Homily One on the Nativity of the Theotokos
By St. John of Kronstadt
(Delivered in 1902)
By St. John of Kronstadt
(Delivered in 1902)
“We magnify you, Most Holy Virgin, we honor your holy parents, and we glorify your most glorious nativity” (Magnification).
Nineteen hundred years ago, humanity was elated and exalted by the birth from the righteous yet barren parents, Joachim and Anna, of a wondrous infant – the Virgin, who was destined before the creation of the world to be a marvelous Mother in the flesh of God the Word Himself, the Creator and Savior of the world – the God of spirits and of all flesh. The sorrow of the barren parents, descendants of King David the prophet, who longed for a blessed progeny and suffered reproach from neighbors who had the blessing of offspring, was exceedingly great; yet, within them was a strong faith in the God of Israel – a steadfast hope in His mercy, fervent prayer, unwavering devotion to the God of their forefathers, and an unshakeable expectation of the promise made long ago by God to Israel – the Messiah, the Deliverer of mankind. And their sorrow was soon turned into joy; faith and hope were not put to shame; the complete devotion of Joachim and Anna to God was rewarded with an extraordinary and glorious fruit – the pure Maiden Mary. Even before her birth, the righteous parents made a vow to God to dedicate and consecrate to Him the Child that He would give them; and upon her birth, they immediately fulfilled their vow and brought her to the Temple of God – to be raised for the Lord.
The joy of the righteous parents Joachim and Anna was imparted to all true believers, to the entire Christian kin; in particular to the Holy Church, which preserves the treasures of faith with a pure conscience – and loudly and worthy praises all the wonderful works of God's providence concerning the salvation of mankind. For only she, encompassing with the Holy Spirit all the heights, benefits, and greatness of God's deeds pertaining to us; while the adulterous and sinful world is completely occupied with its vanity – its worldly cares, its passions, its treasures, its vain amusements, and pays no heed to the gracious and salvific works of God, nor to its true benefit and salvation.
And so let us all rejoice at the birth of the Most Holy Virgin from the righteous Joachim and Anna, and let us give thanks to the Lord, who has granted us the Most Gracious and Most Wonderful Intercessor of the Christian race, who covers and protects us from sins and from visible and invisible enemies, as well as from great woes and tribulations, when we, with faith and hope, turn to Her.
Through Her and the God-man Christ, the Son of God, born of Her, heaven, closed by sins, was opened again to the faithful people, paradise, our ancient homeland, was opened again, and we were all given the opportunity to enter it through faith, repentance and virtue, through the grace and generosity and love for mankind of our Savior, who redeemed us from sin, the curse and death. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.