Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: history, signs, traditions. Briefly about the holiday. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary When is the Annunciation celebrated?

Church holiday Annunciation Holy Mother of God is dedicated to an event that stands on the border of two eras in human history - the Old and New Testaments. The New Time begins with the Nativity of Christ, and it happened exactly 9 months after the Annunciation.

Origin of the Feast of the Annunciation

Like other akathists, it is written on the model of the main akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos “Rejoice Unbrideless Bride” and consists of successively alternating kontakia and ikos. Accurate information about the creation of the main akathist “Rejoice Unbride Bride” is currently missing. It is believed to have been written sometime between the 5th and 7th centuries by one of the great authors - perhaps Romanus the Sweet Singer, George of Pisidia or Patriarch Sergius.

But all subsequent akathists were compiled according to his model.

The Akathist to the Annunciation gives all believers the opportunity to join this holiday, since the Annunciation often falls on weekdays, when most people are busy with work and do not have the opportunity to attend services. You can read it both in church and at home.

Advice! But one should not think that reading the akathist makes sense only on this holiday. No, you can read it throughout the year.

Among the Canonical Gospels, the episode of the Annunciation is present only in the Gospel of Luke.

Old and New calendar styles

According to the old style, the date of the Annunciation is March 25, and the Nativity of Christ is December 25. The Orthodox Church lives according to the old calendar. Therefore, if you look at these dates from the point of view of the New Style, they move forward by 13 days - April 7 and January 7.

Please note: Unlike the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church lives according to the new style.

Christmas there is December 25th according to the new style. Moreover, in Catholicism this is not given great importance Annunciation, as in Orthodoxy.

About other Mother of God holidays:

In Orthodoxy, the Annunciation is one of the twelve, that is, the most significant holidays after Easter and, according to modern interpretation, is the Mother of God.

There are also Lord's holidays dedicated to important events in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Orthodox Church believes that the countdown of a person’s stay in the earthly world does not begin from the moment of birth, but from the moment of conception. For the legitimate conception of babies, the Church blesses married couples in the sacrament of Marriage.

Church statutes regarding the Feast of the Annunciation

As mentioned above, The Annunciation is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on April 7 according to the new style. This is a permanent holiday, that is, unlike some other twelves, it is celebrated every year on the same date.

The forefeast and afterfeast are one day. The post-feast is also the Council of the Archangel Gabriel.

This is also a big holiday, but it does not apply to the Twelves. As on the day of Archangel Michael (November 21, new style), veneration is paid to one of the supreme Angels. There are eight highest Archangels in total, and when you pray to one of them, Orthodox Christian one is supposed to mentally collect them all. Also, according to the teachings of Orthodoxy, there was also a ninth archangel named Dennitsa, but he fell away from God and became the devil.

The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week in Orthodoxy, and the week following is called Bright Week.

Attention. Lent, which precedes Holy Week, is even more aggravated these days.

Entertainment and worldly pleasures are prohibited for a Christian; watching TV and reading unhelpful books are also not blessed.

On Bright Week, on the contrary, fasting is strictly prohibited.

So, if the Annunciation falls on Holy or Bright Week, then the forefeast and afterfeast are transferred to other days. Such coincidences are possible due to the fact that Easter is a moving holiday, and every year it falls on a new date.

Orthodox and Catholic Church They use different methods to determine the day of Easter.

Annunciation is a fast day, but the laity are allowed fish and vegetable oil. But meat, chicken, eggs and dairy products are prohibited.

In fact, work is also prohibited, but, due to the secular nature of our state, as prescribed in the Constitution, believers usually go to work on this day. But, at the very least, they should refrain from physical work on the land, in the fields, in gardens, in vegetable gardens, as well as from washing, cleaning, sewing, and visiting hairdressers.

Some famous churches dedicated to the Annunciation

In Russia, the first stone church dedicated to the Annunciation - Blagoveshchensky cathedral, erected by Grand Duke Vasily, son of Dmitry Donskoy in the period from 1397 to 1416. By 1482, during the reign of Ivan 3, the building fell into disrepair due to age and was dismantled, and a new temple was erected in its place.

In 1547, at the beginning of the reign of Ivan the Terrible, the building suffered a fire, and was later restored.

