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The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: a story without which there would be no Easter
Every year on April 7, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of the main Christian holidays of the year — the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unlike Easter, it has a fixed date. On this day, believers remember how Archangel Gabriel brought the good news to the Virgin Mary about the impending birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Izvestia tells about the biblical history, the spiritual meaning and traditions of the holiday.
What is the date of the Annunciation in 2026
In 2026, the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on April 7. The date is fixed and does not change annually.
This year, the holiday falls on a Tuesday. Since the Annunciation falls during Holy Week (from April 6 to 11), the pre-feast and post-feast are canceled. Although this leaves a special imprint on the liturgical rules, it does not negate the solemnity of the event itself.
What kind of holiday is the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
The Annunciation is the twelve—day holiday, that is, one of the 12 most important after Easter in the Orthodox calendar. The name itself comes from the Church Slavonic phrase "Good News" and is an exact semantic tracing paper from the Greek εὐαγγελισμός ("announcement").
In Orthodoxy, this holiday celebrates the moment when the Virgin Mary learned that she was destined to become the mother of Jesus Christ. The event is described only in one of the four canonical Gospels, St. Luke.
The Annunciation occupies a special place in the church calendar. It is always celebrated nine months before Christmas (January 7), which emphasizes its connection with the main dogma about the human incarnation of the Son of God.
The Biblical Story of the Annunciation
At the age of three, Mary was sent to be raised in the Jerusalem temple. There the girl prayed a lot and studied the law of God. When Maria turned 14, she could no longer stay at the temple: according to the customs of that time, an adult girl had to marry or return to her parents.
But Maria made a promise from childhood — to dedicate her life to God and not get married. This was unusual for that time, so the priests offered the girl an alternative. They betrothed Mary to an elderly carpenter, Joseph, who was to become the keeper of her vow. So Mary moved to Joseph's house in Nazareth, having preserved her virginity.
One day Maria was at home alone. She was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah, which said that someday a Virgin would be born who would give birth to a Savior. Maria reflected on these words and thought how great a woman should be who was awarded such an honor.
At that moment, the archangel Gabriel appeared in front of her. He greeted her with unusual words, calling her "gracious." Mary was confused, but the angel explained that she did not need to be afraid, because she had found mercy from God and would soon give birth to a son, whom she would name Jesus. This boy will become great, and there will be no end to his kingdom.
Maria was surprised and asked: How is this possible if she "doesn't know her husband"? Gabriel replied that it would not be an ordinary conception, but a miracle. The Holy Spirit will descend upon her, and the child will become the Son of God. In confirmation, the angel reminded her of her relative Elizabeth, who was able to give birth to a son in her old age — nothing is impossible for God.
Maria listened to these words and replied: "Let it be done to me according to your word." It is believed that the immaculate conception took place at this moment. Mary did not argue, did not doubt, but trusted God, although what was happening was beyond her comprehension. By saying yes, she agreed to become a part of the very prophecy she had read about.
The Spiritual Meaning of the Annunciation
For Christians, the Annunciation is the memory of an event that begins the history of the salvation of mankind. On this day, the process of God's Incarnation began: the Lord, remaining God, became man in order to atone for original sin.
The central theme of the holiday is freedom of choice and personal consent to God's providence. Theologians emphasize that without the voluntary consent of the Virgin Mary, expressed in the words "let it be done to me according to your word," the plan of salvation could not have been realized. The Lord does not act forcibly, but expects conscious trust from a person.
The humility of the Virgin is contrasted with the Old Testament disobedience of Eve, who condemned people to exile from paradise. As the Holy Fathers explain, "through a woman came death (Eve), and through a woman came life (Mary)." With her consent, the Virgin Mary opened the way to the union of the divine and the human, which eventually led to the atonement of sins and gave hope for eternal life to all believers.
What can I eat at the Annunciation
Since the holiday often falls during the period of Great Lent, the church charter provides for indulgences for believers.
On the Day of the Annunciation (if it does not fall on Holy Week), it is allowed to eat fish, vegetable oil and wine. The exception to the strict rules of fasting highlights the special joy of this day.
In 2026, the Annunciation falls on Holy Week, which precedes Easter. During this period, fasting is especially strict. If the holiday coincides with the days of Holy Week, fish is not allowed, but the use of wine and oil (vegetable oil) is acceptable.
What is the correct name of the holiday?
The full official name of the holiday in the Russian Orthodox Church is the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
In everyday speech, in church and secular literature, a short version is more often used — the Annunciation. The name is so strongly associated with the gospel event that it does not require additional clarification in the minds of believers.
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