Recognized as a saint by both Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian Christians alike, Jacob of Sarug (d. 521) produced many narrative poems that have rarely been translated into English. Of his reported 760 metrical homilies, only about half survive. Part of a series of fascicles containing the bilingual Syriac-English editions of Saint Jacob of Sarug’s homilies, this volume contains his homilies on the Nativity. The Syriac text is fully vocalized, and the translation is annotated with a commentary and biblical references. The volume is one of the fascicles of Gorgias Press’s Complete Homilies of Saint Jacob of Sarug, which, when complete, will contain all of Jacob’s surviving sermons.

• Table of Contents (page 7)
• List of Abbreviations (page 11)
• I on the Nativity of Our Redeemer According to the Flesh (page 13)
• Introduction (page 15)
• Outline (page 15)
• Summary (page 18)
• Text and Translation (page 21)
• The Marvellous and the Ineffable Revelation in the Nativity (page 22)
• Seeking the Hidden and the Revealed One (page 24)
• The Singing of the Homily by the Impulse of the Spirit (page 28)
• The Nativity of the Son from the Daughter of David (page 30)
• Disclosure of the Good Will and the Confession of the Desire to Praise (page 32)
• The Hidden Mercy of the Grace in Adam (page 34)
• The Reason for the Angels Mission to Mary (page 36)
• The Encounter Between the Angel and Mary (page 40)
• The Angels Exhortation to Mary to Concede to the Hidden Divinity (page 46)
• Marys Discerning Question (page 46)
• The Angels Explanation on the Truth of the Virgin-Birth (page 52)
• Aspects of Contention Versus the Loving Discernment for the Word (page 60)
• The Angels Explanation to the Inquiry of Mary (page 64)
• Marys Preparation for the In Dwelling of the Son (page 66)
• The Sons Dwelling in Mary While not Departing from the Father (page 70)
• Marys Visit to Elizabeth and the Kings Visit to his Servant (page 76)
• The Singing of The Daughter of Levites in Praise of Mary (page 80)
• Marys Return from Elizabeth (page 82)
• Doubts of Righteous Joseph and the Ordeal of Mary, the Believing Woman (page 86)
• The Disputation Between Mary and Joseph (page 88)
• Scriptural and Natural Testimonies for Marys Virginity (page 94)
• Marys Supplication to the Son (page 98)
• The Encounter Between the Angel and Joseph (page 100)
• Believing Joseph, the Herald of the Truth of Nativity (page 104)
• Joseph, the Cherub of Flesh and the Virtuous Servant (page 106)
• The Inscription of the Name of Adam in the Book of Life (page 110)
• The Wonder of The Begetter of Babes Begotten Corporeally (page 112)
• The Birth of The Hidden and the Revealed One (page 116)
• Glory in the Highest, Peace on Earth, Hope to Adam and Praise Everywhere (page 118)
• The Unrecognized Pastor of the Rational Sheep (page 122)
• The Nativity of the Sacrificial Lamb (page 124)
• The Reconciliation of Heaven and Earth in the Wonder of the Nativity (page 126)
• Marys Supplication With Adoration and Praise (page 128)
• Nativity, the Day of Joy and Exultation (page 132)
• The Day of Renewal and Freedom (page 136)
• The Day of Restoration and Rebuilding (page 140)
• The Month of Divine Fruits for the Impoverished Creation (page 144)
• The Day of Renovation and Praise (page 148)
• II Second Homily on the Nativity (page 153)
• Introduction (page 155)
• Outline (page 155)
• Summary (page 156)
• Text and Translation (page 157)
• The Wonder of Divine Nativity (page 158)
• The Reason for the Sons Corporeal Birth (page 158)
• The Way of the Humble State and the Frightened Demons (page 162)
• Devils Consultation to Satan (page 164)
• The Deliberations of Error (page 166)
• Demons Search for the Reason of the Great Light (page 168)
• The Light Shone Forth At Bethlehem (page 170)
• The Terrified Company of Satan, Error and Demons (page 172)
• The Contemplations of the Terrified Evil One (page 176)
• The Report from Persia and the Secret Devices of the Evil One (page 180)
• The Side of the Left and the Plot Against the Child (page 182)
• The Babe of Swaddling Clothes, the Reconciler and the Life-Giver (page 186)
• III On the Nativity of Our Lord (page 191)
• Introduction (page 193)
• Outline (page 193)
• Summary (page 195)
• Text and Translation (page 197)
• The Supplication to Speak of the Lords Descent on Earth (page 198)
• Divine Mercys Sending of the Son and His Mingling With the Earthly (page 198)
• The Clamour on the Earth Regarding the Son (page 202)
• The Hidden Economy of the Son (page 204)
• Wonder and Love Speak the Story of the Son (page 206)
• The Disclosure of the Hidden Mystery and the Fulfilment of the Prophecy (page 208)
• The Fulfilment of the Mysteries, Parables and the Words of Prophecy (page 214)
• The Prophecy at Rest and the Silent Heralds (page 216)
• The Perfection of the Picture of Prophecy (page 218)
• The Birth of Immanuel, the Marvel (page 222)
• The Marvellous and Ineffable Way of the Son (page 224)
• The Dependence of the Creation on the Child of Swaddling Clothes (page 226)
• The Image of the Father and The Splendour of the Divinity on Earth (page 228)
• Joseph, the Guardian of the Hidden Mystery (page 232)
• Joseph, the Worthy One for the Mystery of the Son (page 234)
• The Divine Nativity Full of Joy and Gladness (page 236)
• Bibliography of Works Cited (page 241)
• Index of Names and Themes (page 245)
• Index of Biblical References (page 253)