One of the favorite and revered holidays among the peasants is the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ancient in its history of celebration, it does not lose its importance and meaning even today.
Annunciation: the history of the holiday
This Christian holiday is associated with a very significant event for believers: the news of the imminent birth of the Messiah, the God-Man and Savior Jesus Christ. The events of this day are described in the Gospel of Luke. God sent the Archangel Gabriel with a message to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He asked her consent to become the mother of the Divine Son, who would bring people deliverance from sins. This is the good news: after the fall of Adam and Eve, people lived in sin. By suffering and torment for the human race, Jesus Christ gave the opportunity to stay in Paradise. God of one of his hypostases incarnated in man through the immaculate conception and from great love announced to the people his coming to earth.
When is the Annunciation celebrated in 2016
Every year, the Annunciation is celebrated on April 7, since this holiday is a twelfth non-transitory holiday, and the church celebrates it every year on the same day. This day is exactly nine months from the Nativity of Christ, thus the date of the Annunciation was calculated. Believers have been celebrating this day for many centuries, according to the most daring estimates, since the 3rd century.
Plots of the Gospel of the Annunciation
The preceding events can be called the prediction of Isaiah, who lived according to biblical tradition in the VIII-VII centuries BC. He predicted the appearance of the Messiah, who will be born from the Virgin and atone for human sins with his sacrifice. Further events related to the prediction of the birth of the God-man are associated with the name of Simeon the God-Receiver. He was instructed to translate the Holy Scriptures and, having reached the book of Isaiah and the words: “Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and give birth to a Son,” considered the word “Virgin” inappropriate and wanted to replace it with “Wife.” Then an angel of the Lord stopped him. Simeon was predicted to live until he himself was convinced of the truth of the prophecy of Isaiah and saw with his own eyes the born God-man. According to legend, he lived for about 300 years.
Another event associated with the Annunciation is the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist, or John the Baptist. He was born to an elderly couple, the priest Zacharias and the righteous Elizabeth, the cousin of the Virgin Mary. They had no children, and an angel appeared to Zechariah, who announced a joyful event: a son would appear in the family. John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus Christ. Then he lived as an ascetic in the desert until he appeared before the people of Israel and performed ablution, which later became the sacrament of baptism. He also baptized Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River.
When celebrating the Annunciation, try to visit the Church and read prayers. All the best, and don't forget to press the buttons and
06.04.2016 00:30
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Annunciation(Church-glory. Annunciation; tracing paper Greek. Εὐαγγελισμός [τῆς Θεοτόκου]; lat. Annuntiatio-proclamation) The Feast of the Annunciation is celebrated in commemoration of the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel and the announcement by him of the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, from Her. Upon reaching the age of majority, according to the custom that had the force of law. Holy Virgin Mary, although reluctantly, 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.
Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin:
Annunciation 2016 - April 7; Annunciation 2017 - April 7 ; Annunciation 2018 - April 7 ; Annunciation 2019 - April 7; Annunciation 2020 - April 7
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 Holy Scripture and needlework.
Four months after her betrothal, during Her prayerful reflections, the Archangel Gabriel appeared before Her and said: “Rejoice, Blessed One! The Lord is with you, blessed are you among women." The appearance of the Archangel did not frighten Mary, but his greeting confused her with its unusualness. Wishing to reassure Mary and assure her of the truth of his greeting, the Archangel Gabriel informed her that by her deep humility of wisdom she had found the greatest grace from God - to be the Mother of the Son of God.
For greater confirmation of the Most Pure Virgin, the Archangel announced to Her the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God in the same words in which the prophet Isaiah predicted this event: “And now you will conceive in the womb, and you will give birth to the Son, and you will call His name: Jesus. He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father; and shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom shall have no end.”
Mary did not doubt the words of the Divine Messenger, but she showed bewilderment how a son could be born to one who doomed herself to virginity. In order to clarify Her humble perplexity, the Archangel revealed to Her the truth that he brought from Almighty God: “The Holy Spirit will find on You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You; Therefore, the Holy One who is being born will be called the Son of God. Having comprehended the will of God and completely surrendering herself to it, the Most Holy Virgin answered: “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word."
In Rus', the Annunciation is considered a great holiday; in the old days, the year began with it.. According to the pious belief of the Russian people, on this day, as on Easter, the sun “plays”, and sinners are not tormented in hell. In its grandeur, the feast of the Annunciation is not canceled even if it falls on Easter.
