Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Virgin Mother of God, Hail, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with Thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, for thou hast given birth to the Savior of our souls.”

According to the signs on April 7, they judged the summer and the harvest. The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary. It belongs to the Twelve and is celebrated annually on April 7th.

The events of the Annunciation are described by the Apostle Luke, who reports that the Lord sent the Archangel Gabriel to Nazareth to the Virgin Mary with the news of the birth of the Savior of the world from her. The words of the archangel: “Rejoice, full of grace” are the first good news for humanity after its fall.

The Virgin Mary was the daughter of the righteous Anna and Jacob, who for a long time could not have children. When they almost despaired, an angel appeared to Anna and said that she would soon have a daughter. Having learned about this, the woman promised that she would dedicate her unborn child to the Lord. When Mary was three years old, her parents kept their promise and took Her to the Temple in Jerusalem, where She lived until she was fifteen years old.

When the time came for Mary to leave the temple, She, with the permission of the priest, became engaged to her distant relative, the righteous Joseph. After their betrothal, Mary moved into his home in Nazareth. It was here, 9 months before the Nativity of Christ, that the appearance of the Archangel Gabriel took place, bringing Her the good news (hence the Annunciation).

Every Orthodox Church must have an icon of the Annunciation, which is included in the festive rite of the iconostasis, consisting of icons depicting all the twelve feasts of the church calendar.

Churches of the Annunciation have been built all over the world. One of the first churches in Rus' was built under Yaroslav the Wise over the Golden Gate in Kyiv (11th century).

April 7: traditions and customs of the day

Annunciation is an important Christian holiday of the annual cycle. Along with, the Nativity of John the Baptist () and) the Annunciation falls on one of the four key points in the year, which corresponds to the spring equinox. In the popular understanding, the Annunciation is the beginning of the spring-summer half-year. The very name of the holiday is interpreted more broadly. It is associated not only with the announcement of the Virgin Mary about the birth of the Son of God, but also with the good news of the awakening of the earth from sleep and the coming of spring. This holiday was always celebrated solemnly and in concentrated thought.

Our ancestors also interpreted the Christian theme of the Annunciation in an economic and everyday way. The end of one period and the beginning of another are the basis of the Annunciation calendar folklore, economic and labor activities and rituals dedicated to this day.

People often compared the Annunciation with Easter, and sometimes this holiday was considered more important than Easter Sunday. Many people said that the Annunciation is God's greatest holiday. On this day, any work was prohibited. The ban was followed not only by people, but also by birds and even devils in the underworld:

The bird does not build a nest on Annunciation.

On Easter and Annunciation sinners are not tormented in hell.

First of all, this holiday was associated with the arrival of spring:

The Veil is not summer, the Annunciation is not winter.

At the Annunciation, spring overcame winter.

The winter route deteriorates a week before the Annunciation or a week after.

If it’s spring at the Annunciation, then there’s still a lot of frost ahead.

To speed up the arrival of spring, people performed various magical actions. For example, they burned bonfires, around which they danced in circles, sang songs and jumped over the fire. In some places they burned winter bedding (straw) and went to sleep in a cage. Housewives laid out pies on new canvases, which they carried outside and left overnight with the words: “ Here’s to you, mother spring.”

On this holiday, the sun “plays” in the east. People came out to greet the sun and admire its Annunciation game. They believed that the earth was awakening from its winter sleep, so until this date it was forbidden to dig the earth or drive stakes and pillars into it.

According to legend, on this day migratory birds return to their native lands. Our ancestors met storks and cuckoos; there was also a ritual of releasing birds so that they would sing to the glory of God and bring happiness to the one who freed them. This custom was especially widespread and colorful in Moscow. Here, in the morning, the townspeople hurried to the bird market, where they bought birds from catchers and immediately released them into the wild. The birds were asked to bring spring soon.

Some birds are just arriving on this day, but the magpie, according to popular belief, has already put forty sticks in its nest.

The Annunciation is not only the time of arrival of birds. By this day, flies and bees awaken, a bear wakes up in its den, raccoons and badgers come out of their holes, forest ants come out of their heaps, and hedgehogs come out of rotten stumps. Annunciation is the third meeting of spring. At this time, snakes, lizards, frogs and mice came out of their hiding places, bee hives were brought into the apiary and the field work season opened. They said that on April 7, the Lord blesses all plants.

