preface+ he undertoo$ the /ritin& of his Gospel because by that

ti"e there had appeared fairly nu"erous si"ilar /or$s but lac$in& in authority and

unsatisfactory in substance. e also re&arded it as his responsibility %fro" his desire to reaffir"

in the *aith one soverei&n TheophilusC and+ at the sa"e ti"e+ all )hristians in &eneral( to /ritean epistle on the life of our 0ord ,esus )hrist+ carefully chec$in& all the data fro" the /ords of

eye/itnesses and "inisters of the 4ord.C Because he /as+ apparently+ only one apostle of theseventy disciples of )hrist and therefore could not be a /itness to all events D such as the birth

of ,ohn the Baptist+ the nnunciation+ the birth of )hrist+ and the "eetin& of )hrist in the te"ple

D he undoubtedly /rote a si&nificant part of his Gospel fro" the /ords of eye/itnesses that is+on the basis of tradition %here /e can see the i"portance of tradition+ /hich is re;ected by

Protestants and sectarians(.

The fore"ost and "ost i"portant eye/itness to the very early events of the Gospels history /as

surely the oly ir&in !ary. Saint 0u$e specifically notes t/ice that she $ept the recollections

of all these events+ retainin& the" in her heart %0u$e @:>F and @:>(.

There can be no doubt that the pre-e"inence of the Gospel of 0u$e over other /ritin&s that

e'isted before his is found in that he /rote only after a thorough e(aminationof facts and the

strict se5uence of events. This pre-e"inence over other /ritin&s is shared by the other threeEvan&elists+ as t/o of the" D !atthe/ and ,ohn D /ere of )hrists ori&inal t/elve disciples

%they the"selves /ere eye/itnesses and "inisters of the 4ord( /hile the third+ !ar$+ /rote

fro" the /ords of )hrists closest disciple and an assured eye/itness and close participant in theGospels events D the postle Peter.

The purpose &iven by St. ,ohn is seen particularly clearly in his Gospel+ /hich is full of ;ubilant

eye/itness of the 0ord ,esus )hrists divinity. But naturally+ the other three Evan&elists alsohave the sa"e &oal.

The &re-/ter!al Birth a!d the !car!atio! o* the "o! o* God

%,ohn >:>->?(.


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4hile the Evan&elists !atthe/ and 0u$e /rite of the earthly birth of our 0ord ,esus )hrist+ St.

,ohn be&ins his Gospel by e'poundin& the teachin&s about 'is pre+eternal #irthand is

incarnation as the Only Son of God. The first three Evan&elists be&in their narrations /ith thatevent as a conse5uence of /hich the 7in&do" of eaven received its be&innin& in ti"e and

space+ /hile Saint ,ohn+ a$in to an ea&le+ soars to the pre-eternal basis of this 7in&do"+

observin& the eternal e'istence of i" 4ho only in these last days%ebre/s >:>( beca"e ahu"an bein&.

The second person of the oly Trinity D the Son of God D is na"ed by ,ohn as ,the Word.-

t this point+ it is i"portant to note and re"e"ber that the Gree$ /ord lo&os+C unli$e the

correspondin& /ord in 1ussian+ doesnt only "ean the spo$en /ord but also thou&ht+ reason+ and/isdo" e'pressed by /ord. )onse5uently+ the na"in& of the Son of God as the 4ordC "eans

the sa"e as is bein& na"ed 4isdo"C %see 0u$e >>:?F and !atthe/ @A:A?(. The holy postle

Paul in > )orinthians >:@? calls )hrist the Wisdom of God.

8ndoubtedly+ the teachin&s about Gods /isdo"C are e'pressed in the sa"e sense in cts %see

especially the /onderful te't of Proverbs H:@@-A(. fter this its stran&e to insist+ as so"epeople do+ that St. ,ohn derived his teachin&s on the 0o&os as if fro" the philosopher Plato and

his successors %such as Philo(. St. ,ohn /rote about events that /ere $no/n to hi" fro" theoly Boo$s of the Old Testa"ent D and also about that /hich+ as a beloved disciple+ he learned

fro" the 3ivine Teacher i"self+ as /ell as /hat /as revealed to hi" by the oly Spirit.

In the beginning was the Word"eans that the 4ord is co+eternal/ith God. 4hats "ore+ St.

,ohn e'plains further that /ith respect to is e'istence+ the 4ord does not separate fro" God+and conse5uently It is of one essence /ith God+ and finally+ he directly calls the 4ord God:

and the Word was God. ere+ the /ord GodC /as applied in Gree$ /ithout any article+

&ivin& rise to the assertion by the rians and Ori&en that the 4ord is not the sa"e God as God

the *ather. o/ever+ this is si"ply a "isunderstandin&. In reality+ this hides a "ost profoundconception of the distinctionof the three countenances of the oly Trinity. The use of an article

in Gree$ indicates that the dialo&ue is about the sa"e sub;ect as that ;ust spo$en of. So if insayin& the Word was God,the postle had used the sa"e article and said o TheosC in Gree$+

the result /ould have been the incorrect idea that the 4ord /as the sa"e as God the *ather+

4ho had been referred to ;ust before. )onse5uently+ in spea$in& of the 4ord+ the Evan&elist

calls i" si"ply TheosC indicatin& by this is 3ivine 5uality+ but also at the sa"e ti"eunderlinin& that the 4ord has an independent hypostatic e'istence and is not identical to the

hypostasis of God the *ather.

s Blessed Theothylact notes+ in revealin& to us the teachin&s on the Son of God+ St. ,ohn calls

i" 4ord and not Son+ so that /e+ havin& heard of the Son+ did not thin$ in ter"s of passionand carnal birth. e called i" the 4ord+ so that you /ould $no/ that as the /ord is born fro"

the "ind /ithout passion+ so is e born fro" the *ather /ithout passion.C

The /ords all things were made through Himare not "eant as thou&h the 4ord /as only aninstru"ent in the creation of the /orld but that the /orld ori&inated fro" the Pri"al 1eason and

Pri"al Source of all e'istence %includin& the 4ord i"self( D God the *ather+ through the


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Son+ 4ho by i"self is already the source of everythin& that #egan to e(ist%that was made(+

only not for i"self and not for the other countenances of God.

