Christian holiday of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Annunciation is one of the most important and joyful holidays in the Orthodox calendar. This year, the day of the good news falls on the Week - the 4th week of Lent. We talk about the history of the holiday and how to celebrate it.

Celebration date

The date of the Annunciation is considered to be March 25 according to the Gregorian calendar and April 7 according to the Julian calendar. From December 25 (January 7), which since the 4th century has been considered the day of the Nativity of Christ, this date is separated by exactly nine months.

In Orthodoxy, the Annunciation is included in the list of twelve most important holidays after Easter. It is celebrated every year on the same day. In the Orthodox Church, which uses the Julian calendar, this is April 7th. This year, the Annunciation falls during Lent and coincides with Holy Saturday. This means that you will not be able to eat fish on the holiday. According to the monastery charter, during Lent, fish is allowed only twice - on the Annunciation and on Palm Sunday. But the significance of Good Friday, as well as every day of Holy Week, cancels these relaxations.

Meaning and history

The events of the Annunciation are described by only one evangelist - Luke, and are also found in some apocrypha.

Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced: “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you! Blessed are you among women,” saying that She had acquired the greatest grace from God - to be the Mother of the Son of God. In the Christian tradition, it is believed that this news was the first good news that humanity received since the fall of Adam and Eve.

Name of the holiday

The very name “Annunciation” (“Evangelismos” in Greek) comes from the word “Gospel”. “Gospel” means “good news”, “good news”.

The name of the holiday came into use only from the 7th century. Before this, in the works of the authors of those years there were names: “Day of Greeting”, “Annunciation”, “Greeting to Mary”, “Conception of Christ”, “Beginning of Redemption”, etc. The full name of the holiday in Orthodoxy is: “Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.”

Although the holiday itself appeared earlier: most historians believe that the tradition of celebrating the Annunciation was established no earlier than the 4th century.

Who celebrates the Annunciation on April 7

The Jerusalem, Russian, Georgian, Serbian Orthodox Churches, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (within Ukraine), as well as the Old Believers celebrate the Annunciation according to the Julian calendar - April 7.

Holiday traditions

According to tradition, after the Liturgy, white birds are released in many churches. This custom goes back to the folk tradition of welcoming spring. Like many others, this pagan custom was adapted to Christian values ​​with the advent of Christianity. 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 Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary through the action of the Holy Spirit : The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you (Luke 1:35). This tradition emerged from the fusion of folk custom, the image of the Holy Spirit and the words of the Gospel.

The Church says that on the day of the Annunciation, as on other major church holidays, every Christian believer should try to put aside their affairs for the sake of being present in church and praying.

There are no funeral services or prayers on this day, and the church also does not hold weddings on this day. Those who want to get married without conflicting with Orthodox traditions can do so starting from the first Sunday after Easter.

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

History and meaning of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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. .

The Prophet Isaiah, who lived 700 years before the birth of Christ, argued that the Messiah is God in human form; he will be born of an immaculate Virgin, will perform miracles and suffer, will die for human sins and will be resurrected. Most believers believed that he would come in order to drive foreigners out of their land, conquer the whole world and forever remain the king of the earth. However, that's not how things happened. He came unnoticed and only his mother and father knew him.

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

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

Four months after the engagement, 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 immaculately conceived from the Holy Spirit. The angel also informed the girl that the born Son should be named Jesus.

Having learned 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 your wife; for that which is born in her is of 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 was as predicted.

For each Christian, this day is the beginning of the liberation of humanity 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.

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

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

When is the Annunciation celebrated?

The Annunciation is a Christian holiday that does not depend on the lunar calendar. It is celebrated annually on April 7 (March 25, old style) , i.e. exactly 9 months before the Nativity of Christ, which is celebrated on January 7 (December 25).

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

Beautiful traditions of the Annunciation.

Why are birds released for the Annunciation?

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

On the day of the Annunciation there was a beautiful tradition of releasing birds into the wild. In cities, entire bird markets were set up, where residents could buy a bird and personally give it freedom.

If today this is done mainly by priests, 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 hope for freedom.

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

Sometimes this is used by those who like to make easy money, who catch small birds especially for the holiday and sell them to believers with children.

If the pigeons released by the priest, as a rule, live in the nearest dovecote, where they return after gaining freedom, then the birds that are caught can live quite far from the place where they are released. They are often in poor condition, exhausted and frightened by being kept in a cage, so few of them are able to reach their habitat.

Earnings like this should not be encouraged and buy birds for the Annunciation from random people.

What to do on the day of the Annunciation.

The spring holiday of the Annunciation is accompanied by numerous folk signs.

Believed to be correct Wishes made at the Annunciation always come true.

To attract health, wash your face with melt water

Housewives heated salt in a frying pan and added it to dishes.

In the old days they jumped over a fire.

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

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Women's rituals and ceremonies are performed on the Annunciation related to procreation.

