Behold a new and wondrous mystery. My ears resound to the Shepherd's song, piping no soft melody, but chanting full forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. The Archangels blend their voice in harmony. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. The Seraphim exalt His Glory. All join to praise this holy feast, beholding the Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. He Who is above, now for our redemption dwells here below; and he that was lowly is by Divine mercy raised.

The Wise Men's Gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, according to the Sacred Tradition of the Orthodox Church, were kept by Jesus' Mother, the Most Holy Theotokos. They were her most priceless possessions. Just before her falling asleep (koimisis) and, after blessing them she gave them, for safekeeping, to two of Christ's faithful virgins, who cared for her. Together with the holy gifts, she gave them also her holy gown, her sacred belt, and Jesus' holy swaddling clothes.

The island of Cyprus was both the birthplace of this famous Saint and the place in which he spent his life in the service of the Church to the end of his days. He married young and had children, but when his wife died, he devoted himself entirely to the service of God. He was chosen for his devotion as Bishop of Tremithus, and even as a bishop did not change his simple lifestyle of life, taking charge of his cattle himself and tilling his own land. He consumed very little of his own produce, giving the greater part to the poor.

We should also look a little more closely at Hannah's despondency. Holy Scripture says that Hannah "was broken-hearted and wept and did not eat" ((1 Kings/1 Samuel 1:7).

The Old Testament says literally, "The Lord had closed her womb" (1 Kings/1 Samuel 1:5) and a little further on, "The Lord had closed her womb and did not give her a child" (1 Kg./1 Sam. 1:6).

These excerpts show the Uncreated Providence of God, Who personally directs the world. There exist within the creation, not simply 'natural laws', but what are called 'inner spiritual princples (logoi)'. Saint Maximus the Confessor speaks about "the inner principles (logoi) of things". The inner principles of things are the same as the Uncreated energy of God.

This letter first appeared in the writings of Saint Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century.

Many times during the duration of the centuries that have passed since the Birth of Christ, thousands of theories and points of view were heard about Jesus, so much so that many people reached the point of denying His very existence.