Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Old Believer Churches of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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 Holy Mother of God. In 2018 it falls on Lent and coincides with Passion, or Great Saturday, a special day strict fasting, sadness and silence.
It is believed that on this day Heaven opens, grace descends on people and they get the opportunity to be cleansed of sins.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the main holidays in the Orthodox calendar.
According to the description of the Apostle Luke, on this day the Archangel Gabriel announced to the young Virgin Mary about the future birth according to the flesh from her of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.
« The angel, coming to Her, said: Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women.
She, seeing him, was embarrassed by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this would be.
And the Angel said to Her: Do not be afraid, Mary, for You have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.»
, - these events are described in the canonical Gospel.
Mary, seeing the will of God in the 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 the Holy Resurrection of Christ.
The coincidence of the Annunciation and Easter is called Kyriopaskha, but this happens extremely rarely. The last time this happened was in 1991, and the next Kyriopascha will happen only in 2075.
The Church classifies the holiday as one of the twelve, that is, the twelve most important holidays in Orthodoxy after Easter, along with Epiphany, Candlemas, Christmas, Ascension of the Lord, Dormition of the Virgin Mary and Trinity Day. Most of them also have a fixed date.
The joyful holiday of April 7 according to the Julian calendar is being prepared to be celebrated by the Jerusalem, Serbian, Georgian Orthodox churches, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church on the territory of Ukraine, as well as the Old Believers.
For Catholics - the Roman Catholic, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish churches - accordingly, March 25 is considered the day of good news.
In a number of countries - both in the West and in the East - they counted down the new year from the day of the Annunciation. Such a calendar was, for example, adopted in England until the middle of the 18th century.
Actually, the name of the holiday - Annunciation - came into use only from the 7th century (while the holiday itself was celebrated four centuries earlier).
Before this, the church designated it as “the day of greeting,” “annunciation,” “Hail Mary,” “Conception of Christ,” “Beginning of Redemption,” etc.
The name "Annunciation" (in Greek "Evangelismos") is translated as "good news" or "good news".
And the full name of the holiday in Orthodoxy sounds like this: Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Traditions: how they celebrated in the old days and today
Church celebration
On this holiday, funeral prayers, services and weddings are not held.
On Annunciation, an all-night vigil is held in churches, which begins with Great Compline, and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
Priests put on vestments for the holiday blue color- 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 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 Annunciation, but the meaning of days Holy Week cancels such concessions.
If the holiday does not fall on Holy Week before Easter, relief is possible for those 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 considered White dove, in the image 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 spent good deeds- for example, there was a custom of treating those in need on 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 sound, the sound of salt when heating (and it will be heard :) - in the house devilry. Or the cook was damaged. However, preparing magic salt eliminates a person’s negativity and cleanses the house.
It is best to prepare Annunciation salt before dawn on April 7, but it is not forbidden to prepare the potion throughout the holiday.
How to Store and Use Holy Salt
You need to store the magic potion in a secluded place, for reasons of convenience - in the kitchen. No one except 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. Can be added to dishes healing properties- salt the food being prepared, add it to the salt shaker.
It is believed that miraculous properties Such salts 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. Prepared on April 7th powerful cleanser need to be scattered throughout the rooms, sweeping away only the next day. You can leave a pinch in each corner to protect yourself from the forces of evil.
Another way to clean your home is to make a saline cleaning solution. You can sprinkle it on your house, car, or individual things that are suspected of having dark energy. It is recommended to spray your shoes after returning from the cemetery.
Adding salty grains charged on the holy holiday to the bath also has a cleansing effect. To strengthen it, there are conspiracies, which are described below.
Annunciation salt will help remove spoilage
For this you need about a tablespoon. Pour into a clean plate and place empty on the table. Place a candlestick to the right of the plate, light a church candle, place your palm on the salt and read, looking at the fire:
“Violent and strong winds, dispel the spell cast by evil man.
Take them to where the rivers are deep, the currents are fast, and the forests are dense.
Let the witchcraft spells burn under the scorching rays of the sun.
Let hateful thoughts move away from me. Not for a day, not for a year, forever.