Salt and water are also blessed.

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

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 villages, ash from heating the oven on the day of the holiday is still stored in order to scatter it on the beds before planting vegetables.

Moreover, on this day beekeepers take hives with bees outside.

What should you not do on Annunciation?

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

There is a belief that on this day so all labor is prohibited that even sinners in hell stop being tortured and are given rest and freedom.

Even leaving or going on the road to earn money is considered a sin. . They said: “On Annunciation, a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair,” that is, any work is considered a sin. It was believed that if a bird made a nest on Annunciation Day, its wings would weaken, and then it would be unable to fly or flutter.

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 this only means housework.

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

You should not engage in heavy labor or do housework.

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

You shouldn't go hunting and kill God's innocent creations.

One of the popular prohibitions is related to women's hair: It is believed that on this day one should not braid hair or do complicated hairstyles.

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

Signs for the Feast of the Annunciation

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

The most important of them is that you can’t do anything around the house. , all earthworks are prohibited.

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

It is customary not to wear new clothes for the first time at the Annunciation. , otherwise it will quickly be demolished.

Since the Day of the Annunciation, healthy peasants have moved in the cold part of the hut - the beginning of summer.

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.

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

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

• If there is snow on the roofs at Annunciation, then it will lie there even before Yegor (May 6).
• If there is frost on this day, then expect several more frosty mornings; in the north they count up to forty.
• It's warm for the Annunciation - there's a lot of frost ahead.
• On Annunciation without swallows, it’s a cold spring.
• The winter journey ends either a week before the Annunciation, or a week after the Annunciation.
• The night before, a dark sky without stars means poor egg laying by chickens.
• The sun on the Feast of the Annunciation means the wheat harvest.
• Rain is a holiday - for good fishing, for mushroom autumn.
• If there is a thunderstorm on the holiday, you can expect a warm summer and an excellent harvest of nuts.
• And the frost on this day could bring good forecasts for the harvest of cucumbers and spring crops.

Signs with prosphora for the day of the Annunciation

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

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

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

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

An angel descends to the Virgin to announce the “Good News” to her.

Archangel Gabriel brought the greatest news to the Virgin Mary - the Son of God becomes the Son of Man. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, the Mother of God responds with consent to the angel’s message: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Without this voluntary consent, God could not have become a man. He could not be incarnate, 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.

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

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

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Happy Annunciation, friends

I want to congratulate you!

I wish you patience

Faith in God and forgiveness,

And peace in your soul,

Paradise in the heart, in the hut,

And hope and humility,

Both love and inspiration!

And warmth, and blessings, and light,

Sun, joy and summer!

All implementation plans

And dreams come true!

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 angel’s words, utters very significant 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. You can add healing properties to dishes - salt the prepared food, 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, Annunciation salt has a lot of useful properties similar to those of Thursday salt. 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, do not start any new business all year round. 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 was badly damaged during the Great Patriotic War, and in the 60s it was blown up.
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

In ancient times, the feast of the Annunciation was given different names: the Conception of Christ, the Annunciation of Christ, the Beginning of Redemption, the Annunciation of the Angel to Mary. Nothing is known about where and how the Feast of the Annunciation first appeared. It is only known that in 560 Emperor Justinian indicated the date for the celebration of the Annunciation - March 25 (April 7, new style).

The name of the holiday - Annunciation - conveys the main meaning of the event associated with it: the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the good news about the conception and birth of the Divine Infant Christ. This holiday belongs to the twelve permanent holidays and is celebrated every year on the same April day.
The main icon of the holiday can be considered the masterpiece of Andrei Rublev: an angel descends to the Virgin to announce the “Good News” to her. Archangel Gabriel brought the greatest news to the Virgin Mary - the Son of God becomes the Son of Man. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, the Mother of God responds with consent to the angel’s message: “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Without this voluntary consent, God could not have become a man. He could not be incarnate, 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.

Church Tradition says that at the moment when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, she was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah, precisely those words about the birth of the Messiah. “I am ready to become the last maidservant of the one who will be honored to give birth to the Messiah,” she thought.

