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.