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 Orthodox calendar- Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2018 it falls on 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, entering to Her, said: Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women.
She, seeing him, was embarrassed by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this would be.
And the Angel said to Her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for You have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.»
, - these events are described in the canonical Gospel.
Mary, seeing the will of God in the words of the angel, says very meaningful words: “behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word"
The Gospel words of the Archangel Gabriel formed the famous prayer - the Song of the Most Holy Theotokos:
“Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You;
Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb,
for you gave birth to the Savior of our souls.”
This prayer is part of the cell (home) prayers of believers
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated always on the same day - March 25 according to the Gregorian calendar and April 7 according to the Julian calendar.
Unlike Easter, this day has a non-transitionable date and is counted exactly nine months after the feast of the Nativity of Christ (that is, the period for which a woman bears a child.)
On early Easter, that is, from April 4 to April 13, the Annunciation can fall either on the day a week before the celebration of Easter, or on the week after Happy Resurrection Christ's.
The coincidence of the Annunciation and Easter is called Kyriopaskha, but this happens extremely rarely. Last time this happened in 1991, and the next Kiriopascha 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 monastic charter, fish food is allowed twice during fasting - in Palm Sunday and the Annunciation, however, the significance of the days of Holy Week cancels such relaxations.
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 drug during the entire holiday.
How to Store and Use Holy Salt
The magic potion should be stored 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 yes strong winds, dispel the spell cast by an evil person.
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 she will absorb the negative energy of damage. Observe - the salt may change color or appearance in some other way. If such an effect is observed, you will have to perform the ritual as many times as necessary to ensure that the salt remains in its original form. Of course, if it is not completely black after cooking.
As soon as three nights have passed, take her out of the house without touching her with your fingers. Bury it where fewer people walk. Break the saucer and bury it there.
Conspiracies for salt on the Annunciation
Any spell for magic salt is read after its preparation. You can use the entire supply for one purpose, or take a little as the need arises - the choice is yours.
Envy and anger often become the causes of damage and other negativity. To protect yourself from this scourge, you can chant Annunciation salt.
Start by sewing the bag. Then take a spoonful of salt and read so that your breath touches it:
Defend, protect and preserve.
Lead people's envy and anger away.
I spoil the gates back with the enemy.
Don’t let infection into your soul and body.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Pour the charmed grains into the prepared bag. You should always have it with you. It doesn’t matter where your amulet will be - in the glove compartment of the car, pocket, bag.
In order to cure a child from the evil eye, “ghost”, buns are baked with Annunciation salt. Eat them on an empty stomach, immediately after waking up for three, seven or fourteen days - depending on the severity of the evil eye.
It can also reconcile spouses. Pour salt into a bag you sew yourself and hide it under the bed of the husband and wife. An option is to sew it into a pillow or blanket. Such a talisman will not only get rid of quarrels, but will also return passion to the relationship.
Annunciation salt is stored until the next feast of the Annunciation, which is celebrated on April 7. If the magic product is not needed or there are remains of it, they will no longer bring any benefit. But it is not recommended to throw such things into the trash or sewer.
Throw it outside the house on the street into a fire lit in honor of the holy holiday. All failures, problems, illnesses and quarrels will burn with her. Imagine how everything bad leaves your house during the burning.
If there is no fire, just bury the salt in a secluded place.
After you get rid of the used salt, you can start preparing new salt.
In general, Blagoveshchensk salt has a mass useful properties, similar to the properties of Thursday. It can be used to treat diseases, damage and the evil eye, as well as cleanse the house and exorcise evil spirits.
There are many cooking methods and recipes, and anyone can cope with this process at home.
Ritual for the fulfillment of wishes
The day after happy holiday On the Annunciation, Orthodox people glorify the Archangel Gabriel. People say that On April 8, the archangel descends from heaven to earth and fulfills all the desires of people.
To make your plans come true, you need to get up early and go outside. Be sure to wear a pectoral cross, as
it is by this that the archangel notices those asking. Stand facing East, cross yourself three times and say out loud (but not loudly) 3 times the plot:
"Archangel Gabriel,
servant of our Lord, hear the prayer of God’s servant(s) (your name) and fulfill my request (say your desire in your own words).
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen".
The Archangel was also called Gabriel the Blagovest. According to the sign, if on April 8 you receive a letter or telegram (now both SMS and emails), then you will soon learn good news.
Signs for the Annunciation
❧ Clear weather on the Annunciation foretells a rich harvest and a warm summer. If there is still snow on this day, do not expect good shoots.
And the rain promised good fishing and a mushroom autumn.
❧ You cannot wear new clothes for the Annunciation - they will not wear well and will quickly tear.
❧ To be healthy, you need to wash yourself with melt water on the Annunciation.
❧ You should not lend money to someone on this day or give anything away from home in general; it was believed that this would result in losses in the future. It was believed that the one who gave from home on the Annunciation spent family peace and peace on strangers.
❧ If on the Annunciation from morning to midnight you call your husband “dear” forty times, your husband will love and cherish you all year long.
❧ In Annunciation, you cannot sew, knit, embroider, braid your hair, cut your hair, dye your hair, or comb your hair. This sign is associated with the belief that people have long believed that human life is a thread that can be controlled by the Lord himself or guardian angels. On the day when the heavens open, it is easy to confuse the threads of life and change the destinies of family and loved ones.
“A bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair,” is a saying specifically about the Annunciation.
❧ On what day of the week does the Annunciation fall, on that all year round do not start any new business. For example, if the Annunciation fell on a Friday, then business does not start on any Friday throughout the year
❧ But if you make a wish on the Annunciation, it will definitely come true.
City named after the holiday
In Rus', many churches and monasteries were built in honor of the Annunciation. The most famous, of course, is the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin.
And the oldest, according to legend, was erected in Vitebsk on the territory of modern Belarus by Princess Olga in the 10th century. The church was rebuilt many times; it suffered greatly during the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War, and was blown up in the 60s.
Thirty years later, the temple was restored to its 12th-century appearance.
The most ancient monasteries dedicated to the Annunciation are located in Nizhny Novgorod, in Kirzhach, Vladimir region and in Murom.
