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What does the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary mean. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin: the meaning of the holiday

The Orthodox Church annually on April 7 celebrates the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is one of the 12 most important church holidays, which Christians celebrate nine months before the birth of Christ.

The Annunciation has one day of forefeast and one day of afterfeast, on which the Cathedral of the Holy Archangel Gabriel is celebrated.

The events of the Annunciation, which are described in the Gospel by the Apostle Luke, are familiar to almost everyone, but on the eve of the holiday, he invites you to remember this divine story once again.

Mother of God

The Virgin Mary, undoubtedly the most chaste in the entire universe, was given to the Creator from birth. Until the age of 14, she lived and was brought up in the Jerusalem temple.

And when the time came for Mary to leave the temple, her husbands found her an aged carpenter Joseph, famous for his piety, who was supposed to protect Her purity and innocence.

Therefore, when the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that She had found the greatest grace from God - to be the Mother of the Son of God, the Virgin, embarrassed, asked the Angel how this conception would come about.

Image of the Mother of God. Fragment of the icon "Annunciation (Ustyug)"

The archangel cited as an example the barren relative of Mary, Saint Elizabeth, who, at an advanced age, conceived a child six months ago, thereby making it clear that the Lord has no limit to what is possible.

Having heard the All-merciful will in the speeches of the Archangel, Mary said: "Behold, the Servant of the Lord; be it to Me according to your word." Today it is believed that at the moment the Virgin Mary uttered such a phrase, the Holy Conception took place.

Upon learning that Mary was carrying a child, Joseph wanted to secretly let her go. But the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, the Son of David! them…"

Joseph did as the angel told him - accepted his wife. They had a son and named him Jesus. Everything as predicted.

Story

There is an opinion that the holiday was established by the apostles, due to the fact that in the paintings of the catacombs, where the first Christians gathered for prayer, there are images of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries.

However, they began to celebrate it especially not earlier than the 4th century. This was facilitated by the discovery by St. Helena Equal-to-the-Apostles at the beginning of the 4th century of the Holy places of the Savior's earthly life and the construction of churches in these places, including the basilica in Nazareth, on the site of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin.

Ancient Christians called the holiday differently - the Conception of Christ, the Annunciation of Christ, the Beginning of Redemption, the Annunciation of the Angel of Mary, and only in the 7th century it was given the name of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, both in the East and in the West.

The holiday, which, according to some information, was established by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, by the end of the 7th century was one of the most important in Byzantium. At about the same time, it also spread to the Western Church.

The date of the Annunciation both in the West and in the East is March 25 (April 7 in the old style). Since the feast of the Nativity of Christ was historically established much earlier, the Annunciation was dedicated to the day that precedes Christmas by nine months.

Painting by artist Vasily Polenov "Source of the Virgin Mary in Nazareth"

This number is also consistent with the ideas of ancient church historians that the Annunciation and Easter, as historical events, occurred on the same day of the year.

Traditions

The Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos has been especially revered in Russia since ancient times. According to ancient tradition, on this day people released birds from cages and nets. This custom was revived in 1995 and is now performed in many temples.

On the Annunciation, the peasants traditionally baked prosphora - unleavened church bread, according to the number of households in the family. Bread was lit in the temple.

Lighted bread was eaten at home on an empty stomach, and the crumbs were added to pet food and seeds. The people believed that thanks to this, the harvest would be rich, and the livestock - prolific and healthy.

The Annunciation was perceived by the people as a holiday of spring, the beginning of a new agricultural year. People consecrated the grain before sowing by placing an icon of the Annunciation next to the grain.

In the old days, on this day, "spring was called" - they made a fire and jumped over the fire, danced round dances, sang "vesnyanki". The Annunciation fire was considered the best protection against diseases, damage and the evil eye.

To protect cattle from wolves, people beat mallets, copper utensils, and rang the bell. The people believed that the wolves would stay at the distance to which the sound would spread.

Signs

Among the people, the feast of the Annunciation was surrounded by many signs. The most important of them - you can not do anything around the house, all land work is prohibited. Old people say that on this day even a bird does not nest, because it is a sin.

There is a legend that the cuckoo did not obey the rules of this day and made a nest. As punishment, the cuckoo can no longer make nests, and now she is forced to lay her eggs in the nests of other birds.

On the eve and on the day of the Annunciation in many houses they tried not to light a fire. However, it was necessary to burn a few pinches of salt in the oven to attract good luck.

