Today marks the great Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary.
The day commemorates the event whereupon six months after John the Forerunner’s conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden.
According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph for four months. Upon coming to Joseph’s dwelling, the Archangel declared: “Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God’s unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility:
“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38).