There are many settlements throughout the country named after the holiday. The largest is the city of Blagoveshchensk in the Amur region. At the same time, it was named after the first church founded in these places - the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the mid-19th century.
based on materials from suever.ru, mir24.tv
“Revealing the Eternal Council to You, O Youth, Gabriel appeared..." the Holy Church sings at the beginning of the festive service of the great feast of the Annunciation.
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 80-year-old elder Joseph (he already had two daughters and four sons), who was also a descendant of King David, so that he would take care of Her and protect Her virginity.
The Holy Fathers of the Church - Athanasius the Great, Basil the Great, John of Damascus - indicate that, under the guise of marriage, the Lord protected the Blessed Virgin Mary from the malice of the enemy of the human race, the devil, thus hiding from him that She is the very Blessed Virgin prophesied by Isaiah. 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.
One day, the Blessed Virgin Mary was reading the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, stopped at the place where it was said, “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call His name Emmanuel” (which means God with us) (Is. 7:14) and reflected on the greatness of Her, Who will be worthy to be the Mother of God. With all her heart, Saint Mary wanted to see the Chosen One of God and in deep humility she wanted to be Her last servant.
And then an angel appears to Her and greets Her: “Rejoice, full of grace. The Lord is with You: blessed are You among women.” These words became the first “good news” for humanity after its fall.
When she saw him, she was embarrassed by his words and wondered what this greeting meant.
And the Angel said to Her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for You have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. - Mary said to the Angel: how will this be when I don’t know my husband? The Angel answered Her: The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the Power of the Most High will overshadow You; therefore the Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God... Then Mary said: Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from Her” (Luke 1:28-38).
It is believed that it was at this moment that the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God took place.
If righteous Sarah received the news of the birth of Isaac from her with confusion, and righteous Zechariah, with a similar foreshadowing of the birth of the Forerunner of the Lord, demanded a sign from the angel, then how much higher than the most righteous is the Most Holy Virgin Mary, when the annunciation of the birth from Her of Christ the Savior, the Son of God , supernatural, incomprehensible, Divine, accepts without confusion, without distrust.
It’s scary to even think what could have happened if there had not been found on earth one most worthy of receiving the highest Gift of God:
According to the interpretation of Irenaeus of Lyons, the obedience of the Virgin Mary balances the disobedience of Eve. 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 name 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.”
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 the grace of the Holy Spirit. In the words of St. John of Damascus, “only God Himself knows how and in what manner the indwelling of the Son of God into the womb of the Most Holy Virgin takes place, and man should not speculate about the nature of that which is inscrutable and incomprehensible.”
The Orthodox Church firmly believes that Mary remained a Virgin even after the birth of her firstborn Jesus, according to prophecy (Ezek. 44:2). “And the Lord said to me, “This gate will be shut, it will not be opened, and no man will enter through it, for the Lord God of Israel has entered through it, and it will be shut.” The icons of the Mother of God depict three stars - on the shoulders and on the head cover of the Blessed Virgin. They symbolize the virginity preserved by Her before Christmas, at Christmas and after the Nativity of Christ.
According to Saint Theophan the Recluse, the Annunciation is closely connected with the establishment of the sacrament of Body and Blood. “We partake of the true Body and true Blood of Christ, the same ones that were received in the Incarnation from the immaculate blood of the Most Pure Virgin Theotokos. Thus, in the Incarnation, which took place at the hour of the Annunciation, the foundation was laid for the sacrament of the Body and Blood. And now this is brought to the memory of all Christians, so that, remembering this, they honor the Most Holy Theotokos as their true Mother, not only as a prayer book and intercessor, but also as a nourisher of all. Children feed on their mother's milk, and we feed on the Body and Blood, which come from the Most Holy Virgin Mary. By feeding in this way, we essentially drink milk from Her breasts.”
The date of the Feast of the Annunciation is connected with the date of the Nativity of Christ: March 25 is exactly 9 months from December 25. It is believed that on the same day, March 25, the Creation of the world took place - thus, humanity was given a second chance.
Saint John Chrysostom called the Annunciation “the root of the holidays,” the beginning of all others. Among the ancient Christians he wore various names: “The Conception of Christ”, “The Annunciation of Christ”, “The Beginning of Redemption”, “The Annunciation of the Angel to Mary” - and only in the 7th century was it forever given the name “Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. During the 5th-8th centuries, due to heresies that humiliated the Face of the Mother of God, the holiday was especially exalted in the Church. In the 8th century St. John of Damascus and Theophan, Metropolitan of Nicaea, compiled festive canons, which are still sung by the Church.
According to the rules, on this day, despite Lent, the full liturgy must be celebrated, even if the Annunciation occurs on Good Friday (liturgy is excluded on this day). Due to its greatness, the Feast of the Annunciation is not canceled even if it falls on Easter. It very rarely happens that the Annunciation coincides with Easter and the holiday seems to double. Then it's called Easter Kyriopaskha. Such a coincidence occurred in 1817, 1828, 1912, 1991. The next Kyriopascha will be in 2075.
The events of the Annunciation were described by the only evangelist - the Apostle Luke. There are also apocryphal texts, but they do not change general history Annunciation, and add a number of details to it. The apocrypha - the so-called “Proto-Gospel of James” and the “Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew” (“The Book of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary and the Childhood of the Savior”) tells of two appearances of an Angel. First, Gabriel appeared to the Virgin at the well and only then in Joseph’s house, where She, by fate, was spinning a purple curtain for the Jerusalem temple. These apocryphal legends significantly influenced the iconography of the holiday.
The subject of the Annunciation has long been popular in religious painting. Its iconography began to take shape very early. Its main attributes were: lily - a symbol of the purity of the Virgin Mary; spinning wheel, spindle (with red yarn) - an image of the flesh of Christ; the book of the prophet Isaiah, which Mary reads; a branch of paradise in the hand of the Archangel Gabriel; olive branch- a symbol of reconciliation between God and creation; the well is a symbol of Mary's purity. The first images appeared already in the 2nd century in the Roman catacombs, for example, on the wall of the tomb of St. Priscilla. They were finally formed in the Middle Ages, finding their most complete embodiment in the works of the 15th century.
IN Western European painting of the proto-Renaissance, it is especially worth noting the works of Fra Beato Angelico, Simone Martini; from the Renaissance works - paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli, and from the northern works - Jan van Eyck, Robert Campin and Rogier van der Weyden. In the next era, El Greco painted several memorable paintings. Starting from the Baroque era, as happened with other subjects, many liberties and deviations penetrate into the interpretation of the plot.