In Him was lifeD here the "eanin& of the /ord life is not to be understood in the ordinarysense but as a spirituallife that induces intelli&ent creatures to strive to/ard the cause of their

creation+ to/ard God. This spiritual life is obtained throu&h the path of co""union andunification /ith the hypostatic 3ivine 4ord. )onse5uently+ the 4ord is the source of &enuine

spiritual life for any intelli&ent bein&.

nd the life was the light of menD has in "ind that this spiritual life that e"anates fro" the

3ivine 4ord enli&htens a person /ith a full and co"plete &uidance.

nd the light shines in the dar!ness . . . The 4ord that presents li&ht of &enuine &uidance does

not cease to direct the" a"id sinful dar$ness+ as the li&ht is not absorbed by dar$ness: Those/ho persist in sin have preferred to re"ain in the dar$ness of spiritual blindness. o/ever+ the

dar!ness did not "om#rehend itD did not restrict its activity and disse"ination.

Then+ in order to ;oin the people /ho abode in sinful dar$ness /ith is 3ivine li&ht+ the 4ord

undertoo$ e'traordinary "easures: ,ohn the Baptist /as sent+ and+ finally+ the 4ord beca"eflesh.

$here was a man sent from God, whose name was JohnD there /asC as stated in Gree$ is

e&enetosC %beca"eC( and not inosC as enunciated about the 4ord that is+ ,ohn "ame to

being,/as born at a point in ti"e and did not e'ist eternally li$e the 4ord+ 4ho i"selfgives light to every man "oming into the world.

The /orld did not reco&ni#e the 4ord+ even thou&h it /as obli&ed to i" for its e'istence. He

"ame to His own,i.e.+ to is chosen people of Israel+ and His own did not re"eive HimD ofcourse not everybody.

%ut as many as re"eived Him/ith love and faith+ He gave the right to be"ome "hildren of

God.That is+ e &ave the" the be&innin& of a ne/ spiritual life+ /hich+ li$e a physical one+

also be&ins throu&h birth D althou&h the birth is not fro" carnal passion but throu&h a hi&herpo/er+ fro" God.

nd the Word be"ame flesh.ere the understandin& of the /ord fleshC does not "ean the

hu"an body alone but the /hole+ co"plete person D in the sa"e "eanin& as the /ord fleshC is

often applied in the oly Gospels %e.&.+ !atthe/ @?:@@(. That is+ the 4ord beca"e a co"plete

person+ at the sa"e ti"e not ceasin& to be God. nd dwelt among us . . . full of gra"e andtruth. It "ust be understood that &race "eans Gods &oodness+ as the &ifts of &oodness fro"

God+ revealin& the access to a ne/ spiritual life for hu"anity+ i.e.+ &ifts of the oly Spirit. The

4ord that d/ells a"on& us /as also filled /ith the Truth D co"plete &uidance in everythin&that concerns the spiritual /ord and spiritual life.

nd we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the &ather.The postles

actually sa/ is &lory in the Transfi&uration+ 1esurrection+ and scension to eaven D &lory in


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is Teachin&s+ "iracles+ /or$s of love+ and voluntary self-abase"ent. e is D the only Son of

the *ather+C for only e alone is the Son of God in essence+ by is 3ivine nature. These /ords

point to is i""ense superiority over Gods sons and children throu&h &race+ the faithful thatare "entioned above.

The +bservatio!s by Archpriest ichael &o#a2a!sky

(A! additio! to Abp Averkys orii!al te3t)

The attention of every )hristian /ho is fa"iliar /ith the Bible is dra/n to the parallel bet/een

the first /ords at the be&innin& of the Old Testa"ent Boo$ of Genesis and those at the be&innin&of ,ohns Gospel. 4e too /ill pause on this parallel.

,n archi-D In the be&innin&C D are the openin& /ords of both oly 4ritin&s. In Gree$ the

/ord archiC has three rudi"entary "eanin&s: %a( the be&innin& of an event or underta$in&+ in

the ordinary and si"ple sense of the /ord %b( co""and+ rule+ or authority and %c( in a secular

sense D ancient ti"es+ the past+ lon& a&o+ and+ in a spiritual sense D unconstrained by ti"e+eternal.

In the ori&inal lan&ua&e of the boo$ of the prophet !oses+ the /ord archiC is applied in the

usualsense %as in %a(C ;ust above( D before all is actions beyond i"self+ God created

heaven and earth i.e.+ before the created universe+ there /as only God+ and nothin& e'isted

outside i". The sa"e phrase appears as the first phrase in ,ohns Gospel. o/ever+ the oly

postle elevates the "eanin& of the Gree$ 4ord archi. In the beginning was the WordD4ord+C as a personal 3ivine bein&+ in the beginningD before any other type of bein&+ and

"ore than this D out of any ti"e+ in the li"itless eternity. The sa"e /ord appears once "ore in

another part of the sa"e Gospel+ /ith the sa"e "eanin&. 4hen the ,udeans as$ed )hrist: 4ho

are . 6In the be&innin& God . . .6 6nd God said+

0et there . . .6

>. 6In the be&innin& /as the 4ord+ and the

4ord /as /ith God+ and the 4ord /asGod.6

ere the "ystery of "onotheis" is elevated


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in the revelation of the second hypostasis in

God %the e'pression 6/as /ith God6 ise'plained further on+ in the >Hth verse: 6The

only be&otten Son 4ho is in the boso" of the

*ather6(.

@. 6nd the earth /as /ithout for" and

void . . .6 %lifeless(.

@. 6ll thin&s /ere "ade throu&h i" %the

4ord(+ and /ithout i" nothin& /as "adethat /as "ade.6

The verb 6said6 in 6>6 is "ade "ore preciseas the /ords 6said /ith the 4ord+6 the

participation of the second 3ivine

ypostasis+ )reator of the /hole /orld+

*ulfiller of the *athers /ill.

