On The Veiling Of Virgins

Let us now see whether the apostle withal observes the norm of this name in accordance with Genesis, attributing it to the sex; calling the virgin Mary a woman, just as Genesis (does) Eve. For, writing to the Galatians, "God," he says, "sent His own Son, made of a woman,"(3) who, of course, is admitted to have been a virgin, albeit Hebion(4) resist (that doctrine). I recognise, too, the angel Gabriel as having been sent to "a virgin."(5) But when he is blessing her, it is "among women," not among virgins, that he ranks her: "Blessed (be) thou among women." The angel withal knew that even a virgin is called a woman.