People believed that on this day the angels in heaven rejoice, and even sinners in hell cease to be tortured. The earth is waking up from its winter sleep and opening up to spring. Along with the inhabitants of the earth, all evil spirits are awakening.

Therefore, on this day, rituals were performed that helped protect against evil and cure diseases. For example, they fumigated winter clothes with smoke, washed themselves with melt water.

Icon of the Annunciation, late 16th century

Fire was considered the best defense against snakes. Therefore, it was customary to burn the garbage accumulated over the winter. Not a single crumb can be dropped on the Annunciation, otherwise there will be no salvation from insects.

On the Annunciation, they guessed for happiness - they baked small money in the church prosphora, and whoever gets it, happiness will smile at him all year.

Annunciation consecrated water was placed under the icons. It was believed that it does not deteriorate for a whole year, unless a sorcerer or a person with dark thoughts touches it. They believed that this water would raise a sick person to his feet. She also soldered cattle.

On this day you can not lend anything. You can not pour grain from bag to bag. In order for the chickens to rush to Easter, on the Annunciation, the hostess drove them from the perch with a broom.

Many signs are connected with the weather and the harvest. So, the night before, a dark sky without stars - to poor laying of eggs by chickens. The sun on the feast of the Annunciation is for the harvest of wheat.

Rain on a holiday - for good fishing, for mushroom autumn. If a thunderstorm thundered on a holiday, you can expect a warm summer and an excellent harvest of nuts. And the frost that day could bring good forecasts for the harvest of cucumbers and spring crops.

What are they praying for

Before the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Annunciation, they pray for relief and healing of their ailments, for release from imprisonment, and in general - to receive "good" news about something.

Prayer

Accept, O All-Mighty, Most Pure Lady Mistress of the Theotokos, this honest gift, the only application to You from us, Your unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, the highest being of all creatures of heaven and earth. For the sake of Thee, for the sake of Thee, the Lord of hosts be with us, and by Thee we will know the Son of God, and we will be honored with His Holy Body and His Most Pure Blood. Blessed are you also in childbirth, God-blessed, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, All-holy Theotokos, do not stop praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, to deliver us from every advice of the evil one and from every circumstance, and keep us intact from every poisonous pretense of the devil. But even to the end, by Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if by Your intercession and help we save, glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the One God and all the Creator we send, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.

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The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated by Christian churches of most denominations: Orthodox, Catholics and many Protestant churches.

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The history and meaning of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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The Annunciation means proclaiming to people the news that the Savior is coming, the prediction is beginning to come true, he is already close. According to the church calendar. The Annunciation began to be celebrated, according to the decision of the church, from the 4th century AD. e. This day always falls 9 months before Christmas. .

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The prophet Isaiah, who lived 700 years before the birth of Christ, argued that the Messiah is God in the form of a man; he will be born from an immaculate Virgin, will work miracles and suffer, die for human sins and rise again. Most believers believed that he would come in order to drive foreigners from their land, conquer the whole world and forever remain an earthly king. However, things didn't work out that way. He came unnoticed and only his mother and father knew him.

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Until the age of sixteen, Mary, the future mother of Christ, lived at the temple and was very pious. Then, as she reached the age of majority, she had to either return to her parents or get married. Mary announced her oath to God - to remain forever a Virgin.

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Then She was betrothed to a distant relative, an 80-year-old elderly carpenter Joseph, who was famous for his piety, so that he would take care of Her.

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Four months after the betrothal, an angel appeared to the Virgin Mary, sent by the Lord, who brought her good (i.e. joyful) news: for her righteousness, she was chosen to become the Mother of God, having conceived immaculately from the Holy Spirit. The angel also told the girl that the son who was born should be called Jesus.

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Learning that Mary was carrying a fetus under her breast, Joseph wanted to secretly let her go. But the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: “Joseph, do not be afraid to accept Mary as your wife; for what is born in it is from the Holy Spirit. He will save people from their sins." And Joseph did as the angel told him - he accepted his wife. They had a son and named him Jesus . Everything as predicted.

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For each of the Christians, this day is the beginning of the liberation of mankind from the power of sin and the inevitable death associated with it. This is one of the most important (twelfth) holidays in Orthodoxy, standing on a par with Easter, Christmas and Transfiguration.