A. 6nd God said+ 0et there be li&ht . . .6 saidabout physical li&ht.

A. 6In i" %in the 4ord( /as life6 %ascontrast(.

?. 6nd dar$ness /as upon the face of the

deep . . .6

?. 6nd the life /as the 0i&ht of "en.6

The sub;ect of the thou&ht is elevatedi""easurably+ not/ithstandin& that it is

denoted by one and the sa"e /ord. bout the

4ord+ the Son of God: 6nd the 0i&ht shinesin the dar$ness+ and the dar$ness did not

co"prehend it6 %as contrast(.

. On the oly Spirit: 6nd the Spirit of God

"oved upon the face of the /aters . . .6

. The /ords of ,ohn the Baptist: 6I did not

$no/ i" but that e should be revealed toIsrael+ therefore I ca"e bapti#in& /ith /ater.

nd ,ohn bore /itness+ sayin&+ JI sa/ the

Spirit descendin& fro" heaven li$e a dove+and e re"ained upon i"6 %verses A> and

A@+ as co"parison(.

K. 6nd God said+ 0et us "a$e "an in Our

i"a&e . . .6 nd God created "an in is O/n

i"a&e . . .6

K. On the incarnation of the 4ord: 6nd the

4ord beca"e flesh and d/elt a"on& us+ and

/e beheld is &lory+ the &lory as of the onlybe&otten of the *ather6 %verse >?+ as

co"parison(.

9. 6nd e rested on the seventh day fro" all

is /or$ /hich e had "ade . . .6 %@:@(.

9. The co"in& of the 4ord to earth+ the &lory

of the Savior: 6ereafter you shall seeeaven open+ and the n&els of God

scendin& and descendin& upon the Son of


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re&arded by the ,udeans as Gods punish"ent for sinnin&. Every /ee$+ a divine service /as

conducted in the te"ple by each division %t/ice a year(. 4ith that+ the priests allocated

responsibilities a"on& the"selves by castin& lots. =acharias lot /as to perfor" the censin& ofthe te"ple. Thats /hy he entered the second part of ,erusale"s te"ple D called the Holiest of

the Holyor the san"tuaryD /here the incensory altar /as located. t the sa"e ti"e+ all the

people /ere prayin& in a specially desi&nated open area+ a "ourtyard+ of the te"ple. avin&entered the sanctuary+ =acharias observed an n&el+ and a &reat fear &ripped hi" because

accordin& to ,e/ish understandin& the appearance of an n&el foretold of i"pendin& death. The

n&el cal"ed =acharias+ tellin& hi" that his prayer /as ans/ered and that his /ife /ill bear hi"a son /ho /ill be &reat in the si&ht of the 0ord.C It is difficult to suppose that =acharias /ith his

ri&hteousness+ bein& old and at such a sole"n "o"ent of the reli&ious service+ /ould have been

prayin& for a son. pparently+ as one of the finest people of that ti"e+ he prayed to God for a

s/ift co"in& of the 7in&do" of the !essiah D and it is precisely this prayer that the n&el said/as ans/ered. nd here his prayer received its hi&h re/ard: not only is his sorro/ful infertility

resolved+ but also his son /ill be the *orerunner of the !essiah+ /hose co"in& he had /aited for

so intensely. is son /ill surpass everyone in his e'traordinary+ strict abstinence and fro" birth

/ill be filled /ith particular+ blessed &ifts of the oly Spirit. The son is faced /ith the tas$ ofpreparin& the ,udean people for the co"in& of the !essiah+ /hich he does /ith ser"ons on

repentance and the refor"ation of their lives. e diverted to/ard God "any sons of Israel /hohonored ,ehovah for"ally but had distanced their hearts and lifestyles a/ay fro" i". To

acco"plish this+ ,ohn /ill be &iven the spirit and stren&th of the prophet Eli;ah+ to /ho" he /ill

be li$ened by his fiery #eal+ strictly ascetic life+ ser"ons on repentance+ and e'posure ofini5uities. e /ill have to call the ,udeans fro" the abyss of their "oral decline+ returnin& into

the hearts of parents the love for children+ and to confir" thou&hts of the ri&hteous in the "inds

of those resistin& the ri&ht hand of God.

s he and his /ife /ere too old to hope for an offsprin&+ =acharias did not believe the n&el and

as$ed hi" for a si&n as proof of the authenticity of his /ords. In order to dispel =achariasdoubts+ the n&el enunciates his na"e: he is Gabriel+ /hich "eans Gods po/er+ the sa"e that

brou&ht the &ood tidin&s of the ti"e of the !essiahs co"in& to the prophet 3aniel+ havin&

indicated the ti"e /ith sevensC %3aniel F:@>-@9(. *or his disbelief+ the n&el inflicts hi" /ith"uteness and apparently at the sa"e ti"e /ith deafness+ as all future co""unications /ith hi"

are /ith si&ns. 2or"ally+ censin& continues for a short period so that the people started to

/onder: /hy is =acharias lin&erin& in the sanctuary o/ever+ no sooner had =achariasappeared and be&un to &esticulate+ that the people reali#ed that he had a vision. It is re"ar$able

that =acharias did not cease but continued to fulfill his turn at servin& at the te"ple D ri&ht up to

the end. fter he returned ho"e+ his /ife Eli#abeth did indeed conceived a son. *or five "onthsshe hid this fro" fear of disbelief and ridicule fro" the public+ /hile her soul re;oiced and

than$ed God for liftin& the denounce"ents of her. The conception of ,ohn the Baptist is

celebrated on the @Ard of Septe"ber.

The A!!u!ciatio! to the 5oly iri! ary

%0u$e >:@K-AH(.


