An Ecumenical Celebration--March 25 In Various Faith Traditions
[NOTE FOR 2021 on Coronavirus Social
Distancing: An Extended-Period
In-Church Prayer Vigil can incorporate many of the traditions below allowing
smaller numbers of people to come and go for various activities in the program,
while avoiding crowding at any one time -- Please see the home
page or Ideas
page for details.]
The Annunciation as a religious observance is celebrated with various traditions among different denominations, many of which are described below along with more modern applications that fit in particularly well with an established practice. It is also important to remember that as the "Day of the Unborn Child" the date can be honored as a pro-life memorial not only by the various Christians denominations, but also by members of non-Christian faiths and secular proponents of the sanctity of life. In fact, the Vatican.va page promoting the Annunciation feast as "The Day of the Unborn Child" notes that when the movement began in Argentina the official 1999 proclamation was made in the presence of representatives from the Orthodox, Anglican, Evangelical, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. Just as the season of Christmas honoring the birth of Jesus Christ has become a time for cross-cultural charitable endeavors to help children of all faiths, the Annunciation feast as "Day of the Unborn Child" can become an annual focus for solidarity in our charitable action toward unborn children. Likewise, there will be much overlap and cross-denominational interest in many of the activities described below--the categories are only for convenience as a general guide.
If you would like to share information on an Annunciation/Incarnation tradition associated with March 25th celebrated at your place of worship, please contact us at info@DayOfTheUnbornChild.com -- indicate denomination if applicable.
Orthodox (and
related traditions)
Other Christian &
Non-Denominational Churches
Note: In Roman Catholic, Maronite Rite, Lutheran and Anglican/Episcopalian traditions, the Annunciation may be moved to avoid Lent/Easter conflicts, but rules for this "transfer" differ among denominations and by region. The Catholic observance is often moved to a later day in March or even into the second week of April. Contact your local diocese to verify the date the Annunciation will be observed each year.
Roman Catholic and Maronite
Visit Catholic Culture’s Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord site. It not only presents a theological
perspective, but also suggests activities and prayers on a sidebar, as well as
“Things to do” at the bottom of the page to promote a pro-life outlook. CatholicCulture.org also features Father Francis Weiser's explanation of many Annunciation
traditions--for example, the papal Curia's ancient custom of
starting the year on March 25 in all their communications, calling it the
"Year of the Incarnation."
Fr. Weiser, author of The Holyday Book, also points out something
that Catholics may not always notice in the Nicene Creed section in their
church missal booklets: There are only
two days in the year in which the direction to kneel or genuflect is given
during the creed (at the words, "By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was
born of the Virgin Mary and became man")--Christmas and the Annunciation.
EWTN's web page on celebrating the Annunciation
briefly explains the importance of the feast and includes suggestions on
honoring the day with Mass attendance, family celebrations, and activities with
children.
Knights of
Columbus "Day of the Unborn" Resources Page -- The
Knights have been the primary source of sponsorship of "Day of the Unborn
Child" events in the U.S. -- this page includes an overview and includes
links to materials that can be used in a special Mass or prayer service.
Annunciation
Church/School Program materials from the Family Resources Center of the Peoria
Diocese -- Click the link for more information on the several
booklets plus an illustrated set of 10 posters to span the months from the
Annunciation to Christmas--the Family Resources Center offers publications of
its own as well as One More Soul materials that offer many ideas and approaches
to celebrating the Annunciation and its pro-life import, including spiritual
adoption.
The Angelus is a traditional
Annunciation-themed prayer, often said at noon, or three times daily--dawn,
noon, and dusk. Consider handing out
Angelus prayer cards at church on the Annunciation feast and/or having the
congregation recite the prayer together at mass on the day. On July 26th, 2013 at World Youth Day in
Brazil, Pope Francis said, "The angelus prayer is a beautiful popular
expression of the faith. It is a simple prayer, recited at three specific times
during the day. It thus punctuates the
rhythm of our daily activities--in the morning, at midday, and at sunset. But it is an important prayer. I encourage each of you to recite it along
with the Hail Mary--it reminds us of a luminous event which transformed
history--the Incarnation--the moment when the Son of God became man in Jesus of
Nazareth."
