"Thy mother is a cause for wonder: the Lord entered her

and became a servant; He who is the Word entered

- and became silent within her; thunder entered her

- and made no sound; there entered the Shepherd of all,

and in her He became the Lamb, bleating as He came forth.

Thy mother’s womb has reversed the roles:

the Establisher of all entered in His richness,

but came forth poor; the Exalted One entered her,

but came forth meek; the Splendrous One entered her,

but came forth having put on a lowly hue.

The Mighty One entered, and put on insecurity

from her womb; the Provisioner of all entered

- and experienced hunger; He who gives drink to all entered

- and experienced thirst: naked and stripped

there came forth from her He who clothes all."

*St Ephraim quoted in the blog Breaking Babylon