In the iconographic tradition, it is customary for one wing of the archangel to remain extended behind his back, and the other to be raised as a sign of greeting. This symbolic movement has become part of the Orthodox liturgical system and is performed by the deacon when pronouncing the litanies. He raises the orarion with his right hand - the image of raising the Archangel's wing as a sign of greeting and respect. The Annunciation is translated from Greek as good news. Traditionally, in the Orthodox Church, the icon of the Annunciation is placed on the Royal Doors, surrounded by four evangelists. Thus, all the symbolism of the Royal Doors turns out to be connected with the gospel: “... through the Annunciation, the Word became the flesh that we can taste in Communion. And we can take part in this Eternal Meal only because we are called by the apostles and evangelists.” The gates are an additional symbol of the Mother of God (an image from the Old Testament prophecy of Ezekiel about the “prisoned” doors facing the east, through which the Lord enters).
The earliest “Annunciation” in Russian art (1040s) is a mosaic on two pillars in the Kiev Cathedral of Hagia Sophia.
The oldest depiction of a scene in Russian art. In the hands of the Mother of God is red yarn that comes from apocryphal stories.
Among the Russian icons on this subject, it is worth noting the “Ustyug Annunciation”, painted in the 12th century in Veliky Novgorod, the icons of Rublev and Daniil Cherny, as well as the fresco of Dionysius in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. The works of Borovikovsky date back to a later period.
In the Moscow Kremlin, the miraculous icon of the Annunciation was previously especially revered. Tradition says that during the reign of Ivan the Terrible she miraculously appeared written on the wall of the Kremlin tower. Her appearance was associated with prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos for her release of a certain innocently convicted prisoner held in the tower. Having learned about the “self-painted” icon, Tsar Ivan the Terrible freed the prisoner. Soon miraculous icon a wooden chapel was built, then a stone church, and the tower began to be called Blagoveshchenskaya.
One of the most famous temples dedicated to this holiday is, founded as a house temple royal family at the Kremlin Palace. And the protopresbyter of the Annunciation Cathedral was the confessor of the august persons until the 20th century. In March 1584, from the porch of the Annunciation Cathedral, Ivan the Terrible saw a cruciform comet. “This is the sign of my death,” he said, and a few days later he was gone.
Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin
On this day, according to ancient Russian tradition, after the Liturgy in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, the Patriarch, clergy and children release birds into the wild. This custom was revived in 1995 and is now performed in many temples.
According to the words of His Holiness the Patriarch, this tradition, full of deep meaning, “symbolizing that the birds are no longer in a cage, but in freedom, reminds us that in our free will is the search for the Kingdom of God.”
This tradition of the Feast of the Annunciation was very loved by St. Patriarch Tikhon, on this holiday he ended his confessional path, releasing his soul to God.
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.”
In the Catholic tradition, it corresponds to the Ave Maria prayer - one of the most beautiful and famous chants in the world. Many pieces of music have been written based on the text of the prayer. Among the authors of the music are Palestrina, Gounod (based on a prelude by Bach), Dvorak, Verdi, Mascagni, Caccini, Liszt, Saint-Saens.
Franz Schubert's "Third Song of Ellen" is often inaccurately called "Schubert's Ave Maria", although in fact the text on which this music is written is taken from German translation Walter Scott's poem about the Celtic Lady of the Lake ("Maiden of the Lake", 1810) and includes only the first two words of the prayer. Subsequently, Ave Maria began to be sung in its entirety to the music of this song by Schubert, although the composer did not have this in mind.
In Rus', the Feast of the Annunciation has always been treated with reverence. The Orthodox did not work on this day and strictly observed this rule. They said that on this day “the maiden does not braid her hair, and the bird does not build a nest.” The Day of the Annunciation was considered a day of mercy. People visited prisoners in prisons and gave alms. Dinners were held for the poor in the royal chambers, during which the Emperor himself bestowed generous alms on the poor.
The day of our salvation is the greatest, and the sacraments have been revealed since the ages; The Son of God is the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel preaches grace. In the same way, we also cry out to the Mother of God: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with You!
Kontakion of the holiday, ch. 8
To the chosen Voivode, victorious, as if we were delivered from the evil, let us sing in gratitude to Thy servants, O Mother of God, but as having an invincible power, free us from all troubles, let us call Thee: Rejoice, Unmarried Bride.
07.04.2017 07.04.2017
On April 7, the Holy Orthodox Church prayerfully honors the great and joyful feast of the Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. Annunciation means “good” or “good” news. The Feast of the Annunciation is celebrated in remembrance of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the announcement to them of the mystery of the incarnation from Her of Jesus Christ - the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
Annunciation Event
Upon reaching adulthood, according to a custom that had the force of law, the Most Holy Virgin Mary left the Temple of Jerusalem and was handed over to the elderly carpenter Joseph - the Betrothed, or the guardian of Her virginity. Joseph came from the same tribe as Her and took Her to him in order to be Her protector under the guise of marriage. Living in the Galilean city of Nazareth, in the house of Joseph, the Blessed Virgin spent most of her time in solitude and silence, engaged in contemplation and prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures and handicrafts.
The events of the Annunciation are described by the only evangelist - the Apostle Luke.
According to the Gospel (Luke 1:26-38), in the 6th month after the conception of Saint John the Baptist by righteous Elizabeth, the Archangel Gabriel was sent from God to the city of Nazareth to the Blessed Virgin Mary with the joyful news that the Savior of the world would be born from Her. Entering Her, Gabriel said: “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women." Mary was confused by the angel’s greeting and pondered its meaning, but Gabriel continued: “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,” that is, the archangel announced in the same words in which the prophet Isaiah predicted this event long before him (Is. 7:14). 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. St. Theophylact of Bulgaria (XI-XII centuries) 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.”
Mary, in bewilderment (according to St. Gregory of Neocaesarea (3rd century), fearing a violation of her virginity) asked how the fulfillment of this promise was compatible with observing the virginal lifestyle chosen by Her: “How will this be when I don’t know a husband?” (Luke 1:34) The Angel answered Her that the incarnation of the Son of God would be accomplished by the miraculous action of the Holy Spirit: “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. Here is Elizabeth, your relative, who is called barren, and she conceived a son in her old age, and she is already in her sixth month, for with God no word will fail” (Luke 1:35-37). Then Mary, seeing the will of God in the words of the angel, said with humility: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).