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In the si'th "onth after ,ohn the Baptists conception+ the n&el Gabriel /as sent to the s"all

to/n of 2a#areth+ situated in the =ebulun area of the southern part of Galilee+ to a -irgin

betrothed to a man whose name was Jose#h, of the house of avid. $he -irgin)s name was'ary. The Evan&elist doesnt say: ir&in+ 4ho /as "arried+C but betrothed to a man. This

"eans that for"ally and in the eyes of society+ the Blessed ir&in !ary /as re&arded as

,osephs /ife+ even thou&h in reality+ She /as not.

avin& lost er parents at an early a&e+ the Blessed ir&in !ary /as consecrated to servin& inthe te"ple. 4hen She turned fourteen+ She /as not allo/ed %accordin& to the la/( to re"ain at

the te"ple+ and /as unable to return to er parents. *ollo/in& tradition+ She /as obli&ed to

"arry. 7no/in& that She "ade a pro"ise to re"ain a vir&in+ the hi&h priests and priests did not/ant to leave er /ithout a &uardian+ so they betrothed er to er relative+ an ei&hty year old

carpenter na"ed ,oseph+ /ho /as reno/ned for his ri&hteousness and /ho also had an e'tensive

fa"ily fro" his first "arria&e %!atthe/ >A:(.

In appearin& to er+ the n&el called er full of &race+C i.e.+ havin& found favor /ith God %see

verse A( D Gods special love and benevolence+ is help that is essential for holy and &reatdeeds. The /ords of the n&el be/ildered !ary by their e'traordinary nature+ and She

co""enced to ponder over the". avin& cal"ed er+ the n&el foretells the birth of a Son fro"er+ 4ho /ill be &reat not li$e ,ohn+ but "uch &reater because e /ill not si"ply be full of

Gods blessed &ifts as ,ohn+ but e i"self /ill be the Son of the *lmighty. 4hy is the n&el

sayin& that the 0ord /ill &ive i" the throne of is father 3avid and e /ill rei&n over thehouse of ,acob Because the ,e/ish $in&do" in the Old Testa"ent /as predeter"ined to prepare

people for a spiritual+ eternal 7in&do" of )hrist and to slo/ly transfi&ure into it. )onse5uently+

3avids $in&do" as such is one in /hich God i"self placed $in&s+ /hich /as ruled accordin&

to Gods la/s+ in /hich all for"s of civil life /as per"eated /ith the idea of servin& God+ /hich/as found in an uninterrupted lin$ /ith the 2e/ Testa"ent 7in&do" of God.

!arys 5uestion+ How "an this be, sin"e I do not !now a man/D /ould have been

co"pletely inco"prehensible and /ould have "ade no sense+ if She hadnt &iven a pro"ise toGod+ to re"ain a ir&in forever. The n&el e'plained that er pro"ise /ould not be violated+

as She /ill &ive birth to a Son /ithout a husband+ by e'traordinary "eans. The oly Spirit+ the

#ower of the lmighty,/ill brin& about this seedless conception i.e.+ the Son of God i"self

%see > )orinthians >:@?( /ill overshado/ er+ /ill enter er li$e a cloud a$in to that /hichovershado/ed the tabernacle+ as e'pressed by Isaiah %>F:>(+ u#on a swift "loud.4hile the

Blessed ir&in did not de"and any proof+ the n&el hi"self in confir"ation of the authenticity

of his /ords pointed to Eli#abeth+ /ho had conceived a son in her old a&e by the /ill of God+ to4ho" nothin& is i"possible. The oly ir&in $ne/ throu&h the boo$s of the prophets that not

only &lory a/aits er and er 3ivine Son+ but also &rief. 2evertheless+ co"pletely obedient to

Gods /ill+ She replied: %ehold the -irgin servant of the (ord0 (et it be to 'e a""ording toyour word.

The nnunciation is celebrated on the @th of !arch. avin& accepted the &lad tidin&s+ the

Blessed ir&in said nothin& to ,oseph+ and as St. ,ohn )hrysosto" e'plains+ She /as ;ustly

afraid that he "ay not believe er and thin$ that throu&h er /arnin&+ She is tryin& to hide atrans&ression.


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The #eeti! o* the 5oly iri! ary ith /li2abeth

%0u$e >:AF-K(.

The oly ir&in hurries to share er ;oy /ith er relative Eli#abeth+ /ho presu"ably lived in

,udea in a to/n na"ed ,uttah+ situated close to the sacred city of ebron. Eli#abeth &reeted er/ith the sa"e e'traordinary /ords that /ere uttered by the n&el: %lessed are 1ou among

womenD and added: nd blessed is the fruit of your womb0D lthou&h+ as er relative+

she should have $no/n about the pro"ise &iven by !ary to re"ain chaste. *ollo/in& this+Eli#abeth e'clai"ed: %ut why is this granted to me, that the 'other of my (ord should "ome to

me/ Eli#abeth i""ediately e'plains the "eanin& of her /ords+ in that the child she /as

carryin& leaped in the /o"bC no sooner than she heard !arys &reetin&. 8ndoubtedly+ underthe infusion of the oly Spirit+ the child in Eli#abeths /o"b sensed the other )hild D e+

before 4hose arrival into the /orld+ hu"anity /ould have to be prepared by hi". Thats /hy he

produced such an unusual "ove"ent in his "others /o"b. The reaction of the child to the oly

Spirit /as i"parted to his "other+ and she+ throu&h the &race of foresi&ht+ instantly reco&ni#ed

/hat ;oyous tidin&s !ary conveyed. Thats /hy she &lorified er as the !other of God /ith thesa"e /ords as that of rchan&el Gabriel. Eli#abeth beatifies the Blessed ir&in for er faith

/ith /hich She received the rchan&els tidin&s+ contrastin& this faith /ith =acharias disbelief.

*ro" Eli#abeths /ords+ the Blessed ir&in !ary understood that the "ystery revealed toEli#abeth /as fro" God i"self. "id feelin&s of rapture and e"otions at the thou&ht that the

ti"e for the lon&-a/aited !essiah and the liberation of Israel has arrived+ the oly ir&in

praised God /ith a "arvelous son&. This son& is no/ constantly sun& in er honor durin&"atins: 'y soul doth magnify the (ord, and 'y s#irit hath re2oi"ed in God 'y Saviour . . .

