Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: briefly about the history and traditions of the celebration. History of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary What does the Feast of the Annunciation mean?
On April 7, believers celebrate one of the main and joyful holidays in the Orthodox calendar - the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2018 it falls on Lent and coincides with What does this holiday mean for believers and how to properly celebrate the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?
Origin of the holiday
The name "Annunciation" (in Greek "Evangelismos") is translated as "good news" or "good news". In Orthodoxy, this day is fully called the Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, which partially reveals the meaning of the holiday.
According to the description of the Apostle Luke, on this day the Archangel Gabriel announced to the young Virgin Mary about the future birth according to the flesh from her of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. “The angel came to Her and said: Rejoice, full of grace! You have found grace from God and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus,” these events are described in the canonical Gospel.
Celebration date
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is always celebrated on the same day - March 25 according to the Gregorian calendar and April 7 according to the Julian calendar. Unlike Easter, this day does not have a moving date and is counted exactly nine months after the feast of the Nativity of Christ.
On early Easter, that is, from April 4 to April 13, the Annunciation can fall either on the day a week before the celebration of Easter, or on the week after the Holy Resurrection of Christ.
Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian countries are preparing to celebrate the joyful holiday of April 7 according to the Julian calendar orthodox churches, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the territory of Ukraine, as well as Old Believers. The Roman Catholic, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish churches celebrate this day on March 25th.
What not to do on this day
They say about the Feast of the Annunciation that on this day “the maiden does not braid her hair, and the bird does not curl her nest.”
The Church classifies the holiday as one of the twelve, that is, the twelve most important holidays in Orthodoxy after Easter, along with Epiphany, Candlemas, Christmas, Ascension of the Lord, Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Trinity Day. Most of them also have a fixed date.
According to the tradition of theologians, on the day of the Annunciation, every believer must put aside all worldly affairs, and especially work, for the sake of prayer and presence in church.
In 2018, the celebration of the Annunciation coincides with Holy Saturday of Lent, which means: on this day you cannot eat fish and vegetable oil. According to the monastic charter, fish food is allowed twice during Lent - on Palm Sunday and the Annunciation, but the meaning of the days Holy Week cancels such concessions.
Traditions of the Annunciation
On this holiday, funeral prayers, services and weddings are not held. After the Liturgy, most churches release white birds into the sky. The symbol of this day is considered to be a white dove, in the form of which the Holy Spirit descended on the Lord during his baptism in the sacred Jordan River.
In honor of this day, the day before, believers bake in the shape of birds. Lenten cookies and treat each other with them after the morning liturgy and communion.
Many believers believe that on this day the power doubles medicinal plants. Today, the Annunciation is also considered the day that announces spring and freedom to the world. By the way, in Rus', from ancient times, migratory birds caught in snares - lark, pigeons and tits - were released at this time. On the same day, it was customary to “call upon spring,” that is, to gather together and, with “spring songs,” ask nature for favors and good harvest in future.
Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary - this is how the Christian Church calls the great twelfth holiday, dedicated to the memory of Archangel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary of the mystery of the incarnation of God the Word from Her (Luke 1, 26-38). The general meaning of the word “Annunciation” is good, joyful, good news - the same as the Gospel; the strict meaning indicates the feast of the Annunciation, celebrated on March 25. This sacred event took place, according to church tradition, in the sixth month after the conception of the holy prophet John the Baptist by the holy righteous Elizabeth.
“Revealing the Eternal Council to You, O Youth, Gabriel appeared...”- sings the Holy Church at the beginning of the festive service of the great feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Eternal Council of the Holy Trinity on the Incarnation of the Only Begotten Son of God for the redemption of the human race perishing in sins and its salvation was an incomprehensible secret, hidden until the time appointed by God not only from people, but also from Angels. When the time for the incarnation of the Word of God approached, that one, unique in the world in Her purity and holiness, the Most Blessed Young Lady Mary, appeared from among humanity, worthy to serve the cause of the salvation of the human race and become the Mother of the Son of God.