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The Church considers the event that took place on the day of the Annunciation to be the first act of the atoning sacrifice subsequently offered by Jesus.

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Just as sin entered the world through Eve, so it was overcome by the meekness of the Virgin Mary, who answered the angel: “Let it be done to me according to your word,” submitting to the will of God.

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When is the Annunciation celebrated?

The Annunciation refers to Christian holidays that do not depend on the lunar calendar. It is celebrated annually on April 7 (March 25 old style) , i.e. exactly 9 months before Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7 (December 25).

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The date of the holiday was approved by the Church of Constantinople in the sixth century. From Byzantium, the custom of celebrating the Annunciation spread to the countries of Europe, and after the adoption of Christianity, it also came to Russia.

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Beautiful traditions of the Annunciation.

Why are birds released on the Annunciation?

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In many villages, on the eve of the holiday, “spring was called”: bonfires were lit, round dances were made around them and stoneflies sang, figurines of birds (larks, waders) were baked from dough; girls and children climbed with them onto the roofs or trees and shouted out calls addressed to the birds.

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On the day of the feast of the Annunciation, there was a beautiful tradition of releasing the birds into the wild. Entire bird markets were arranged in the cities, where residents could buy a bird and give it freedom with their own hands.

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If today it is mainly priests who do this, then before the 1917 revolution, many of the believers who came to the festive service brought with them cages with small birds, which were released into the wild.

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This action symbolizes the human soul, languishing in the cage of sin. but through the Good News received the hope of freedom.

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The custom brings special joy to children who like to think that a bird released from a cage will fly home.

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Sometimes it is used by lovers of easy money, who specially for the holiday catch small birds and sell them to believers with children.

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If the doves released by the priest, as a rule, live in the nearest dovecote, where they return, having received freedom, then the caught birds can live quite far from the place where they are released. They are often in poor condition, emaciated and frightened of being kept in a cage, so few of them can get to their habitat.

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Do not encourage such earnings and buy birds for the Annunciation from random people.

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What to do on the day of the Annunciation.

The spring feast of the Annunciation is accompanied by numerous folk omens.

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It is believed to be correct wishes made for the Annunciation always come true.

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To attract health, they washed themselves with melt water

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Housewives heated salt in a frying pan and add it to meals.

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In the old days they jumped over the fire.

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To attract wealth, they carried coins with them. It was considered the greatest luck to ring them during the cuckoo call.

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Women's rituals and ceremonies are performed on the Annunciation associated with procreation.

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Salt and water are also consecrated.

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On this day, believers attend a festive church service, and light a candle to the Most Holy Theotokos, after which he spends time with his family.

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It is believed that Annunciation ash, which is raked out of the oven at the end of this day, has the property of increasing the harvest of vegetables. Therefore, in houses with stove heating in the villages, today they still store ash from kindling the stove on the day of the holiday in order to scatter it on the beds before planting vegetables.

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Moreover, on this day beekeepers take out beehives with bees.

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What can not be done on the Annunciation?

Some ancient folk customs are associated with the Annunciation among the people.

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There is a belief that on this day so all labor is prohibited that even sinners in hell cease to be tormented and give them rest and freedom.

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It is considered a sin even to leave or go on the road to earn money. . They said: “A bird does not build a nest on the Annunciation, a girl does not weave braids,” that is, any work is considered a sin. It was believed that if a bird curls a nest on the Annunciation, then its wings will weaken, and then it will not be able to fly or flutter.

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However, if you have to go to work, there's nothing you can do about it, and such work is not considered a sin, since it means only work at home in the household.

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However, voluntary housework can bring trouble. . All planted seedlings will not be accepted, and the sown grain will not sprout.

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Do not work hard or do housework.

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If possible, it is advisable not to leave home anywhere on this day. by postponing the trip for at least one day.

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Shouldn't go hunting and kill God's innocent creatures.

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One of the popular prohibitions is associated with women's hair: It is believed that on this day you can not weave braids and make complex hairstyles.

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However, the church does not support this view: of course, you can comb your hair and braid a braid, you just shouldn’t give too much effort to caring for your appearance. It is better to take care of the purity of your soul and devote a little more time to prayer.

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Signs for the Feast of the Annunciation

Many signs have been preserved and have come down to our time.

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The most important of them - you can not do anything at home , all earthworks are prohibited.

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The day of the week on which the Annunciation fell this year, considered unfavorable for sowing and planting, as well as starting new businesses. But the day following it, on the contrary, is considered very successful and favorable.