On the Annunciation, they predicted the weather both for the coming days and for the entire spring cycle, made plans for the harvest, predicted happiness and troubles.

Preparations for the holiday were serious. The day before:

cleaned houses;
benches were rubbed with juniper to protect the house from evil spirits;
they stripped the bed, replaced the straw in the mattresses, and burned the old ones;
they fumigated winter clothes with smoke to drive away evil spirits;
they burned garbage to ward off snakes.

April 7: signs and beliefs

How you spend the Annunciation is how you will live the whole year.
Like the Annunciation, so is Easter.
If the night of the Annunciation is warm, then spring will be friendly.
If there is still snow on the roofs, then there will be snow on the fields).
If swallows have not yet arrived by this day, spring will be cold.
Morning fog means large floods of rivers and streams.
A cloudless sky and bright sun - for a menacing summer.
If there is wind, fog and frost on April 7, then the year will be fruitful.
It will rain on Annunciation - rye will grow and there will be a mushroom summer.
A sunny day means a good spring harvest.
On Annunciation there is frost - there are oats under the bush. Another frosty day promises a harvest of milk mushrooms.
Thunderstorm on April 7 - for a warm summer and a nut harvest.
On Annunciation there is a good catch of fish.
Sunny day - wheat will be born.
If there are few stars in the sky, then there will be few eggs.
Bucket - to fires.
If the day is red, then this year there will be many troubles and fires.
Anyone who successfully plays toss on the Annunciation will win money in this game throughout the year.
On Annunciation, thieves begin to steal so that they can be lucky all year.
A person working for the Annunciation will suffer misfortune.
If you drop crumbs or spill drops during a meal on this day, there will be a lot of flies and fleas in the house.
On April 7, people don’t wear new clothes because something might happen to them.
If at the Annunciation a person is healthy, well-fed, clothed and with money, then everything will be fine for him throughout the year.
Dreams from April 6 to 7 predict the future, but they will not come true soon. A dream seen on the day of April 7 will come true in 6 months.

Video: April 7 – traditions, customs and signs

April 7(March 25 according to the “old style” - the church Julian calendar). 4th week of Lent. According to the Church Charter, today at the meal the fish. Next, we will briefly talk about today’s holiday and those saints whose memory is celebrated on this day.

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the main (great twelve) holidays, the day when the Virgin Mary learned that she would give birth to Christ in the flesh.

The events of the Annunciation are described by the Apostle-Evangelist Luke. In his Gospel he says:

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...

According to many theologians, the words of the Archangel Gabriel addressed to the Mother of God are “Rejoice, full of grace!” - became the first good news for humanity after its fall.

According to the ancient Russian tradition, on the Feast of the Annunciation it is customary to release doves, which are a symbol of the Holy Spirit and the purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Every year this custom is performed by the Primate of the Russian Church - His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. Patriarch Kirill explains the symbolism of this action as follows:

The most striking narrative, combining God's plan and human freedom, is the narrative of the Annunciation. And in memory of that very free answer of the Mother of God, we give freedom to the birds, which, flying into the sky, testify to us with their free flight about what kind of grace and strength the Lord brought to people...

And on this spring day we must definitely try to visit the temple in order to prayerfully turn to the Most Holy Theotokos, who always hears our every sigh.

Venerable John Climacus. The great Byzantine philosopher and theologian, author of the famous “Ladder”. Saint John was born in VI century from the Nativity of Christ in Constantinople. At the age of sixteen he came to the Sinai Monastery, where after 4 years he was tonsured a monk. The elders predicted that young John would become a great spiritual light, and their words came true.

At the age of 35, the monk retired as a hermit to the foot of Mount Sinai and spent 40 years there in prayer and writing spiritual books, after which he returned to the Sinai monastery and was elected its abbot. At this time, he wrote the famous “Ladder” - a book in which St. John revealed 30 steps of ascent to spiritual perfection. “The Ladder” consists of 30 chapters, representing the “steps” of virtues along which a Christian must climb on the path to spiritual perfection. Saint John departed to the Lord in 639 from the Nativity of Christ, but his works and spiritual exploits left an eternal memory of this saint.

On the “Ladder” of St. John, as well as on his other works, many millions of Orthodox Christians have grown spiritually over 14 centuries. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the temple of the “main forge of personnel” of the Russian Orthodox Church - the Moscow Theological Seminary - is dedicated to this particular saint. Despite the fact that the temple itself is a seminary, any believer can visit it during liturgical times. Visit and ask for prayerful help from St. John Climacus, who in the ancient Russian tradition was called “the writer of the Ladder.”

