Jacob of Sarug’s Homilies on the Nativity

256 Pages·2010·1.303 MB·English

by  Thomas Kollamparampil

J S ’ H
acob of arug S omilieS on tHe
n
ativity
TexTs from ChrisTian LaTe anTiquiTy
23

General Editor
George A. Kiraz
The Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug
G e m e
eneraL diTor anaGinG diTor
s P. b G a. k
ebasTian roCk eorGe iraz
fasCiCLes 18–20
J s ’ h
aCob of aruG s omiLies on The
n
aTiviTy
T i
ransLaTed wiTh nTroduCTion by
T k
homas oLLamParamPiL

GorGias Press
2010
First Gorgias Press Edition, 2010
Copyright © 2010 by Gorgias Press LLC
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the
prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC.
Published in the United States of America by Gorgias Press LLC, New Jersey
ISBN 978-1-60724-139-3
ISSN 1935-6846
GorGias Press
180 Centennial Ave., Suite 3, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
www.gorgiaspress.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jacob, of Serug, 451-521.
[Homilies. Selections. English & Syriac]
Jacob of Sarug’s homilies on the Nativity / translated with introduction by Thom-
as Kollamparampil. -- 1st Gorgias Press ed.
p. cm. -- (Texts from Christian late antiquity, ISSN 1935-6846 ; 23) (Metrical
homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug ; fasc. 18-20)
Homilies in English and Syriac.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Jesus Christ--Nativity--Sermons. 2. Sermons, Syriac--Translations in to English.
3. Sermons, Syriac. I. Kollamparampil, Thomas. II. Title. III. Title: Homilies on
the Nativity.
BR65.J283H6313 2010
232.92--dc22
2010007899
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standards.
Printed in the United States of America
This publication was made possible with a generous grant from
The BarnaBas Fund
and
The aThanasius Yeshu samuel Fund

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents....................................................................................................v
List of Abbreviations.............................................................................................ix
FIRST HOMILY
Introduction.............................................................................................................3
Outline..............................................................................................................3
Summary..........................................................................................................6
Text and Translation...............................................................................................9
The Marvellous and the Ineffable Revelation in the Nativity...............10
Seeking the Hidden and the Revealed One..............................................12
The Singing of the Homily by the Impulse of the Spirit........................16
The Nativity of the Son from the Daughter of David...........................18
Disclosure of the Good Will and the Confession of the Desire to
Praise.....................................................................................................20
The Hidden Mercy of the Grace in Adam...............................................22
The Reason for the Angel’s Mission to Mary..........................................24
The Encounter between the Angel and Mary..........................................28
The Angel’s Exhortation to Mary to Concede to the Hidden
Divinity..................................................................................................34
Mary’s Discerning Question.......................................................................34
The Angel’s Explanation on the Truth of the Virgin-Birth..................40
Aspects of Contention versus the Loving Discernment for the
Word......................................................................................................48
The Angel’s Explanation to the Inquiry of Mary....................................52
Mary’s Preparation for the Indwelling of the Son...................................54
The Son’s Dwelling in Mary while not Departing from the Father.....58
Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth and the King’s Visit to His Servant..............64
The Singing of ‘the Daughter of Levites’ in Praise of Mary..................68
Mary’s Return from Elizabeth....................................................................70
Doubts of Righteous Joseph and the Ordeal of Mary, the Believing
Woman..................................................................................................74
The Disputation between Mary and Joseph.............................................76
Scriptural and Natural Testimonies for Mary’s Virginity.......................82
Mary’s Supplication to the Son..................................................................86
v
vi HOMILIES ON THE NATIVITY
The Encounter between the Angel and Joseph.......................................88
Believing Joseph, the Herald of the Truth of Nativity...........................92
Joseph, the Cherub of Flesh and the Virtuous Servant..........................94
The Inscription of the Name of Adam in the Book of Life.................98
The Wonder of ‘the Begetter of Babes’ Begotten Corporeally...........100
The Birth of ‘the Hidden and the Revealed One’.................................104
Glory in the Highest, Peace on Earth, Hope to Adam and Praise
Everywhere.........................................................................................106
The Unrecognized Pastor of the Rational Sheep..................................110
The Nativity of the Sacrificial Lamb.......................................................112
The Reconciliation of Heaven and Earth in the Wonder of the
Nativity................................................................................................114
Mary’s Supplication with Adoration and Praise....................................116
Nativity, the Day of Joy and Exultation.................................................120
Nativity, the Day of Joy for the Prophets and Virginity......................122
The Day of Renewal and Freedom..........................................................124
The Day of Restoration and Rebuilding.................................................128
The Month of Divine Fruits for the Impoverished Creation.............132
The Day of Renovation and Praise.........................................................136
SECOND HOMILY
Introduction.........................................................................................................143
Outline..........................................................................................................143
Summary......................................................................................................144
Text and Translation...........................................................................................145
The Wonder of Divine Nativity...............................................................146
The Reason for the Son’s Corporeal Birth.............................................146
The Way of the Humble State and the Frightened Demons..............150
Devils’ Consultation to Satan...................................................................152
The Deliberations of Error.......................................................................154
Demons’ Search for the Reason of the Great Light.............................156
The Light Shone forth at Bethlehem......................................................158
The Terrified Company of Satan, Error and Demons.........................160
The Contemplations of the Terrified Evil One.....................................164
The Report from Persia and the Secret Devices of the Evil One......168
The Side of the Left and the Plot against the Child..............................170
The Babe of Swaddling Clothes, the Reconciler and the Life-Giver.174
THIRD HOMILY
Introduction.........................................................................................................181
Outline..........................................................................................................181
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii
Summary......................................................................................................183
Text and Translation...........................................................................................185
The Supplication to Speak of the Lord’s Descent on Earth...............186
Divine Mercy’s Sending of the Son and His Mingling with the
Earthly.................................................................................................186
The Clamour on the Earth Regarding the Son......................................190
The Hidden Economy of the Son...........................................................192
Wonder and Love Speak the Story of the Son......................................194
The Disclosure of the Hidden Mystery and the Fulfilment of the
Prophecy.............................................................................................196
The Fulfilment of the Mysteries, Parables and the Words of
Prophecy.............................................................................................202
The Prophecy at Rest and the Silent Heralds........................................204
The Perfection of the Picture of Prophecy............................................206
The Birth of Immanuel, the Marvel........................................................210
The Marvellous and Ineffable Way of the Son......................................212
The Dependence of the Creation on the Child of Swaddling
Clothes................................................................................................214
‘The Image of the Father’ and ‘the Splendour of the Divinity’ on
Earth....................................................................................................216
Joseph, the Guardian of the Hidden Mystery........................................220
Joseph, the Worthy One for the Mystery of the Son...........................222
The Divine Nativity Full of Joy and Gladness......................................224
Bibliography of Works Cited.............................................................................229
Index of Names and Themes............................................................................233
Index of Biblical References..............................................................................241