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It is customary not to wear new clothes for the first time on the Annunciation , otherwise it quickly wears off.

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From the day of the Annunciation, healthy peasants moved in the cold part of the hut - the beginning of summer.

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It was also considered a sin to continue working in the evenings with a candle. Those who did not adhere to the rules were allegedly threatened with crop failure and other misfortunes.

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On the eve of the Annunciation, it was customary for the peasants to sow peas.

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Signs about the weather and harvest on the day of the Annunciation

If there is snow on the roofs on the Annunciation, then it will lie even before Yegory (May 6).
If there is frost on this day, then several more frosty matinees are expected, in the north they are counted up to forty.
Warm on the Annunciation - a lot of frost ahead.
On the Annunciation without swallows - a cold spring.
The winter journey ends either a week before the Annunciation, or a week after the Annunciation.
On the eve of the night, a dark sky without stars - to poor laying of eggs by chickens.
The sun on the feast of the Annunciation is for the harvest of wheat.
Rain holiday - for good fishing, for mushroom autumn.
If a thunderstorm thundered on a holiday, you can expect a warm summer with an excellent harvest of nuts.
And the frost that day could bring good forecasts for the harvest of cucumbers and spring crops.

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Signs with prosphora for the day of the Annunciation

In order for the year to be calm and successful, good health, a prosperous family, it was necessary be sure to eat the prosphora consecrated in the church.

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It was baked for each member of the family or bought, then crumbled and eaten.

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Often crumbs of this church bread were mixed with seeds to get a better harvest, mixed with livestock and bird feed. Even for bees, it was mixed with honey and fed to their apiary. The peasants believed that this would bring health to all living creatures.

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Andrei Rublev's masterpiece can be considered the main icon of the holiday:

An angel descends to the Virgin to proclaim to her the "Good News".

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Archangel Gabriel brought the biggest news to the Virgin Mary - the Son of God becomes the Son of man. The prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, the Mother of God responds with consent to the angel's message: "Let it be to me according to your word." Without this voluntary consent, God could not have become a man. He could not be incarnated, since God does not act by force, does not force us to do anything. Man is given complete freedom to respond to God with consent and love.

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Another famous painting by Sandro Botticelli is also dedicated to the Annunciation.

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Celebration of the Annunciation is not postponed even on the day of Easter, if these holidays coincide, and if this celebration falls on the days of fasting, then fasting is weakened. According to the Church Charter, this day is blessed eating fish and oil.

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Blessings, friends

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I want to congratulate you!

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I wish you patience

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Faith in God and forgiveness

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And peace in your soul

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Paradise in the heart, in a hut,

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And hope and humility

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And love and inspiration!

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And warmth, and blessings, and light,

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Sun, joy and summer!

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Plans for all implementations

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And dreams come true!

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On Orthodox icons, it is customary to depict the Archangel Gabriel holding a flower in his hands - a symbol of good news. It was he who was granted by God to bring people joyful, in other words, good news. Therefore, Archangel Gabriel is always a welcome guest. But he brought the most good news for all people in the world two thousand years ago, to the very young Virgin Mary. The Messenger of God announced that the Savior of the world would be incarnated from Her womb. It is with these words of his that the history of the feast of the Annunciation begins.

Marriage of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In ancient Judea, people matured early. Adults were considered to have reached the age of fourteen. So the Blessed Virgin Mary, having barely parted from her childhood, and brought up from an early age in the temple, was supposed by law to either return to her parents or get married. But the vow of eternal virginity given at some time blocked the way for Her to simple family happiness. From now on, her life belonged only to God.

Her mentors, the priests of the temple where she spent her childhood and youth, found a simple and wise solution: the Virgin Mary was betrothed to a distant relative, an 80-year-old elder named Joseph. Thus, the life of the young woman is financially secure, and the vow she gave to the Lord remained unbroken. After the marriage ceremony, Mary settled in the city of Nazareth in the house of her betrothed. It was under this title that Saint Joseph, the guardian of the purity and virginity of the future Mother of God, entered the Holy Scriptures.

Appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin of Nazareth

The Blessed Virgin lived in the new house for four months, devoting all Her time to prayers and reading the Holy Scriptures. It was behind this pious occupation that her messenger of God, the archangel Gabriel, found her. Under the rustle of his wings, he announced to the astonished Virgin about the greatest mission entrusted to her by the Creator of the universe.

