Annunciation of the Virgin: ancient customs and traditions. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin: the history and traditions of the holiday

The Annunciation 2019 is celebrated on April 7 (March 25, old style). In the Orthodox Church, this holiday is called the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. It belongs to the great twelve events of the annual liturgical cycle. The celebration is timed to coincide with the announcement of the good news to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel about the conception of the Son of God by her.

In the Orthodox Church, this holiday symbolizes the redemption by mankind of the fall of Eve.

history of the holiday

Saint Mary was brought up in the temple and made a promise to God to remain a Virgin. She lived modestly in Nazareth with her named husband, distant relative- old Joseph. Once, the Archangel Gabriel entered her house and delivered a speech, which he began with the words: “Rejoice, Blessed One!”. He told the Blessed Virgin about a great miracle - the conception by her of the future Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

The first mention of the Annunciation dates back to the 2nd century. This event became official in the 6th century, when the Byzantine emperor Justinian set the date for the holiday on March 25 (April 7, according to a new style).

Traditions and rituals of the holiday

On the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, services are held in churches. On this day, church mentors put on a blue vestment. The temples are all-night vigil which begins with Great Compline. Services have liturgical features depending on the days of the week. If the Annunciation and Pascha coincide (Kriopaskha), then the canons of the holidays are combined.

On this day, it is customary for people to go to temples, pray, give alms and do charity work. On this holiday, the tradition of releasing birds (pigeons) to freedom is widespread. People believe that on the Annunciation they fly to the guardian angels and inform them of all the good deeds that have been committed during the year.

On April 7, believers prepare Annunciation salt. To do this, the housewives take a bag into which each member of the family pours a pinch of salt. It is calcined in the fire and stored in a secluded place. Annunciation salt is used as a talisman. Its miraculous properties can cure diseases. If it is not used up within a year, then on the next holiday it is burned in the fire. Prosphora and consecrated water, which the parishioners bring from the solemn service, have special power.

On the Annunciation, believers make a pilgrimage to holy places. On this holiday, Orthodox relics are able to empower a person. Christians believe that on this day the heavens open, and the Lord hears the prayers and requests of man. People make wishes and ask heavenly powers for help in big things.

The ancient Slavs had a custom to kindle large bonfires on a holiday. They threw all the old things and objects into the fire. It was believed that in this way all troubles, illnesses and misfortunes were burned in the fire.

What can you eat for the Annunciation

Annunciation 2019 falls on great post before Easter. At this holiday Orthodox Church gives relief from fasting. Parishioners can eat fish. If the Annunciation falls on Holy Week(the last week before Easter), then an exception is made - fish cannot be eaten. Meat, dairy products are excluded from the diet on this day.

What not to do on the Annunciation

Among the people, the Annunciation is considered a great religious holiday. On this day, there are bans on everyday activities.

On April 7, it is not recommended to sew, knit, embroider, braid, cut your hair, dye your hair, comb your hair. This sign is associated with a belief according to which people have long believed that a person’s life is a thread that the Lord himself or guardian angels can control. On the day when the heavens open, it is easy to confuse the threads of life, change the fate of the family and loved ones.

April 7 should refrain from heavy physical labor. Housewives try to prepare food on the eve of the Annunciation, so that on a holiday they can be free from household chores. bad omen it is considered to lend money, distribute something from home, otherwise you can give away peace, health and well-being. You should not wear new things on this day, so as not to spoil them. The holiday should not be spent in fuss, anger, anger and irritation. The Church does not recommend marriage on this day - this is a period of abstinence and repentance.

Signs and beliefs

• Frosts on the Annunciation portend a rich harvest.
• If by April 7 the swallows have not arrived, then the spring will be cold and late.
• If a wife calls her husband forty times “beloved” on this holiday, then love and peace await the family for many years to come.
• If you bury a piece of Annunciation prosphora in the garden, then the earth will give a rich harvest.
• The wish that will be made on the Annunciation will come true in the near future.