Right Nicholas Kavasila (XIV century) 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 was incarnated voluntarily, so it was His will that His Mother should give birth to Him freely and of Her own free will.”
By his submission and consent, according to St. Athanasius the Great (IV century), 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 whatever he wants.” No word of the Lord remains powerless, and Mary soon gave birth to the Child Jesus (Luke 1:26-35).
Ap. indirectly mentions the event of the Annunciation. Paul: “When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His only begotten Son, who was born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4).
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.
Determination of the date and history of the establishment of the holiday
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 date of the Annunciation in both the West and the East is considered to be March 25 (old style, April 7 according to the new style). This date is exactly 9 months away from December 25 (old style), which has been since the 4th century. is considered the day of the Nativity of Christ.
For the first time, the date March 25 appears in the works of Western authors of the 3rd century - Tertullian and Schmch. 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.
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. So, at St. Gregory of Neocaesarea there is a “Conversation on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos” and St. John Chrysostom (IV-V centuries) 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 in Nazareth, on the site where the Annunciation is believed to have happened, by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Empress Helena at the beginning of the 4th century. Basilica of the Annunciation. At the same time, at the beginning of the 8th century. 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. Ancient Georgian handwritten Lectionaries, reflecting the liturgical practice of Jerusalem in the 7th century, already contain a special feast of the Annunciation on March 25th. In the 7th century The Annunciation began to be celebrated in Rome and Spain; Gaul accepted it only in the 8th century.
In the VI century. St. Roman the Sweet Singer wrote a kontakion (in the early understanding of the term) of the Annunciation. By the end of the 7th century, this was already one of the most revered holidays in Constantinople. The hymnography of the holiday was supplemented in the 8th century. creations of St. John of Damascus (8th century) and Theophan, Metropolitan of Nicaea (14th century), who compiled the canon of the holiday in the form of a dialogue between the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel.
All Byzantine monuments of the 8th and subsequent centuries name the Annunciation among the most important holidays; his service invariably takes place on March 25th.
Conversations on the Annunciation of St. have been preserved. Sophronius of Jerusalem (VII century), St. Herman of Constantinople (VIII century), St. John of Damascus and many other later holy fathers and church writers.
In the West, information about the Feast of the Annunciation dates back to approximately the same time as in the East. From the writings of Western Church Fathers and writers, the words for the Annunciation are known, attributed to Latin authors of the 5th century. (Blessed Augustine of Hippo, Saints Peter Chrysologos and Leo I the Great) and subsequent centuries.
The Day of the Annunciation was often considered the day of the beginning of the church or even civil year, both in the East and in the West. The conviction that the historical date of the Resurrection of Christ coincides with March 25 led to the fact that this day was called “Kyriopascha” (Lord’s Day). Now Kyriopaskha is the coincidence of the holidays of Easter and Annunciation that occurs every few years.
The event of the Annunciation in the patristic tradition
“Annunciation,” as stated above, means good, joyful, good news. In essence, this is the same as the “Gospel”, because given word translated from Greek as “good news.”
The Feast of the Annunciation is dedicated to the memory of the day when, as the Holy Scripture 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.
In Greek collections of patristic words for various holidays, intended for liturgical use (patristic Lectionaries), 1 or 2 readings are usually given for the Annunciation: the first begins with the words “Again the joy of the gospel” (known under the names of Saints John Chrysostom (IV-V centuries) and St. . Gregory of Neocaesarea, and the second - the word of St. Andrew of Crete (VII-VIII centuries) “There is joy for all today.” In addition, there are manuscripts containing other patristic readings, for example, St. Gregory of Neocaesarea, St. Proclus of Constantinople ( V century), sermons attributed to St. Athanasius the Great and St. John Chrysostom. Later authors also wrote: St. Sophronius of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Constantinople, whose sermon “On the Annunciation” contains 2 dialogues. The Most Holy Virgin Mary with the Archangel and Saint Joseph the Betrothed (VIII-IX centuries); St. Moscow Philaret (Drozdov) (XIX century) (he compares the words of Mary “let it be done to me according to your word” with the words of the Creator “let it be” (Genesis 1:3), so that “the word of the creature brings down the Creator into the world”) and many other.
An essential element of the patristic works dedicated to the event of the Annunciation is its dogmatic aspect. In all the words on the Annunciation it is emphasized that the main event of the Annunciation is the accomplished incarnation of the Son of God; St. Theodore the Studite even calls the Annunciation not the Feast of the Theotokos, but the Feast of the Lord. Due to the close connection between the Annunciation, the Incarnation and the Nativity of Christ, some sermons could well have been written not to be read on the Annunciation, but for the feast of the Nativity of Christ (for example, the word of St. Proclus of Constantinople or the sermon of St. Leo the Great). The Holy Fathers often emphasize the role of the Blessed Virgin in the Annunciation and Her moral height; this side of the event is clearly expressed in the words of St. Gregory Palamas and St. Nikolai Kavasila. Some of the words inscribed with the name of St. John Chrysostom, as well as the word of St. Herman of Constantinople and the kontakion of St. The novels of the Sweet Singer are constructed in the form of a dialogue, and not only the Blessed Virgin and the Archangel, but also the righteous Joseph the Betrothed participate in the dialogues. Speaking about the greatest significance of the Annunciation in history, the Church Fathers do not limit themselves to a dogmatic interpretation of the Gospel narrative - they often (for example, St. Theodore the Studite) draw practical moral conclusions from it.
Iconography of the holiday
Images interpreted as the “Annunciation” are already found in the paintings of the catacombs (Priscilla, 2nd half of the 2nd - 1st half of the 3rd centuries, Peter and Marcellinus, 2nd half of the 3rd - 1st half of the 4th centuries .). As the Annunciation, the scene is interpreted where a young man, whose hand is extended forward, standing in front of a woman sitting in a chair, addresses her with a speech. The plot context allows us to see the Annunciation in this scene, since similar images of wingless angels are known in the frescoes of the catacombs from the compositions “Appearance of the Angel to Tobias”, “Appearance of the Angel to Balaam”, “Appearance of the Trinity to Abraham”. Next in time is the composition of the Annunciation on the relief of the sarcophagus in Ravenna (after 400), where the angel is represented with large wings, with a staff in his left hand, and the seated Mother of God with a spindle and yarn falling into a basket at Her feet.
