Annunciation

[Kristos]

Annunciation time again...

Today is the beginning of our salvation...

 

[Kristos]

No one wants to talk about the Annunciation in the Mariology forum...?

I thought that since it fell on a Sunday this year that more people may have been exposed it to by sermon or hymn...

Here is the Exapostelarion for the feast - I thought it was interesting because it pretty much includes almost every name/title/type for Mary.

The Leader of the heavenly hosts was sent from Almighty God to an undefiled Virgin to announce to her the strange and ineffable wonder that God as Man shall, without seed, become a child from her, restoring the whole creation of mankind. Wherefore, ye nations, receive the glad tidings of the recreation of the whole world.

Rejoice, O Theotokos, O deliverance of Adam from the curse Rejoice, chaste Theotokos! Rejoice, O living bush! Rejoice, O lamp Rejoice, O throne ! Rejoice, O ladder and door !. Rejoice, O divine chariot! Rejoice, O bright cloud! Rejoice, O temple, O most gilded jar! Rejoice, O mountain! Rejoice, O tabernacle and table! Hail to thee, O deliverer of Eve!.

 

[Kristos]

I few of these threw me on Sunday. I guess I should have been better prepared

gilded jar for example - I wasn't expecting the word jar after gilded and had to do a double take. I assume that this is referring to the jar in the Ark that held the manna (bread from heaven) - and now the Theotokos holds the true bread from heaven that was foreshadowed in the desert.

I'm not sure about the chariot...

 

[Ave Maria]

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is such a wonderful feast. I am not sure but I don't think its a holy day of obligation for us.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is such a wonderful feast. I am not sure but I don't think its a holy day of obligation for us.

In our tradition we have three "grades" of festivals; Major Festivals (these coincide with your "Days of Obligation"; Minor Festivals (which the Annunciation falls under) and Commemorations. Major Festivals are always commemorated on their day. Minor Festivals may be commemorated on their day, but are commemorated when they fall on a Sunday; Commemorations may be celebrated on their day, and may be commemorated when they fall on a Sunday, but if they conflict with another festival tend to be commemorated with a Hymn and in the Prayers. If there is no conflict with another Festival, Minor Festivals and Commemorations may be celebrated on the nearest Sunday... Confusing eh?

BTW those of us who pray the daily office, commemorate everything!

 

[Kristos]

I think it gets downplayed a bit because it always falls during Lent, but in reality it seems to me that it should be at least as important as Christmas. After all, if you believe that life begins at conception, then this is really a celebration of the incarnation itself...thus the first the words of the Troparion - "Today is the beginning of our salvation..."