Some ancient customs are associated with the Annunciation among the people. They say that on the Annunciation “a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair,” that is, any work is considered a sin.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Annunciation is one of the twelve religious holidays, associated with the Christian legend about the Archangel Gabriel, who announced the future birth of Jesus Christ by the Virgin Mary. Celebrated by believers on March 25 according to the new style (April 7).
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary became an independent holiday in the middle of the 7th century, and served as a constant subject for religious painting.
The Annunciation is always a holiday in the singular, that is, it is established according to the Orthodox calendar on a strictly defined day. On this day, Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary the immaculate conception and the birth of her son Jesus Christ - the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
Until the age of 14, the Blessed Virgin was raised in the temple, and then, according to the law, she had to leave the temple as having reached adulthood and either return to her parents or get married. The priests wanted to marry Her off, but Mary announced to them her promise to God - to remain a Virgin forever. Then the priests betrothed Her to a distant relative, the eighty-year-old elder Joseph, so that he would take care of Her and protect Her virginity. Living in the Galilean city of Nazareth, in the house of Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary led the same modest and solitary life as at the temple.
When the time came for the Son of God to become a man, in the whole world there was no one more holy and worthy than the Virgin Mary. Shortly before the Annunciation, according to legend, about four months, Mary was betrothed to Joseph and lived in Nazareth in his house. Archangel Gabriel was sent to this house; he told her the secret of God’s incarnation from her. Gabriel told her the words that the Church repeats daily in prayer:
“Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Blessed are You among wives! - said St. The Archangel appeared to the Virgin in Nazareth, in the house of Joseph, to whom she was betrothed to guard her virginity. -You have found grace from God. And you will conceive and give birth to a Son and call His name Jesus (Savior). He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” Mary, remembering Her vow not to marry, said to the archangel: “How will this be when I am not married?” The Archangel answered: “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; Therefore, the one born of You will be holy and will be called the Son of God.” “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word!” - Mary answered the archangel then. And the archangel left her.
Having learned that Mary was expecting a child, Joseph wanted to let her go, but the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: “Joseph, son of David! Do not be afraid to accept Mary your wife; for that which is born in Her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus; for He will save His people from their sins.”
No word of the Lord remains powerless, and Mary soon gave birth to the Baby Jesus. Gospel Luke 1:26-35

It was a day like a day, completely ordinary:
There was bustle all around,
But with an inaudible gait
An angel entered Mary's house.
He exclaimed: “Hail Mary!
The Lord has blessed you! —
And about the birth of the Messiah
The Messenger of God announced:
“He will be called the Son of God
And he will reign forever.
He who believes will be saved.
May man be happy!”

The Annunciation is the conception of Jesus Christ. Through the action of God's grace, a new human life began in the womb of Mary. Christians know the laws of biology, that’s why they talk about Miracles. The miracle consists not so much in the fact that the Virgin, who did not know her husband, began to bear a child, but that God Himself identified Himself with this child and with everything that would happen in His life. God doesn't just inhabit the Virgin. Through the Archangel Gabriel, the Almighty, the Master and the Lord asks for Mary's consent. And only after her consent, the Word becomes flesh.
At the Annunciation, the Most Pure Virgin Mary is glorified, thanks are said to the Lord God and veneration is paid to his messenger Archangel Gabriel, who served the sacrament of salvation.
The Feast of the Annunciation glorifies the inseparable and unmerged union of two natures in Jesus Christ - Divinity with humanity.
King Solomon, who received from God all the light of wisdom to explore the secrets of nature, after surveying everything that is in heaven and on earth - past, present and future - decided that there is nothing new in the world under the sun. But in the Annunciation to the grace-filled Virgin Mary, God created a completely new thing, which has never happened in past centuries and will never happen in future ones.
Humanity has been waiting for this day for more than five thousand years. The divine and prophetic books spoke about the coming of the Savior to the world. And the long-awaited hour has come. This happened in March, at the same time when the creation of the world took place. By the will of heaven, the good news of the birth of the Son of God came not to the learned nobility, but to the modest town of Nazareth, to the poor house of the carpenter Joseph. The priests entrusted this worthy man with the fatherly protection of the Virgin Mary, who had been brought up in the temple, and who had vowed to preserve her virginity. Both of them belonged to an impoverished royal family.
According to legend, Mary once thought about the prediction of the ancient prophet Isaiah that the Savior should be miraculously born from an Immaculate Virgin who did not know a husband. As if in response to the thoughts of the Blessed Virgin, Archangel Gabriel quietly appeared before her and said: “Rejoice, full of grace!

IMPORTANCE AND MEANING OF THE HOLIDAY

“Annunciation” means good, joyful, good news. In essence, this is the same as “Gospel,” because this word is translated from Greek as “good news.”

The Feast of the Annunciation is dedicated to the remembrance of the day when, as the Bible says, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced the coming birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who would take upon himself the sins of the whole world.
From April 7 (March 25, old style) to January 7 (December 25, old style), i.e. before the birth of Christ - exactly nine months.
The event in question happened, according to Scripture, four months after Mary's betrothal to a distant relative, the eighty-year-old elder Joseph (Mary, who had declared her desire to remain a Virgin and devote herself to God, was entrusted to his care).
Mary lived in Joseph's house in the city of Nazareth, leading a modest and pious life there, just as at the temple where she had been raised before. And then one day, when the Virgin was reading the Holy Scriptures, an angel appeared to her and addressed her with the following words: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you; Blessed are You among women." Archangel Gabriel announced to her that she had found the greatest grace - to become the mother of the Son of God. Maria was embarrassed by these words and asked how a son could be born to someone who did not know her husband. Gabriel answered: “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.”

