The Birth of Mary and the Deification of Man

Andrew of Crete: 

The present day solemnity is a line of demarcation, separating the truth from its prefigurative symbol, and ushering in the new in place of the old.

Paul – that Divine Trumpeter of the Spirit – exclaims thus about this: “For anyone that be in Christ, ye are remade a new creature; the old passeth away and behold all is become new” (2 Cor 5:17);

“for the law hath perfected nothing adducing for a better hope, whereby we draw nigh to God” (Heb 7:19). The truth of grace hath shown forth brightly.

Let there now be one common festal celebration in both heaven and on earth. Let everything now celebrate, that which is in the world and that beyond the world.

Now is made the created temple for the Creator of all; and creation is readied into a new Divine habitation for the Creator.

Now our nature having been banished from the land of blessedness doth receive the principle of theosis [deification], and doth strive to rise up to the highest glory.

Now Adam doth offer from us and for us elements unto God, the most worthy fruit of mankind – Mary, in Whom the new Adam is rendered Bread for the restoration of the human race.

Now is opened the great bosom of virginity, and the Church, in the matrimonial manner, doth place upon it a pure pearl truly immaculate.

Now human worthiness doth accept the gift of the first creation and returns to its former condition.

Man’s majesty had been darkened by formless sin. Now, through the conjoining by His Mother by birth “of Him made beautiful by Goodness,” man receives beauty in a most excellent and God-seemly visage.

And this creating is done truly by the creation, and recreation by theosis, and theosisby a return to the original perfection!

Now a barren one is become beyond expectation a mother, and the Birth-giver hath given birth without knowing man, and she doth sanctify natural birth.

Now is readied the majestied color of the Divine scarlet-purple and the impoverished human nature is clothed in royal worthiness.

Now – according to prophecy – there sprouts forth the Offshoot of David, Who, having eternally become the green-sprouting Staff of Aaron, hath blossomed forth for us with the Staff of Power — Christ.

Now of Judah and David is descended a Virgin Maiden, rendering of herself the royal and priestly worthiness of Him that hath taken on the priesthood of Aaron in the order of Melchisedek (Heb 7:15).

Now is begun the renewal of our nature, and the world responding, assuming a God-seemly form, doth receive the principle of a second Divine creation.

Andrew of Crete (c.650-740[?]): Oration 1 – Homily on the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God; translation of complete homily @ Mystagogy.