The Most Holy Virgin Mary was given to her elderly parents, the righteous Joachim and Anna (September 9/22) for their unceasing and tearful prayers. Upon reaching the age of 14, when, according to Jewish law, Her stay in the temple should have ended, the Most Holy Mary was betrothed to the righteous eighty-year-old elder Joseph, a poor carpenter from the family of David, who was entrusted with guarding Her virginity. Having moved to Nazareth, to the house of her Betrothed, Elder Joseph, the Most Holy Mary continued the same life that she spent in the temple. The Holy Fathers of the Church - Athanasius the Great, Basil the Great, John of Damascus - indicate that, under the guise of marriage, the Lord protected the Blessed Virgin Mary from the malice of the enemy of the human race, the devil, thus hiding from him that She is the very Blessed Virgin about whom the prophet Isaiah spoke : “Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Immanuel, which means God is with us.”(Matt. 1:23; Isa. 7:14).
While staying in the house of Her Betrothed, Elder Joseph, the Most Holy Virgin Mary once read the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and reflected on the greatness of She who would be honored to be the Mother of God. With all her heart, Saint Mary wanted to see the Chosen One of God and in deep humility she wanted to be Her last servant. On that blessed day of the beginning of human salvation, which became the day of the incarnation of God the Word, Archangel Gabriel, sent by God, appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary from heaven and greeted Her with the words: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you; Blessed are You among women". When she saw him, she was embarrassed by his words and wondered what this greeting meant.
And the Angel said to Her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”. Mary said to the Angel: “How will this be when I don’t know my husband?” The angel answered Her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the Power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God...” Then Mary said: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. And the Angel departed from Her"(Luke 1:28-38).
The unshakable, deep faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her equally deep humility, combined with fiery love for God and devotion to His Holy will, appeared as that fertile Niva, in the depths of which arose the Blessed Fruit - the God-Man Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who took upon Himself the sins of all peace. Since the beginning of the salvation of the human race begins from the time of the seedless conception of the Son of God, the Church on the day of the Annunciation repeatedly proclaims: “The day of our salvation is the main thing and the manifestation of the sacrament from the ages...”(troparion).
The Day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is also the day of the Incarnation of the Savior: from March 25 to December 25, when the Nativity of Christ is celebrated, exactly nine months. On the Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Holy Church remembers this wondrous and incomprehensible to the minds of mortals Sacrament. Almighty God, by the great Sacrament of His incarnation from the Blessed Virgin Mary, comes into the world to take upon Himself the burden of the sins of the entire human race; The Son of God becomes the Son of Man, perceives human nature in order to renew and deify it through His incarnation, redemptive suffering and Resurrection.
The Lord’s infinite love for His creation was revealed in His Divine exhaustion, without which the ancestral sin and the innumerable sins of subsequent generations would inevitably lead to the eternal death of all people. Thanks to the Incarnation, every Christian who believes in the Lord and strives to live according to His commandments is given the opportunity of eternal bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven. In the person of the Most Holy Theotokos, Christians found a merciful Mother, Intercessor, Helper and Intercessor for them before Her Divine Son.
The Annunciation is the day of good news that a Virgin has been found throughout the human world, so believing in God, so deeply capable of obedience and trust, that the Son of God can be born from Her. The incarnation of the Son of God, on the one hand, is a work of God’s love and God’s power; but at the same time, the incarnation of the Son of God is a matter of human freedom. St. Gregory Palamas says that the Incarnation would have been just as impossible without the free human consent of the Mother of God as it would have been impossible without the creative will of God.
In the Mother of God we find an amazing ability to trust God to the end; but this ability is not natural, not natural: such faith can be forged in oneself by the feat of purity of heart, by the feat of love for God.
The solemn church veneration of the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos began no later than the 4th century, as evidenced in the works of Saints Athanasius the Great and John Chrysostom. But icons depicting this event appeared in the Christian Church already in the 2nd century, even in the Roman catacombs, for example, on the wall of the tomb of St. Priscilla.
Icons of the Annunciation, symbolizing the beginning of the redemption of the human race, have been placed on the royal doors since ancient times, according to church law. The Royal Doors depict the entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven, and the icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us of the opening of paradise for us, since this sacred event was the “centre” of our salvation.
I wish you well on the Annunciation,
Let your life be full of them.
Good news warms your souls
And day after day they warm our hearts!