Word, deed.
Amen".
Keep salt nearby. If you are going to sleep - under the bed, stay awake - near your favorite chair or sofa. You cannot leave home until the salt spends one night near you. But she must stay in your room for three nights.
All this time she will absorb negative energy 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 it goes fewer people. 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 beneficial 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 the bright feast of the Annunciation, Orthodox people glorify the Archangel Gabriel. People say that On April 8, the archangel descends from heaven to earth and fulfills all the desires of people.
To make your plans come true, you need to get up early and go outside. Be sure to wear pectoral cross, because
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 all over the country settlements 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
On Orthodox icons It is customary to depict the Archangel Gabriel holding a flower in his hands - a symbol of good news. It is he who is given by God to bring people joyful, or in other words, good news. Therefore, Archangel Gabriel is always a welcome guest. But he brought the best news for all people in the world two thousand years ago, to the very young Virgin Mary. The Messenger of God announced that the Savior of the world would be incarnated from Her womb. It is with these words of his that the story of the Feast of the Annunciation begins.
Betrothal of the Blessed Virgin Mary
In ancient Judea, people grew up early. Those who had already reached the age of fourteen were considered adults. Here is the Blessed Virgin Mary, having barely left childhood, and being brought up with early years in the temple, she was required by law to either return to her parents or get married. But the vow of eternal virginity that was once given closed the path to simple family happiness for Her. From now on, Her life belonged only to God.
Her mentors, the priests of the temple where she spent her childhood and youth, found a simple and wise solution: the Virgin Mary was betrothed to a distant relative, an eighty-year-old man named Joseph. Thus, the young woman’s life is financially secure, and the vow she gave to the Lord remained unbroken. After the marriage ceremony, Mary settled in the city of Nazareth in the house of her betrothed. It was under this title that Saint Joseph, the guardian of the purity and virginity of the future Mother of God, entered the Holy Scriptures.
Appearance of Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin of Nazareth
The Blessed Virgin lived in the new house for four months, devoting all of Her time to prayer and reading the Holy Scriptures. It was this pious activity that God’s messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, found her doing. Under the rustle of his wings, he announced to the amazed Virgin about the greatest mission entrusted to her by the Creator of the universe.
This event was called the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the holiday cannot be complete without paying attention to why the Lord chose Her. The answer is simple - exceptional purity, innocence and devotion to God set her apart from the great multitude of other girls. Such a great mission required a righteous woman, whose equal has not been seen since the creation of the world.
Willingness to fulfill the will of the Creator
To understand the full significance of the event described in the Gospel, it is important to take into account this aspect of what happened. IN in this case, as always, the Lord provides his creation - man with full action. Please note how important to Archangel Gabriel is the response of the Virgin Mary and Her voluntary consent. There is no hint of any coercion here.
The Messenger of God speaks of a conception that must take place contrary to human nature, which cannot but cause a skeptical reaction, but the power of Mary’s faith is so great that She unconditionally believes everything she hears. The question of how She can conceive, having not known her husband, comes down only to the desire to find out the details of what is to come. Her readiness to fulfill her destiny is evident from every line describing the great Biblical event - the Annunciation.
History of the holiday, briefly about the most important
This event has become the subject of study by many scientists. As is clear from their works, which center on the history of the Annunciation holiday, simple logical reasoning was used to establish the date of the celebration.
If we consider the moment of the Immaculate Conception to be the day when the Virgin Mary, in response to the words of the Archangel Gabriel, replied: “Let it be done according to your word,” then it is quite natural that this day should be distant from the day when Jesus Christ was born, that is, from the holiday Christmas, for nine months. It is not difficult to calculate that such a day for Orthodox Christians is March 25th, and for Western Christians it is March 25th.
Discoveries of Saint Helen Equal to the Apostles
The holiday of the Annunciation, the history of which goes back to ancient times, according to historians, began to be celebrated in the 4th century, although images of scenes from this event were discovered during excavations of catacombs dating back to the 3rd and even 2nd centuries. In the 4th century, the most important event in the life of the entire Christian world took place - Helen of the Apostles discovered the places of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and began the construction of temples in the Holy Land.