Venerable John Climacus. Photo: www.pravoslavie.ru

Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. One of the most revered Russian saints XXcentury. The future Patriarch was born in 1865 in the Pskov province in a priestly family. From a young age he was good-natured, meek and God-fearing, without guile or holiness. And among his comrades at the Pskov Seminary he had the playful nickname Bishop. The seminarian jokers turned out to be perspicacious. Already at the age of 32, Father Tikhon, who never sought high titles and awards, was ordained Bishop of Lublin, suffragan bishop of Kholm Rus, now part of Poland.

Angel of the Russian Church

Later, Vladyka served in North America, in the Vilna region and in the Yaroslavl region, where he did not shy away from political activity, heading the local Union of the Russian People. And finally, in the fateful year of 1917, he became the All-Russian Patriarch. It was on Vladyka Tikhon that this difficult lot fell. The election of the high priest did not ease the pressure of secular power on spiritual power. Moreover, the atheistic persecution only intensified. But it became clear in the consciousness of the church people: now we have an earthly intercessor - His Holiness the Patriarch.

In the last years of his earthly life, Saint Tikhon repeatedly found himself in prison. But, despite the most severe pressure, he did not renounce the patriarchal service until his death in 1925. The saint courageously carried the high priest's cross. And this bore fruit: the Russian Church survived, and in 1989 solemnly glorified as a saint her High Hierarch of the most difficult years - Patriarch Tikhon.

Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow. Photo: www.pravoslavie.ru

Venerable Savva the New. One of the most revered Greek saints XX centuries, hieromonk who accomplished numerous spiritual feats, including on Holy Mount Athos. He died peacefully in 1948.

Venerable Savva the New. Photo: www.pravoslavie.ru

We congratulate Orthodox Christians on the memory of these saints, and most importantly - on the feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, on the eve of both the Nativity of Christ and the Bright Resurrection of Christ - the Easter of the Lord!

On April 7, solemn services will be held in all Orthodox churches in Russia, including Mordovia: believers celebrate the bright holiday of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the 12 most important holidays in the church calendar. Emphasizing the joy of this day, the priests change their black Lenten vestments to light blue (the robes of the priesthood on holidays in honor of the Mother of God are always “heavenly” in color).

The events of the Annunciation are described by the Apostle Luke. In his Gospel, he reports: in the sixth month after the conception of Saint John the Baptist by righteous Elizabeth, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to the city of Nazareth to the Virgin Mary with the news of the impending birth from her of the Savior of the world. “The angel came to Her and 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.” (Luke 1:28-33) Then the Virgin Mary asked the Archangel a question: “How will this be when I don’t know my husband?” To which Gabriel promised a seedless, mysterious conception - “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You.” Seeing the will of God in the words of the Archangel, the Virgin Mary uttered significant words: “Behold, the Servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” It is believed that at the moment the Virgin Mary uttered these words, the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ occurred.

The Gospel words of Archangel Gabriel formed a prayer that we believers say every day. This is the “Song of the Most Holy Theotokos”: “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, full of grace Mary, the Lord is with you; Blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.” What is the significance of this holiday for all of us? “With the appearance of Archangel Gabriel to the Mother of God, the history of the New Testament begins, the history of our Salvation, the gates of paradise, previously closed to humanity, open,” the priests explain. - This is what we call the Most Holy Theotokos in the akathists: “Door of Salvation”, “Door of Light”. Therefore, the icon of the Annunciation is placed on the Royal Doors in every church. After all, the Royal Doors are a symbolic image of the gates of heaven.”

“The event called the Annunciation means the conception of Jesus Christ,” explains theology professor Deacon Andrei Kuraev. – Through the action of God’s grace, the development of a new human life began in the womb of Mary. Mary did not conceive from God the Father, and not from her betrothed husband Joseph. ...Christians know the laws of biology, and that is why they talk about Miracles. And the miracle lies not so much in the fact that the Virgin, who did not know her husband, began to bear a child... God does not simply inhabit the Virgin. Through the Archangel Gabriel, He (the Almighty, the Master and the Lord) humbly asks for the consent of the young woman. And only when He hears human agreement, “Let it be done to me according to Your word,” only then does the Word become flesh. This is how the gospel story begins. Ahead are Christmas and the flight to Egypt, temptations in the desert and healing of the possessed, the Last Supper and arrest, the Crucifixion and Resurrection...”