This event was called the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. The history of the holiday cannot be complete if you do not pay attention to why the Lord chose Her. The answer is simple - exceptional purity, purity and devotion to God singled her out from a great many other girls. For such a great mission, a righteous woman was needed, equal to whom there has been no equal since the creation of the world.

Willingness to do the will of the Creator

To understand the full significance of the event described in the Gospel, it is important to take into account another side of what happened. In this case, as always, the Lord provides his creation - man with full action. Pay attention to how important the response of the Virgin Mary and Her voluntary consent are to Archangel Gabriel. There is no hint of any coercion here.

The messenger of God speaks of conception, which must take place contrary to human nature, which cannot but cause a skeptical reaction, but the power of Mary's faith is so great that She unconditionally believes everything she hears. The question of how she can conceive, not knowing her husband, comes down only to the desire to know the particulars of the future. Her readiness to fulfill the destined is clear from every line describing the great Biblical event - the Annunciation.

The history of the holiday, briefly about the most important

This event has become the subject of study by many scientists. As is clear from their writings, which are centered on the history of the Annunciation, a simple logical reasoning was used to establish the date of the celebration.

If we consider the moment of the Immaculate Conception to be the day when the Virgin Mary, in response to the words of the archangel Gabriel, answered: “Let it be according to your word,” then it is quite natural that this day should be separated from the day when Jesus Christ was born, that is, from the holiday Christmas, for nine months. It is not difficult to calculate that such a day for Orthodox Christians is March 25, and for Western Christians.

Discoveries of St. Helena Equal to the Apostles

The Feast of the Annunciation, whose history goes back to ancient times, according to historians, began to be celebrated in the 4th century, although images of the scene of this event were discovered during excavations of catacombs dating back to the 3rd and even 2nd centuries. In the 4th century, the most important event in the life of the entire Christian world took place - the Equal-to-the-Apostles Helena discovered the places of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and began the construction of churches in the Holy Land.

Naturally, this caused an increased interest in everything connected with Christmas, Sunday and all other events of the Savior's earthly life. It is not surprising that it was during this period that the appearance of the holiday was celebrated. Thus, the history of the feast of the Annunciation has a direct connection with the discoveries of this great ascetic.

Celebration of the Annunciation in Byzantium and in the West

Following further in chronological order, it should be noted that the history of the Orthodox holiday of the Annunciation has its origin in Byzantium. In the 7th century, he firmly entered the number of the most celebrated days of the church calendar. However, it must be admitted that in the historical documents of the two previous centuries there are separate references to him, but, apparently, we are talking about only isolated cases.

In the Western tradition, the history of the feast of the Annunciation begins at about the same period as in the Eastern Church. Sergius I (687-701) included it among the three main holidays dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was celebrated quite solemnly and was accompanied by a festive procession through the streets of Rome.

Historical names of this holiday and its status

It is curious that this holiday was not always called the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. The history of the holiday remembers other names. For example, in the writings of some ancient authors, it is referred to as the "Day of Greeting" or "Annunciation". The name that is used today comes from the Greek word "evangelismos". For the first time it is found in historical documents of the 7th century.

At that time, the holiday was considered equally both the Lord's and the Theotokos, but time has made its own changes. If in the Orthodox tradition of the East it still remains one of the most important events of the year, then in the West its role has narrowed somewhat, leaving it only a place of a secondary holiday.

Celebration of the Annunciation in the Orthodox world

In the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelfth, great, non-transitory holidays. As during the services of other Mother of God holidays, the clergy on this day are supposed to wear blue vestments. There are a number of circumstances that indicate that the feast of the Annunciation has a very special meaning in the Orthodox Church.

History in particular indicates how much attention was paid to him by the fathers of the Church. At the 6th Ecumenical Council, held in 680 in Constantinople, a document was adopted according to which on the day of this holiday, despite the fact that according to the calendar it falls during Great Lent, the liturgy of John Chrysostom is served, and not the Presanctified gifts, which is pointing out its exceptional importance.

The Annunciation writes about the importance of the holiday in his writings and He calls it the “first holiday” and even the “root of the holidays”. Today, on this day, the weakening of fasting is prescribed. In particular, eating fish and oil (oil) is allowed. Among the people, it is one of the most beloved, carrying peace and joy, because it is based on the good news, that is, the news filled with the Grace of God.