The Rosary offers frequent year-round
opportunities to bring out the meaning of the Annunciation and promote a fuller
understanding of its import and the feast day on which it is celebrated. At the start of each of the five Joyful
Mysteries (Annunciation/Incarnation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation of the
Infant Christ, Finding of the Child Jesus) the corresponding passage from the
Gospel can be read, giving the Biblical account of the conception, prenatal
life, birth, infancy, and childhood of Christ.
The Rosary is ideal for pro-life prayer as it is life affirming in its
very nature--the Annunciation is the first of the five Joyful Mysteries, and
the first of the 20 total mysteries, and the Hail Mary begins with the angel's
Annunciation greeting in the Bible and ends by addressing Mary's motherhood in
conceiving the divine savior. The
Joyful Mysteries in particular can serve to introduce the theme of
Christ's conception and prenatal life into both private and public prayer as a
reminder to oneself and others of what we are truly meditating on in
contemplating the mystery of the Annunciation and also the Visitation. For example, when praying the Rosary
always remember to add a brief description after announcing the first Joyful
Mystery "The Annunciation in Nazareth" such as "--when
Christ was conceived" and/or "--the Word was made flesh,"
"--the moment of Incarnation," "--God became man,"
etc. Likewise the second Joyful Mystery
can be announced to include the unborn Christ and John the Baptist: "The Visitation--when Mary with the
newly conceived Christ visited Elizabeth whose unborn son John leapt for
joy." This will open the door to a
more complete appreciation of what happened on these momentous occasions and
facilitate a more profound meditation.
(Meditations for praying the Joyful Mysteries including the Annunciation
are found in the book "Praying With Mother Angelica" -- click here for
an Amazon link that includes a "Look Inside" the book feature.)
NEW: Crochet
Wrist-Rosary Outreach From Annunciation to Christmas
Rosary Making and Giveaways are a fun and positive way to celebrate the Annunciation and Christmas connection as well as providing a natural invite to Mass and church activities. (The Annunciation/Conception of Christ is the first of the 20 Rosary subjects for meditation, and the second–the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth–is also the prenatal meeting of Christ and John the Baptist via their mothers, both "with child.") Many churches encourage parishioners to invite family and friends back to the faith, particularly grandparents, and mailable bracelet Rosaries that slip in a birthday card are an easy way to do so. For more including a downloadable instruction sheet, click the following link:
Crochet
Wrist-Rosary (Mail-Safe--1 Stamp)
Pro-Life
Holy Hour -- For
example, the 2014 Walk For Life West Coast in San Francisco included a 6 a.m.
"Unborn Jesus Holy Hour" at Saints Peter & Paul Church as part of
the January Roe v. Wade anniversary events -- the holy hour theme of Christ in
Mary's womb would also be ideal for the Annunciation/Day of the Unborn Child.
The feast of Christ’s conception is an ideal time to begin a
church-based nine-month period of Spiritual Adoption in which
parishioners are invited to pray on a regular basis for a newly conceived child
in danger from abortion over the nine months leading up to Christmas. In the Roman Catholic Church this can be
perfectly combined with the practice of having a “novena” of pro-life masses
(meaning “nine” sequential) beginning on the Annunciation feast and ending near
Christmas. This commitment to pray regularly is not
only a vital expression of concern for endangered unborn children, but also,
the gestational duration of both the Spiritual Adoption program and the
“novena” of monthly masses emphasizes the Annunciation’s pro-life aspect and
underscores the relationship between these two central feasts of the
Incarnation. At the end of the nine
months a Spiritual Adoption "baby shower" is held in which
parishioners are invited to give contributions and needed items for a local
pro-life pregnancy center. Closing the
Spiritual Adoption program with the gift shower seamlessly blends both the
contemplative/spiritual and active/corporal works of mercy. The shower can be held late in Advent,
during the 12 days of Christmas, or even on Epiphany to recall the gifts of the
Magi to the baby Jesus; regardless of the day chosen, it represents another
opportunity to reinforce the gestational relationship between the feast date
and Christmas (with signs, banners, or info table)--especially for parishioners
who bring donations to the shower but didn’t participate in Spiritual
Adoption. Please see our "9 Months
4 Life" Spiritual Adoption page here
and instructions on using/sharing the "9 Months 4 Life"
banner here. Read more about
Spiritual Adoption and available print materials on our Ideas page.
