Feast Day/Commemorated: March 25
The Annunciation: Gabriel's Message to Mary
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might 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 bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her" (Lk 1.26–38).
The Joyful News of Salvation
The Feast of the Annunciation, celebrated through its Matins and Divine Liturgy services, repeatedly emphasizes the joyous news of humanity's salvation through the birth of the Savior.
"Today is the beginning of our salvation, the revelation of the eternal mystery. The Son of God becomes the Son of the virgin, as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you" (Troparion).
A notable aspect of this feast is the Matinal Canon, which unfolds as a dialogue between the Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. Another cherished element of the celebration is the Magnification, our personal salutation to the Virgin Mother, echoing the archangel's words:
"With the voice of the archangel we cry to Thee, O Pure One: Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee!" (Magnification).
Thus, the Feast of the Annunciation marks our own embracing of the good news of salvation and our glorification of Mary, the maiden who became the Mother of God in the flesh.
Observance During Great Lent
Since the Feast of the Annunciation typically occurs during Great Lent, its observance adapts depending on the specific day it falls. If the feast lands on a weekday during Lent, which is most common, the Divine Liturgy is held in the evening following Vespers. This celebration takes place after a full day of complete abstinence, adhering to the fasting rules for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. The Divine Liturgy of the Annunciation is the sole eucharistic liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom permitted on a weekday during Great Lent.
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