About the churches consecrated in honor of the Feast of the Annunciation:

In Israel, in a holy place, near the source where the Virgin Mary visited and where the First Annunciation took place (information about it is based on the apocryphal scripture from James), the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation was founded in 1750. It is still in effect today.

The source is located in the crypt of the temple, above it there is an icon, famous for many miracles.

Temple of the Annunciation in Israel

Popular beliefs on the Annunciation

The following beliefs regarding this day are common among people:

Not lending money and other things can lead to poverty.
Girls don't braid their hair or comb their hair.
Don't wear new clothes - they won't last long.
Wives try to call their husband “dear” as often as possible - if you do this 40 times, he will be kind to his wife all year long.
If you don't sow, there will be a crop failure.
How you spend this day is how you spend the whole year.
Do not light the stove, do not bake pies.
It’s good if there’s a thunderstorm on this day - the summer will be warm and fruitful.
If it rains, there will be a good harvest of rye.
Swallows don't fly - spring will be cold.
In general, this day is considered the real beginning of spring among peasants.

However, it should be noted that such beliefs are not recognized as truth by the official Orthodox Church and have no theological value.

Advice! The Russian Orthodox Church does not impose such prohibitions on its parishioners on this holiday, but recommends, if circumstances permit, to attend the festive service and partake of the Mysteries of Christ.

Orthodox literature about the Annunciation

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Rev. Seraphim Slobodskaya
On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Metropolitan. Kirill
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Biblical Encyclopedia"
The Wise Psellus's Word on the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Archimandrite. Ambrose
Conversation on the Annunciation of St. Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople
Word on the Annunciation Holy Lady Our Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary St. Nikolai Kavasila
Omilia XIV. On the Annunciation of our Most Pure Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, St. Gregory Palamas
Annunciation Metropolitan Veniamin (Fedchenkov)
Word on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Dimitry Rostovsky

Watch a video about the Feast of the Annunciation

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 What does this holiday mean for believers and how to properly celebrate the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

Origin of the holiday

The name "Annunciation" (in Greek "Evangelismos") is translated as "good news" or "good news". In Orthodoxy, this day is fully called the Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, which partially reveals the meaning of the holiday.

According to the description of the Apostle Luke, on this day the Archangel Gabriel announced to the young Virgin Mary about the future birth according to the flesh from her of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. “The angel came to Her and said: Rejoice, full of grace! You have found grace from God and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus,” these events are described in the canonical Gospel.

Date of celebration

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is always celebrated on the same day - March 25 according to the Gregorian calendar and April 7 according to the Julian calendar. Unlike Easter, this day does not have a moving date and is counted exactly nine months after the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.

On early Easter, that is, from April 4 to April 13, the Annunciation can fall either on the day a week before the celebration of Easter, or on the week after the Holy Resurrection of Christ.

Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian countries are preparing to celebrate the joyful holiday of April 7 according to the Julian calendar orthodox churches, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the territory of Ukraine, as well as Old Believers. The Roman Catholic, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish churches celebrate this day on March 25th.

What not to do on this day

They say about the Feast of the Annunciation that on this day “the maiden does not braid her hair, and the bird does not curl her nest.”

The Church classifies the holiday as one of the twelve, that is, the twelve most important holidays in Orthodoxy after Easter, along with Epiphany, Candlemas, Christmas, Ascension of the Lord, Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Trinity Day. Most of them also have a fixed date.

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

In 2018, the celebration of the Annunciation coincides with Holy Saturday of Lent, which means: on this day you cannot eat fish and vegetable oil. According to the monastic charter, fish food is allowed twice during fasting - in Palm Sunday and the Annunciation, however, the significance of the days of Holy Week cancels such relaxations.

Traditions of the Annunciation

On this holiday, funeral prayers, services and weddings are not held. After the Liturgy, most churches release white birds into the sky. The symbol of this day is considered to be a white dove, in the form of which the Holy Spirit descended on the Lord during his baptism in the sacred Jordan River.

In honor of this day, the day before, believers bake Lenten cookies in the shape of birds and treat each other with them after the morning liturgy and communion.

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

Hello. April 7 The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a great holiday for all believers. In the bustle of days, many have forgotten about the traditions of celebrating the Annunciation. Let's try to remember them so that we never forget and pass them on to our children.