It is noteworthy that, having learned the will of God, the Virgin Mary showed deep faith and humility, answering: “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:28-38).
The Church believes that on this day the Gospel story begins: along with the good news, the beginning of the salvation of the human race was laid.
The Church began to celebrate the Annunciation no later than the 4th century. Initially, the holiday had different names (“Conception of Christ”, “Beginning of Redemption”, “Annunciation of the Angel to Mary”), in the 7th century it was given the name “Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”.

Why are white doves released at the Annunciation?

Since ancient times, the white dove has symbolized peace and good news. In addition, the dove is a symbol of the gracious action of the Holy Spirit, and snow-white wings are at the same time a symbol of the purity of the Virgin Mary herself. According to tradition, the Church brings defenseless birds “as a gift” to the Mother of God.
In the post-Soviet history of the Russian Orthodox Church, this custom was revived in 1995, and today in many churches white doves are released into the sky after the Liturgy.
It is interesting that before the 1917 revolution, the birds that the Patriarch released into the sky above the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin were bought on Okhotny Ryad. Today, the pigeons that the Patriarch launches are raised by the Federation of Sports Pigeon Breeding. After these pigeons soar into the sky, after some time they gather in groups and then return to their nurseries in the capital and Moscow region.

Lenten indulgences

Please note that the church charter allows those fasting on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to eat fish.

Materials from the sites Patriarchia.ru, Pravmir.ru were used.

For Orthodox Christians, April 7th is the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bake figurines of larks

The Annunciation is a good day when the Archangel Gabriel brought the good news to the Virgin Mary about the upcoming birth of the Son of God Jesus Christ and that She was chosen to 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) 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.

Archangel Gabriel, sent by God, appeared to her and greeted her with the words: “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you; Blessed are You among women." (Luke 1:28)

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 His Kingdom will have no end. - Mary told the Angel; How will this happen 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).

Thus, in the bowels of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Blessed Fruit arose - the God-Man Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who took upon Himself the sins of the whole world.
If we talk about folk traditions, then on the feast of the Annunciation it was customary to release birds from cages into the wild. In this regard, the bird markets were crowded before the holiday. Parents went there with their children to buy birds and release them on the holiday, after the Divine Liturgy.

For this day, figurines of larks were baked from Lenten dough, paper figurines of angels were cut out and glued in honor of the Archangel Gabriel.

Let us remind you that on April 28, the Orthodox people call the entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem “Palm Sunday”; Great Easter this year is celebrated on May 5.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN

(Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia)

"The Annunciation", Fra Beato Angelico, 1430-1432, Prado. In the background, Archangel Michael expels Adam and Eve from paradise after the Fall (from the consequences of which Jesus, who was conceived at that moment, will save humanity). Mary is interpreted as the "new Eve"

Annunciation (Church Slav. Annunciation; tracing Greek. Εὐαγγελισμός [τῆς Θεοτόκου]; lat. Annuntiatio - proclamation) - an evangelical event and a Christian holiday dedicated to it; Archangel Gabriel's announcement to the Virgin Mary of the future birth according to the flesh of Jesus Christ from her.
Celebrated on March 25th. The Russian Orthodox Church and other churches using the Julian calendar celebrate the Annunciation on April 7 according to the Gregorian calendar (in the 20th-21st centuries). In Orthodoxy it is one of the twelve holidays.

ACCORDING TO THE CANONICAL GOSELIES

The events of the Annunciation are described by the only evangelist - the Apostle Luke. In his Gospel, he reports that in the sixth month after the conception of Saint John the Baptist by righteous Elizabeth, Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth to the Virgin Mary with the news of the impending birth from her of 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.
(Luke 1:28-33)

According to a number of theologians, the words of the Archangel Gabriel - “Rejoice, full of grace” - became the first “good” news for humanity after its fall. Theophylact of Bulgaria, in his interpretation of the Gospel of Luke, writes: “Since the Lord said to Eve: “In illness you will give birth to children” (Gen. 3:16), now this illness is resolved by the joy that the Angel brings to the Virgin, saying: Rejoice, full of grace! Because Eve was cursed, Mary now hears: Blessed are you.”
Doubting (according to Gregory of Neocaesarea, fearing a violation of her virginity), Mary asked the angel the question: “How will this be when I don’t know my husband?” To which the angel promised a seedless, mysterious conception - “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you,” and then, in confirmation, “that no word of God will remain powerless,” he gave the example of her relative Elizabeth.
Mary, seeing the will of God in the angel’s words, utters very significant words: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” It is believed that at the moment the Virgin Mary uttered these words, her immaculate conception of Jesus Christ occurred. Nikolai Kavasila comments on these words:
The Incarnation was not only the work of the Father, His Power and His Spirit, but also the work of the will and faith of the Blessed Virgin. Without the consent of the Immaculate One, without the assistance of Her faith, this plan would have remained unfulfilled, just as without the action of the three Persons of the Divine Trinity Themselves. Only after God has instructed and convinced the Holy Virgin does He accept Her as a Mother and borrow from Her flesh, which She joyfully provides to Him. Just as He became incarnate voluntarily, so He also wanted His Mother to give birth to Him freely and of Her own free will.
With her submission and consent, according to Athanasius the Great, Mary expressed her confession of faith. He compares it to a tablet, “on which the Scribe writes whatever pleases Him. Let the Lord of all write and do what He will.”

