Strong prayers for the Annunciation: to whom and what to pray on April 7

The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the main church holidays dedicated to the events of the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. He is special to all Christians, as the story of the Savior's earthly incarnation begins with him. Orthodox Christians annually celebrate the Annunciation on April 7. In 2025, the celebration falls on a Monday. Izvestia tells us what to pray about and what prayers should be read on the holiday.

Who should I pray to on the feast of the Annunciation on April 7th

Legend has it that on the day of the Annunciation, the archangel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin and announced the good news that she would soon become the mother of the son of God. This event took place nine months before the Birth of Christ. It is traditionally celebrated in the middle of spring. Catholics celebrate two weeks earlier, on March 25, due to the difference in dates after the transition to the Gregorian calendar.

In its significance, the Annunciation is comparable to the Nativity of Christ and the Epiphany. The holiday almost always falls on the days of Great Lent, but on this day the church charter provides for small allowances. Solemn services are held in churches, during which the clergy dress in blue and white robes, symbolizing the chastity of the Virgin Mary. Another tradition is to release white pigeons into the sky.

Since the Annunciation is not only the twentieth, but also one of the main feasts of the Mother of God, during the service they remember the biblical events and glorify the Mother of God. All prayers on the feast day are also addressed to the Mother of God. People believe that prayers said at the Annunciation are the most effective.

What to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos for the Annunciation

You can say the words of prayer not only in the temple, but also at home. It is important to have any image of the Mother of God in front of you. But it is better if it is an icon of the Annunciation, which depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary and the messenger of God, Archangel Gabriel, at the moment of the announcement of the good news. This image is especially revered on a church holiday, although you can pray in front of it any day.

The Most Holy Theotokos is asked for intercession before God, protection from misfortunes and sorrows, healing from diseases, admonition of the lost and guidance on the right path. In addition, since ancient times, holidays associated with the Virgin Mary have been considered "feminine" when they pray for family and children.

Usually, women ask for conception and bearing a child, successful childbirth, marriage and family well-being. They also ask that the Virgin Mary accompany them in all household matters and protect them from harm. If there are difficulties in communication, they pray for mutual understanding.

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Prayer for health and children at the Annunciation

Texts of powerful prayers to the Mother of God that help with physical and mental ailments:

"Accept, O All-blessed and All-powerful Most Pure Lady, Lady, and Virgin Mother of God, these prayers that are now offered to You, for You are the One who exists and hears our supplications, and gives with faith to those who ask for what is not granted. For you lighten the sorrows of the sorrowful, grant health to the weak, heal the weak and sick, drive demons away from demons, deliver the offended from insults, cleanse lepers, and little children, free them from bonds and prisons, and heal all kinds of diverse passions. O Ever-virgin, Most Glorious and Immaculate, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen to that."

"The hope of all the ends of the earth, Most Pure Virgin, Lady Theotokos. Do not shun me, a sinner, for I trust in Your mercy: extinguish the flame of sin and water my withered heart with repentance, cleanse my mind from sinful thoughts, accept the supplication from my soul and heart with a sigh I offer to You. O Lady, be an intercessor for me to Your Son and God, and tame His wrath with Your maternal prayers; heal the sores of your soul and body, heal the sores of your soul and body, take away the burden of my sins, and comfort the sorrow of my broken heart, so that I may praise You to my last breath. Amen to that."

Prayer to the Mother of God for children:

"O Most Holy Lady, the Virgin Theotokos, save and preserve under Your roof my children (names), all youths, young men and infants, baptized and nameless and carried in their mother's womb. Cover them with the robe of Your motherhood, keep them in the fear of God and in obedience to their parents, and beseech my Lord and Your Son to grant them what is useful for their salvation. I hand them over to Your Maternal care. Amen to that."

Which Gospel is being read at the Annunciation in 2025

The events of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary are described in detail in the Gospel of Luke (Chapter 1, verses 26-38). They are remembered on the holiday. The Apostle tells how the archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth and said: "Hail, Full of Grace! God be with you! Blessed are you among the wives!"

According to theological interpretations, the phrase of the heavenly messenger became the first good news for mankind after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Subsequently, it formed the basis of the main prayer for the Annunciation, "Hail Mary, Virgin," the text of which almost completely repeats the words of the archangel.

Happy Annunciation: beautiful postcards and pictures

Which troparia should be read on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin

A striking feature of the hymns of the feast of the Annunciation is that many of them are arranged in the form of a dialogue between the archangel Gabriel and the Blessed Virgin. Therefore, the canon of the feast, according to tradition, is read by two reciters: one reads the troparia of the "Angel", the other reads the "Virgin".

At home, you can read the troparion of the Annunciation, which reveals the significance of the event and which is repeated repeatedly during the divine service. It talks about the fulfillment of God's plan and the mystery of the coming of Christ the Savior into the world.:

"Today our salvation is supreme,/ and the appearance of the mysteries from time immemorial:/ The Son of God is the Son of a Virgin, / and Gabriel proclaims grace. / Moreover, we will cry out with him to the Mother of God: / Hail, Full of Grace, / the Lord is with You."

A separate troparion is sung on the eve of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos on April 6.:

"Today, the firstfruits of the world's joy / command us to sing the pre-feast: /for Gabriel cometh, / bearing the gospel to the Virgin, / and cries to Her: /Hail, Full of grace, / the Lord is with Thee."

Earlier, Izvestia told when the services for the Annunciation will begin in 2025.