Naturally, this was the reason for increased interest in everything connected with Christmas, the Resurrection and all other events of the Savior’s earthly life. It is not surprising that it was during this period that the emergence of the holiday was noted. Thus, the history of the feast of the Annunciation has a direct connection with the discoveries of this great ascetic.
Celebration of the Annunciation in Byzantium and the West
Following further in chronological order, it should be noted that the history Orthodox holiday The Annunciation has its beginning in Byzantium. In the 7th century, it firmly became one of the most celebrated days church calendar. However, it must be admitted that in historical documents of the two previous centuries there are separate references to it, but, apparently, we are talking about only isolated cases.
In the Western tradition, the history of the Feast of the Annunciation begins at approximately the same period as in the Eastern Church. Sergius I (687-701) included it among the three main holidays dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was celebrated quite solemnly and was accompanied by a festive procession through the streets of Rome.
Historical names of this holiday and its status
It is curious that this holiday was not always called the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the holiday also remembers other names. For example, in the writings of some ancient authors it is referred to as the “Day of Salutation” or “Annunciation”. The name that is used today comes from the Greek word “evangelismos”. It is first found in historical documents of the 7th century.
At that time, the holiday was considered equally both the Lord's and the Theotokos, but time brought its changes. If in the Orthodox tradition of the East it still remains one of the most important events of the year, then in the West its role has narrowed somewhat, leaving it only a place of a minor holiday.
Celebration of the Annunciation in the Orthodox world
In the Russian tradition Orthodox Church it is one of the twelve, great, immovable holidays. As during services on other Mother of God feasts, the clergy on this day are required to wear blue vestments. One can name a number of circumstances indicating that the feast of the Annunciation has a very special significance in the Orthodox Church.
History in particular indicates what great attention it was given to him by the Fathers of the Church. At the 6th Ecumenical Council, held in 680 in Constantinople, a document was adopted according to which on the day of this holiday, despite the fact that according to the calendar it falls during the period of Great Lent, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom is served, and not the Presanctified Gifts, which is indicating its exceptional significance.
The Annunciation writes about the importance of the holiday in His writings and He calls it “the first holiday” and even “the root of the holidays.” Today, on this day, a weakening of fasting is prescribed. In particular, eating fish and oil (oil) is allowed. Among the people, it is one of the most beloved, bringing peace and joy, because it is based on the good news, that is, news filled with the Grace of God.
Revival of Orthodox culture in Russia
Nowadays, when, after many decades of state atheism, the Orthodox Church has again taken its rightful place, many of our compatriots are filled with the desire to return to the spiritual roots of their people and learn as much as possible from what until recently was closed to them. In particular, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is of great interest among them. The history of the holiday, traditions and rituals - everything becomes the subject of inquisitive study.
Another important aspect modern life is to study the foundations of Orthodox culture among children. This is important so that the tragic mistake of past years is not repeated, when entire generations in our country grew up and entered into life in isolation from the faith of their ancestors. And in this regard, work is underway these days. Many Biblical events and holidays are presented in a child-friendly version.
Teaching the basics of Orthodox culture to children
This also applies to the Feast of the Annunciation. The history of the holiday for children is presented in such a way that, despite the adapted nature of the text, the meaning of the event itself remains unchanged and understandable to the child. This is, of course, the difficulty of the task. The history of the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, briefly but meaningfully presented, should be deposited in the most gracious way in children's consciousness.
Sunday schools, organized these days at many churches, play an invaluable role in the revival of Orthodox culture. By the way, their program also includes introducing students to the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The history of the holiday for children and adults attending these classes is of great interest, since many have heard about it, but have a very vague idea of its content.
Folk traditions on the day of the Annunciation
For a long time, people have established traditions associated with this holiday. Since it falls in the spring month, naturally, many of them are associated with the beginning of field work. There was a tradition according to which, on the day of the holiday, grain prepared for sowing was poured into a tub, and, placing the “Annunciation” icon on top, a special prayer was said for the granting of a bountiful harvest. In it, the peasants turned to the Most Holy Theotokos and Her Eternal Son with a request to bless the grain “sown into mother earth.”