She /ards off any thou&hts of personal /orthiness and praises God because e has been

attentive to er hu"ility. In a prophetic prescience+ She foretells that for this "ercy fro" God+

She /ill be &lorified by all &enerations and that this "ercy of God /ill be e'tended to all that arefearful of the 0ord. She subse5uently praises God that the pro"ise &iven to the *athers and to

braha" has been fulfilled and that the 7in&do" of the !essiah+ anticipated so "uch by theIsraelites+ has co"eD that is hu"ble follo/ers+ despised by the /orld+ /ill soon triu"ph+ be

uplifted and filled /ith &oodness+ /hile the proud and po/erful /ill be dis&raced and

van5uished. Its apparent that the oly ir&in+ not havin& /aited for the *orerunners birth+

returned ho"e.

The Birth o* "ai!t ,oh! the Baptist

%0u$e >:9-H(.

4hen the ti"e had arrived for Eli#abeth to &ive birth+ relatives and nei&hbors ;oined in the ;oy

/hich overtoo$ her+ and on the ei&hth day they &athered at her house so as to perfor" the rite of

circu"cision+ established at the ti"e of braha" %Genesis >9:>>->?( and de"anded by the la/%0eviticus >@:A(. Throu&h this ritual+ the ne/born entered the society of the chosen people.

)onse5uently+ the day of circu"cision /as re&arded as a ;oyful fa"ily holiday. 4ith

circu"cision+ the infant /as &iven a na"e+ usually in honor of so"e senior relative.)onse5uently+ the "others /ish to na"e her son ,ohn /ould have aroused &eneral


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%!atthe/ >:>->9 and 0u$e A:@A-AH(.

The lists of the earthly ancestors of the 0ord ,esus )hrist are contained in t/o Gospels D

!atthe/ and 0u$e. lthou&h both &ive /itness of )hrists ori&in fro" 3avid and braha"+ thena"es listed in the t/o do not al/ays coincide. s St. !atthe/ /as /ritin& for the ,e/s+ it /as

i"portant for hi" to prove that in accordance /ith the Old Testa"ent prophecies+ the 0ord ,esus)hrist did descend fro" braha" and 3avid. )onse5uently+ he be&ins his Gospel /ith the

0ords linea&e and+ "oreover+ ta$es us fro" braha" and brin&s us to Jose#h the husband of'ary, of Whom was born Jesus Who is "alled Christ.Invariably+ the 5uestion arises: 4hy does

the Gospel &ives ,osephs linea&e and not that of the oly ir&in !ary The custo" of the ,e/s

/as not to "aintain any &enealo&y on the "others side. o/ever+ because the Blessed ir&in/as undoubtedly the only child of ,oachi" and nna+ then in accordance /ith the de"ands of

the 0a/ of !oses+ She had to "arry a relative of the sa"e branch+ tribe+ and clan. s ,oseph /as

fro" the sa"e tribe as 3avid+ it follo/s that She too /as of the sa"e descent.

Saint 0u$e placed a different tas$ before hi"self D to sho/ that the 0ord ,esus )hrist belon&s

to the /hole of hu"anity and appears as the Savior of all people. Thats /hy he traces thelinea&e of )hrist to da" and to God i"self. o/ever+ this descent differs so"e/hat fro"

that of Saint !atthe/s. s an e'a"ple+ accordin& to !atthe/+ ,oseph D the no"inal father ofour 0ord D is the son of ,acob+ /hile accordin& to 0u$e+ he is the son of Elias. Si"ilarly+

Salathiel+ the father of =erubbabel and a "an "entioned by both Evan&elists+ is+ accordin& to

Saint !atthe/+ the son of ,econiah+ /hile accordin& to Saint 0u$e he is the son of 2eri. ,uliusthe frican+ a reno/ned intellectual of ancient ti"es+ e'plains this variance superbly throu&h the

code of livin&+ /hereby+ if one of the brothers dies childless+ the other brother has to ta$e his

/ife for hi"self+ and $he first "hild she bears, will remain with his brother)s 3de"eased4 name,

so that it is not erased in Israel%3euterono"y @:-K(. This la/ e'tended not only to thei""ediate relatives but also to stepbrothers+ /ho in fact /ere ,acob and Elias. 4hile they had

different fathers+ they had the sa"e "other+ Esther. Thus+ /hen Elias died+ ,acob restored hisbrothers linea&e by "arryin& his /ido/ and fatherin& ,oseph. This is /here the difference ca"eabout+ as Saint 0u$e traces the ori&ins of ,oseph throu&h 1hesa+ son of =erubbabel and Elias+

/hile Saint !atthe/ does it throu&h biud+ the other son of =erubbabel+ and throu&h ,acob+ the

other father of ,oseph.

It is not by chance that Saint !atthe/ includes in the 0ords linea&e /o"en that /ere for"erlyheathen or sinners. e /anted to sho/ that God+ havin& not disdained includin& such /o"en in

is chosen fa"ily+ is not loathe to su""on the heathen and sinners to is 7in&do": a person is

not saved by his personal achieve"ents but throu&h the po/er of the purifyin& &race of God.

The 8ativity o* 'hrist

Only t/o Evan&elists narrate the birth of )hrist and events related to it+ Saint !atthe/ andSaint 0u$e. Saint !atthe/ discusses the revelation of the "ystery of is incarnation to ,oseph+

the adoration of the !a&i+ the fli&ht into E&ypt+ and the slayin& of the innocents. St. 0u$e


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describes the circu"stances under /hich )hrist the Savoir /as born in Bethlehe" and the

adoration of the shepherds.

The evelatio! o* the #ystery o* the i!car!atio! to the betrothed ,oseph

%!atthe/ >:>H-@(.