On April 7, believers celebrate one of the main and joyful holidays in the Orthodox calendar - the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2018, it falls during Lent and coincides with Passion, or Great Saturday, a day of especially strict fasting, sadness and silence.
It is believed that on this day Heaven opens, grace descends on people and they get the opportunity to be cleansed of sins.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the main holidays in the Orthodox calendar.
According to the description of the Apostle Luke, on this day the Archangel Gabriel announced to the young Virgin Mary about the future birth according to the flesh from her of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.
« The angel, coming to Her, said: Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women.
She, seeing him, was embarrassed by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this would be.
And the Angel said to Her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for You have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.»
, - these events are described in the canonical Gospel.
Mary, seeing the will of God in the words of the angel, says very meaningful words: “behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word"
The Gospel words of the Archangel Gabriel formed the famous prayer - the Song of the Most Holy Theotokos:
“Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You;
Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb,
for you gave birth to the Savior of our souls.”
This prayer is part of the cell (home) prayers of believers
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated always on the same day - March 25 according to the Gregorian calendar and April 7 according to the Julian calendar.
Unlike Easter, this day has a non-transitionable date and is counted exactly nine months after the feast of the Nativity of Christ (that is, the period for which a woman bears a child.)
On early Easter, that is, from April 4 to April 13, the Annunciation can fall either on the day a week before the celebration of Easter, or on the week after the Holy Resurrection of Christ.
The coincidence of the Annunciation and Easter is called Kyriopaskha, but this happens extremely rarely. The last time this happened was in 1991, and the next Kyriopascha will happen only in 2075.
The Church classifies the holiday as one of the twelve, that is, the twelve most important holidays in Orthodoxy after Easter, along with Epiphany, Candlemas, Christmas, Ascension of the Lord, Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Trinity Day. Most of them also have a fixed date.
The joyful holiday of April 7 according to the Julian calendar is being prepared to be celebrated by the Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian Orthodox churches, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the territory of Ukraine, as well as the Old Believers.
For Catholics - the Roman Catholic, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish churches - accordingly, March 25 is considered the day of good news.
In a number of countries - both in the West and in the East - they counted down the new year from the day of the Annunciation. Such a calendar was, for example, adopted in England until the middle of the 18th century.
Actually, the name of the holiday - Annunciation - came into use only from the 7th century (while the holiday itself was celebrated four centuries earlier).
Before this, the church designated it as “the day of greeting,” “annunciation,” “Hail Mary,” “Conception of Christ,” “Beginning of Redemption,” etc.
The name "Annunciation" (in Greek "Evangelismos") is translated as "good news" or "good news".
And the full name of the holiday in Orthodoxy sounds like this: Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Traditions: how they celebrated in the old days and today
Church celebration
On this holiday, funeral prayers, services and weddings are not held.
On Annunciation, an all-night vigil is held in churches, which begins with Great Compline, and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
The clergy wear blue vestments on the holiday - this particular shade is a symbol of the Virgin Mary.
During the service, everyone who came to the church that day is told about the essence of the holiday and the appearance of an angel to Mary.
By the way, the church holiday canons, which are still performed at the Annunciation, were compiled back in the 8th century.
According to the tradition of theologians, on the day of the Annunciation, every believer must put aside all worldly affairs, and especially work, for the sake of prayer and presence in church.
In 2018, the celebration of the Annunciation coincides with Holy Saturday of Lent, which means: on this day you cannot eat fish and vegetable oil. According to the monastery charter, fish food is allowed twice during Lent - on Palm Sunday and the Annunciation, but the significance of the days of Holy Week cancels such indulgences.
If the holiday does not fall on Holy Week before Easter, relief is possible for those who are fasting. So, it is allowed to eat fish.
Believers bake prosphoras at home - small unleavened bread - and then light them in church during the liturgy. Prosphora is made for each family member, and they must be eaten on an empty stomach.
In the old days, crumbs from consecrated bread were also added to livestock feed and mixed with grain - it was believed that for a better harvest.
And on Annunciation, in cathedrals and churches after the service, birds are released from cages - as a reminder of freedom for every creation of God. In Rus', since ancient times, migratory birds caught in snares - lark, pigeons and tits - were released at this time.