The traditional 9-month "First Fridays" Devotion can
be adapted to span the 9-months between the Annunciation and Christmas. Begin on the "first Friday of the
month" nearest Mar 25 and continue the practice of Mass, communion, etc.
for the First Fridays of nine consecutive months -- this will approximate the
gestational period from the Annunciation leading up to Christmas.
The
"Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb" is ideal to offer at
the feast day Mass, or as part of a special event for the day. In fact, the Annunciation feast of 2012 was
chosen as the date to announce the Vatican's approval of its publication. (For the full text of the blessing in
English and Spanish right-click here to save a .pdf file.)
As noted in a LifeNews article the following day, the blessing can be
offered both within and outside of Mass, and "was prepared to support
parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for and
recognition of the precious gift of the child in the womb, and to foster
respect for human life within society."
It also quoted Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of
the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, who said, "I can think of no better day to announce this news
than on the feast of the Annunciation, when we remember Mary’s 'yes' to God and
the incarnation of that child in her the womb that saved the world." To read the full article click here. Source: Article by Steven Ertelt, "Vatican
Approves New Blessing for Unborn Children" reported by LifeNews.com,
3/26/12, Washington, DC. Click here to read more from the USCCB page about the blessing.
At any time of the year start a "Twenty-Fifth of the Month
Club" to encourage prayer and pro-life activities each 25th focused on
Christ's Incarnation and prenatal life.
Visit the 25th-Of-The-Month-Club
page for 12 suggested monthly activities and short tips in
"tweetable" form. [Although the idea is not exclusively Catholic, the concept is
similar to the "Thirteenth of the Month Club" familiar to many
Catholics--the "13th of the Month Club" is named for the six Fatima
apparitions reported in 1917 between May 13 (which became the optional memorial
feast of Our Lady of Fatima) and October 13, a period during which the Blessed
Mother said she would appear on the 13th of each month.] The Annunciation is an ideal time to start this easy once-a-month
program of prayer and action with special activities on the 25th of March and
December. The simplest way to
participate is to follow us on Twitter
and visit/"Like"
our page on Facebook at facebook.com/AnnunciationDayMarch25
to get monthly
reminders and ideas. Individuals can do
something as simple as re-Tweeting or sharing a pro-life quote/photo, leaving a
pro-life prayer card at a restaurant, or praying a special pro-life Rosary
(specifically the joyful mysteries of the conception, prenatal life, birth,
infancy, and childhood of Christ -- see above). Groups can start an in-person or on-line club to study and honor
the Annunciation and its relationship to Christmas, inspired by the pro-life
groups in many nations that plan pro-life activities for the 25th of each month
(such as special masses/blessings for pregnant women) with the March 25
Annunciation specially honored with Day of the Unborn Child events. As with the 9-Month Spiritual Adoption or 9
consecutive First Fridays, the "Twenty-Fifth of the Month Club" is
particularly helpful for highlighting the Annunciation/Christmas link, but
unlike the former two the "club" has activities year-round on the
25th of each month. These groups can be
local or long-distance. Rather than
meeting in person 12 times a year on the 25th, e-mail lists and social
networking (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) can be used to create a virtual
Internet club dedicated to raising awareness about the Annunciation Feast
(Mar. 25) and its nine-month gestational relationship to Christmas (Dec. 25). Prayers, readings, reflections, and message
board discussions (as well as special seasonal activities prior to the
Annunciation and Christmas), can be planned for the 25th of every month. For example, the October and November 25th
activities could include idea sharing and suggestions on how to include the
Annunciation in our Christmas mailings, decorations, and celebrations. The March 25th Annunciation, as the old New
Year's Day, is an ideal occasion to renew the club's commitment and plan for
the coming year -- perhaps with a special get-together on March 25th via
on-line chat or in person if there are members who live in the same
locale. Please see our "25th of the Month
Club" banner here with instructions on using/sharing it in Internet
communications. Find more ideas on Highlighting
the Christmas Connection as well as the many suggestions for the
Annunciation feast on the Ideas page.
