THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT HASHMAL: CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

¹And it came to pass in the days when Teron ruled over the provinces of the South, and the tax was heavy upon the neck of the poor, that there went out a decree from the governor of Murond, that all the inhabitants of the land should be registered according to their lineage.
²Every man, therefore, went up into his own city, to be enrolled according to the house of his fathers.
³And Ioseth also went up from the town of Meven, in the hills of the West, unto Betalon, the city of Dama, because he was of the house and lineage of Dama, to be registered with Mariandel, his espoused wife, who was great with child.
⁴Now the journey was long and the days were cold, and they went with few possessions, for they were not wealthy; yet were they strong in faith, for both believed the word that had been spoken unto Mariandel by the angel of the Lord.
⁵And the angel had said unto her, “Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Ajora. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High.”
⁶And Mariandel had said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.
⁷When they came unto Betalon, the sun was low upon the horizon, and the streets were filled with travelers and caravans and beasts of burden, and there was no room in any inn for them to dwell.
⁸And Ioseth knocked upon many doors, but all were closed unto them; for the houses were full, and the people within had no care for the plight of strangers.
⁹But there was found at last a certain man, an old keeper of goats, who took pity upon them, and he said, “Ye may rest in the cave behind mine house, where the beasts shelter from the wind. It is not much, but it is warm, and I will trouble thee not.”
¹⁰And Ioseth thanked him, and led Mariandel unto the place, and there they kindled a small fire, and laid down to rest.
¹¹And it came to pass, in the stillness of that night, beneath the watchful eye of the star that stood above them, that Mariandel brought forth her firstborn son.
¹²And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, for there was no cradle prepared for him, neither any bed save straw.
¹³And as she held the child in her arms, the light of the star shone through the mouth of the cave, and there was a great stillness in all the land, as though even the wind and the beasts of the field knew what had come to pass.
¹⁴And Ioseth fell to his knees, and worshipped the child, saying, “Blessed art thou, O Lord, who hast remembered thy people, and visited us with thy salvation.”
¹⁵And Mariandel pondered all these things in her heart, and wept for joy, and kissed the forehead of the child, and whispered unto Him, “Thou art mine, and yet not mine; thou art of my flesh, and yet greater than I.”
¹⁶Now in the same region were certain shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
¹⁷And lo, a great light shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. But an angel of the Lord appeared unto them, saying, “Fear not, for behold, I bring thee good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
¹⁸“For unto thee is born this night in the city of Dama a Saviour, which is Ajora the Glabados. And this shall be a sign unto thee: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
¹⁹And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host, praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on Ivalice peace to men of good will.”
²⁰And when the angels were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Betalon, and see this thing which is come to pass.”
²¹And they came with haste, and found Mariandel and Ioseth, and the child lying in the manger.
²²And when they had seen him, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
²³And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
²⁴But Mariandel kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
²⁵And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
²⁶Now there were also certain elders of the temple, men of great age and wisdom, who had long awaited the redemption of the people, and had prayed for the day of deliverance.
²⁷And unto one of them, named Anias, it had been revealed by the Holy Breath that he should not see death, before he had seen the Glabados of the Lord.
²⁸And Anias, moved by the Spirit, came unto the place where the child was laid, and when he beheld Him, he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said:
²⁹“Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, O Lord, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all nations.”
³⁰“A light to lighten the burdens, and the glory of thy people.”
³¹And Ioseth and Mariandel marvelled at those things which were spoken concerning Him.
³²And Anias blessed them also, and said unto Mariandel his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many; and for a sign which shall be contradicted.”
³³“And a sword shall pierce thine own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
³⁴And after these things, the star which had guided the wise kings of the East came to rest above the cave, and they entered in, bearing their gifts, and worshipped Him.
³⁵And the kings returned unto their own lands, and the shepherds unto their flocks, and the old man to his goats, but none of them were ever the same again.
³⁶For they had seen the light of God in the face of a child, and heard the voice of eternity in His cry.
³⁷Thus was Ajora born, not among princes, nor upon silken cushions, but in poverty and peace, wrapped in the arms of a mother who believed.
³⁸And though the world knew Him not, yet in that hour, Heaven and Ivalice were made new.
³⁹Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High, who hath visited His people, and set His tabernacle among men.
⁴⁰Unto Him be glory and dominion, world without end. Amen.

▷THE SEVEN SCRIPTURES OF THE CHURCH OF GLABADOS
    ▷THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD, SAINT AJORA
        ▷THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT HASHMAL
            ▶1—2—3—4—5—6—7—8—9—10—11—12—13

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