People believe that on the Annunciation they fly to the guardian angels and inform them about all the good deeds that have been done during the year.
The symbol of this day is the white dove, in the form of which the Holy Spirit descended on the Virgin Mary: “... The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God...
...for with God no word will fail.”
In honor of this day, the day before, believers bake Lenten cookies in the shape of birds and treat each other with them after the morning liturgy and communion.
This custom existed in Rus' for hundreds of years until the revolution and was revived in the 90s of the last century. In the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the Patriarch releases a flock of pigeons.
The prosphora and blessed water that parishioners bring from the solemn service have special power.
Folk customs
The people perceived the holiday of the Annunciation as a symbol of the arrival of spring. Therefore, traditions on this day are associated with future crops.
The peasants illuminated the prepared grain: they placed an icon next to the tub in which it was stored and said a special prayer for the granting of the harvest.
On the same day, it was customary to “call on spring,” that is, to gather together and ask nature’s favor and a good harvest in the future with “spring songs.”
It was forbidden to work or do housework.
Even going on the road to earn money was considered a sin. Instead, the day should have been devoted to good deeds - for example, there was a custom to treat those in need on the holiday.
Annunciation salt
Also on April 7, believers prepare Annunciation salt, for which housewives take a bag into which each family member pours a pinch of salt. It is heated in a frying pan for about 10-20 minutes, then poured into the above-mentioned bag and stored in a secluded place, and then used as a talisman.
To enhance the healing effect, prayers are read during preparation. You can not only pray the Annunciation, but also any that you know: “Our Father”, etc. The main thing is to know the words by heart.
When starting the ritual, keep in mind that the color of the drug will change, the salt darkens when heated. That's why it has another name - black salt.
It is recommended to use coarse salt, but fine salt is also suitable.
If you hear a crackling noise or the sound of salt when heating (and you will hear it:) - there is an evil spirit in the house. Or the cook was damaged. However, preparing magic salt eliminates a person’s negativity and cleanses the house.
It is best to prepare Annunciation salt before dawn on April 7, but it is not forbidden to prepare the potion throughout the holiday.
How to Store and Use Holy Salt
You need to store the magic potion in a secluded place, for reasons of convenience - in the kitchen. No one other than family members should touch it, especially strangers, because salt easily absorbs energy.
Salt made for the holy holiday (and this applies not only to Annunciation salt) is placed on the table during Christian celebrations.
Annunciation salt will help with illnesses
There are many ways to use it. Can be added to dishes healing properties- salt the food being prepared, add it to the salt shaker.
It is believed that the miraculous properties of such salt can cure diseases. If you feel unwell, you can eat it grain by grain, add it to water for drinking, gargling, washing sore spots, and applying compresses.
Rest assured that the disease will go away.
Annunciation salt will cleanse you of negativity
Annunciation salt is used to cleanse the home after the visit of unpleasant guests, finds in the form lining or some paranormal activity in the room. The powerful cleansing agent prepared on April 7 should be scattered throughout the rooms, sweeping away only the next day. You can leave a pinch in each corner to protect yourself from the forces of evil.
Another way to clean your home is to make a saline cleaning solution. You can sprinkle it on your house, car, or individual things that are suspected of having dark energy. It is recommended to spray your shoes after returning from the cemetery.
Adding salty grains charged on the holy holiday to the bath also has a cleansing effect. To strengthen it, there are conspiracies, which are described below.
Annunciation salt will help remove spoilage
For this you need about a tablespoon. Pour into a clean plate and place empty on the table. Place a candlestick to the right of the plate, light a church candle, place your palm on the salt and read, looking at the fire:
“Violent and strong winds, dispel the spell cast by evil man.
Take them to where the rivers are deep, the currents are fast, and the forests are dense.
Let the witchcraft spells burn under the scorching rays of the sun.
Let hateful thoughts move away from me. Not for a day, not for a year, forever.
Word, deed.
Amen".
Keep salt nearby. If you are going to sleep - under the bed, stay awake - near your favorite chair or sofa. You cannot leave home until the salt spends one night near you. But she must stay in your room for three nights.
All this time it will absorb the negative energy of damage. Observe - the salt may change color or appearance in some other way. If such an effect is observed, you will have to perform the ritual as many times as necessary to ensure that the salt remains in its original form. Of course, if it is not completely black after cooking.
