Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
March 25 is the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This religious festival is taken from the happy tidings that were brought by the archangel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which concerned her conception of the Son of God.
This is one of the most important commemorations that God has not favored emperors or kings on earth but the poor, retired and unknown virgin, being perfectly devoted to Him.
God indeed by choice was pleased to make Mary accomplish the greatest of all graces and mysteries. The perfect sanctity and humility of Mary constituted to His greatness.
Biblical Story
The Feast of Annunciation is found in the
Bible, in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke (1:26-39).
Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary, who was a Jewish woman living in Nazareth.
The angel said to Mary, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!” Mary was greatly worried about his words and wondered what his greeting might be.
Archangel Gabriel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will be great and He will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end.”
Mary was confused and asked the archangel, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” Gabriel answered that the Holy Spirit will come on her and the power of the Highest will overshadow her.
So the holy one to be born will be called the “Son of God”.
The archangel also told her about her cousin Elizabeth who is already old will also conceive a son. Elizabeth truly believed that with God, nothing is impossible.
With Mary’s obedience and unbreakable faith to God, she replied to the archangel Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant; may your word to me be fulfilled”. Then the angel left her.
Feast of Annunciation
The Feast of
Annunciation is a commemoration that Orthodox Christians celebrate for the divine intervention of God, choosing Mary to conceive and gave birth to our salvation.
Mary willingly and whole-heartedly accepted God’s words. The Annunciation presents the coming of Christ through the Archangel Gabriel who appeared to Mary for the good news.
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a significant event for Orthodox Christians because it purely showed how Mary trusted, hoped, and obeyed the word of God for the incarnation of salvation.
She could’ve refused but she became an active participant of God’s divine intervention and plan of saving the world through the Son of God who became His greatest gift to mankind. The Blessed Virgin Mary manifested true faith and fully accepted the favor of God.
Without the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior, the Son of God, the world can never be saved.