According to apocryphal sources

The story of the Annunciation is also reflected in apocryphal texts. It is described in the following apocrypha of the 2nd century: “The Proto-Gospel of James” and “The Book of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary and the Childhood of the Savior” (also known as the “Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew”). The apocryphal texts do not change the general story of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary with the news of the birth of the Savior from her, but they add to this story a number of details that formed the iconography of this holiday.
According to the apocrypha, it fell to Mary by lot to weave a new curtain of purple for the Temple of Jerusalem. Having gone to fetch water, she heard a voice at the well saying to her: “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women." Not seeing anyone nearby, she was frightened and returned home (this plot is sometimes also called the “pre-annunciation” - that is, the preparatory stage for the Annunciation itself.) Sitting down at the spinning wheel, Mary saw an angel who put her to rest with the words: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God and you will conceive for His glory.” (The prototype of the scene at the well is considered to be the story of the Old Testament Rebekah, who gave Eliezer a drink, sent by her future groom Isaac).
The apocrypha also emphasizes the mysterious form of conception, and to Mary’s question “Shall I conceive from the living God and give birth as any woman gives birth?” The angel replies: “Not so, Mary, but the power of the Most High will overshadow You.” After the angel left, Mary finished spinning the wool and took it to the high priest, who blessed her, saying: “God has magnified Your name, and You will be blessed among all the nations of the earth.”
Also, church tradition says that the Virgin Mary, at the moment of the appearance of an angel to her, read an excerpt from the book of the prophet Isaiah with his prophetic words: “Behold, the Virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son.” For this reason, in the Annunciation scene, the Virgin Mary is sometimes depicted with an open book.
The Annunciation is also mentioned in the Koran (3:45-51, 19:16-26), where this plot does not have such significance, since in Islam Jesus is not God, but a prophet.
[edit] Related stories

Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth

The episode of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel, according to the Gospel of Luke, was preceded by Gabriel's visit to the barren Zechariah, married to Mary's relative Elizabeth, during which the messenger promised the elderly couple the birth of the future John the Baptist. And after the Annunciation, the Mother of God went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was preparing to leave household chores due to her pregnancy. There was a meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, during which Elizabeth became the second, after the angel, and the first of the people, to tell Mary about the future share of her baby and uttered the words that became part of many prayers: “Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb! » (see Ave Maria, Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

Joseph the Betrothed:

According to the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 1:19-24), the Archangel Gabriel appeared in a dream to Joseph the Betrothed, the husband of the Virgin Mary, who learned that before their betrothal she became pregnant and wanted to “secretly let Her go.” Gabriel reassured Joseph, saying: “Do not be afraid to accept Mary your wife, for what is born in Her is from the Holy Spirit; She will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” After this, as the evangelist narrates, “Joseph took his wife, and did not know her.”

Symbolic meaning

Since at least the 2nd century, the Annunciation has been seen as the first act in Christian history of redemption in which the obedience of the Virgin Mary balances the disobedience of Eve (interpretation of Irenaeus of Lyons). Mary becomes the "new Eve". The text of the famous hymn Ave maris stella (9th century) says that the name Eva is an anagram of the word Ave, with which Gabriel addressed the “new Eve”. In other words, to mention Eve was to also mention Mary. Jerome derived a concise formula: “death through Eve, life through Mary.” Augustine wrote: “through a woman there is death, and through a woman there is life.”
It is believed that God sent the archangel with the good news on the same day, March 25, on which the Creation of the world took place (see more about the date below) - thus, humanity was given a second chance.
The mysterious conception of the Virgin Mary, according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church, refers to the great mystery of piety: in it, humanity brought as a gift to God its purest creation - the Virgin, capable of becoming the mother of the Son of God, and God, having accepted the gift, responded to it with the gift of grace of the Holy Spirit.