The scheme that developed in the early Christian period did not undergo significant changes in Byzantine, Balkan and Old Russian art and varies in icons, miniatures and monumental paintings of the 9th-12th centuries. In the 2nd half. XII century The composition is dominated by dynamic expressive features. The movement of the archangel becomes swift, the gaze of the Mother of God turned to him is searching. The composition is complemented by symbolic details. On the icon XII century from the VMC monastery. Catherine in Sinai, in the foreground there is a river with many birds and fish - a symbol of paradise. Behind the throne of the Mother of God, on the golden roof of the high chamber, where there is a nest with birds, a garden behind a fence with trees, flowers and birds is depicted - “The Prisoner's Heights” - symbolic image heaven and the Mother of God (Song 4:12). The golden throne of the Mother of God, decorated with precious stones and pearls, and the building rising behind it with the curtain pulled back are reminiscent of the throne of King Solomon (1 Kings 10:18) - also a symbol of the Mother of God.
The desire to clearly illustrate the dogma of the Incarnation is most fully expressed in the Russian icon “The Annunciation of Ustyug” (12th century). In the heavenly segment, Jesus Christ is depicted sitting on fiery cherubs, with a ray emanating from His blessing right hand to the Mother of God. The baby in a girdle is painted in the same tones as the maforium (outer clothing; a long woman's veil that goes down from head to toe). The right hand of the Mother of God with a purple thread is raised to the chest, in her lowered left hand She holds a skein of yarn, the thread runs parallel to the figurine of the Baby, as if held at the shoulder by the right hand of the Mother of God. On the Sinai icon con. XII century Also next to the Baby, parallel to the figurine, is a thread that literally illustrates the idea of seeking the “clever scarlet of Emmanuel” - the flesh of Christ “from the pure and virgin blood” of the Mother of God.
The exceptional significance of the feast of the Annunciation, which Saints John Chrysostom and Athanasius of Alexandria call the first among others, was reflected in the location of this subject in church paintings in the altar or pre-altar area. This arrangement clearly demonstrates that through the Incarnation on earth of the Savior, the Son of God, for human race the heavens open. In the X-XI centuries. The Mother of God is depicted standing before the throne (Catholicon of the Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos; St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv).
In the 12th century. The Mother of God is usually depicted sitting on a throne against the backdrop of chambers, with yarn in her hands, half-turned towards the archangel (Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary of the Anthony Monastery in Novgorod (1125)). In the painting of the Novgorod Church of the Great Martyr. Theodore Stratelates on the Stream (late 14th century) depicts a brightly burning lamp in front of the Mother of God sitting on the throne - one of the symbols of the Mother of God, testifying to Her acceptance of the Divine fire.
In accordance with the fact that the Incarnation of the Savior opens the doors of heaven to humanity, the image of the Annunciation is placed on the royal doors of the iconostasis. The Annunciation scene is often combined with the image of Kings David and Solomon in upper parts royal gates: door leaf from the Church of the Hospital of the Virgin Mary in Ohrid (Macedonia) with the Archangel Gabriel and King Solomon (2nd half of the 14th century); gate from the village Bar (Bulgaria, late 16th century, Museum of the Transfiguration Monastery). In Rus', a different type of royal gate is being formed, where the Annunciation is placed at the top of the doors, and on the main door panel either St. Basil the Great and John Chrysostom, whose names are given to 2 Byzantine Liturgies, or 4 evangelists.
The veneration of the Feast of the Annunciation was also expressed in the dedication of numerous churches and monasteries. One of ancient temples in Rus' - the Church of the Annunciation on the Settlement in Novgorod (XII century). In honor of the Annunciation, gate churches were often consecrated (Church on the Golden Gate in Kyiv (11th century)).
It is noteworthy that in the Kaluga Metropolis many churches were consecrated in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for example: the cathedral in Borovsk (XVIII-XIX centuries), the cathedral in Meshchovsk (XIX century), churches in Kozelsk (XIX century .), Meshchovsk (XVII century), p. Kurilovo, Zhukovsky district (XVIII century), as well as now inactive, but dedicated to the Holiday: village. Khokhlovo, Meshchovo district (XVIII century), the village of Zaborovka, Peremyshl district (beginning of the 20th century), the village of Andreevskoye, Ferzikovsky district (XVIII century) and others.
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.
IN pre-revolutionary Russia There was a custom, especially in Moscow, on Annunciation Day, as on the day of proclaiming freedom to the whole world, to release birds from cages to freedom. Doing any kind of work, even light work, on this day was considered a sin.
In the post-Soviet history of the Russian Orthodox Church, this custom was revived in the 90s of the 20th century, and today in many churches after the Liturgy white doves are released into the sky.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Orthodox holiday, which has one day of pre-celebration and one day of post-celebration, on which the Council of the Holy Archangel Gabriel celebrates.
The events of the Annunciation are described in the Gospel by the Apostle Luke - on this day they remember how Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary the good news of the conception and birth of the God-Child Jesus Christ.
Divine history is familiar to almost everyone, but on the eve of the Annunciation, the Most Holy Theotokos invites you to remember it again, as well as to become familiar with the history, traditions and signs of the holiday.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Virgin Mary, who was given to the Creator from birth, is undoubtedly the most chaste in the entire Universe - she lived and was raised until she was 14 years old in the Jerusalem Temple.
When the time came for Mary to leave the temple, they found the elderly pious carpenter Joseph as her husband, who was supposed to protect Her purity and innocence.
Therefore, the Virgin Mary, when the Archangel Gabriel announced to her that She had acquired the greatest grace from God - to be the Matter of the Son of God, embarrassed, asked the Angel how this conception would happen.
As an example, the Archangel cited Mary’s barren relative, Saint Elizabeth, who at an advanced age conceived a child six months ago, and thereby made it clear that there are no limits to the Lord’s capabilities.
Having heard the all-merciful will in the speeches of the Archangel, Mary said: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to Your word.” The holy conception took place, as is believed today, at the moment of the utterance of this phrase by the Virgin Mary.