The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is one of the great twelfth feasts of the Orthodox Church. On this day, believers refrain from work, household chores, quarrels and insults. Parishioners visit temples, make pilgrimages to holy places. This religious holiday is considered the best period for harvesting salt, blessed water and prosphora, which will serve as amulets throughout the year.

The celebration of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos consists in visiting the temple on this day and listening to the Liturgy. After the end of the Liturgy, according to the ancient Russian custom, the faithful release the birds into the wild. This rite symbolizes that the birds are not locked in a cage, but are free, in search of the Divine Church.

Celebration of the Annunciation in the Orthodox Church

Church in the East different time considered the Annunciation both the Theotokos and the Lord's feast. At present, it is one of the twelve great feasts and usually refers to the feasts of the Theotokos, which is why it is assigned liturgical vestments blue.

In the Jerusalem Rule, currently adopted in the Greek and Russian Churches, the Annunciation has one day of fore-feast and one day of after-feast, on which the Cathedral of the Archangel Gabriel is celebrated. The forefeast and afterfeast are postponed if the Annunciation happens on Passion or Bright Week.

The date of the holiday falls between Thursday of the 3rd week of Great Lent and Wednesday of Bright Week inclusive, that is, during the period of singing the Lenten or Colored Triodion.

A number of liturgical features for the period of singing the Lenten Triodion bring it closer to the feasts of the Nativity of Christ and the Baptism of the Lord. So, if the feast of the Annunciation occurs on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday of any week of Fortecost (part of Great Lent until Friday of the sixth week, the eve of Lazarus Saturday), and also on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday of Holy Week, then the all-night vigil begins Great Compline, and not Vespers, as usual; if the holiday falls on the Week (Sunday) or Monday of Fortecost or any day of Bright Week, then the all-night vigil is performed in the usual way, that is, great vespers begins; Vespers begin at Matins, if the Annunciation is on Great Friday (Friday of Passion Week) or Great Saturday. At Matins, the Great Doxology is sung when the feast falls on Saturday or the Week of Lent; on other days it is read; does not rely on Bright Week at all.

When the Annunciation happens on Easter, there is no polyeleos, but the canon of the Annunciation is combined with the Paschal canon, and after the sixth ode of the canon, the gospel readings of the Annunciation are read (at Matins Luke 1:39-49, at the liturgy Luke 1:24-38).

The special significance of the feast of the Annunciation is emphasized by the fact that the 52nd rule of the Sixth Ecumenical Council it was established that on the day of the Annunciation, despite Great Lent, a full liturgy should be served. According to the Typicon, general rule serve the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and if the holiday falls on Lenten Sunday (Week), as well as Thursday or Saturday of Passion Week, then the liturgy of Basil the Great. If the Annunciation happens in good friday, then - as the only exception for this day - a liturgy should be performed (according to the Typicon, the liturgy of John Chrysostom is served).

On the Annunciation (if it does not fall on Holy Week), along with the feast of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem, the charter allows the consumption of fish, wine and oil. According to the Greek Typicon, the celebration of the Annunciation, if it falls on Good Friday or Saturday, is transferred to the first day of Easter.

The liturgical texts, in addition to describing the very event of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, also speak of the incomprehensibility of the Nativity of the Savior from the Theotokos, and Mary herself is compared with the "duppy" and "ladder" from the vision of Jacob. Through festive hymns, the church conveys to believers the following dogmatic provisions: thanks to the birth of the Savior from the Mother of God, heaven is again united with the earth, Adam is renewed, Eve is freed, and all people become involved in the Divine. The canon of the holiday sings of the greatness of the Most Holy Theotokos, who received God into herself, and also contains indications of Old Testament prophecies about the incarnation of the Son of God.

Hello. The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos is a great feast for all believers. In the bustle of days, many have forgotten about the traditions of celebrating the Annunciation. We will try to remember them so that we never forget and pass them on to our children.

MEET THE HOLIDAY WITH A BRIGHT SOUL!