Saint !atthe/ infor"s us that soon after the oly ir&ins betrothal /ith ei&hty-year-old

,oseph+ before they "ame together,i.e.+ before the consu""ation of their "arria&e+ !arys

condition of bein& /ith child beca"e clear to ,oseph. Bein& ri&hteous %and this "eans ;ust and

"erciful(+ ,oseph did not /ish to e'pose er see"in& trans&ression before the public+ so as notto sub;ect er to the sha"eful and a&oni#in& death called for by the la/ of !oses %3euterono"y

@@:@A-@?(+ and intended to release er /ithout announcin& the reason. s soon as he thou&ht

this+ the 0ords n&el appeared to hi" and e'plained that /hich is conceived in er is of theoly SpiritC and not the fruit of a clandestine sin. The n&el further announces: nd She will

bring forth a Son, and you shall "all His name Jesus, for He will save His #eo#le from their

sins.The na"e ,esus+ ,oshua in ebre/+ "eans Savior. So that ,oseph has no doubts about theveracity of /hat /as said+ the n&el 5uotes Isaiahs prophecy that /itnesses to the fact that this

&reat "iracle of the seedless conception and birth of the Savior of the /orld by the Blessed

ir&in /as preordained in Gods pre-eternal counsel: %ehold, a -irgin shall "on"eive, and bear

a Son . . .%Isaiah 9:>?(. There is no need to i"a&ine that the prophecy had not been fulfilledbecause the prophet had said and shall call is na"e I""anuel+C /hereas the 2e/born /as

na"ed ,esus. I""anuel is not a personali#ed na"e but a sy"bolic one "eanin& God is /ith

us.C So /hen this "iraculous birth fro" a ir&in ta$es place+ people /ill say God is /ith usCbecause it is in this identity God ca"e do/n to earth and lived a"on& "an$ind. This is only a

prophetic indication of )hrists 3ivinity D indication that this e'traordinary infant /ill not be an

ordinary person+ but God. )onvinced by the n&els /ords+ ,oseph too! to him his wife,that

is+ re;ected his intention to send er a/ay and left er to live in his house as a /ife and did not$no/ er till She had brou&ht forth er *irstborn Son.C This does not "ean that he $ne/C er

after the birth of ,esus and be&an livin& /ith er as a /ife. Saint ,ohn )hrysosto" ri&htly notesthat it is si"ply not credible to sub"it that such a ri&hteous individual as ,oseph /ould decide to

$no/C the oly ir&in after She had so "iraculously beco"e a "other. 4hile in Gree$ the

/ord #osC and in )hurch Slavonic donde#heLC "ean untilC this cannot be interpreted in the

/ay that those /ho do not honor the oly ir&in do D Protestants and sectarians D as thou&h,oseph did not $no/C er before )hrists birth and then he did. e absolutely never $ne/C

er. In the oly Scriptures the /ord #osC is used in the narration on the concludin& sta&es of

the *lood: nd he sent forth a raven+ and it /ent forth to and fro+ until %#osC( the /aters /eredried upC %Genesis H:K( D but the raven never did return after/ards. Or a&ain+ in the /ords of

our 0ord: I am with you always, even to%#osC( the end of the ageC %!atthe/ @H:@(. s the

Blessed Theothilact ri&htly observed+ this doesnt "ean that )hrist /ould not be /ith us after theend of the a&e. 3efinitely not+ as it is especially then that e /ould be /ith usM

,esus is na"ed *irstbornC not because the Blessed ir&in had other children after i" but

because e /as born first+ and+ bein& that+ /as her only child. In the Old Testa"ent+ God

decrees that all the firstbornare to be consecrated to i"+ irrespective of /hether the fa"ily/ill have further additions or not. nd if the Gospel "entions brothers of ,esus )hristC


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%!atthe/ >A:+ ,ohn @:>@+ and others(+ it certainly doesnt "ean that they /ere is brothers by

birth. s tradition /itnesses+ ,osephs children /ere fro" his first "arria&e.

The 'ircu#sta!ces a!d Ti#e o* the 8ativity o* 'hrist

%0u$e @:>-@(.

The "ost detailed narrative of the circu"stances of the 2ativity of )hrist and of those ti"es is

provided by the Evan&elist 0u$e. e refers the events of )hrists birth to the ti"e at /hich

)aesar u&ustus decreed a census of all citi#ens of the 1o"an E"pire+ the rei&n of the 1o"an

E"peror Octavius+ /ho received fro" the 1o"an Senate the title u&ustusC D honorable.C8nfortunately+ the e'act date of this census /as not preserved. o/ever+ the ti"e of Octavius

u&ustuss rule+ a personality historically /ell $no/n+ &ives us an opportunity to appro'i"ate

the year of )hrists Birth. 4ith the aid of other facts+ /hich /e shall "ention later+ it is possibleto deter"ine this /ith a de&ree of accuracy D /ithin a fe/ years. 1o"an "on$ 3ionysius+

na"ed the S"allC introduced the accepted "ethod of calculatin& the years after )hrist.C s the

basis of his calculations+ 3ionysius esti"ated that the 0ord ,esus )hrist /as born in the 9?thyear fro" the establish"ent of the city of 1o"e. o/ever+ further and "ore thorou&h

calculations proved his co"putations fla/ed: the year he had no"inated /as at least five years

later than the actual date. 2evertheless+ fro" the tenth century+ the application of this 3ionysian

period of ti"e %/hich /as ori&inally intended for )hurch use only( /as /ide-spread a"on&)hristian countries and accepted by civil authorities+ even thou&h it /as ac$no/led&ed as bein&

fla/ed by all chronolo&ists. The actual date of )hrists birth can be deter"ined accurately on the

basis of the follo/in& facts found in the Gospel:

%>( The ti"e of the rei&n of erod the Great. *ro" !atthe/ @:>->H and 0u$e >:+ it is absolutely

clear that )hrist /as born /hen erod /as in po/er. e ruled fro" the 9>?th year of the

establish"ent of the city of 1o"e and died in the 9th+ ei&ht days before Passover %Pascha( andsoon after the lunar eclipse. ccordin& to astrono"ers calculations+ the eclipse occurred on theni&ht of the >Ath or >?th of !arch+ /hile the ,e/ish Pascha fell on the >@th of pril in that year.

