Great Feast
Annunciation
The Annunciation to the Theotokos
When: March 25 (Old Calendar: 13 days later on the civil calendar).
The Annunciation recalls the visit of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth, announcing that she would conceive the Son of God by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:26–38). Mary’s answer, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord”, is honored as the free consent of humanity to God’s plan.
It falls nine months before Christmas and usually during Great Lent, when it brings a day of relaxed fasting (fish is allowed). Its troparion calls it “the beginning of our salvation”.
The icon shows Gabriel greeting Mary, who often holds a spindle of scarlet thread, recalling the tradition that she was weaving a veil for the Temple.
Written for this app in our own words from the Gospels and long-standing Church tradition. All Great Feasts & Holy Week · Calendar