What date is the Annunciation celebrated? In Orthodoxy, a special day is allocated for the Annunciation - April 7th. In 2017, after such a significant holiday, that is, on April 8, Lazarus Saturday comes, and then, on April 9 - Palm Sunday. These days, especially revered by Christians, fall on Great Lent. As you know, many believers strictly observe this fast, not allowing themselves to eat meat. But on big holidays they can afford to eat fish and sip the church Cahors.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLIDAY

The essence of the holiday lies in the name itself. "Annunciation" means that the good news is coming. If you look more closely, you can see that the whole point of Christian holidays is that a person is given two ways:

• the way of salvation is the righteous way,
• 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 incarnated from her womb. Mary answered, “Let it be done unto me according to thy word,” humbly accepting God's word.

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

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

In ancient Judea, people who reached the age of 14 were considered adults. So the 14-year-old Virgin Mary, who until that time had been brought up 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 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 virginal purity of the future Mother of God. For four months the Blessed Virgin lived in the house of Joseph, devoting all Her time to reading the Holy Books and tireless prayers.

Behind this charitable occupation, the Angel found her, saying to Her: “Hail, Gracious!”. Archangel Gabriel announced to Her about that greatest grace: to become the Mother of the Messiah.

ANNUNCIATION IS THE COMING OF SPRING!

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

Today, church ministers do this, and before the revolution of 1917, many believers, observing traditions, brought cages with birds to worship, which were released after the service.

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

SIGNS FOR THE ANNUNCIATION

With the advent of spring, the people associated their aspirations for a good harvest. Therefore, there are many signs for April 7:

• If it is cold on the Annunciation, fog falls, or the day is marked by frost, then the year will be fruitful.
• If the swallows have not arrived yet, then the spring will be late and cold.
• A clear day on the Annunciation - to the fires.
• If April 7 is a day with rain, then wait for a dry summer.
• What day (weather) for the Annunciation, such for Easter.

OTHER SIGNS FOR THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

• On the Annunciation, you can’t give or borrow anything, so as not to give away your health and good luck.
• On the Annunciation, you can’t work, get a haircut, even comb your hair, so as not to “confuse” your fate.
• On which day of the week April 7 falls, on that day you should not start new business for the whole year.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The most important celebrations in church calendar, the twelfth holidays, are inextricably linked with each other. For example, believers began to celebrate the Annunciation of the Mother of God, as well as the Exaltation of the Lord, in the 4th century, when 300 years after the crucifixion of Christ, the mother of Emperor Constantine, Queen Elena, made a trip to the holy places associated with his earthly life. She managed to find a sacred cross on Golgotha ​​and clarify the dates of such famous events as the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos and the birth of the baby Jesus.

Since then it has been considered that immaculate conception The Virgin Mary became known on March 25, on this day the Catholics celebrate the Annunciation of the Virgin. The Russian Orthodox Church, which lives according to the Julian calendar, celebrates the Annunciation on April 7, customs and traditions prescribe to celebrate the holiday decorously, with quiet rejoicing in the heart, because it falls on Great Lent.

News of a miracle

Now it is difficult to imagine what was going on in the soul of sixteen-year-old Mary when the archangel Gabriel addressed her with the words: “Rejoice, the Lord is with you! Be the Mother of the Son of God!” How could she, brought up in a temple, disobey the Creator, go against his will. However, in order to fulfill it, it was necessary to show considerable courage, to steadfastly endure human condemnation. Even her betrothed husband Joseph, who by that time had already exchanged for the ninth decade, did not immediately decide on such an act, at first he wanted to secretly release his chosen one. He was ashamed, everyone around him knew that his bride voluntarily took a vow of chastity.

What influenced him more, the persuasion and prophecy of the angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream, or the boundless self-sacrifice of young Mary, who believed in a miracle? After all, her coming into the world was also associated with him, aged parents, Anna and Joachim, literally begged for a daughter from God. Without his blessing, the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Annunciation of the Virgin, the birth of Jesus, bright Christ's Resurrection(), the Exaltation of the Lord and other great events, the memory of which is kept by the twelfth holidays.