Revival of Orthodox culture in Russia

In our days, when after many decades of state atheism the Orthodox Church has again taken its rightful place, many of our compatriots are filled with the desire to return to the spiritual origins of their people and learn as much as possible from what was closed to them until recently. In particular, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary among them is of great interest. The history of the holiday, traditions and rituals - everything becomes the subject of an inquisitive study.

Another important aspect of modern life is the study of the foundations of Orthodox culture among children. This is important in order not to repeat the tragic mistake of past years, when entire generations in our country grew up and entered into life in isolation from the faith of their ancestors. And in this regard, work is underway today. Many Biblical events and holidays are presented in a child-friendly edition.

Teaching the basics of Orthodox culture to children

This also applies to the feast of the Annunciation. The history of the holiday for children is presented in such a way that, despite the adapted nature of the text, the meaning of the event itself remains unchanged and understandable to the child. This, of course, is the complexity of the task. The history of the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, briefly but meaningfully stated, should be deposited in the most graceful way in the children's minds.

An invaluable role in the revival of Orthodox culture is played by the Sunday schools organized today at many churches. By the way, their program also includes acquainting students with the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the holiday for children and adults attending these classes is of great interest, as many have heard about it, but have a very vague idea of its content.

Folk traditions on the day of the Annunciation

For a long time, the people have established traditions associated with this holiday. Since it falls on the spring month, then, of course, many of them are associated with the beginning of field work. There was a tradition according to which, on the day of the holiday, the grain prepared for sowing was poured into a tub, and, having placed the icon of the Annunciation on top, they recited a special prayer for the granting of a bountiful harvest. In it, the peasants turned to the Most Holy Theotokos and Her Eternal Son with a request to bless the grain "sown in mother earth."

There were also traditions that were clear echoes of paganism. Among them was, for example, such. In the evening on the eve of the holiday, cabbage heads of last year's harvest were taken out of cellars or storerooms. They, secretly from everyone, were laid on the ground near the road along which they were going to go to church the next day. And so the next day, returning after mass, it was necessary to pick up the heads of cabbage, find the seeds in them and plant them in the garden along with fresh seedlings. It was believed that in this case a rich crop of cabbage would be born, which is not afraid of any frost.

The ancient worship of our pagan ancestors to fire and its cleansing power found expression in one of the folk Annunciation traditions. This refers to the custom according to which on this day they burned old clothes, shoes, bedding and the like. Living quarters and outbuildings were fumigated with smoke. Particular attention was paid to livestock, which was also carefully fumigated, hoping thereby to protect it from all evil spirits.

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 Great Lent and coincides with What does this holiday mean for believers and how to properly celebrate the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos?

The origin of the holiday

The name "Annunciation" (in Greek "Evangelismos") is translated as "good news" or "gospel". Fully in Orthodoxy, this day is called the Annunciation of the Blessed Lady of our 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 of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, in the flesh from her. “The angel, having entered to Her, said: Rejoice, Blessed One! You have found grace with God, and behold, you will conceive in a womb, and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name: Jesus,” these events are described in the canonical Gospel.

Date of celebration

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. Unlike Easter, this day has a non-transferable date and is counted exactly nine months after the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

In early Easter, that is, from April 4 to April 13, the Annunciation can fall on the day a week before the celebration of Easter, and on the week after the Bright Resurrection of Christ.

A joyful holiday on 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. 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 girl does not braid her braids, and the bird does not curl her nest."

The Church ranks the holiday among the twelve, that is, the twelve most important holidays in Orthodoxy after Easter, along with Baptism, Meeting, Christmas, Ascension of the Lord, Assumption of the Virgin and Holy Trinity Day. Most of them also have a fixed date.

According to the tradition of theologians, on the day of the Annunciation, every believer should put aside all worldly affairs, and especially work, for the sake of prayer and presence in the temple.

In 2018, the celebration of the Annunciation coincides with the Holy Saturday of Great Lent, which means that fish and vegetable oil should not be consumed on this day. According to the monastic charter, fish food is allowed during fasting twice - on Palm Sunday and the Annunciation, however, the significance of the days of Passion Week cancels such indulgences.

Traditions of the Annunciation

On this holiday, funeral prayers, services are not performed and weddings are not held. After the Liturgy, white birds are released into the sky in most churches. The symbol of this day is 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, on the eve of the day, believers bake lenten cookies in the form of birds and treat each other with them after the morning liturgy and communion.