The Church famously sings the feast: The day of our salvation is the main thing, and the hedgehog from the age of mystery is a manifestation; Son God's Son There are virgins, and Gabriel preaches the gospel. In the same way, we will cry out to the Theotokos with him: Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you. (Troparion, tone 4).
The Feast of the Annunciation, dedicated to the remembrance and glorification of the event described in the Gospel (Luke 1, 26-38), had various names among the ancient Christians: "Conception of Christ", "Annunciation of Christ", "Beginning of Redemption", "Annunciation of the Angel of Mary" , - and only in the 7th century it was forever given the name "Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos".
The establishment of this holiday belongs to ancient times. St. Athanasius (4th century), in his conversation on this holiday, calls it the first in a series of holidays and especially revered, since it recalls the beginning of the economy of saving people. In the 5th and 6th centuries, due to heresies that humiliated the face of the Mother of God and distorted the dogma of the incarnation of Jesus Christ, special motives appeared for the Church to exalt the triumph of the holiday, during which time the triumph of the holiday was enriched with many hymns in which the sacrament of the incarnation of the Son of God and the greatness of the Mother of God were revealed.
In pre-revolutionary Russia, there was a touching custom, especially in Moscow, in Annunciation Day, as on the day of the announcement of freedom to the whole world, to release birds from cages into the wild. To engage in any, even light, work on this day was considered grave sin. But the legend that on this day, as on other great holidays, the sun plays at sunrise, you can check for yourself if you get up early.
Among the large number of church holidays, the Annunciation plays a special role for Christians. It was on this day that the Virgin Mary learned the good news - she would become the mother of God and. No wonder such a bright and joyful holiday falls in the spring, when all living things awaken, plants bloom, warm and sunny days. Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation on April 7, and Catholic and Protestant - on March 25.
Traditions of the Annunciation
In that Holy holiday in no case should you work, especially sewing or knitting - you can only cook food. According to beliefs, on the Annunciation, a girl should not weave a braid - she will be left without a husband, since the intentions of her guardian angel will be confused. In no case did they put on a new one - it was believed that the clothes would be torn or soiled.
It was impossible to get even a trifle in debt for the Annunciation, since it was believed that with the borrowed thing, the well-being of the family would also leave. But to give back the borrowed money or things that day was good for both parties involved in the loan - luck will turn to face them and the days of financial prosperity will come.
On this day, rituals were performed that helped to cleanse everything negative - winter clothes were fumigated with smoke and washed with melt water to preserve beauty and youth. On the lawns, where the snow melted, fires were lit and spring songs were sung. On the day of good news, captured birds were released and salt was burned, which was later used during ailments and illnesses.
Signs
On the Annunciation, the weather and the behavior of birds and animals were carefully monitored. Good weather foreshadowed a rainy summer with thunderstorms. If it rained on the day of the Annunciation, then the summer was expected to be dry. Precipitation on this day symbolized for the fishermen a year rich in catches. It was necessary to spend the day calmly - then the year will be calm, without quarrels. If the wind rose or fog descended - be a good harvest.
Symbols of the Annunciation
The main symbols of the holiday are:
- Lily flower. It symbolizes purity and innocence.
- Distaff. Maria, at the time of receiving the news, was spinning the fabric.
- Palm tree branch. With her, Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary.
divination
As on any other holiday, girls love to tell fortunes on the Annunciation. On this day, it was necessary to bring a branch from the street, place it under the pillow and make a wish - a branch that broke during the night meant a quick fulfillment of a dream. Fate could be recognized by the birds: doves - to joy, crows - to sadness, swallows - to a quiet life, and wagtails - to excessive fuss.
The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the most important and significant world religious holidays and is revered by Christians of all states. According to biblical texts, on this day the heavenly servant, the archangel Gabriel, brought to the immaculate Virgin Mary the good and happy news that it was she who would become the Mother of the Son of God and the Savior of mankind Jesus Christ.
What date do Orthodox and Catholics celebrate the Annunciation 2016
A significant date is considered a non-transferable twelfth holiday and is celebrated annually on the same day. Therefore, to the question of what date the Annunciation 2016 will come for the Orthodox, there is only one clear answer - April 7th. For Catholics, the celebration always falls on March 25th. The fourteen-day difference is due to the fact that the Roman Church calculates significant religious events according to the Julian, and the Russian Orthodox - according to the Gregorian calendar.
