Oriental Orthodox churches fully affirm the eternal pre-existence of the Son of God. The Divine Word (Logos) is co-eternal with the Father, existing before all ages and before all creation. In becoming incarnate, the eternal Son took on human flesh from the Virgin Mary—the Incarnation is the entry of the eternal into time, not the creation of a new divine person.

The Coptic and Syriac traditions express this mystery in rich liturgical poetry, especially in Christmas and Theophany hymns. St. Cyril of Alexandria's theological reflection on 'the one incarnate nature of the Word of God' presupposes the eternal pre-existence of the Word who condescended to take on flesh. The Armenian tradition's Christmas liturgy (celebrated on January 6, combining Nativity and Theophany) is a major celebration of the eternal Son's entry into human history.