)onse5uently+ erod died at the be&innin& of pril in the 9th year after the establish"ent of

1o"e D at least four years earlier than that established by 3ionysius.

%@( The census "entioned in 0u$e @:A+ /as ordered by u&ustus decree in the 9?Kth year afterthe foundin& of 1o"e. The census co""enced in ,udea durin& erods rei&n+ /as suspended as

a conse5uence of his death+ and continued /hen Nuirinius /as &overnin& Syria. This is

"entioned in 0u$es Gospel %@:@(. s a result of the census+ there /as a public uprisin& inPalestine. By erods directive+ the insti&ator /as burned at the sta$e on the >@th of !arch in

the 9th year of 1o"e. )onse5uently+ the census co""enced so"e ti"e a little earlier.

%A( ccordin& to Saint 0u$es /itness %A:>(+ Saint ,ohn the Baptist co""enced his "inistry in

the fifteenth year of )aesar Tiberius rule+ and Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirtyyears of age%0u$e A:@A(. T/o years before his death in ,anuary 9K+ u&ustus accepted

Tiberius as a co-ruler. Therefore+ the >th year of Tiberius rei&n /ould have co""enced in

,anuary 99F. s a result of Saint 0u$es state"ent that the a&e of 0ord ,esus /as A+ then itfollo/s that e /as born in 9?F.


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%?( strono"ical calculations sho/ that )hrists death on the cross could only have occurred in

the year 9HA+ %accordin& to the data in the Gospel+ this transpired in the year /hen the ,e/ish

Pascha fell on a *riday evenin&(. nd as the 0ords a&e /as advancin& to/ard A? years+ etherefore "ust have been born in the 9?Fth year fro" the establish"ent of 1o"e.

So all the above facts testify to the fact that the year of the 2ativity of )hrist /as necessarily inthe 9?Fth year fro" the foundin& of 1o"e.

3ue to lac$ of facts in the four Gospels+ it is i"possible to deter"ine the day upon /hich )hrist/as born. Initially+ the Eastern )hurch celebrated it on the sa"e day as Theophany+ under the

&eneral title of EpiphanyC D God "ame into the worldD the Kth of ,anuary. The 4estern

)hurch has+ for a very lon& ti"e+ celebrated 2ativity on the @th of 3ece"ber. *ro" the end ofthe fourth century+ the Eastern )hurch too be&an to celebrate this event on the @th of 3ece"ber.

This date /as selected accordin& to the follo/in& understandin&.

There is a hypothesis that =acharias /as servin& as the hi&h priest /hen the n&el appeared to

hi" behind the curtain /ithin the oliest of the oly. This is /here the hi&h priest /as allo/edto enter once a year+ on the day of purification. This day falls on the @Ard of Septe"ber+ /hich

be&an to be re&arded as the day /hen the *orerunner /as conceived. Si' "onths later+ the

nnunciation to the ir&in !ary too$ place %/hich is celebrated on the @th of !arch(+ and after

nine "onths+ on the @th of 3ece"ber+ the 0ord ,esus )hrist /as born. o/ever+ there isnothin& to confir" the fact that =acharias /as the hi&h priest. )onse5uently+ a "ore plausible

e'planation is "ore li$ely a sy"bolic one. The ancients thou&ht that )hrist+ as a second da"+

/as conceived by the oly ir&in durin& the Sprin& e5uino'+ the @th of !arch+ and accordin&to ancient tradition+ the sa"e day da" /as created. )hrist D the li&ht of the /orld+ the sun of

truth D appeared to the /orld after nine "onths+ durin& the /inter solstice+ /hen the day be&ins

to len&then and the ni&ht+ to shorten. )orrespondin& to this+ the conception of ,ohn the Baptist

%/ho /as si' "onths older than )hrist( /as to be celebrated on the @Ard of Septe"ber+ durin&the solar e5uino'+ /hile the day of his birth D on the @?th of ,une+ durin& the su""er solstice+

/hen the days /ere &ettin& shorter. s Saint thanasius cited the /ords of ,ohn the Baptist in,ohn A:A: He must in"rease, but I must de"rease.

So"e confusion arises fro" the state"ent by the Evan&elist 0u$e about the census conducted at

the ti"e of )hrists birth+ that This census first too$ place /hile Nuirinius /as &overnin&

Syria+C /hereas+ accordin& to historical facts+ Nuirinius /as &overnor of Syria so"e ten yearsafter the birth of )hrist. The 5uic$est /ay to resolve this "isunderstandin& is throu&h the

follo/in&: durin& the translation fro" the Gree$ te't %and there is stron& support for this(+

instead of the /ord thisC census+ the /ord sa"eC census should have been applied. u&ustus

issued the decree for the census before the birth of )hrist. o/ever+ because of the publicsunrest and the death of erod+ it /as delayed and co"pleted only so"e ten years later+ durin&

the &overnorship of Nuirinius. There is further data that Nuirinius served t/ice as &overnor of

Syria+ and the census+ be&un durin& his first tenure+ /as co"pleted only durin& his second ter"in office. Thats /hy the Evan&elist calls the census D co""enced at the ti"e of the birth of

)hrist D as the first.C


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Every person had to be re&istered in his o/n city.C 1o"an politics al/ays acceded to the

custo"s of the con5uered+ so as the ,e/ish custo"s de"anded that the census be conducted

accordin& to branch+ tribe+ and clan+ everyone /as obli&ed to turn up for re&istration in that city+/here the head of his tribe once lived. s ,oseph /as 3avids descendant+ he had to &o to

Bethlehe" D 3avids city of birth. Gods /onderful providence can be seen in this: in

accordance /ith the ancient prophesy fro" !icah :@+ the !essiah /as re5uired to be born inthis city. ccordin& to 1o"an la/ coverin& con5uered nations+ not only "en but also e5ually

/o"en /ere sub;ect to this census. )onse5uently+ there is nothin& a"a#in& in that the oly

ir&in !ary+ albeit in er condition+ acco"panied the &uardian of er vir&inity D the elderC,oseph D and undoubtedly bein& a/are of !icahs prophecy+ could not but reco&ni#e Gods

providence in the census that directed er to/ard Bethlehe".

