And Mary said, My soul magnifies the Lord, and My spirit rejoices in God My Saviour, because He has looked upon the humility of His Servant; for from henceforth all generations shall bless me; that the Mighty One hath made me great, and his name is holy; And His mercy unto them that fear Him throughout generations: He shewed the strength of His arm; He scattered the haughty in the thoughts of their hearts; He hath cast down the mighty from their thrones, and hath exalted the humble; He filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty; He received Israel, His child (chosen one, beloved), remembering mercy, as He had spoken to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

7. The birth and circumcision of the Forerunner.

Lux. 1, 57-80.

And the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had magnified His mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child and wanted to name him, after the name of his father, Zacharias. To this his mother said, "No; but to call him John. And they said to her, There is no one in thy kinsman who is called by this name.

And they asked his father by signs what he would like to call him. He demanded a tablet and wrote: John is his name. And everyone was surprised. And immediately his mouth and his tongue were opened, and he began to speak, blessing God. And fear was upon all who dwelt around them; and they told all these things throughout all the hill country of Judah. And all those who heard it put it in their hearts, and said, What shall this child be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.

And Zachariah his father was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied, saying,

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He visited His people, and wrought deliverance for them, and raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant, as He declared by the mouth of His holy prophets who were from all eternity, that He will save us from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us. He will show mercy to our fathers, and will remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father, to give us, without fear, after deliverance from the hand of our enemies, to serve Him in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.

И ты, младенец, наречешься пророком Всевышнего, ибо предъидешь пред лицем Господа приготовить пути Ему, дать уразуметь народу Его спасение в прощении грехов их, по благоутробному милосердию Бога нашего, которым посетил нас Восток[2] свыше, просветить сидящих во тьме и тени смертной, направить ноги наши на путь мира.

Младенец же возрастал и укреплялся духом, и был в пустынях до дня явления своего Израилю.

8. Откровение Иосифу тайны воплощения Сына Божия.

Мф. 1, 18-25.

По обручении Матери Господа Иисуса Марии с Иосифом, прежде нежели сочетались они, оказалось, что Она имеет во чреве от Духа Святаго. Иосиф же муж Ее, будучи праведен и не желая огласить Ее, хотел тайно отпустить Ее.