© photo: Sputnik / Vladimir Astapkovich
Icon "Our Lady of Vladimir" (1652. Front side of the double-sided icon. Simon Ushakov)
Joseph, having learned that Mary was carrying a child, wanted to secretly 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 whoever is born in her is of the Holy Spirit, she will give birth to a Son.” and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins..."
Joseph did as the Angel told him - he accepted his wife. Everything happened as predicted - they had a son, and they named him Jesus.
history of the holiday
It is believed that the holiday was established by the apostles, since images of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries, are found in the paintings of the catacombs, where the first Christians gathered for prayer.
However, they began to celebrate the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in a special way, much later. This was facilitated by the discovery of St. Equal to the Apostles Helen at the beginning of the 4th century, the Holy places of the earthly life of the Savior and the construction of temples in these places, including the basilica in Nazareth, on the site of the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin.
© Sputnik / Alexander Imedashvili
Ancient Christians called the holiday differently - the Annunciation of Christ, the Conception of Christ, the Annunciation of the Angel Mary, the Beginning of Redemption, and only in the 7th century it was given the name Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, both in the West and in the East.
The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to some information, was established by St. Cyril of Jerusalem, and by the end of the 7th century in Byzantium it was one of the most important. Around the same time, it spread to the Western Church.
The date of the Annunciation in both the East and the West is considered to be March 25 (April 7 in the old style). The Annunciation was dedicated to the day nine months preceding Christmas, since the feast of the Nativity of Christ was historically established much earlier.
This number also agrees with the ideas of ancient church historians that the Annunciation and Easter occurred on the same day of the year, as historical events.
Traditions
Since ancient times, the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been especially revered in Rus'. On this day, according to ancient tradition, people released birds from nets and cages. This custom was revived in 1995 and is now performed in many churches.
On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, peasants, according to tradition, according to the number of household members, baked prosphora in the family - unleavened church bread, which was then illuminated in the church.
© photo: Sputnik / Balabanov
Image of the Mother of God. Fragment of the icon "Annunciation (Ustyug)"
They ate the illuminated bread at home on an empty stomach, and the crumbs, according to tradition, were added to seeds and food for domestic animals. The people believed that thanks to this the harvest would be rich, and the livestock would be healthy and fertile.
The people perceived the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a spring holiday - the beginning of a new agricultural year. According to tradition, people blessed grain before sowing, placing the Annunciation icon next to the grain.
On this day, in the old days, they “called out spring” - they lit a fire and jumped over the fire, danced in circles, sang “spring songs.” People considered the Annunciation fire to be the best protection against disease, damage and the evil eye.
People beat mallets, rang bells and copper utensils to protect livestock from wolves. There was a popular belief that wolves would stay at the distance the sound would travel.
Signs
The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary among the people was surrounded by many signs. The main sign is that all work on the ground and around the house is prohibited. In the old days, people said that even a bird does not build a nest on this day, because it is a sin.
According to legend, the cuckoo did not obey the rules of this day and made a nest; as punishment, it can no longer make nests, and is forced to place its eggs in the nests of other birds.
In many houses, according to tradition, on the eve and on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they tried not to light a fire, but in order to attract good luck in the oven, according to signs, one should burn a few pinches of salt.
On the Feast of the Annunciation, people believed that angels rejoiced in heaven, and even in hell they stopped torturing sinners. From winter sleep The earth awakens and opens towards spring. And along with the inhabitants of the earth, all evil spirits awaken.
Therefore, on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, rituals were performed that protected from disease and evil. It was a good sign to wash your face with melt water, fumigate your winter clothes with smoke, and so on.
Fire was considered the best protection against snakes, so it was customary to burn the garbage accumulated over the winter. According to signs, not a single crumb can be dropped on the Annunciation, otherwise there will be no salvation from insects.
© photo: Sputnik /
On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it was customary to tell fortunes - they baked small money in a church prosphora and whoever gets it will smile with happiness all year long.
Blessed water of the Annunciation was placed under the icons, because they believed that it would raise the sick to their feet, and they also watered livestock with it.
In the old days, it was believed that consecrated water did not spoil for a whole year, unless a sorcerer or a person with dark thoughts touched it.
On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is a bad omen to pour grain from sack to sack and lend it out, therefore it was strictly forbidden to do this.
On this day, the housewife used a broom to drive the chickens off their roost so that they would fly to Easter.
© photo: Sputnik / V. Drujkov
Icon of the Annunciation, late 16th century
There are many signs associated with the harvest and the weather. So, according to legend, hens will not lay eggs well if the night before the sky is dark without stars. A sign of a wheat harvest is a sunny day on Annunciation.
According to signs, rain on a holiday means mushroom autumn and good fishing. A thunderstorm on a holiday indicates a warm summer and a good harvest of nuts. If there is a thunderstorm on the holiday, you can expect a warm summer and an excellent nut harvest.
According to signs, frost on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary indicated a good harvest of spring crops and cucumbers.
What do they pray for?
They pray in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Annunciation for relief and healing of their ailments, for liberation from imprisonment, and in general to receive “good” news about something.
Prayer
Accept, O All-merciful, Most Pure Lady Theotokos, these honorable gifts, the only one bestowed upon You from us, Thy unworthy servants, chosen from all generations, the highest appearing of all creatures of heaven and earth. Because for Your sake the Lord of hosts was with us, and through You we knew the Son of God, and became worthy of His Holy Body and His Most Pure Blood. Blessed are you, too, in the birth of births, God-blessed One, the brightest of the Cherubim and the most honest of the Seraphim. And now, All-Singing Most Holy Theotokos, do not cease praying for us, Thy unworthy servants, that we may be delivered from every evil advice and from every situation, and that we may be preserved unharmed from every poisonous pretext of the devil. But even to the end, through Your prayers, keep us uncondemned, as if through Your intercession and help we are saved, we send glory, praise, thanksgiving and worship for everything in the Trinity to the One God and the Creator of all, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The material was prepared based on open sources
Among the considerable number of church holidays, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered special. In importance, it is second perhaps only to Christmas, which is celebrated by all Christians, regardless of denomination. Even before the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the schedule of services in churches is posted on the websites and entrance doors so that every believer can find time in his busy schedule for the joy of visiting church. Moreover, on this holiday a visit to the temple cannot be missed. Such an act is considered an unforgivable mistake that will bring trouble and misfortune to the house. The Annunciation has a number of rules and restrictions, but many believers are not familiar with them. That’s why they make annoying mistakes in preparing for the holiday, which in the old days in Rus' even children could not make. We will tell readers in as much detail as possible about this joyful day for the heart of every Christian: when the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated, where the tradition of celebrating the holiday came from, what is the history of its origin and many other interesting things. But let's talk about everything in order.