nd She brought forth Her firstborn Son, and wra##ed Him in swaddling "lothes, and laid Him

in the manger, be"ause there was no room for them in the inn.The Evan&elist e"phasi#es thefact that oly ir&in !ary erself diapered er ne/born Infant+ "eanin& that the birth /as

co"pletely painless. &ain+ er Son is called firstbornC not because the Blessed ir&in had

other children after i". ccordin& to the la/ of !oses+ every first "ale child born /as calledfirstborn+ even thou&h he /as the only child in the fa"ily. Because of the "ultitude of travelers

that had arrived earlier+ but "ore so because of their poverty+ the oly *a"ily /ere forced to

settle in one of the "any caves that /ere abundant throu&hout Palestine. These caves /ere used

to shelter stoc$ durin& incle"ent /eather. It /as here that the 3ivine !essiah /as born. Insteadof bein& placed in a childs cradle+ e /as laid in a "an&er and thereby+ fro" is O/n 2ativity+

acceptin& the cross of abase"ent and sufferin& for the rede"ption of hu"anity. nd by is O/n

2ativity+ &ivin& us a lesson in hu"ility D that hi&hest virtue+ /hich e later tau&ht isfollo/ers continually. ccordin& to ancient tradition+ durin& the Saviors birth+ near is crib

stood an o' and an ass+ as thou&h si&nifyin& that $he o5 !noweth his owner, and the ass his

master)s "rib%Isaiah >:A(.

o/ever+ not only hu"iliation acco"panied i" at birth and throu&hout is earthly life but alsoreflections of is 3ivine &lory. Gods n&el+ illu"inated /ith 3ivine &lory+ appeared to the

shepherds D /ho "ay have been the o/ners of the cave and /ere sleepin& in the field due to the

prevailin& &ood /eather D and announced to the" great 2oy of the birth of the Savior in thecity of 3avid+ Who is Christ the (ord.It is i"portant to note here the /ords of the n&el

great 2oy . . . to all #eo#le.The !essiah did not co"e to earth for the ,e/s only+ but for the

/hole hu"an race. 4ith this+ the n&el &ave a signC+ an indication as to ho/ they /illreco&ni#e i": 1ou will find a %abe wra##ed in swaddling "loths, lying in a manger. nd as

thou&h in corroboration of the veracity of the n&els /ords+ there appeared a "ultitude of the

eavenly host+C a /hole "ass of n&els praisin& the astonishin& &lory of the 2e/born God-

Infant D the !essiah: Glory to God in the highest, nd on earth #ea"e, goodwill towardmen0The n&els are praisin& God for sendin& the !essiah to earth they are acclai"in& the

peace that /ill settle in peoples souls /ho have accepted the Savior they are happy for the

people to /ho" Gods &race had returned. The hi&her po/ers+ the sinless eternal spirits+continually praise their )reator and 0ord in the heavens. They especially praise i" for the

e'traordinary "anifestation of is 3ivine cle"ency+ /hich in fact is an e'pansion of is

do"ain. The peace that /as brou&ht to earth by the incarnate Son of God cannot be confused/ith ordinary hu"an tran5uility and /ell bein&. This is a peace of conscience in the soul of the


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hu"an-sinner /ho has been redee"ed by )hrist the Savior. It is a peace of conscience+

reconciliation /ith God+ /ith people and /ith yourself. nd as "uch as this is Gods peace that

surpasses all understandin& %Philip. ?:9( and settles in the souls of hu"ans that have accepted)hrist+ so does the inner peace beco"e the herita&e in hu"an life. 1ede"ption revealed the total

&reatness of Gods benevolence+ is love to/ard hu"anity. Therefore+ the purpose for the

n&els praises is in the follo/in&: 4orthy are the praises to God by the eavenly Spirits+ aspeace and salvation has settled on earth+ because hu"anity has beco"e deservin& of a particular

3ivine blessin&. The shepherds D /ho /ere evidently pious D i""ediately hurried to the

location indicated by the n&el and beca"e /orthy of the honor of bein& the first to /orship the)hrist-Infant. 4herever they /ent+ they proclai"ed the ne/s about the appearance of the n&el

and the eavenly announce"ent+ "uch to the a"a#e"ent of their listeners. The Blessed ir&in

!ary+ filled /ith feelin&s of profound hu"ility+ "e"ori#ed all that /as happenin&+ !e#t all

these things and #ondered them in her heart.C

The 'ircu#cisio! a!d eeti! o* the $ord

%0u$e @:@>-AF(.

fter ei&ht days had passed and in accordance /ith the la/ of !oses %0eviticus >@:A(+ the God-

Infant /as circu"cised and &iven the na"e %as desi&nated by the n&el( of ,esus+ /hich "eans

Savior.

ccordin& to the 0a/ of !oses+ a /o"an bearin& a "ale child /as re&arded as unclean for the

first forty days after the birth %ei&hty days if it /as a fe"ale child(. On the fortieth day+ she had

to brin& a sacrifice of a one-year-old la"b to the te"ple for burnin& and a youn& dove as asacrifice for her sins. In case of poverty+ this could be replaced /ith t/o doves D one for each

sacrifice. )o"plyin& /ith this la/+ the oly ir&in and ,oseph brou&ht the infant /ith the" to

,erusale" so as to pay the re5uired five she$els for i". This la/ ca"e into bein& /hen on theeve of the e'odus of ,e/s fro" E&ypt+ God sent is n&els to slay all the E&yptian ne/-born+/hile all the ,e/ish ne/-born /ere consecrated to serve at the te"ple. 4ith the passin& of ti"e+

this practice /as allotted to the tribe of 0evi only+ /hile the ne/-born of other tribes /ere

released fro" this obli&ation by payin& a special levy of five silver she$els %2u"bers >H:>K(. Itcan be seen fro" the Gospels narrative that the oly ir&in and ,oseph brou&ht

a guide to the four gospels - bishop averky

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