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Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (One of the Twelve Great Feasts, class 2)
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| Jesus Christ |
Theotokos | Incar- nation |
Annunci- ation Cycle |
Prep- ara- tion |
Feast Annunci- ation |
Cele- bra- tion Synaxis |
"Son of God became man" |
Acathist Hymn Al-Madayih |
| Feast | Event Commem- orated | Action of Event | Significance of Event | Celebrate | Apostolos | Gospel | Date | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annun- ciation of Theotokos Ever Virgin Mary | Jesus Christ's conception in human form Incar- nation. | Future Theotokos' accepting Holy God's will saying yes to Holy God. | Holy God becomes human Incar- nation. | Beginning of process of our redemption. | Heb. 2:11-18 | Lk. 1:24-38 | 25 March | Great Feast Class 2 |
25 March - Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary commemorates the conception in human form of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The "Incarnation" is the conception in human form of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Incarnation is the act in which the Word of God became man.
The Holy Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be The Theotokos (Mother of God). Mary said yes to that announcement. This is when Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ was concieved in a human form.
Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ took flesh
by the power of the Holy God the Holy Spirit with the cooperation of The Theotokos, an Ever-Lasting Virgin. Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Holy God the Father.
One person who possesses two separate and distinct natures: the divine nature and the human nature
Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ is one person who possesses two separate and distinct natures: the divine nature and the human nature.
Human because Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ was conceived as a human being by the power of the Holy God the Holy Spirit and the cooperation of The Theotokos.
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld His glory, glory as the only-begotten son of the Father. And from His fullness have we all received grace upon grace." John, 1:14-18
Divine because Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Holy God the Father.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made throuogh Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." John, 1:1-3
The Beginning of our Salvation
We especially venerate The Theotokos on this day because her agreement with the will of God set in action the events that led to our Salvation through the Son of Holy God's becoming a man. The
celebration of this feast has the Liturgy of Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, with the special Antiphon
verses, Troparion, Kontakion, and Hirmos of this Feast.
The
Troparion of the Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary says, "the beginning of our salvation and the
revelation of the mystery that was planned from all eternity."
Importance of this Feast
The Great Feast of the Annunciation is the greatest feast of the The Theotokos.
When Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary falls on a Sunday in Great Lent, this feast supersedes the Great Lenten theme because of its importance in God's Plan of Salvation.
When Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary falls on a day in the beginning of Great and Holy Week, this feast supersedes the Great Week theme because of its importance in God's Plan of Salvation.
Feast Day
Because this feast is so important, the regulations for feasting on the Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary supersedes the regulations for fasting during Great Lent. This Great Feast Day is a day of feasting.
Great Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ
The Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) of The Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is 25 March. The Great Feast of the Annunciation (Al Bisharah) is exactly 9 months before the Great Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ because God is perfect. The Great Feast of Nativity is 25 December.
Champions
Holy Father Athanasios the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria
Holy Father Athanasios the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria was the greatest champion of the Incarnation.
Holy Father Athanasios the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria refuted Arius at the First Ecumenical Council.
Our Holy Father Kyrollos, Archbishop of Alexandria
Our Holy Father Kyrollos, Archbishop of Alexandria, was the brilliant and heroic defender of the divinity of Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our Holy Father Kyrollos, Archbishop of Alexandria, refuted Nestorius at the Third Ecumenical Council.
St. Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch or Patriarch / Batriyark of Antioch
St. Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch or Patriarch / Batriyark of Antioch, defended of the substantial unity of the Holy Trinity.
St. Meletios, Archbishop of Antioch or Patriarch / Batriyark of Antioch, refuted Arius at
the Second Ecumenical Council.
Kontakion, Troparion, Exapostilarion, and Vespers Sticheron
TROPARION (TONE 4)
Today is the beginning of our salvation and
the revelation of the Mystery that has been planned from all eternity:
the Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin,
and Gabriel announces this grace.
Let us join him in crying out to the Mother of God
"Hail, O full of grace, the Lord is with you!"
Apostolos
The Epistle reading for this feast (Heb. 2:11-18), explains that since Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ and we human beings all have the one same Father, (Holy God the Father), we are all the brothers and sisters of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ. It also tells us that the Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity had to take on human flesh and blood in order to share our human experience fully and thus with full knowledge and experience save us by his sacrificial death.