Brief historical background
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has a clear specific date celebrations. It and Christmas are separated by nine months, despite the fact that the Annunciation took root in church traditions much later than Christmas. It is known that Catholics and Orthodox Christians use different types calendars. It is not surprising that the dates of their holidays vary. The Catholic Church in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary begins services in the temple on the morning of March twenty-fifth. And the Orthodox celebrate the holiday on April 7th.
Among the twelve main holidays of the Christian Church, many believers consider this literally the beginning of the formation of religion. After all, its essence lies in the good news that Mary received from the angels. Some theologians, even in ancient times, argued that it was during this conversation that the immaculate conception of a young girl took place. Therefore, for a long time the holiday bore a lot of names characterizing this particular side of it.
It is interesting that all events related to this topic were described by only one apostle. Luke in his Gospel spoke in great detail about what happened on this great day. To this day, all Christians refer to this written source when telling the story of the Virgin Mary and the conception of Christ.
history of the holiday
The story about the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary must begin with a brief description of the life of the Virgin Mary.
Not everyone knows that from birth the girl who became the Mother of God was promised to the temple. Her life was supposed to be serving the Lord, which is what the baby was prepared for. She spent her childhood in the Jerusalem Temple and was raised by its abbots. But by the age of fourteen, young Mary, according to Jewish law, had to get married. This greatly confused the holy fathers, who prayed day and night to find the best solution to determine the fate of the girl. After vain prayers, insight descended on one of the elders, and he began to search for a husband for Mary who could protect her throughout her life, but nevertheless not lay claim to her, as a husband does to his wife. The search was short-lived, and soon Mary became the wife of Joseph, who was already eighty years old at the time of the wedding. The betrothed husband was known as a true righteous man and spent his entire life in work and prayer. Before meeting Mary, Joseph had never been married.
One day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared before the embarrassed girl. According to the Gospel of Luke, he announced to Mary the good news that she had been chosen as the mother of the Son of God. However, it was important not only to tell the girl what awaited her, but also to obtain her consent. Without him, the Lord could not carry out his will.
Hearing such news, Mary doubted the possibility of the immaculate conception. However, Gabriel shamed her, reminding her of how her relative conceived, carried and gave birth to a baby, who considered herself infertile until old age. With this, the angel wanted to prove the limitless capabilities of the Lord and reassure Mary. Being obedient and righteous, the girl agreed with God's will and conceived a child.
Interestingly, when Joseph learned of his wife’s pregnancy, he thought about her infidelity. He decided that the girl had broken her vow of innocence, and invited her to leave him secretly, under the cover of darkness. However, an angel appeared to him in a dream, telling him the whole truth about the conception of the Son of God, and commanded the man to protect his wife and take care of her.
The importance of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos also lies in the fact that until this moment humanity had not received good news from the Lord. Adam and Eve were the last to hear the will of the Creator, but subsequent generations were deprived of this goodness.
The formation of the holiday
Christians began to celebrate the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in churches in the fifth and sixth centuries, but even earlier there were references to this day in various sources.
Historians and archaeologists have found images of the events of the Annunciation in caves where the first Christians hid from their persecutors. Not only individual caves were painted with similar paintings, but also the catacombs, in which the exiles stayed for weeks and months, conducting services and preaching. Such paintings date back to the second and third centuries.
In the fourth century, Saint Helena made her invaluable contribution to the development of the holiday. She walked through the places of Christ’s life and everywhere tried to leave a mark in the form of a basilica, temple, church or cathedral. She was also one of the first to talk about the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a significant event. The saint found the place where the appearance of the Archangel to the Virgin took place and erected a basilica there.
Already by the fifth century, icon painters began to pay great attention to this biblical story. They began to depict the events of the Immaculate Conception of Jesus in icons and paintings in churches. About a hundred years later, services for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary were held in most churches. It is believed that Saint Cyril of Jerusalem finally established its canons and traditions. Literally a century later, the holiday received the status of the main one in Byzantium and spread to the West.
By the way, in Rus' the Mother of God was very revered. Therefore, the Annunciation was celebrated very solemnly and necessarily with the whole family. The well-being of all its members and abundance in the house depended on this, according to our ancestors.
In the eighth century, festive canons were compiled, which are sung during services in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in churches. Their authors are considered to be the Metropolitan of Nicea and two holy elders - Theophan and John of Damascus.
Let's talk about traditions
Each holiday has its own traditions, especially when we talk about church holidays. The rules for celebrating the Annunciation were formed in Ancient centuries and today are strictly observed by all Christians.
The day before the holiday, women began baking prosvir. This word was used to describe unleavened bread in the form of small buns. Its number was always equal to the number of household members. On the morning of the holiday, the prosvira had to be taken to the service and blessed. Only after this could family members begin the festive meal, at which bread was eaten. This was done with great care so as not to let a single crumb slip past the mouth. If this happened, then all the remains of the prosvira were collected and given to the cattle. This was believed to help maintain her health and fertility. However, it was necessary to eat the consecrated bread on an empty stomach. This was an indispensable condition for a rich harvest and family well-being.
Since the Annunciation is a very important holiday, working on this day is strictly prohibited. Our ancestors would never have slaughtered livestock, sewed, cleaned the house, or done other things. However, it was also forbidden to start excessively noisy fun. People had to realize the sacredness of this day and be imbued with it.
I would like to note that in Rus' this church holiday was also considered the day when it was customary to call for spring. It was believed that after the Annunciation, winter finally recedes and a new round of life in nature begins. In order to get rid of illness, our ancestors made fires. Round dances were performed around them, songs were sung, and barkers sang. Particularly brave ones even jumped over the fire, thereby cleansing themselves of all diseases and unclean thoughts.
A particularly beautiful tradition at the Annunciation was the release of birds. Before the holiday, feathered songbirds were caught on the streets and in forests and put in cages. After visiting church service young people gathered in the courtyards of temples and opened the cages. Birds soaring into the sky were a symbol of the good news once brought to humanity.
