K: JNWTS 29/3 (December 2014): 10

Gregory Nazianzus on the Incarnation [1]

The Son of God deigns to become and to be called Son of Man; not changing what he was (for it is unchangeable); but assuming what he was not (for he is full of love to man), that the Incomprehensible might be comprehended, conversing with us through the mediation of the flesh as through a veil; since it was not possible for that nature which is subject to birth and decay to endure his unveiled Godhead. Therefore the Unmingled is mingled; and not only is God mingled with birth and Spirit with flesh, and the Eternal with time, and the Uncircumscribed with measure; but also Generation with virginity, and dishonor with him who is higher than all honor; he who is Impassible with suffering, and the Immortal with the corruptible. For since that deceiver thought that he was unconquerable in his malice, after he had cheated us with the hope of becoming gods, he was himself cheated by God's assumption of our nature; so that in attacking Adam as he thought, he should really meet with God, and thus the new Adam should save the old, and the condemnation of the flesh should be abolished, death being slain by flesh.

At his birth, we duly kept festival, both I, the leader of the feast, and you, and all that is in the world and above the world. With the star, we ran, and with the Magi we worshipped, and with the shepherds we were illuminated, and with the angels we glorified him, and with Simeon we took him up in our arms, and with Anna the aged and chaste we made our responsive confession. And thanks be to him who came to his own in the guise of a stranger, because he glorified the stranger.