THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
On the 25th of March (April 7) our Church
commemorates the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When the time for the
Incarnation (made of flesh) of Jesus Christ had arrived, God sent Archangel
Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At that time She was reading the
book of Prophet Isaiah about the Saviour's birth. The Archangel
greeted Her with the words: "Rejoice! Mary, Full of Grace; the Lord is
with You: Blessed are You among women" (Luke
1 : 28).
While She was confused with the unexpected and mysterious Angelic greeting, the Archangel said: "Fear not, Mary, because You have found grace with God. Behold, You shall conceive in Your womb, and shall bring forth a Son, and shall call His Name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest" (Luke 1 : 26-34).
Mary then asked: "How shall this happen to Me?" And the Archangel answered: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon You, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow You: therefore also the Holy Thing Which shall be born of You shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1 : 35). Mary believed the Archangel and said: "Behold, the Servant of the Lord, let it be unto Me according to your word." And the Archangel departed from Her (Luke 1 : 38).
After the Annunciation, the Blessed Virgin Mary went to visit Her cousin, Elizabeth who was to be the mother of John the Baptist. Elizabeth was very glad to meet Mary and being filled with the Holy Spirit, she greeted the Virgin Mary: "Blessed are You among women, and Blessed is the Fruit of Your womb. And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1 : 40-43). The Blessed Virgin Mary said: "My soul does magnify the Lord, and My spirit has rejoiced in God My Saviour" (Luke 1 : 47).
The Virgin's joyful and obedient acceptance of God's purpose was an act of freedom, freedom of obedience and freedom of cooperation. The disobedience of our first parents brought death, but the obedience of the Theotokos brought the Saviour into the family of man so that He might restore it.