There were also traditions that were clear echoes of paganism. Among them was, for example, this one. In the evening on the eve of the holiday, cabbage heads from last year's harvest were taken out from cellars or pantries. They were placed, secretly from everyone, on the ground near the road along which they were going to go to church the next day. And so the next day, returning after mass, it was necessary to pick up the heads of cabbage, find the seeds in them and plant them in the garden along with fresh seedlings. It was believed that in this case there would be a rich harvest of cabbage, which was not afraid of any frost.
The ancient worship of our pagan ancestors to fire and its cleansing power found expression in one of the folk Annunciation traditions. This refers to the custom according to which old clothes, shoes, bedding, and the like were burned on this day. Living quarters and outbuildings were filled with smoke. Special attention was given to livestock, which were also carefully fumigated, thereby hoping to protect them from all evil spirits.
On April 7 (March 25, old style), the Orthodox Church celebrates one of the 12 main (twelfth) holidays - the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Annunciation, meaning “good” or “good” news, belongs to the category of permanent holidays and is dedicated to the remembrance and glorification of the event described in the Gospel of Luke. On this day, according to the Gospel, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced to Her about the coming birth of Jesus Christ - the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
This holiday was established in ancient times. Its celebration was known already in the 3rd century. Among ancient Christians, this holiday had different 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 in the East and West was it given the name Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
IN Orthodox world The Feast of the Annunciation has been solemnly celebrated since the mid-7th century. At the same time, the date of the Annunciation was finally established - April 7 (March 25, old style).
In the 8th century St. John of Damascus and Theophan, Metropolitan of Nicaea, compiled festive canons, which are still sung by the Church.
In the Orthodox Church on this day the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, then the all-night vigil, which begins with Great Compline.
The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has long been one of the favorite holidays in Rus'. On this day, during the festive service, a special rite of breaking bread was performed, after which the blessed “grace-filled” bread and wine were distributed to the parishioners. The Patriarch of Moscow offered bread to the sovereign himself, who was sure to be present on this holiday at the service in the Kremlin cathedral.
According to ancient Russian tradition, on the day of the Annunciation, people released birds from cages and nets. This custom was revived in 1995 and is now performed in many temples. After the Liturgy in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, the Patriarch, clergy and children release the birds into the wild.
In Rus', on the Annunciation of the Mother of God, various customs, beliefs, and traditions have developed among the people.
The Annunciation was popularly perceived as the beginning and holiday of spring, the beginning of a new agricultural year; it was believed that nature awakens on the Annunciation. People blessed the grain before sowing, placing the Annunciation icon next to the grain.
It is considered a great sin to engage in any business or work on the Annunciation.
On the Annunciation, believers bake so-called prosphora and take them to church for consecration. Next they bring the Annunciation prosphora and place it next to the icons. And in the old days, peasants crumbled prosphora into the seed grain in order to protect the field from pests and reap a good harvest.
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
Annunciation(April 7). The Christian preacher John Chrysostom called the Annunciation the root of all holidays. On this day, “the bird does not sing songs, and the maiden does not braid her hair.” Everything freezes in anticipation of something great and mysterious...
In ancient times, the prophets predicted that in the offspring of King David, a Child would be born from the Virgin, who would become the Savior of the world. But years and centuries passed, and still there was no Chosen One of God on earth. David's descendants did not forget, however, the prophecies and did not lose hope in God's mercy. Those who did not have children considered this a special punishment and fervently prayed for the sending of a precious child to them. Readers remember the legend about how the great righteous John and Anna begged for consolation for themselves in their old age - their daughter Mary. In gratitude for this gift, the holy parents made a vow to dedicate their child to God.
She spent her childhood and adolescence in the temple. When Mary turned 14 years old, according to the custom of that time, She had to leave the holy monastery and live like all the other girls. But by that time the parents of the Blessed Virgin had already died. The priests of the Jerusalem Temple entrusted the Maiden to the care of a relative, the righteous elder Joseph, so that she would take care of and protect Her integrity. Mary moved to the house of a poor carpenter in Nazareth, where her life flowed in labor and prayer.
