The Nativity and the Heavenly Host

Also known as: The Heavenly Host at Bethlehem, The Angels and the Shepherds, The Angelic Proclamation of Christ's Birth, The Angels at the Nativity, The Announcement to the Shepherds, Glory to God in the Highest

The angelic proclamation at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:8–20): an unnamed “angel of the Lord” announces the Savior’s birth to shepherds keeping watch near Bethlehem, and suddenly “a multitude of the heavenly host” appears, glorifying God — “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men” (Luke 2:14). Unlike the single messengers of the earlier infancy scenes, here a whole heavenly army (Greek stratia, an ordered host) is seen praising God, extending to earth the worship the angels offer unceasingly before His throne. Orthodox tradition reads the hymn as heaven’s celebration of the Incarnation and of the reconciliation of God and humanity, and has made its opening words the beginning of the Great Doxology, by which the Church joins the angels’ song. Luke names neither the first angel nor the host, and the Church keeps that silence — their ranks are not assigned.