The main idea of the celebration is to unite human freedom And God's power which resulted in the coming into the world of the Great Messiah. Immaculate Mary was chosen by the Almighty as the mother of the living incarnation of the Lord in our world. But the miraculous conception could not have taken place if the girl had not been ready to submit to the will of God. This event unambiguously shows that God only offers people a path, and whether to follow it or not, everyone decides for himself. You can open your heart to the Almighty and receive a guaranteed hope for the salvation of your soul, or you can renounce all that is holy and forever lose the chance to join the Kingdom of God.
Signs for the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Many interesting ancient traditions and rituals are associated with the holiday. On this auspicious day, birds are released from their cages, spring bells sing, call for warmth and good weather, and even jump over a large fire to free themselves from the sins that have accumulated over the winter.
On the Annunciation, it is not recommended to put on new clothes, start new business, sow fields with wheat, light a stove, sit under smoke and work around the house. Frosty weather on the Annunciation morning promises a good harvest of spring crops and cucumbers, and a strong thunderstorm promises a hot summer and a large number of nuts.
Is it possible to wash your hair on the Annunciation?
Very bad omen it is considered to do something with hair on this bright and solemn holiday. So for everyone who has planned to go to the hairdresser or wash their hair for the Annunciation 2016, it is better to postpone these classes for a more suitable time. In the villages, old people still say that on a holy day, “a bird does not nest, and a girl does not weave braids.”
To determine the Annunciation in 2018, what date, you need to know what kind of holiday it is and what it is connected with. This event, included in the 12 most important Christian holidays during the year, tells how the Virgin Mary learned from the Archangel Gabriel that it was she who was destined to give birth to the Son of God. Moreover, in the foreseeable future - exactly in 9 months.
It turns out that the Orthodox celebrate Christmas on January 7, which means that they will have the Annunciation on April 7 every year. As for the Catholics, and after them the Protestants, who celebrate Christmas on December 25, they celebrate the Annunciation every year on March 25.
From the history of the big holiday
The Virgin Mary, as the legend tells us, lived in a monastery for the first part of her life before her marriage. She prayed a lot to God and fell in love with him so much that she promised to keep her body. The servants of the monastery, when Mary reached the required number of years, found her distant relative Joseph. She gave the girl to Joseph, but he promised that he would keep her innocence.
Mary and Joseph lived together, respected each other. Four months after the wedding, when Mary was sitting, embroidering and thinking about faith, the archangel Gabriel appeared to her. He told the girl that she was destined to give birth to the Son of God in 9 months. It is difficult to put into words how excited Mary was, because she was ready to be a servant of a woman who would give birth to the Messiah. But she was destined to be his mother.
It turns out that the Catholic Annunciation in 2018, what date will be - March 25, and the Orthodox - April 7. It so happened that this holiday for many believers who fast is closely connected with the period of restrictions and is woven into it. Often the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos falls during Lent, but this is a holiday, a great holiday, and, according to the church charter, it must be celebrated accordingly.
How to behave on a holiday
The period of Great Easter Lent is a period of spiritual and physical restrictions. But even during this period there are important church holidays to which believers are obliged to pay due attention. In particular, it is always Palm Sunday. There is also the feast of the Annunciation, which is associated with Christmas, but often falls during the fasting period before Easter. Orthodox Annunciation April 7th is celebrated every year. You can cook a festive one.
On the day of this holiday, you can eat fish. But not in 2018. And here's why: the festive Saturday falls on Holy Week. Holy Week is one of the strictest days of Great Lent, and it is necessary to eat very limited food this week. Therefore, even on the Annunciation, one cannot afford fish this particular year. On any other days of Great Lent, the Annunciation is a holiday when even clergymen can eat fish. This year, in honor of the holiday, you can treat yourself to lenten dishes with the addition of vegetable oil.
About signs and traditions
The main sign on the Annunciation in 2018 (what date we already know for sure) is to go to church and pray. It is also necessary to set the festive table. Usually, fish can be served on the table, even despite Great Lent.
As in any other religious holiday, on the day described, you should try to refrain from doing housework. Of course, you will have to go to work: from this modern man nowhere to go. It is also important not to do any needlework on the Annunciation, not to bring beauty, it is not advised to go to salons and hairdressers on this day, even to wear clean clothes.
Eat interesting sign, which warns against lending money on this holiday. People say that together with money you can give another person your happiness and well-being.
In 2018, the Annunciation fell on Orthodox believers for a period Holy Week Easter post. This means that fish must be abandoned, and you should also limit yourself to entertainment as much as possible. There are only a few days left.
