From the Pastor

A Catechism of Christian Instruction
By the Most Reverend Archbishop
Khoren Narbey
Lesson XV – Third Article of the Creed
Birth and Baptism of Christ

1. What text informs us that the Word of God was made man?

From the revelation of God, because the Holy Gospel says, “and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) This tells us that the Son of God came down from heaven, united His divine nature with human nature, so that He is both perfect God and perfect man.

2. Where was Christ born?

In Bethlehem of Judea as the prophet Micah had plainly prophesied nine centuries before Christ saying, “But thou Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me the one who is to be ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2)

3. Who became the mother of Christ?

The Holy Virgin Mary who was espoused to Joseph, who was a just man and a carpenter.

4. Who had predicted this?

God had revealed the miraculous and most wonderful birth of the Messiah from a Virgin Mother seven hundred years before Christ through Isaiah the prophet, who says, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

5. From what tribe and of what family was the holy virgin Mary?

From the tribe of Judah of the family of Jacob the Patriarch, and from the house or descendants of David the King, who was the son of Jesse. Isaiah the prophet also prophesied concerning this saying, “and there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the spirit of the Lord shall be upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:1,2)

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