On Annunciation, cattle were often driven out into the streets. He had to walk to the sound of beaters and bells. This, as our ancestors thought, protected livestock from illnesses and predators.
Range holiday dishes The traditions of the Annunciation do not limit it in any way. It all depends on what day the date falls on. For example, this year it was Good Friday. Therefore, believers could not afford to eat even fish. Although usually, if a holiday coincides with fasting, the Orthodox have some concessions. These also include seafood.
Holiday symbols
Few Christians are aware that the Annunciation has its own symbolism. It is a kind of graphic story about the essence of the holiday. The first symbol is depicted as a ray of light. It represents the ephemeral road along which the Holy Spirit descended on the Virgin Mary. This is how the story of the good news set out in the Gospel began.
The second symbol is a spinning wheel. According to written sources, the Virgin Mary spent a lot of time with this instrument. Archangel Gabriel, who descended from heaven, found her spinning and at that moment informed her about the mission that the girl would need to complete.
The third symbol was a palm branch. Since ancient times, it has meant spiritual sublimity. Some theologians interpreted the symbol as the unity of the subordination of thoughts and feelings to divine providence.
Features of the church service: day and evening before the holiday
In addition to the general traditions of celebrating the Annunciation, which we have already talked about, there are certain nuances of conducting church services. Believers usually learn about them already at the service, but they may overlook some things. We will tell readers about all the features of celebrating the holiday according to church canons.
On the day before the holiday, believers attend Vespers. During it, the clergy read stichera and excerpts from the Holy Scriptures dedicated to the suffering of Christ, the good news brought to the Virgin Mary by the archangel, prophecies about the Son of God, as well as texts about his acceptance of torture for the salvation of human souls. At the final stage of the service, the troparion of the Annunciation and the canon “On the Crucifixion of the Lord and the Lamentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary” are sung. After this, the service ends and the believers disperse for a while.
In the evening of the same day, Matins is celebrated. It is necessary for all Orthodox Christians who wish to be fully imbued with the holiness of the moment to attend it. The service begins with hymns, turning into six psalms and troparia:
- "Noble Joseph"
- “When you descended to death”;
- "To the Myrrh-Bearing Wives."
The service then continues with reading excerpts from the Gospel and holiday canons. It is impossible to imagine this service without the canons of the Annunciation and Holy Saturday. They are considered special because they are read only on major holidays and have an unusual structure. The Canon of the Annunciation is written in the form of a conversation between the Virgin Mary and the Archangel. But the second canon is actually philosophical reasoning on the topic of the processes occurring from the crucifixion to the resurrection of Christ.
Morning holiday service
From the very morning the service bears little resemblance to a holiday. It takes place during ordinary hours, but after finishing it immediately continues with the Vespers Liturgy. The clergy sing Sunday stichera and paremias. Usually after this, a list of those who wish to be baptized on this holiday is announced.
Matins continues with the reading of the Gospel. Much attention devoted to texts about the deeds of Christ and his suffering on the cross. The final stage of the service is the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.
A few words about the meal and vestments of priests
It is interesting that the services of the Annunciation require special vestments for the clergy. Usually the color of the vestment on all holidays dedicated to the Mother of God is blue. However, on the Annunciation it turns purple. By the way, this is the only day when church ministers wear clothes of this shade.
As for the meal, it is always accompanied by wine. Depending on the coincidence with other holidays, priests set a number of restrictions regarding dishes on the table of believers. However, in any case, Orthodox Christians receive a blessing for red wine.
Temples in honor of the Virgin Mary
In Russia, the Mother of God was especially revered, and the number of churches in her honor is difficult to count. Many of them were forgotten and abandoned Soviet times, but for last years they became active again and fully recovered. We will tell our readers about some of them.
The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Vasilyevsky Island in St. Petersburg has long history associated with the names of many famous figures Russian science and culture.
The temple was founded in the mid-eighteenth century and was built over the course of thirteen years. As a result, believers were able to see the beautiful seven-throne temple complex. It was consecrated even before the builders left the church territory. The lighting procedure was carried out by Tikhon Zadonsky himself.
In the thirty-sixth year of the last century, the temple was closed and resumed services only twenty-six years ago. Today it is open to everyone in need from nine in the morning to seven in the evening. On weekends, the church waits for believers until eight o'clock in the evening.
On the main church holidays, which include the Annunciation, the Liturgy is held twice a day: at seven and ten o'clock in the morning. Half an hour before the service you can confess.
Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Fedosino
This temple is located in Moscow and was founded at the beginning of the fifteenth century. Subsequently, it was rebuilt more than once. Final version dates from the first half of the nineteenth century.
The village of Fedosevo belonged to the Ascension Monastery, which supported its inhabitants in difficult times. The temple, built within the monastery, amazes with its beauty and strict forms. It was active until the thirties of the last century, when there was a campaign for the mass closure of churches. It is noteworthy that the villagers did not allow the church to be closed. They tried to defend their faith as a united front, but for many decades the temple was used by the Soviet authorities for other purposes.
Today believers can learn a lot of interesting and important information on the website dedicated to the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The schedule of services, for example, is updated here once a month. Usually the doors of the temple are open for believers until five o'clock in the evening. Services begin at half past eight in the morning.
Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Petrovsky Park
There are at least five temple complexes in honor of the Mother of God in Moscow. All of them, even in the most difficult times for Christianity, were not empty. Believers have always come here in the hope of finding consolation. And the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Petrovsky Park was very important for the Orthodox of this area.
Princess Naryshkina became the initiator and sponsor of the construction of the church. At her request, architect Richter created a unique project that should not contradict the ensemble of the Petrovsky Palace. And he managed to realize it.
The first stone in the foundation of the temple was laid in the forty-fourth year of the nineteenth century. Initially he was supposed to have four thrones. The first was consecrated three years after the start of construction.
The rector of the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Petrovsky posts the schedule of services on the website. The resource is maintained by him and some members of the flock. In the temple complex of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Petrovsky Park, the schedule of services of which is of interest to all believers, morning services usually begin at eight o’clock. Evening services begin at five o'clock. Almost every day Orthodox Christians have the opportunity to confess. This is done before the morning Liturgy.