Feast of the Annunciation

The modern name of the holiday - Εὐαγγελισμός ("Annunciation") - began to be used no earlier than the 7th century. The ancient church called it differently:
in Greek: ἡμέρα ἀσπασμοῦ (day of greeting), ἀγγελισμός (announcement), ἡμέρα / ἑορτή τοῦ εὐαγγελισμο ῦ (day/feast of the Annunciation), χαιρετισμός (from the beginning of the angelic greeting χαῖρε, κέχαριτωμένη - “Hail, full of grace” (Luke 1:28) );
in Latin: annuntiatio angeli ad beatam Mariam Virginem (Annunciation of the Angel to the Blessed Virgin Mary), Mariae salutatio (Greeting to Mary), annuntiatio sanctae Mariae de conceptione (Annunciation of the Conception of St. Mary), annuntiatio Christi (Annunciation of Christ), conceptio Christi ( Conception of Christ), initium redemptionis (Beginning of redemption), festum incarnationis (feast of the Incarnation).
The full name of the Feast of the Annunciation in the Russian Orthodox Church is defined in the Menaion: “Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos, and Ever-Virgin Mary.” It should be noted that in Greek and Church Slavonic the word “Annunciation” requires the genitive case after itself, but when translated into Russian, both the genitive and dative cases are possible, that is, “The Annunciation to our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.” Usually in modern publications the first version is used, obviously not without the influence of the Church Slavonic language, but the use of the second is also known.
The modern official name of this holiday in the Roman Catholic Church - Annuntiatio Domini Iesu Christi ("Annunciation of the Lord Jesus Christ") - was adopted after the Second Vatican Council. Before this, the variant was used: Annuntiatio beatae Mariae Virginis (“Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Determination of the date and history of the establishment of the holiday

For the first time, the date March 25 appears in the writings of Western authors of the 3rd century - Tertullian and the martyr Hippolytus of Rome as the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ according to the Roman calendar. This circumstance formed the basis of the Alexandrian and later Byzantine chronological systems, identifying the dates of the Annunciation and Easter.
There are two approaches to determining the date of the Annunciation:
Connection with the date of the Nativity of Christ: March 25 is exactly 9 months away from December 25, which no later than the 4th century was universally accepted as the date of the Nativity of Christ.
Connection with the date of the creation of man: a number of church authors (Athanasius the Great, Anastasius of Antioch) believe that the Annunciation and the conception of Jesus Christ occurred on March 25, since on this day, according to one group of legends, God created man, and man, burdened with original sin, must be recreated at the time in which he was created (that is, redemption began).

The establishment of this holiday in Constantinople dates back to approximately the middle of the 6th century as a consequence of the process of “historicization” of evangelical celebrations in the liturgical calendar, but there is no certainty on this issue. Thus, Gregory of Neocaesarea (III century) has a “Conversation on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos” and John Chrysostom in his writings calls the Annunciation the “first holiday” and the “root of the holidays”; it can be assumed that the Church was already celebrating the Annunciation at this time. The celebration of the Annunciation is evidenced by the construction of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, on the site where the Annunciation is believed to have happened, by Empress Helen Equal to the Apostles at the beginning of the 4th century. At the same time, at the beginning of the 8th century, the Armenian author Grigor Arsharuni wrote that the holiday was established by St. Cyril I, Bishop of Jerusalem in the middle of the 4th century. However, Bishop Abraham of Ephesus (between 530 and 553) testifies that not a single sermon dedicated to the Annunciation had been written before him. In the 7th century, the Annunciation began to be celebrated in Rome and Spain; Gaul adopted it only in the 8th century.
In the 6th century, Roman the Sweet Singer wrote a kontakion (in the early understanding of the term) of the Annunciation. The hymnography of the holiday was supplemented in the 8th century by the works of John of Damascus and Theophan, Metropolitan of Nicea, who compiled the canon of the holiday in the form of a dialogue between the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel.

Other dates for celebrating the Annunciation

The celebration of the Annunciation on March 25 is common, but not generally accepted. There are several liturgical rituals in which this holiday, which in its meaning precedes the Nativity of Christ, refers to the pre-Christmas period:
In the Ambrosian rite, the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is celebrated on the last (sixth) Sunday of Advent, that is, on the Sunday between December 18 and 24.
In the Spanish-Mozarabic rite, according to some sources, the Annunciation is prescribed to be celebrated twice - in addition to March 25, a holiday with the same name (Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is also indicated for December 18, that is, exactly a week before the Nativity of Christ. This date is the main one; the celebration on this day was officially confirmed in 656 by the Tenth Council of Toledo, since the traditional date for the Christian world, March 25, fell during Lent or the Easter period. The celebration of the Annunciation on March 25 is not indicated in any of the known handwritten Mozarabic sources, however, in the Liber Ordinum Episcopal de Santo Domingo de Silos (XI century) it is prescribed to commemorate the Conception of the Lord on this day. In the first printed missal of Cardinal Jimenez (1500), the celebration of the “Annunciation of Blessed Mary” is indicated for both December 18 and March 25, which was probably influenced by the Roman rite. In the new (reformed) Spanish missal, the date March 25 is not commemorated, and December 18 is set for the celebration of “St. Mary.” In its content, this holiday is a kind of pre-celebration of the Nativity of Christ, the theme of the annunciation of the angel of St. Virgo is not developed, and the main theme of prayers and hymns on this day is the Incarnation.
In the East Syrian rite there is an entire six-week period of the Annunciation, including four Sundays before and two after the Nativity of Christ. The second of the pre-Christmas Sundays is dedicated to the Annunciation itself.