How to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation? According to Orthodox tradition - at a service in the temple. On this day, believers try to confess and receive communion. Housework on the Annunciation is not blessed: as they say, “on this day the bird does not build a nest, the girl does not braid her hair.” But the holiday can be celebrated with good deeds. Fasting people are allowed fish at their meals.

Alexander EFREMOV

The Feast of the Annunciation, celebrated every year by Orthodox Christians on April 7, always falls on the “sad days of Lent.” And the joy of the Annunciation always subordinates the repentant mood: the fast itself on this day is not so strict - fish in all its forms is allowed, and everyday work is prohibited - “on the Annunciation, a maiden does not braid a braid, and a bird does not build a nest.” And they do not mourn on this day, they rejoice. Moreover, the rejoicing from the festive event is so great that it is shared not only with family and friends, but also with all the awakening spring nature, releasing birds into the wild. “The Annunciation is the release of birds,” we find in V.I. Dalia. So what kind of event is celebrated on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary? And why exactly do birds become participants in the great day? The very name of the holiday will explain a lot.

News can be bad, it can be good, and it can be so important, leading to something new, a turning point in our lives, that there is a special word for it, “news,” which is related and consonant with the verb “to lead someone somewhere.” Our ancestors, unlike us, who are choking in information flows and focusing their attention on negative news, subtly felt the gradation: here is just news, here is news, and here is news. And among this significant news, one special one was singled out - the good news: the word “good news” was in use before. And there was a separate word “Annunciation”, and that’s it, with a capital letter. By the way, we all know the Greek version of the concept of “good news” well: “eu” - good, “aggelein” - to proclaim. The Gospel is "euaggelion", good, joyful news. So, the special word “Annunciation” was the name given to the good news that Archangel Gabriel brought to the Virgin Mary. Christians all over the world repeat the words of this good news more than once every day. Orthodox in a prayer called “Mother of God, Virgin Mary...!”, Catholics in “Ave Maria” (“Hail Mary”). We will learn more by re-reading the Gospel of Luke.

The doctor and evangelist Luke tells how the Lord sends the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary so that he tells Her the good news. “The angel, coming to Her, said: “Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women." When she saw him, she 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." Mary is confused, She is perplexed and asks the Angel: “How will this be when I don’t know my husband?” The Angel answers Her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon You, and the power of the Most High will overshadow You ; therefore, the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God." And here is an important point, it is surprising that Mary answers: "Then Mary said: behold (i.e., here - M.G.), the Handmaid of the Lord; It will be done to Me according to your word." These are words of complete surrender of Oneself into the hands of God. Saint Gregory Palamas said that the Incarnation would have been as impossible without the free human consent of the Mother of God as it would have been impossible without the creative will of God.

And the name Jesus, named by the Archangel Gabriel to the Infant God, means “Savior.” Therefore, on the Feast of the Annunciation, the following words are heard in churches: “Today is the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of the eternal mystery: the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the sending of grace. Therefore, we, together with him, will exclaim to the Mother of God: “Rejoice, full of grace, Lord with By you!"

Orthodox calendar with Maria Gorodova

The Virgin Mary became the connection between God and people: God's favor towards people and people's boldness towards God. She was born in our world, but in Her holiness was realized, which was available to humanity even after the Fall. Hence the epithet - "Blessed Virgin Mary". And when we pray: “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice...”, we are, in fact, repeating the words of Archangel Gabriel, words that came to us from the heavenly world, and every time we pronounce them, we return these words to the sky from where they came were sent down to us.

It is this event of the Annunciation that Orthodox Christians celebrate today. This has always been a favorite holiday among the people; the hero of Ivan Shmelev compared it with Easter - the first spring sun as a harbinger of the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ. Why were the birds released on this day? Someone explains this by saying that birds, like Angels, are winged. But Pushkin interpreted folk tradition this way:

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

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

On the Annunciation, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' releases doves into the blue sky (on this day he serves the Divine Liturgy in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin).

Not only Angels and birds are winged. Wings and joy. The joyful, good news that the Savior is coming to our world should also be winged. Easter is coming, this year it is May 1st. Happy holiday!

The celebration of the Annunciation is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on April 7, 9 months before Christmas, but in 2018 the holiday immediately precedes Easter. This date, unlike Easter and Trinity, is celebrated every year at the same time. The event is one of the twelve most important Christian holidays.

