From St Jacob of Sarug’s poetic contemplation of the Nativity: The Archangel Gabriel speaks to the Mother of God of the restoration of Adam’s glory, as Christ comes to redeem and perfect the robe of humanity.
“I am not stripping you of your glory, as happened in the garden;
I have brought a cloak so that you can cover your forefathers who was stripped bare.
I am not weaving for you a garment of shame from leaves.
I have brought a garment of glory for Adam to be clothed in it.
My Lord is true and I am announcing the truth to you
and since you asked me, “how will it happen?” hear and understand.
The Holy Spirit will come to you in a holy manner
And the power of the Exalted One will abide upon you lovingly.
The Fashioner of babes will fashion for him a body in you and clothe himself (in it);
The Unbegotten Son shall be conceived in your virginity.
The maker of the world’s interweaves a garment in your pure womb
and prepares himself a cloak of flesh on the web of your womb.
The power of the Exalted One will abide upon you while not being belittled
and from your purity he will take a body to become a man.”