As soon as three nights have passed, take her out of the house without touching her with your fingers. Bury it where fewer people walk. Break the saucer and bury it there.
Conspiracies for salt on the Annunciation
Any spell for magic salt is read after its preparation. You can use the entire supply for one purpose, or take a little as the need arises - the choice is yours.
Envy and anger often become the causes of damage and other negativity. To protect yourself from this scourge, you can chant Annunciation salt.
Start by sewing the bag. Then take a spoonful of salt and read so that your breath touches it:
Defend, protect and preserve.
Lead people's envy and anger away.
I spoil the gates back with the enemy.
Don’t let infection into your soul and body.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Pour the charmed grains into the prepared bag. You should always have it with you. It doesn’t matter where your amulet will be - in the glove compartment of the car, pocket, bag.
In order to cure a child from the evil eye, “ghost”, buns are baked with Annunciation salt. Eat them on an empty stomach, immediately after waking up, for three, seven or fourteen days - depending on the severity of the evil eye.
It can also reconcile spouses. Pour salt into a bag you sew yourself and hide it under the bed of the husband and wife. An option is to sew it into a pillow or blanket. Such a talisman will not only get rid of quarrels, but will also return passion to the relationship.
Annunciation salt is stored until the next feast of the Annunciation, which is celebrated on April 7. If the magic product is not needed or there are remains of it, they will no longer bring any benefit. But it is not recommended to throw such things into the trash or sewer.
Throw it outside the house on the street into a fire lit in honor of the holy holiday. All failures, problems, illnesses and quarrels will burn with her. Imagine how everything bad leaves your house during the burning.
If there is no fire, just bury the salt in a secluded place.
After you get rid of the used salt, you can start preparing new salt.
In general, Blagoveshchensk salt has a mass useful properties, similar to the properties of Thursday. It can be used to treat diseases, damage and the evil eye, as well as cleanse the house and exorcise evil spirits.
There are many cooking methods and recipes, and anyone can cope with this process at home.
Ritual for the fulfillment of wishes
The day after the bright feast of the Annunciation, Orthodox people glorify the Archangel Gabriel. People say that On April 8, the archangel descends from heaven to earth and fulfills all the desires of people.
To make your plans come true, you need to get up early and go outside. Be sure to wear a pectoral cross, as
it is by this that the archangel notices those asking. Stand facing East, cross yourself three times and say out loud (but not loudly) 3 times the plot:
"Archangel Gabriel,
servant of our Lord, hear the prayer of God’s servant(s) (your name) and fulfill my request (say your desire in your own words).
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen".
The Archangel was also called Gabriel the Blagovest. According to the sign, if on April 8 you receive a letter or telegram (now both SMS and emails), then you will soon learn good news.
Signs for the Annunciation
❧ Clear weather on the Annunciation foretells a rich harvest and a warm summer. If there is still snow on this day, do not expect good shoots.
And the rain promised good fishing and a mushroom autumn.
❧ You cannot wear new clothes for the Annunciation - they will not wear well and will quickly tear.
❧ To be healthy, you need to wash yourself with melt water on the Annunciation.
❧ You should not lend money to someone on this day or give anything away from home in general; it was believed that this would result in losses in the future. It was believed that the one who gave from home on the Annunciation spent family peace and peace on strangers.
❧ If on the Annunciation from morning to midnight you call your husband “dear” forty times, your husband will love and cherish you all year long.
❧ In Annunciation, you cannot sew, knit, embroider, braid your hair, cut your hair, dye your hair, or comb your hair. This sign is associated with the belief that people have long believed that human life is a thread that can be controlled by the Lord himself or guardian angels. On the day when the heavens open, it is easy to confuse the threads of life and change the destinies of family and loved ones.
“A bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair,” is a saying specifically about the Annunciation.
❧ On what day of the week does the Annunciation fall, on that all year round do not start any new business. For example, if the Annunciation fell on a Friday, then business does not start on any Friday throughout the year
❧ But if you make a wish on the Annunciation, it will definitely come true.