Many rules and beliefs are associated with this day in church traditions and popular beliefs.

Traditions and customs

The Annunciation was considered a day of complete peace and freedom. The holiday is appropriate for concentrated, silent reflection, not riotous feasting.

The main tradition is the release of birds into the wild. It was believed that in this way one could get rid of troubles and failures and gain prosperity. To do this, it was necessary to purchase a bird the day before or in the morning and tell it about your problems and requests that were addressed to God. Then they were released during the service. It was believed that the bird would fly straight to the Lord, since on such a great holiday the heavens open.

In many villages, on the eve of the holiday, they “called out spring”: they lit fires, danced round dances around them and sang stoneflies, baked figurines of birds (larks, waders) from dough; girls and children climbed with them onto roofs or into trees and shouted calls addressed to the birds.

There is a belief that on this day all work is so prohibited that even sinners in hell stop torturing and are given rest and freedom. Even leaving or going on the road to earn money is considered a sin. They said: “On Annunciation, a bird does not build a nest, a maiden does not braid her hair.”

From the day of the Annunciation, healthy peasants moved to the cold part of the hut - the beginning of summer. It was also considered a sin to continue working in the evenings with a candle. Those who did not adhere to the rules were allegedly threatened with crop failure and other misfortunes.

Visit the church, be sure to wait for the festive ringing. When the bells began to ring, it was required to pick up the wallet and say certain words about multiplying the money in it. Give generous alms to the beggars standing near the entrance to the temple.

Signs

Many signs have been preserved and come down to our time. Which signs to believe and which ones not to believe, each person decides for himself.

The most important of them is that you cannot do anything around the house, all land work is prohibited, even “the bird does not build a nest,” as they say. However, if you need to go to work, there is nothing you can do about it, and such work is not considered a sin.

However, voluntary housework can bring trouble. All the planted seedlings will not be accepted, and the sown grain will not sprout. And the day of the week on which the Annunciation fell this year is considered unfavorable for sowing and planting, as well as starting new things. But the day following it, on the contrary, is considered very successful and favorable.

It is customary not to wear new clothes for the first time at the Annunciation, otherwise they will quickly wear off.

On the eve of the Annunciation, it was customary for peasants to sow peas.

The ancestors had a large number of signs associated with the Annunciation. Many of them came to us, for example, about the weather.

The way it will be on April 7, the same will be the case on Easter. In addition, if on this day: there is snow, then it can be seen in the field and on Yegoria (May 6);

In the morning, frost or fog will fall - a favorable summer for the harvest; a strong wind was also considered a good sign in this regard;

Sunny, windless weather means frequent thunderstorms; no flying swallows are visible on the streets - spring will be cold and protracted;

If the night during the all-night vigil is warm, then spring will come amicably, without serious frosts.

What should you not do on Annunciation?

Lend something or, conversely, give money and things to strangers. Otherwise, you may lose your well-being, health, peace and quiet in your family. This requirement should be strictly observed, even if the person asking you for something is well known and you are uncomfortable refusing him. It is important to ensure that nothing is taken from your home. Therefore, it is not advisable to invite guests on April 7th. The holiday is usually celebrated with family.

Sew, weave, knit. Many peoples of the world associate thread with life, so anyone who picks it up for work can confuse their fate, bring problems and troubles.

Take care of your hair. You can’t not only cut your hair, wash your hair, but even comb your hair because of the danger of ruining your destiny. Hair may also fall out as a punishment.

Wear new clothes. New things will quickly tear or deteriorate irreparably, and within a year there will be no opportunity to purchase others. Girls who violate the ban will not get married until the next Annunciation.

They don't start something new. Otherwise, there will be no success in business.

This day should be spent the way you would like. According to legend, it is believed that whatever this holiday is like for you, it will be like that for the rest of the year. Therefore, you should not be offended at the Annunciation or quarrel with the people around you. On the contrary, you need to spend the day in a good, bright mood. Don't be alone. Even if you don’t have your own family, take the opportunity to visit your family and meet friends. For people who have pets, it is advisable to feed them well. Crumbs of blessed prosphora should be added to the food. Thus, the owner protects not only himself, but also his pets from diseases in the future.

In 2018, the Annunciation precedes Orthodox Easter, which occurs the next day, April 8. Therefore, all housewives will be carried away with pre-holiday chores, preparing Easter cakes and dyes.