What date is the Annunciation celebrated?

The Annunciation is the day of remembrance of how the Mother of God learned that she would give birth to Christ, and that this would happen in a miraculous way - through the descent of the Holy Spirit on Her.

In 2018, the Annunciation fell on Holy Saturday. Holy Saturday is a day of remembrance of that terrible moment when the Body of Christ was in the Tomb. This day is also called the day of silence. Everything is already behind us - betrayal, crucifixion, Death on the Cross.

Search mystical meaning There is no point in the fact that the Annunciation fell on Holy Saturday. Light Christ's Resurrection can fall on any day of the year between April 4 and May 8.

With early Easter, the Annunciation can fall on both Holy and Bright Week, and this only means that the service on this day will have its own characteristics associated with the double meaning of this day.

What can you eat at the Annunciation during Lent?

Annunciation is one of two days of Lent when fish is allowed at meals. But if it coincides with the days of Holy Week, the meal on this day is not festive and they do not eat fish.

According to the rules, on Holy Saturday the monks were allowed to drink a little wine. But such a relaxation was given not for fun and entertainment, but to strengthen strength after a long prayer: the service of Holy Saturday is long, it is preceded by the days of Holy Week, which are very eventful with liturgical events, and ahead of the night Easter Matins.

The meaning and essence of the holiday of the Annunciation

The essence of the holiday is contained in the name itself. “Annunciation” means that good news is coming. If you look more closely, you will notice that the whole point Christian holidays is that a person is given two paths:

the path of salvation is the righteous path,
the path of evil, envy and darkness.

Even the young Virgin Mary was asked by an Angel if she agreed that the Son of God, the Savior of the whole world, would be incarnate from her womb. Mary responded, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” meekly accepting God’s word.

The icon dedicated to the Annunciation can be recognized by the Archangel Gabriel holding a flower. What does the flower mean? The flower is a symbol of good news. It was Gabriel who God gave to bring the Good News to people.

But he brought the most joyful news in the world 2000 years ago to the Virgin Mary, who took a vow of virginity and gave her life to serving God. From this day the history of the holiday begins.

IN ancient Judea people who had reached the age of 14 were considered adults. So the 14-year-old Virgin Mary, who until that time had been raised in the temple, had to return to her home or get married.

But the vow of eternal virginity closed the way for Her to create an ordinary family. Then the priests of the temple found a very correct solution. They betrothed the Virgin Mary to the 80-year-old elder Joseph. Thus, Mary did not break the vow she made to the Lord.

So Saint Joseph became the guardian of the virgin purity of the future Mother of God. Lived for four months Holy Virgin in Joseph's house, devoting all of His time to reading the Holy Books and tireless prayers.

An angel caught her in this godly activity, saying to her: “Rejoice, full of grace!” Archangel Gabriel announced to Her about that greatest grace: to become the Matter of the Messiah.

The holiday really began to be celebrated in the 6th century during the reign of Justinian. He issued a decree setting the date for the celebration of the Annunciation - March 25 for Catholics, and April 7 for Orthodox Christians according to the Julian calendar.

The Annunciation is the arrival of spring!

How is this holiday celebrated? On this day, one of the most merciful traditions has existed since ancient times: releasing birds from cages.

Today this is done by church ministers, and before the 1917 revolution, many believers, observing traditions, brought cages with birds to worship, which were released into the wild after the service.

This action symbolized the human soul, languishing in the shackles of sin, but through the birth of the Savior, who took the sins of people upon himself, receives hope for freedom. The service in the temple even today ends with the release of white doves into the sky so that they convey the news to the angels about all the good deeds.

Signs for the Annunciation

With the arrival of spring, people pinned their hopes on a good harvest. Therefore, there are many signs for April 7:

If it is cold on Annunciation, there is fog or the day is marked by frost, then the year will be fruitful.
If the swallows have not yet arrived, then spring will be late and cold.
A clear day in Annunciation means fires.
If April 7th is a rainy day, then expect a dry summer.
The same day (weather) for the Annunciation, the same for Easter.