Gospel
Luke, Chapter 1, verse 26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" 35 And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God." 38 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your Word." Then, the angel departed from her.
Luke, Chapter 1, verses 26-38. The Gospel reading tells the story of Archangel Gabriel's coming to Mary to announce that she would give birth to the Christ, the Holy Son of Holy God. Since Mary was a virgin, she was puzzled and asked how she could give birth. When Archangel Gabriel explained that Mary would become pregnant through the power of the Holy God the Holy Spirit, Mary accepted the will of Holy God, saying that she was the servant of the Lord. The Theotokos' cooperation with the will of Holy God is a model for all of us, showing informed and considered consent to Holy God's will.
Antiphon
Palsm 71
O Son of God, who were incarnate of the Virgin, save us who sing to You. Alleluia.
Khallisna YabnAllah, ya man tajassada min al Batul, nahnul muranneemeena Laka. Haleloueya.
Meditations
The Icon of the Annunciation, A Meditation by Mary Grace Ritchey, Melkite Greek Catholic Church Eparchy of Newton
More Information
The Annunciation Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Click on Feasts of Our Lady the Theotokos
Ikon
The Annunciation Saint Joseph Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Lawrence, Massachusetts, Click on Feasts of Our Lady the Theotokos
| Date | Name | Apostolos | Gospel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 March | Preparation | 1 Cor. 11:23-32 | Mt. 26:1-20 Jn. 13:3-17 Mt. 26:21-39 Lk. 22:43-44 |
| 25 March | Feast | Heb. 2:11-18 | Lk. 3:20-27 |
| 26 March | Leaving-taking Synaxis Archangel Gabriel | Heb. 2:2-10 | Lk. 10:16-212 |
| Feast | Event Commem- orated | Action of Event | Significance of Event | Celebrate | Apostolos | Gospel | Date | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annun- ciation of Theotokos Ever Virgin Mary | Jesus Christ's conception in human form Incar- nation. | Future Theotokos' accepting Holy God's will saying yes to Holy God. | Holy God becomes human Incar- nation. | Beginning of process of our redemption. | Heb. 2:11-18 | Lk. 1:24-38 | 25 March | Great Feast Class 2 |
| Nativity According to Flesh of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ | Jesus Christ's birth in human form. | Jesus Christ being born in human form. | Messiah is born. | Jesus Christ's birthday. | Gal. 4:4-7 | Mt. 2:1-12 | 25 Dec. | Great Feast Class 1 |
| Circum- cision of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ |
Jesus Christ's Naming and Circum- cision. | Jesus Christ submitted to Mosaic Law. | Jesus Christ is named | Jesus Christ's Naming and Circum- cision. | Col. 2:8-12 | Lk. 2:20-21, 40-52 | 1 Jan. | Feast Class 3 |
| ºHoly Hypapanty of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ ºPurifi- cation of Theotokos | ºJesus Christ's presen- tation at Temple. ºTheotokos' purification. | Theotokos bringing Jesus Christ to Temple at prescribed time for prescribed rituals. | Messiah's first meeting with His people. | A step in process of our redemption. | Heb. 7:7-17 | Lk. 2:22-40 | 2 Feb. | Great Feast Class 2 |
| Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ | Jesus Christ's baptism | Holy Prophet and Glorious Fore- runner John Baptist baptizing Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ in River Jordan. | ºAs an adult, Jesus Christ shows His people that He is Holy God (manifestation Jesus Christ to the world). ºHoly God shows His people that Holy God is a Holy Trinity. | ºJesus Christ is Holy God. ºHoly God is a Holy Trinity | Tim. 2:11-14, 3:4-7 | Mt. 3:13-17 | 6 Jan. | Great Feast Class 1 |
| Transfig- uration of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ | Jesus Christ's transfig- uration | Jesus Christ showing His disciples "...as much of His glory as they could behold...". | Jesus Christ is both fully Holy God and fully man. | ºReve- lation of glory of Holy God ºConfir- mation of two natures of Jesus Christ both fully Holy God and fully human. | 2 Pet. 1:10-19 | Mt. 17:1-9 | 6 Aug. | Great Feast Class 1 |