City named after the holiday
In Rus', many churches and monasteries were built in honor of the Annunciation. The most famous, of course, is the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
And the oldest, according to legend, was erected in Vitebsk on the territory of modern Belarus by Princess Olga in the 10th century. The church was rebuilt many times; it suffered greatly during the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War, and was blown up in the 60s.
Thirty years later, the temple was restored to its 12th-century appearance.
The most ancient monasteries dedicated to the Annunciation are located in Nizhny Novgorod, in Kirzhach, Vladimir region and in Murom.
There are many settlements throughout the country named after the holiday. The largest is the city of Blagoveshchensk in the Amur region. At the same time, it was named after the first church founded in these places - the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mid-19th century.
based on materials from suever.ru, mir24.tv
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the twelve main holidays in Orthodoxy. The celebration is dedicated to the good news of the imminent birth of the Savior, which was brought to the Virgin Mary by Archangel Gabriel. Read on to learn how this day is celebrated today and what traditions are honored.
History of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The first mentions of the Annunciation, as this holiday is also called, were found by historians on ancient frescoes of the late 2nd century. However, the celebration was officially recognized only two centuries later, when Helen Equal to the Apostles discovered the places of Christ’s earthly life and erected temples on them. In the second half of the 7th century. the festival became the main one in the Byzantine church. At the same time, its popularization began to spread throughout Western Europe.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the 12 main holidays in Orthodoxy
Name of the holiday
The word "annunciation" in the Orthodox world means good or good news. According to Holy Scripture, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, who informed her about the immaculate conception and the future appearance of the Son of God.
When the young novice of the temple turned 14, she was faced with a choice: return to her family or find a husband. Despite persuasion to get married, she firmly decided to devote her life to serving God, taking a vow to remain virginally pure until the end of her days. Then the confessors united her in marriage with the ancient elder Joseph, bequeathing him to protect the virginity of the Most Holy One.
Having moved to her husband in Nazareth, Mary continued to observe strict fasting and pray a lot, giving all of herself to the Lord. Four months after the engagement, when the girl was reading the Gospel, the Archangel appeared to her with the words: “Rejoice, full of grace!”, and then explained that she had been chosen by the Almighty to become the mother of His Son. The Blessed Virgin was amazed how this was possible, but she unquestioningly submitted to the Will of God.
Determining the date
Since early Christian times, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was not a moving holiday and was celebrated every year on March 25 (April 7, new style). This date appeared for a reason. In history, it is first mentioned by Pope Hippolytus (III century), who calls it the day of the crucifixion of Christ. For this reason, the Annunciation is still sometimes identified with Great Easter.
Also, the celebration is closely connected with Christmas, which is exactly 9 months away from April 7th. In Byzantium, the Annunciation was considered the day of creation of the whole world and was taken as a starting point for the rest church holidays.
Celebrating April 7th The meaning and significance of the festival
Among theologians, the interpretation of the celebration has a deep meaning. The good news that came to earth tells the whole world that the Lord has found that one Virgin who believed in Him so much that she can become the mother of the Son of God. With the birth of Christ, the Almighty gifted Mary with His love and power, but at the same time gave her to make this choice voluntarily.
Celebrating the Day of the Annunciation, Orthodox Christians glorify the Most Holy Theotokos, who trusted the Lord God with all her mind, heart and soul, thereby giving the world a Savior.
Video “Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
This video tells the history of the holiday and the features of its celebration.
Features of worship
The Annunciation holiday service begins with a liturgy depending on the day of the week. Next, the priests perform Vespers, which turns into the All-Night Vigil. Often the date of the Annunciation coincides with Great Easter, then the canons of both celebrations are combined. This celebration is called Cryopascha.
Immediately after the end of the liturgy, the confessors, dressed in blue robes, release doves. According to tradition, which was revived only in the second half of the 90s of the twentieth century, birds must deliver news to the guardian angels about all the good deeds committed over the previous year.
Traditions and rituals of the holiday
Since early Christian times, people attend church on the Annunciation, offer prayers to the Mother of God, give alms, and provide all kinds of help to those in need. Christians believe that on this day the heavens open, and therefore it is good to make a pilgrimage, make wishes, and communicate with God.