One day, as legend tells, Mary was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah and stopped at the prediction of the birth of the Son Emmanuel from the Virgin (translated, this name means “God is with us”). She dreamed about how this would come true, and She wanted to become at least a servant of this Virgin.
Suddenly an angel appeared before her and said: “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You, blessed are You among women.”
Mary knew the Holy Scriptures well and remembered that there had never been such a case in history when an angel addressed a girl or woman with such a solemn greeting. Therefore, she was embarrassed by the praise of the heavenly messenger, but he reassured Her with the words: “Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. And so You will give birth to a Son and call Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”
Jesus means Savior. Thus, the Archangel Gabriel pointed out His calling in the world. Quietly, with humility, Mary accepted this good news and answered: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Thus a miracle happened. At these words, a feeling arose in Her. new life- both the soul and body of the Savior of the world, whom She was to give birth to in the earthly form of a child...
Our grandparents and their parents firmly believed that on the Annunciation even the sun plays at sunrise - as on Easter, Ivan Kupala, Christmas and Peter's Day. The old people said that this is God’s biggest holiday. It was considered a grave sin to engage in any business on the Annunciation - even for an unreasonable creature. If a bird sleeps through the Annunciation Matins and builds a nest on this day, according to legend, it will not be able to fly for some time and will be forced to walk on the ground.
Many signs of spring are associated with the Annunciation: “As you spend the Annunciation, so will the whole year.” “If there is wind, frost and fog on the day of the Annunciation, it means a fruitful year.” “On the Annunciation it rains - rye will be born.”
Damp weather on this day foreshadowed a mushroom summer, and if an early thunderstorm occurred, it promised a warm summer and a nut harvest.
For this bright holiday, peasants used to bake special, large prosphoras and bring them to church. At home, the blessed Annunciation prosphora was placed first under the shrine, and then in the bin, where it was stored until the spring sowing. Having gone out into the field, the peasant tied the prosphora to the seeder or crushed it into grain in order to protect the crops from the “field pest” and to reap a good harvest.
In the old days, every Christian tried to leave a good mark on himself. And since you can’t work on the Annunciation, they celebrated it with a joyful and cheerful ritual: they released the birds. Before this, the nightingales were bathed in a bucket of water - so that they could sing more loudly, feed them heartily, and then they would take the cages out into the garden or park and release the bird from the palm of their hand. Fly, lucky bird! Bring good news to people.
WHAT DO YOU PRAY FOR IN FRONT OF THE ICON OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN
The Mother of God, through Her any icon, will help with any of your righteous requests, protect you from the attacks of the human enemy, and help save your soul.
Prayers in front of the “Annunciation...” icon will help in your recovery, in liberation from imprisonment, and in general - in receiving “good” (good) news about something.
It must be remembered that icons or saints do not “specialize” in any specific areas. It will be right when a person turns with faith in the power of God, and not in the power of this icon, this saint or prayer.
And .
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN - HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAY
At the age of fourteen, the Holy Virgin married the righteous Joseph of Nazareth. Then the eighty-year-old carpenter Joseph, with great difficulty, was persuaded by the high priest to take the orphan into his care under the guise of marriage.
After the betrothal, Mary left the temple, where she spent eleven years, and holy family went to live in Nazareth.
For Mary, life in a new place was practically no different from life at the temple. She also spent a lot of time in prayer, reading holy books and doing handicrafts.
Several years have passed. Mary often reread Isaiah's prophecy:
“Behold, a virgin will be with child and give birth to a son...”
and thought about this Most Blessed Virgin, from Whom such a greatest miracle would occur.
Suddenly, a miracle happened in her room - she saw Archangel Gabriel appear to her, who brought a bouquet of white lilies, which symbolize purity and purity.
Handing them to Mary, Gabriel said:
“Rejoice, Blessed One! The Lord is with you! Blessed are You among women"
Graceful means having acquired the special love and favor of God/
It was Mary who the Archangel brought the Good News that She would be the Mother of the Savior.