What you can and cannot do on this day

On Annunciation, you cannot give or borrow anything, so as not to give away your health and luck.
On Annunciation, you cannot work, get a haircut, or even comb your hair, so as not to “confuse” your destiny.
What day of the week does April 7th fall on? whole year you should not start new things.
On this holiday, you need to bless salt, water, and bring prosphora from the church. This will all help in case of illness.
You can't wear new clothes.
So that the husband does not go anywhere, on this day he must be called “beloved” 40 times.

Many rituals attract money to the house, for example, you need to give alms early in the morning, before that you don’t need to wash or have breakfast.

You need to collect grass from the church and store it behind the icons for good luck and health.

They say conspiracies work well. On April 8th, Archangel Gabriel fulfills your deepest desires. Early in the morning, make a wish, put on a cross, go outside, turn your face to the east, cross yourself three times, say the spell:

“Archangel Gabriel, servant of our Lord, hear the prayer of God’s servant (name) and fulfill my request (say your desire). In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen"

Icons of the Annunciation

The Annunciation depicts the meeting of the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. The most common iconographic canon of the Holiday: the Annunciator stands on the left and extends his hand to the Most Pure One on the right, blessing Her.

Our Lady is often depicted either reading Holy Scripture, or with a spindle and red thread in hands. The Gospel does not say what the Mother of God was doing when the Archangel appeared to her, but according to apocryphal sources, She was spinning a curtain for Jerusalem Temple, which was torn in two at the moment of Christ’s death on the Cross.

Archangel Gabriel in the icons of the Annunciation is depicted with his hand extended towards the Mother of God with his fingers folded in a certain way. This is an ancient oratorical gesture meaning direct speech. In the same way, the response gesture of the Mother of God in this context is interpreted as Her acceptance of the gospel:

Another detail often present on icons of the Annunciation is a ray descending from Heaven onto the Virgin Mary. Otherwise, the descent of the Holy Spirit on Her is depicted on the icon in the form of a dove. On many icons, the Heavenly Ray and the Dove are combined.

The icon of the Annunciation may contain the Divine Infant in the womb of the Mother.

In the hands of the Archangel on the icons of the Annunciation there may be a lily flower. This is a symbol of the purity and innocence of the Mother of God.

There is another iconographic tradition for depicting the events of the Annunciation: the Mother of God stands near a well, and the Heavenly Messenger flies over Her. These images are based on the legend that before appearing in the house of the Most Pure One, an Angel called out to Her near the well.

With all my heart I congratulate everyone on the great holiday - the Annunciation!

At the Annunciation, Christians remember how the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and brought her the good news - that through her the Savior, Jesus Christ, would come into the world. We will talk about how the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated in Rus'.

Traditions of the Annunciation

The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos on April 7 according to the new style; this is an imperishable holiday, i.e. It is always celebrated on the same day.

In Rus', around this time, a new cycle of agricultural work began, so church traditions of the holiday mixed with folk ones over the centuries. In some Annunciation customs we find clear echoes of paganism, others were transformed by Christian meaning. These customs - in some ways naive, in some ways wise and invariably beautiful - tell us about the past of the Russian people, about the rich culture of our ancestors.

Let us list some of the traditions of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The tradition of releasing birds for the Annunciation

One of the most poetic traditions of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the release of birds. Historically, these were different birds - pigeons, tits, larks. People caught them in the forest, carefully put them in cages, and then, having gathered them all together, released them into the sky. Ordinary people in purity folk faith They believed that forest birds, released into the wild, would intercede with the Lord on behalf of their liberators. In addition, the dove has always been a symbol of the good news from God. And the doves flying into the sky at the Annunciation personify the good news of the birth of the Savior, which the Archangel Gabriel brought to the Mother of God.

BIRD

In a foreign land I religiously observe
Native custom of antiquity:
I'm releasing the bird into the wild
At happy holiday spring.

I became available for consolation;
Why should I grumble at God?
When at least one creation
I could give freedom

A.S. Pushkin

By the way, we can still take part in this beautiful folk custom - in the 1990s, doves were again released in Russian churches on April 7th.

Baking prosphora

Traditionally, on the Annunciation, housewives baked prosphora, that is, unleavened church bread, in peasant huts. Prosphoras were baked for as many people as there were in the household. The bread was carried to the temple, where the priest blessed it. Then, already at home, they ate it on an empty stomach.