Many believers believe that on this day the power of medicinal plants doubles. Today, the Annunciation is also considered the day that announces to the world about spring and freedom. By the way, in Russia, from ancient times, migratory birds caught in snares were released at this time - the lark, pigeons and tits. On the same day, it was customary to “call for spring”, that is, to gather together, and with songs “springweeds” to ask nature for favor and a good harvest in the future.

- the twelfth holiday. What are the features of the iconography of the holiday, why birds are released on the Annunciation, what this holiday and the Gospel have in common - read the answers to these questions in the material of the magazine "Thomas".

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Event:

The Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth to announce to the Virgin Mary that she was to conceive from the Holy Spirit and give birth to a baby: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David, His father; and shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom shall have no end. Mary answered the angel: behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:26-38).

Icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Icon from the monastery of St. Catherine at Sinai. End of the 12th century

The icon of the Annunciation depicts the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, whose apparent surprise is shown in conjunction with the deepest humility before the omnipotence of God. Above the archangel and Mary is a special form of a halo - a mandorla, which symbolizes the Divine manifestation and the conception of Christ. The red thread in the hands of Mary is the yarn, which, according to church tradition, she was engaged in on this great day for the whole Church.

The essence of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Annunciation is celebrated exactly 9 months before the Nativity of Christ. According to the teachings of the Church, a person is born at the moment of conception in the womb, and not at the moment of his birth.

According to the teaching of the Church, God in his greatness descended, belittled Himself to a man, and the Virgin Mary, having become the mother of the incarnate God, transcended the entire human and angelic world. To explain the mystery of the Incarnation, the Church Fathers used the Greek word "kenosis", meaning "humiliation" or "exhaustion".

Apparitions of angels Divine messengers have been known for thousands of years and have not only produced admiration, but also inspired fear of their greatness. The man of the Old Testament understood his unworthiness before the bright beings of the other world. But Christ, having become one of the people, made man the most worthy of created beings.

“Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you, blessed are you in women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, as if the Savior gave birth to our souls”,

The words of this one of the most famous and beloved prayers of the Church, addressed to the Most Holy Theotokos, almost literally repeat the promise to the Virgin Mary, uttered by the archangel Gabriel.

The Annunciation Became the Beginning of the Fulfillment of the Divine Promise to Fallen Humanity in the person of Adam and Eve that their descendant, literally, “the seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) will destroy the serpent (devil) that deceived them. "The seed of the wife" is an image of the unmarried conception of Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.

Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and give birth to a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel,- the lines of the most important Old Testament prophecy about the birth of the Savior from the immaculate Virgin (Is 7:14). The name Emmanuel literally means "God is with us", which is why it is sometimes found on icons above the image of the Christ Child.

Archangel Gabriel on icons it is often depicted with a cane as a traveler and messenger, with a candle or a mirror - as a messenger of secrets, or with a lily - a symbol of blessing; he is repeatedly mentioned in the Old Testament, revered in Judaism and in Islam.

Annunciation in Greek - Gospel, Good News. That is how the first four books of the New Testament, the most important books of the Bible, are called. The prophecy about the birth of the Savior of the world, the fulfillment of which was so intensely awaited in Judea, came true like a light breath of wind, imperceptibly to the whole world. Bowing before the power of the faith of the Mother of God and her complete trust in God, the Orthodox Church gives the Virgin Mary the primacy of honor among all people ever born.

The Annunciation is the central event of the entire sacred history, it is exactly in the middle between the Old and New Testaments. The covenant with Abraham began with his elderly wife Sarah's doubts about her ability to become a mother, the ancestor of God's chosen people. The New Testament became possible thanks to the pure faith of the Virgin Mary in the revelation of the supernatural birth of her future Son - the Messiah, the Savior of all mankind (Luke 1:26–38).

Traditions of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The tradition of releasing white doves on the Annunciation goes back to the folk tradition of meeting spring. Like many others, this tradition has become “churched”. From the Gospel we learn that the Holy Spirit descended on the Lord during his baptism in the Jordan River in the form of a dove. Archangel Gabriel also explains the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary of Jesus Christ by the invasion of the Holy Spirit on her : The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you(Luke 1:35). From this fusion of folk custom, the baptismal image of the Holy Spirit and the gospel words, the modern tradition arose.