Celebration

In the Orthodox Church

The Church in the East at different times considered the Annunciation as both the Mother of God and the Lord's feast. Currently, it is one of the twelve great holidays and usually refers to the feasts of the Mother of God, which is why blue liturgical vestments are assigned to it.
In the Jerusalem Rule, currently adopted in the Greek and Russian Churches, the Annunciation has one day of forefeast and one day of afterfeast, on which the Council of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated. The forefeast and afterfeast are postponed if the Annunciation occurs on Holy or Bright Week.
The date of the holiday falls between Thursday of the 3rd week of Great Lent and Wednesday of Bright Week inclusive, that is, during the period of singing the Lenten or Colored Triodion.
A number of liturgical features for the period of singing the Lenten Triodion bring it closer to the holiday of the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany of the Lord. So, if the Feast of the Annunciation occurs on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday of any week of Pentecost (part of Lent until Friday of the sixth week, the eve of Lazarus Saturday), as well as on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of Holy Week, then the all-night vigil begins Great Compline, and not Vespers, as usual; if the holiday falls on Week (Sunday) or Monday of Pentecost or any day of Bright Week, then the all-night vigil is performed in the usual manner, that is, Great Vespers begins; The all-night vigil begins with Matins, if the Annunciation is on Great Friday (Friday of Holy Week) or Great Saturday. At Matins, the Great Doxology is sung when the holiday falls on Saturday or the Week of Fasting; on other days it is read; on Bright Week it is not relied upon at all.
When the Annunciation occurs on Easter, there is no polyeleos, but the canon of the Annunciation is combined with the Paschal canon and after the sixth song of the canon the Gospel readings of the Annunciation are read (at Matins Luke 1:39-49, at Liturgy Luke 1:24-38).
The special significance of the Feast of the Annunciation is emphasized by the fact that the 52nd rule of the Sixth Ecumenical Council established that on the day of the Annunciation, despite Lent, a full liturgy should be celebrated. According to the Typikon, as a general rule, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is served, and if the holiday falls on Lenten Sunday (Sunday), as well as Thursday or Saturday of Holy Week, then the Liturgy of Basil the Great. If the Annunciation occurs on Good Friday, then - as the only exception for this day - the liturgy must be celebrated (according to the Typikon, the liturgy of John Chrysostom is served).
On the Annunciation (if it does not fall on Holy Week), along with the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the charter allows the consumption of fish, wine and oil. According to the Greek typikon, the celebration of the Annunciation, if it falls on Good Friday or Saturday, is transferred to the first day of Easter.
Liturgical texts, in addition to describing the very event of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, also speak of the incomprehensibility of the Nativity of the Savior from the Mother of God, and Mary herself is compared to the “bush” and “ladder” from the vision of Jacob. Through festive chants, the church conveys to believers the following dogmatic provisions: thanks to the birth of the Savior from the Mother of God, heaven is again united with earth, Adam is renewed, Eve is freed, and all people become involved in the Divine. The canon of the holiday glorifies the greatness of the Most Holy Theotokos, who received God into herself, and also contains indications of the Old Testament prophecies about the incarnation of the Son of God.

Hymnography

Annunciation, 18th century, Patmos. Gabriel hands the Virgin Mary a scroll with words of greeting; God the Father and the Holy Spirit emanating from him in the form of a dove are visible above
The modern hymnographic formula for the services of the Feast of the Annunciation largely goes back to the Studite Charter and has in common with the service of Akathist Saturday (Saturday of the 5th week of Great Lent).
Greek original Modern Church Slavonic translation
Troparion of the holiday ? Γαβριὴλ τὴν χάριν εὐαγγελίζεται. Διὸ καὶ ἡμεῖς σὺν αὐτῷ, τῇ Θεοτόκῳ βοήσωμεν。 Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. Today is the day of our salvation, and the mystery has been revealed since time immemorial; The Son of God appears, the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel preaches the good news. At the same time, we will cry out to the Mother of God: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!
Kontakion of the holiday ὐχαριστήρια, ἀναγράφω σοι ἡ Πόλις σου, Θεοτόκε. Ἀλλ’ ὡς ἔχουσα τὸ κράτος ἀπροσμάχητον ἐκ παντοίων με κινδύνων ἐλ ευθέρωσον, ἵνα κράζω σοι· Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε. To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as having got rid of the evil ones, let us sing thanksgiving to Thy servants, O Mother of God, but as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Thee: Radu Hey, Bride Unbride!
The kontakion of the holiday is often attributed to Roman the Sweet Singer, but in reality the modern text is later (although it retains the original ending Χαῖρε, Νύμφη ἀνύμφευτε) and is the proimium (first kontakion) of the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. According to the ancient custom of the Russian Church, in churches of the Russian liturgical tradition it is also customary to sing it at the First Hour with the prayer “Christ, the True Light,” although it is not in the statutory sequence.
The Gospel words of the Archangel Gabriel and the righteous Elizabeth formed a well-known prayer - the Song of the Most Holy Theotokos: “Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, Most Gracious Mary, the Lord is with Thee; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.” This prayer is part of the cell (home) prayers of believers, and is also a troparion for Sunday Vespers.