« 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 David his father; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).
Maria was very surprised:
“How will this happen when I don’t know my husband?”
And, besides this, She took a vow of virginity.
In response, the Archangel said:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You. Therefore also that which is to be born will be called the Son of God.”
Gabriel was waiting for an answer from Mary; the fate of the world now depended on Her.
“Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.”
— She said humbly.
And heavenly grace poured out on the humble Chosen One, the power of the Most High entered into Her through the Holy Spirit, giving birth to the Son of God in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin.
“Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb!”
Maria spent three months visiting, and it was time to return home. Time passed, Mary’s appearance changed, as it should be before giving birth. Her husband, Joseph, of course, suspected his wife of treason and decided to separate from Her. Mary understood that She did not have the right to reveal the holy secret and therefore relied on the Lord in everything.
At night, in a dream, an Angel appeared to the Betrothed and told him: 
“Joseph, Son of David! Do not be afraid to accept Mary your wife; For whoever is born in her is of the Holy Spirit, and she will give birth to a Son, and you will call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins...”
Joseph unconditionally believed God's messenger; he was so amazed by such news that he could not come to his senses for a long time after awakening. The purity of Mary no longer caused him doubt; now he began to treat Her with trepidation, as the Mother of the Son of God.
THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF THE HOLIDAY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE HOLY VIRGIN
Since the second century, the Annunciation has been considered the first part of the atonement for sins, where the obedience of the Virgin Mary was a counterbalance to the sin of Eve.
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh:
“The Annunciation is the day of good news that a Virgin has been found throughout the human world, so believing in God, so deeply capable of obedience and trust, that the Son of God can be born from Her. The incarnation of the Son of God, on the one hand, is a matter of God’s love - the cross, affectionate, saving - and God’s power; but at the same time, the incarnation of the Son of God is a matter of human freedom. St. Gregory Palamas says that the Incarnation would have been equally impossible without free human consent Mother of God as it would have been impossible without the creative will of God. And on this day of the Annunciation, we contemplate the Virgin in the Mother of God, who with all her heart, all her mind, all her soul, all her strength managed to trust God to the end.
And the good news was truly terrible: the appearance of an Angel, this greeting: Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, could not but cause not only amazement, not only trepidation, but also fear in the soul of a virgin who did not know a husband - how is this could be?..
And here we grasp the difference between the wavering - albeit deep - faith of Zechariah, the father of the Forerunner, and the faith of the Mother of God. Zechariah was also told that his wife would have a son - naturally, despite her advanced age; and his answer to this message of God: How can this be? This can't happen! How can you prove this? What assurance can you give me?.. The Mother of God poses the question only this way: How can this happen to me - I’m a virgin?.. And to the Angel’s answer that this will happen, She responds only with words of complete surrender of Herself into the hands of God; Her words: Behold, the Servant of the Lord; wake me according to your word...
The word “slave” in our current usage speaks of enslavement; In the Slavic language, a person who gave his life and his will to another called himself a slave. And She really gave Her life, Her will, Her destiny to God, accepting with faith - that is, with incomprehensible trust - the news that She would be the Mother of the incarnate Son of God. Righteous Elizabeth says about Her: Blessed is she who believed, for that which was spoken to Her by the Lord shall be done...
In the Mother of God we find an amazing ability to trust God to the end; but this ability is not natural, not natural: such faith can be forged in oneself by the feat of purity of heart, by the feat of love for God. A feat, for the fathers say: Shed blood and you will receive the Spirit... One of the Western writers says that the Incarnation became possible when the Virgin of Israel was found, Who with all her thought, with all her heart, with all Her life was able to pronounce the Name of God so that It became flesh in Her.
This is the gospel that we have now heard in the Gospel: the human race gave birth, brought God as a gift to the Virgin, who was able in Her royal human freedom to become the Mother of the Son of God, who freely gave Himself for the salvation of the world. Amen".
GREATNESS
The Archangel's voice cries out to You, Pure One: Rejoice, O Gracious One, the Lord is with You.
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