Severianus Gabalensis: In theophaniam (1-5)

Let all mouths open today for talk of good (theology), and let every word sing the Word of God shining from the heavens. Let every tongue preach, every soul rejoice, all earth sing: for today the words of light lighten up the son of light. Let the earthly agree with the heavenly, let that which is seen in the world sing together with the powers beyond the heaven: for [since] the truth has revealed itself and the King of heaven came, all should take part in the common confession of the Lord. The coming of Christ, the grace of all universe. The coming of Christ, freedom for all the world. Christ is being praised (sung), and the world is enlightened. Christ is being preached, and every soul is being dressed with heavenly love. The temptation of the things is witness to me for the word.

I see (lit. it is visible to me) the magnificent church order, I see the heavenly unextinguishable candle, I see the bodily nature aiming to the angelic liturgy. The fathers being from earth, and living on earth, and feeding from earth, are competing with the heavenly: this is how the church of God is. It resides on earth, but it has the rank of heavenly things. What is the work of angels in the heavens? To serve God. What is the work of those similar on earth? To praise (lit. sing) God. Theirs is in this way the same honor and worthiness. Because of this the blissful David, when striking his spiritual lyre, and preaching the salvation of theology, says in the song, as this he sings: Restore us, Oh God, and reveal Your face, that we may be saved.

. Not yet did the King come, and the forerunners were preaching the kingdom: The shepherd of Israel, says. Talk, prophet, clearly (lit. in the light), and say, explain what you preach. For many are shepherds: Moses is a shepherd, Aaron is a shepherd: you led, he says, your people with the hand of Moses and Aaron. A shepherd is David: [he] chose, he says, David, and His servant, to lead Israel, His inheritance. What therefore [is] the name of the shepherd you hide the worthiness? Explain clearly. Benevolent and unconfounded receive the voice of the preacher. He says: Oh shepherd of Israel, hear us, who leads Joseph like a flock. Here it is said shepherd, not yet the preached worthiness, since it is homonymous to other shepherds.

What therefore? Did you already understand this worthiness? I will reveal the truth to you. [Oh You,] seated on the cherubs, shine forth, rallying Your might, and come to save us. Do you see how all the preached worthiness was revealed? Do you see how to the royal and otherwordly throne of the King glory brought forth Jesus? So also the Saviour, confirming in this way the name of the prophet, crying out with the gospel’s grace: I am a good shepherd. For it is said that rationally (lit. with words) you will not know God, but like unrational sheep will you know the shepherd.

And the prophet wanting to show the fruit of the coming of the Shepherd: rally your might, says he, and come to save us. For the appearance of the Savior is the source of all grace. For the Redeemer of the universe has appeared, taking all into himself, of corresponding grace. As he sees all, that are in heavens, fallen, and the clergy, given to Israel, and the prophecies all excellent. It renews with Itself its gifts. And how? Listen.