Shepherds and Angels

Οὐκ εἰς τὴν τῶν Ἰουδαίων συναγωγὴν εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα πρὸς τοὺς ἱερεῖς καὶ γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαίους ἀπέρχεται ὁ ἄγγελος· ἀλλὰ ποιμένας εὑρισκει ἀγραυλοῦντας, καὶ φυλάσσοντας φυλακὰς τῆς νυκτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ποίμνην αὐτῶν· τούτοις γὰρ εὐαγγελίζεται τοῦ Σωτῆρος τὴν γέννησιν. Οὗτοι μὲν γὰρ ἄπλαστοι ἧσαν, τὴν παλαιὰν πολιτείαν ζηλοῦντες τῶν πετριαρχῶν. Ποιμένες γὰρ ἧσαν καὶ οὗτοι, οἱ καὶ δραμόντες τοῖς ἑτέροις καὶ ἀπηγγελλον. Ἐκεῖνοι γὰρ διεφθαρμένοι ὄντες τῷ φθονῷ, ἔμελλον κρύκτειν τὸ τῆς τοῦ κόσμου σωτηρίας μυστήριον. Ὠριγένης, Εἰς Το Κατα Λουκαν Εὐαγγελιον, Κεφ Α'

Not to the Priests of the synagogues of the Jews in Jerusalem, or the Scribes or the Pharisees did the angel come, but he found the shepherds who were tending their flocks in the field and keeping guard over them in the night. 1 To these was announced the good news of the birth of the Saviour. These were the simple folk, attending to the old way of the patriarchs; for shepherds they were and also these were who ran to others to announce the news. 2 For from those who are ruined with envy, shall be hidden the mystery of the salvation of the world. Origen, Commentary On Luke, Chap 1, Fragment 1 Lk 2.8-9 2 Lk 2.18