On April 7, it is customary to prepare salt for amulet. All family members take a pinch and heat it on the stove. It is believed that it helps to heal any disease, as well as protect against adversity. If last year's salt remains at the next holiday, it is thrown into the fire. No less miraculous are the Annunciation prosphora brought from the church, as well as blessed water.
Another interesting ritual is burning old things. The tradition takes its roots from paganism, when the ancient Slavs lit a large fire into which they threw all unnecessary household utensils. They believed that in this way everything bad was burned away: sorrows, sorrows, illnesses, failures.
The Annunciation holiday service begins with the liturgy What can you eat
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2020 coincides with the Great Easter Lent. In the name of the holiday, the Church makes allowance for fasting Christians, allowing them to eat fish dishes. The exception is Holy Week, when fish is strictly prohibited. Dairy and meat products are also removed from the diet.
What not to do
The Proclamation is the Twelfth Orthodox holiday, and therefore on the day of the celebration it is forbidden to engage in ordinary activities. So, you cannot take up a needle or knitting needles, cut your hair, comb it, dye it, or braid it. You also need to leave all physical work for later.
It is customary to prepare festive dishes the day before, so that on the Annunciation the housewife will be freed from household labor.
Helpful information
The holiday should not be overshadowed by a bad mood, anger, fuss, or irritation. It is not good to lend money for the Annunciation, put on new clothes, or get married.
Signs and beliefs
Even the ancient Slavs believed in the signs associated with the great festival. Here are some of them:
- frosts on the holiday promise a good harvest;
- if the swallows did not return before April 7, the second half of spring will be cold;
- In order for love and prosperity to reign in the family throughout the next year, the wife needs to call her husband “beloved” 40 times;
- for fertility, you should bury a piece of consecrated prosphora in the garden;
- a wish made on a holiday will definitely come true.
For fertility, you should bury a piece of blessed prosphora in the garden Icons of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The first frescoes depicting the Annunciation date back to the 2nd century and were found on ancient Christian tombs. Iconography appeared a little later - in the second half of the 4th century. The icons traditionally depict the Archangel Gabriel descending to the Virgin Mary. There are two types of images:
- with yarn - where the Virgin Mary holds a red thread, spinning a curtain for the Jerusalem Temple;
- with the Baby in the womb - expresses the idea of the immaculate conception.
Annunciation churches and monasteries
Beginning with the official recognition of the celebration, shrines began to be erected throughout Rus' in the name of the festival:
- Church of the Annunciation (Kyiv);
- temple of the Moscow Kremlin;
- Cathedral in Vitebsk;
- Murom monastery;
- monastery of the city of Kirzhach, as well as the village of Timoshkino (Vladimir region);
- Nikandrova Lavra (Pskov region);
- house church of the Suzdal Kremlin, etc.
Holy Annunciation Cathedral (Kharkov) Annunciation Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin) Annunciation Church (Vitebsk)
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered one of the main church holidays. The Orthodox know that it was on this day that Archangel Gabriel appeared before the Virgin Mary and told Her that the life of the Savior of the human race would be born in Her.
This holiday has always been highly revered in Rus', with special reverence offering prayers to the Mother of God, who nurtured in souls faith in eternal life and hope for salvation.
Icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The icon dedicated to the bright feast of the Annunciation is very interesting for its content.
On it we see the Virgin Mary communicating with Archangel Gabriel, who brought Her the good news that She was to become the parent of the Son of God. The plot is based on one of the chapters of the Gospel of Luke.
There is a story that is an indisputable fact about the help of the Intercessor. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, one governor was locked in a Kremlin tower. The unfortunate man was accused of a crime that he did not commit.
Through the man’s sincere prayers, the icon of the Annunciation appeared on the building. The temple, unfortunately, did not survive to the present day; nothing remains of the chapel, but the tower today is called the Annunciation Tower, reminding us of the events of that time.
Description of the church holiday
The Annunciation is traditionally celebrated on April 7th. According to Orthodox canons, a person is born at the moment of conception, therefore the Annunciation begins to be celebrated in advance - nine months before the birth of the Savior. The Annunciation sounds differently like the Gospel - “good news.”
On the holiday, Orthodox believers come to the temple to attend the service and offer prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. At the Liturgy, Orthodox Christians confess, partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, submit notes for the health and repose of loved ones, and pray.
