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' Source: Migne PG 17.324b-c

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