One of the most revered holidays among Orthodox Christians, the Annunciation holiday was established on the occasion of the good news to the Virgin Mary that she would soon become a mother and give birth to a child who would become the Messiah and Savior of the world. The good news of the conception of a son was announced to the woman by Archangel Gabriel. From this moment the Gospel story of Jesus Christ begins. How and on what date is the Annunciation celebrated in Russia in 2018? What features of celebration do Orthodox Christians have on this day? What can you do on the Annunciation, and what should you absolutely avoid?

When is it celebrated?

The Annunciation is the third most important and immutable great church holiday, which is always celebrated on April 7 (according to the Julian calendar it is March 25), exactly nine months before the moment when the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, was born in the Jewish town of Bethlehem on January 7. Among the Slavs, this holiday marked the beginning of a new agricultural year, because immediately after its end, massive work began in the fields and vegetable gardens.

Dates for the Annunciation in 2018-2020:

Celebration traditions

One of the main traditions of the holiday is the preparation of Annunciation salt, which had miraculous properties and could cure a person of various ailments and diseases.

If in ancient times such salt was burned in an oven, now an ordinary oven is suitable for this. To do this, early in the morning before sunrise, the prepared coarse salt in a linen bag was placed in the oven, leaving to bake for 20 minutes. After that, it was cooled and used as needed all year round.

Pilgrimage on the Annunciation has always been held in high esteem. And even if it is not possible to travel to holy places on this day, you can simply go to a church, temple or chapel. Stand in front of the images, pray for yourself and the health of your family.

In view of such a significant event in the history of the Orthodox Church as the Annunciation, many churches built in Russia are named in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos.

What to cook for the Annunciation?

One of the most important church canons for the Annunciation is the restriction in the choice of food. Due to the fact that this holiday falls on the Great Pre-Easter Lent, you can only eat Lenten dishes. So, what can you eat on Annunciation:

1. Mushroom and fish dishes.
2. Porridges, purees or soups made from legumes.
3. Vegetable dishes in any variations.
4. Fruits raw or in salads.
5. Baked or boiled fish.
6. Uzvar or dried fruit jelly.
7. Unleavened bread or pita bread.
8. Lenten cabbage rolls with vegetables or dumplings with fruits.

There were no lavish feasts on this day. They did not visit guests and did not invite those who were not part of the family’s close circle to their home. The only drink allowed for the festive feast is wine (Cahors).

Signs for the Annunciation

The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was considered the third and last day for inviting spring. Nature has already woken up in April and there should be no frosts that would spoil the young pagons and buds on the trees. The weather signs for this day are as follows:

• Frost and fog in the morning - to a good harvest.
• Rain on Annunciation promises fishermen a good catch throughout the year.
• A warm night means early spring.
• A dark sky without stars indicates that the chickens will lay eggs poorly.
• A frosty morning leads to subsequent frosts and a good harvest of spring crops.
• It's damp outside - mushrooms grow well.
• If there is a thunderstorm on April 7, there will be a lot of nuts in the forest.
• A sunny sky without clouds promises a stormy summer.
• The swallows have not arrived yet, which means spring will be long and cold.
• If there is snow left on the roofs, then it will lie on the fields by St. George’s Day (May 6).
• Waders and quackers have arrived - we should expect warm weather.

In addition to weather signs for the Annunciation, there are many prohibitions and superstitions that are sacredly revered and observed by the Orthodox, and the most notable of them are the following:

• They say that on this day even a bird does not build a nest, which means that you cannot do any household chores around the house and do not start anything new.
• New clothes (new clothes) worn on a holiday will not be worn.
• You cannot comb your hair on this day - your hair will fall out.
• Working with the soil before this day is prohibited.
• You cannot borrow or borrow anything. By giving away something from home, a person loses a piece of his health.

But for thieves (pickpockets or burglars), stealing something on this day was considered a good omen. A successful “trick” promised good luck for a whole year. This phenomenon is still inexplicable and it is not clear what it is connected with, because theft is a mortal sin.

On this day, the peasants placed the Annunciation icon with the words: “Mother of God and Archangel Gabriel - bless us with the harvest” in a tub of grain that was planned to be sown in the field.

In Rus', the Annunciation began to be celebrated in the 4th century, immediately after the holiday of the Nativity of Christ on January 7 was declared as the birthday of Jesus Christ.