Release the bird

Not all of them are now popular among the people, like the Annunciation, the customs and traditions of which are still observed and passed down from generation to generation. The beautiful rite of liberation of birds enjoys special love. Priests usually release snow-white doves from cages. They soar into the sky, as if souls freed from the oppression of sins, having received hope, a chance for salvation through the Good News. In the old days, especially for a great Christian celebration, peasant boys caught wild birds in the forest, who managed to return from warm lands. They brought them to the city market, where they asked for a ransom for them: rescue the bird from captivity, it will put in a word for you before God. The children persuaded adults to pay a pretty penny so that the bird could fly home.

Those birds that lingered on wintering, across the seas, oceans, were lured with a delicious treat. On the Annunciation of the Theotokos, more precisely the night before, the hostesses brought sweets on the water, you can’t put brew on Lent, even on a holiday. Funny buns were molded from it, just like real larks: heads with beaks and raisin eyes, tails, wings. As soon as the “birds” were reddened in the oven, they were taken out, covered with honey and distributed to the children. They climbed the fences, the roofs of the sheds and loudly, loudly called spring, starlings, larks hurried to acquire nests.

True, there is a belief that no one should work on the Annunciation of the Virgin, even birds do not make nests on this day. According to legend, the cuckoo once broke the ban. As a punishment, she turned into an eternal widow, and other birds incubate her eggs. This is how poor cuckoos grow up as orphans with a living mother. Who wishes such a bitter fate for himself? Therefore, they put off all household and household chores, worries for later, they didn’t heat the stove, didn’t comb their hair, didn’t braid their braids.

Annunciation of the Virgin: what can and cannot be done

The Most Holy Mother of God has long been known in Russia as a protector, patroness of women. They turn to her for help and support, for advice in difficult times they go to the temple of the Virgin. And on her holiday, April 7, they definitely buy consecrated bread there - Annunciation prosphora, for all family members. They say they bring prosperity and happiness to the house. Whoever eats church food will spend it all in good health.

With the same purpose, on the Annunciation, customs and traditions taught miraculous salt to be made. Everyone, from young to old, threw a pinch into a linen bag. Then the eldest woman in the family mixed the salt, calcined it in a cast-iron pan in the oven and cherished it, like the apple of an eye, until special occasion. It was believed that such a drug raises hopeless patients to their feet, removes any misfortunes from a person, as if the Most Holy Theotokos herself suffered vitality endows. If the magic potion was not useful, it was thrown into the fire on the eve of the next celebration.

On the Annunciation, ancient customs and traditions are also aimed at attracting wealth. On this holiday, it is customary to fill the wallet with money, paper bills, preferably larger denominations, and coins. You will count them before entering the temple of the Mother of God under the solemn peal of bells, then you will give alms to the poor in the square in front of the church, you will not know the need for finances. There is a completely strange, funny rite: to steal something little by little. If you go unnoticed, luck in money matters will not pass by.

However, everything can easily be ruined if you work on that day, for example, sit at sewing or knitting. The fact is that the fate of a person is like a thread that obeys the Lord and his helpers - the angels. As soon as she gets confused, breaks off, winds up in the wrong ball, how to expect trouble: quarrels with family and friends, parting with her beloved, jealousy and evil gossip. It is better to visit the temple of the Virgin, pray, devote time to ancient women's conspiracies, because the Most Holy Theotokos fulfills all desires on her holiday.

A conspiracy to exorcise the blues

Read three times before going to bed, in bed:
“I lie down to rest with the seal of the cross. The guardian angel guards my dream, guards my soul from evening to morning, drives sadness from my heart. Amen".

Annunciation spell of good luck

On the eve of the holiday, honey is bought. On the Annunciation, rites and traditions advise them to smear the palm of their left hand, press it tightly against their right palm, and, spreading it, say:
“Honey melts from the heat, connects the palms. May good luck, happiness also stick to me, the servant of the Lord (name).

Making a cherished wish

Briefly formulate in advance what you want to ask the Mother of God and the Archangel Gabriel. At dawn on April 8, go outside or balcony, turn to face east. Cross yourself and say: “Hear my prayer, Archangel Michael, Holy Mother of God, I trust in you. Fulfill my tearful request (state in your own words). Kiss the pectoral cross and do not tell anyone about your innermost desire, otherwise it will not come true.