“Why, and for what reason, was there such condescension [shown] on the part of the Creator toward His transgressing creatures – toward humanity which, through an act of its own will had fallen away from God, its Creator? It was by reason of a supreme, inexpressible mercy toward His creation on the part of the Master, Who could not bear to see the entire mankind – which, He, in creating, had endowed with wondrous gifts – enslaved by the devil and thus destined for eternal suffering and torment.”

+ St. John of Kronstadt, Sermon on the Nativity of Jesus Christ

“Come, let us wonder at the Virgin most pure, wondrous in Herself, unique in creation, She gave birth, yet knew no man; Her pure soul with wonder was filled, daily Her mind gave praise in joy at the twofold wonder: Her virginity preserved, Her child most dear. Blessed is He who shone forth from Her!”

+ St. Ephraim the Syrian, Songs of Praise

“When God became known to us in the flesh, He neither received the passions of human nature, nor did the Virgin Mary suffer pain, nor was the Holy Spirit diminished in any way, nor was the power of the Most High set aside in any manner, and all this was because all was accomplished by the Holy Spirit.”

+ St. Gregory of Nyssa, Against Eunomius, Hom. II, PG 45, 492