| Triumphal Entry of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ into Jerusalem Holy and Glorious Palm Sun. Shaneeneh | Jesus Christ's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. | Children throwing garments into Jesus Christ's path, pulling down branches from olive and palm trees, putting them in the road, and waving them in air, shouting "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" | Jesus Christ's people hailing Him as Messiah. | Jesus Christ is Messiah. | Phil. 4:4-9 | John 12:1-18 | 7 days before Pascha | Great Feast Class 1 |
| Great and Holy Friday | Jesus Christ's death in human form on Holy Cross | Jesus Christ dies on Holy Cross | Holy God redeems our souls. | We have possi- bility of "eternal life". | 1 Cor. 1:18-24 | John 5:48-55 | 2 days before Pascha | Great Holy Fri. |
| Holy and Glorious Pascha | Jesus Christ's resurrection in human form | Jesus Christ rising from dead and giving "eternal life" to good. | ºJesus Christ is Holy God. ºOpening possi- bility of "eternal life" | ºJesus Christ's victory over death. ºWe have possi- bility of "eternal life". | Acts 1:1-9 | John 1:1-17 | 1st Sun. after 1st full moon after 03/20 Ear- liest is 03/22 latest is 04/25. | Feasts of Feasts |
| Ascension into Heaven of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ | Jesus Christ's ascension in human form into heaven. | Jesus Christ going to heaven. | Jesus Christ is Holy God. | Jesus Christ's victory over death. | Acts 1:1-12 | Lk. 24:36-53 | 40th day of Pascha | Great Feast Class 1 |
| Exaltation of Precious and Lifegiving Holy Cross | Jesus Christ's Holy Cross is found. | ºSt Helena finding Holy Cross ºRecovering Holy Cross from Persians, returning It to Jerusalem, and raising It up (exalting). | Holy Cross is a sign of glory and victory. | Jesus Christ's victory over death. | 1 Cor. 1:18-24 | John 19:6-11, 13-20, 25-28a, 30-35a | 14 Sept. | Great Feast Class 1 |
All The Theotokos's Great Feasts are Class 2.
| Feast | Event Commem- orated | Action of Event | Significance of Event | Celebrate | Apostolos | Gospel | Date | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nativity of Theotokos | Future Theotokos' birth | Future Theotokos being born. | Beginning of work of salvation, because she was to be Theotokos. | Theotokos birthday. | Phil. 2:5-11 | Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28 | 8 Sept. | Great Feast Class 2 |
| Entrance of Theotokos into Temple | Future Theotokos' entrance into Temple. | Future Theotokos entering unaided into Temple's Holy of Holies. | Future Temple of Holy God enters into His Temple's Holy of Holies | Future Theotokos's union with Holy God. | Heb. 9:1-7 | Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28 | 21 Nov. | Great Feast Class 2 |
| ºHoly Hypapanty of Our Lord, God Savior, Jesus Christ ºPurifi- cation of Theotokos | ºJesus Christ's presen- tation at Temple. ºTheotokos' purification. | Theotokos bringing Jesus Christ to Temple at prescribed time for prescribed rituals. | Messiah's first meeting with His people. | A step in process of our redemption. | Heb. 7:7-17 | Lk. 2:22-40 | 2 Feb. | Great Feast Class 2 |
| Annun- ciation of Theotokos Ever Virgin Mary | Jesus Christ's conception in human form Incar- nation. | Future Theotokos' accepting Holy God's will saying yes to Holy God. | Holy God becomes human Incar- nation. | Beginning of process of our redemption. | Heb. 2:11-18 | Lk. 1:24-38 | 25 March | Great Feast Class 2 |
| Dormition of Theotokos | Theotokos' going to heaven. | Holy God's taking Theotokos' body and soul into heaven. | Preview of transfig- uration that awaits all of us in the Kingdom to come. | Possi- bility of our "eternal life". | Phil. 2:5-11 | Lk. 10:38-42, 11:27-28 | 15 Aug. | Great Feast Class 2 |
Liturgical Cycle
Great Feast Days
Feasts Days - Specific
Holy God the Son within the Holy Trinity / Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ
The Theotokos
The Holy Prophet and Glorious Forerunner John the Baptist
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O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants
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