History of the Feast of the Annunciation
Mentions of the Annunciation can be found in ancient chronicles of the 2nd century AD. This day was considered the first holiday in the calendar: the long-awaited equinox came, when nature came to life and delighted with its awakening.
The joyful news of Archangel Gabriel also announced other important events - the Nativity of Christ and the Bright Resurrection. It all began with the Annunciation, so the holiday is especially revered and everyone tries to observe all the important traditions.
Who brought the good news to the Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary was barely fourteen years old when She was betrothed to the carpenter Joseph, who was 80 years old at that time. Before her marriage, Mary was an orphan, she was at the Temple, she worked, observing fasting and prayer. After the betrothal, the family had to move to Nazareth, where Mary led the same decent Christian life, prayed fervently, and her “handbook” was the prophecy of Isaiah “Behold, the Virgin will be with child and bear a son...”.
One day, the Archangel Gabriel came down to her and discouraged the Virgin by informing her that she would soon give birth to God’s Savior. With these words, the Angel held out snow-white lilies - a symbol of everything pure and immaculate. Having taken a virgin vow, Mary humbly accepted Gabriel's prophecy. At that same moment, a miracle happened - the immaculate birth of the Son of God.
Over time, Mary's appearance underwent changes, and Joseph decided that She was cheating on him. But in a dream, the carpenter saw an Angel who told him about the immaculate conception. From that time on, Joseph treated the woman who carried in her womb the future Savior of the human race very carefully.
How to tell children about the Annunciation
In order for children to understand the Feast of the Annunciation, they need to speak a language they understand. It is easier to imagine the image of the Virgin Mary if you tell the kids that the Mother of God was a little girl like them, lived next to the temple, loved the Lord very much and prayed a lot.
Children need to understand why Mary was chosen by God for the virgin birth. And in order for them to understand the meaning of the holiday, it is necessary to go to church more often, teach simple prayers, talk about the lives of saints, confess and receive communion.
When kids see that love and respect reign in the house, and adults get up and go to bed with prayer in their mouths, they themselves become accustomed to this way of life.
It is worth noting: it's important to be good example for their children, and then there will be no need to teach them Orthodox traditions for a long time - they will absorb them with their mother’s milk.
Customs and traditions at the Annunciation
In old times great importance attached to various customs, although some of them are echoes of paganism. People believed that at the Annunciation even sinners were temporarily freed from torment. Much could not be done on this day.
So, there was a taboo on work, and any undertaking was in vain, or even completely harmful. They didn’t even light candles in the evenings - they were afraid of heavenly punishment.
The Annunciation is a symbol of the awakening of spring. At this time, birds that had wintered in distant lands returned to their native places, and in order to appease nature, it was customary to release pigeons into the sky. Such good tradition this one still lives today.
On the pre-holiday day, they also tried to destroy old unnecessary trash. It was burned in bonfires, between which cattle were usually driven in order to save them from disease and damage.
At the Annunciation, they took salt and burned it in ovens. Salt was added to baked goods, which were then used to treat sick animals.
In the morning, prosphoras were baked, which were then blessed at the service in the church. Prosphora could be stored all year round: when someone got sick, they gave him a piece of pastry dipped in water, and the illness subsided. The crumbs were mixed into livestock feed, added to seeds before sowing so that the harvest would be significant, fed with honey to bees and expected that the honeycombs would be full.
This custom is a relic of the pagan faith, but from it we see that people wanted to sanctify their entire lives with the light of the Christian faith. The holiday gave people a feeling of joy and hope.
How does the icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary help?
Standing in front of the icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they pray for the remission of sins. People who are unable to get rid of bad habits on their own, leave sects and renounce magic find solace next to the image.
Women ask the Mother of God for happy marriage and the birth of healthy children. The weak are healed through fervent prayer, and the afflicted find consolation in their sorrows.
Everyone who approaches the image with faith receives help, begins to look at life from a new perspective, learns to love and forgive, and is sure to receive the “good news.”
Annunciation is the brightest holiday. It must be spent in prayer and gratitude. It contains a bright renewal of nature, and hope for salvation, and the expectation of “good news” that will certainly come to the house where faith and love live.
