And Mary's virginity and her giving birth escaped the notice of the ruler of this age, as did the Lord's death—three mysteries of a cry, which were accomplished in the silence of God.
How, then, was He made manifest to the ages? A star shone in heaven brighter than all the stars, and its light was inexpressible, and its newness caused astonishment. All the other stars, together with the sun and moon, formed a choir around the star, while it surpassed them all in its light. And there was bewilderment: where did this new thing, so unlike them, come from?
From this, every kind of magic was dissolved and every bond of wickedness vanished; ignorance was removed, and the old kingdom was destroyed, as God was manifested in human form for the newness of eternal life. What had been prepared by God began to take effect. From then on all things were set in motion because the abolition of death was being prepared.