It was also common among people to add crumbs from blessed prosphoras to pet food and seeds. It was believed that thanks to this the harvest would be rich and the livestock would be fertile and healthy. Of course, this was a relic of pagan beliefs, but at the same time, the custom of sharing church bread with animals was a sign that our ancestors wanted to sanctify their entire lives, including everyday life, with the light of the Christian faith.

“Calls”, “freckles”

On the Annunciation, the Russian people “called out spring.” Of course, this ancient tradition had its roots in paganism - at that time historical development, when people did not yet know Christ and deified nature. But the Annunciation - one of the main Orthodox spring holidays - gave old customs new life and new meaning.

On April 7 (new style), people gathered together to light large bonfires cheerfully, singing “vesnyanka” songs, or, as they were also called, “chants”. Girls and boys danced around the fire, chanting, calling for warmth and blossoms - “red spring.” The songs included the name of the Mother of God and requests for a good harvest. Except the Lord and Mother of God people turned directly to spring, and also to birds, for example, larks: “ Chuvil - vil - vil, the larks are flying, spring has come to us, chuvil - vil - vil, the larks are flying».

The “chants” were sung invitingly, often even sadly, with an alarming intonation. Here, for example, is an excerpt from the “vesnyanka”, which was recorded by the poet Apollo of Corinth in the Simbirsk Volga region in 1901:

Tit sisters,
Tap aunts,
Red-throated bullfinches,
Well done goldfinches,
Sparrow thieves.
You can fly at will
You will live in freedom,
Bring spring to us soon!
For us Mother of God pray!

Here are a few more spring flies:

The larks will arrive,
Take away the cold winter,
Bring warmth to spring:
We're tired of winter
She ate all our bread,
And I picked up the straw,
And she picked up the chaff.
You little Easter cakes are larks,
Come together, come together.

The lark is alive
Flying across the field
Collects grains
Spring is calling!

That's enough, little white snowball,
Lie on the thawed ground!
Time, little white snowball,
Time to melt and disappear
Flow into the valley
And cheese to feed the earth!

On the screen saver Photo by S. Vlasov,

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.

Date of celebration

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 has acquired the greatest grace from God - to be the Matter 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 titles: “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 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 dates back to folk tradition spring meeting. 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. Immaculate Conception Archangel Gabriel also explains the Virgin Mary of Jesus Christ as 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). From the merger folk custom, the image of the Holy Spirit and the words of the Gospel and this tradition appeared.

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 this starting from the first Sunday after Easter.

Orthodox Christians celebrate the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary on April 7. This year it coincided with another church holiday– Great (Holy) Saturday, which precedes Easter.

Such coincidences will occur only a few times in this century: church calendar, these are 2007, 2018 and 2029, and then only 2091, writes RIA Novosti.

On the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, believers remember the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, who announced that she would give birth to a son who would become the Savior.

Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill after the liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in memory of gospel event according to ancient custom, he will release doves. There, in accordance with the tradition of Holy Saturday, the primate will bless Easter cakes, Easter cakes and colored eggs.

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 Holy Saturday, a day of especially strict fasting, sadness and silence. What does this holiday mean for believers and how to properly celebrate the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary?

Origin of the holiday

According to the description of the Apostle Luke, on this day the Archangel Gabriel announced to the young Virgin Mary about the future birth according to the flesh from her of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. “The angel came to Her and said: Rejoice, full of grace! You have found grace from God and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus,” these events are described in the canonical Gospel.

Date of celebration

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 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. The Roman Catholic, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish churches celebrate this day on March 25th.

What not to do on this day

They say about the Feast of the Annunciation that on this day “the maiden does not braid her hair, and the bird does not curl her nest.”

The Church classifies the holiday as one of the twelve, that is, the twelve most important holidays in Orthodoxy after Easter, along with Epiphany, Candlemas, Christmas, Ascension of the Lord, Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Trinity Day. Most of them also have a fixed date.

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

In 2018, the celebration of the Annunciation coincides with Holy Saturday of Lent, which means: on this day you cannot eat fish and vegetable oil. According to the monastic charter, fish food is allowed twice during Lent - on Palm Sunday and the Annunciation, but the significance of the days of Holy Week cancels such indulgences.

Traditions of the Annunciation

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.