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The mind was not united with God the Word, as some falsely assert,
before the Incarnation by the Virgin and from that time called
Christ. That is the absurd nonsense of Origen who lays down the
doctrine of the priority of the existence of souls. But we hold that
the Son and Word of God became Christ after He had dwelt in the
womb of His holy ever-virgin Mother, and became flesh without
change, and that the flesh was anointed with divinity. For this is
the anointing of humanity, as Gregory the Theologian says. And here
are the words of the most holy Cyril of Alexandria which he wrote to
the Emperor Theodosius: "For I indeed hold that one ought to give
the name Jesus Christ neither to the Word that is of God if He is
without humanity, nor yet to the temple born of woman if it is not
united with the Word. For the Word that is of God is understood to
be Christ when united with humanity in ineffable manner in the union of
the oeconomy." And again, he writes to the Empresses thus: "Some
hold that the name 'Christ' is rightly given to the Word that is
begotten of God the Father, to Him alone, and regarded separately
by Himself. But we have not been taught so to think and speak. For
when the Word became flesh, then it was, we say, that He was called
Christ Jesus. For since He was anointed with the oil of gladness,
that is the Spirit, by Him Who is God and Father, He is for this
reason called Christ. But that the anointing was an act that
concerned Him as man could be doubted by no one who is accustomed to
think rightly." Moreover, the celebrated Athanasius says this in
his discourse "Concerning the Saving Manifestation:" "The God
Who was before the sojourn in the flesh was not man, but God in
God, being invisible and without passion, but when He became man,
He received in addition the name of Christ because of the flesh,
since, indeed, passion and death follow in the train of this name."
And although the holy Scripture says, Therefore God, thy God,
hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, it is to be observed that
the holy Scripture often uses the past tense instead of the future, as
for example here: Thereafter He was seen upon the earth and dwelt
among men. For as yet God was not seen nor did He dwell among men
when this was said. And here again: By the rivers of Babylon,
there we sat down; yea wept. For as yet these things had not come to
pass.
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