Life-Affirming
Feast Days of Conception & Birth (Annunciation, Christmas, Mary's Immaculate
Conception, Mary's Birth) Though
all Christian clergy have an extra opportunity at Christmas to point out the
pregnancy-length interval between the feasts of the Annunciation and the
Nativity, Catholics and others who follow a traditional liturgical calendar
have two additional occasions to touch on the symbolic spacing of the feast
dates. As with Christ's conception and
birth, the feast of Mary's conception on December 8th is set nine months before
her birth feast on September 8th. The
gestational symbolism of both these pairs of dates makes the homilies/sermons
for these two Marian feasts another opportune moment to make mention of the
nine-month intervals between the conception and birth feasts of both Christ and
Mary. Note: The four feasts of March and December 25th, and December and
September 8th, are also important opportunities to clarify the confusion that
often accompanies the feast of the Immaculate Conception (a teaching about Mary
most commonly found among Catholics), which is often mistaken for the virginal
conception/birth of Christ. Indeed,
encouraging widespread celebration of the Annunciation as Christ's conception
feast would make this misunderstanding less likely. See our special banner
for Mary's Dec. 8 Immaculate Conception feast and her Sep. 8 birth feast--with
compare/contrast text and memory aids to help distinguish the feast of Mary's
conception from the March 25 feast of Christ's conception. Please also visit the Ideas page
section on Highlighting
the Christmas Connection.
The Maronite
Rite practice
is to celebrate Annunciation during Advent and on March 25th, but in years of
Holy Week conflict it is moved from March 25 to another day, the transfer
governed by a different rule than that used by the Roman Catholic Church. As a result Maronite Catholics may be
celebrating the Annunciation on a different date from Roman Catholics. The Maronite formula often keeps the feast
in the month of March rather than early April.
For example, in 2016, Roman Catholics moved the feast to April 4th, but
Maronite churches celebrated the Annunciation on March 27th, 28th, and 29th --
the 27th was the vigil mass after Easter celebrations were ended Easter Sunday
(sundown signifying the end of the liturgical day). For this reason EWTN Catholic television network founder Mother
Angelica of the Annunciation can be said to have passed away both on Easter
Sunday and the Maronite feast of the Annunciation which she was named after --
March 27, 2016 -- click
here for more on this remarkable coinciding of events as described by
EWTN's Fr. Mitch Pacwa, who also celebrates the Maronite Rite.
Anglican/Episcopalian
Note: As in Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions,
Anglican/Episcopalian churches may move or transfer the celebration of the
Annunciation in years where there is a Holy Week/Easter conflict, however the
rules differ on how and when this applies.
It is best to check with a church in your region to verify the date each
year.
Anglican England continued to observe the March 25th "Annunciation
Day" as the beginning of their New Year until the mid-1700s, reflecting
the importance of the feast. Roman
Catholic countries also had this tradition in the Middle Ages, but moved their
New Year's Day from March 25th to January 1st in the late 1500s with the
adoption of the Gregorian calendar. Source: "New Year’s Day," Microsoft®
Encarta® Encyclopedia 2000. © 1993-1999
Consider this excerpt from a Feast of the Annunciation homily by
the Rev. Lloyd Prator, Mar. 26, 2001, St. John’s in the Village Episcopal
Church, New York, NY:
There is a good reason why the Annunciation occurs during
Lent. Two good reasons, actually. Of course there is the rather cute little
device of the calendar. This day, the day that Mary finds out that she is
pregnant, occurs just exactly nine months before the Nativity of the Lord in
December. But, there is a deeper, subtler reason. In Lent, we talk about
the way in which God decided to save the world. It happens through the death
and the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. And, so it seems fitting that we
pause for a moment to remember the very first moment when Jesus was introduced
onto the stage of salvation history, that moment when he began his life within
the womb of his mother the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Annunciation is one of those events which points to the human
nature of Jesus. The Church has traditionally taught that Jesus is both God and
human, and today we consider the implications that he was born of an earthly
mother, conceived in a unique way, but conceived nevertheless.
Read more at:
http://www.stjvny.org/homilies/annunciation_01.asp
Lutheran
Note: As in Roman Catholic and Anglican/Episcopalian traditions,
Lutheran churches may move or transfer the celebration of the Annunciation in
years where there is a Holy Week/Easter conflict, however the rules vary from
Catholic and Anglican practice, and in the Lutheran Church the feast may be
moved to a later date or earlier in the month, even back to March 8th according
to some national variations in the rule of when and how to transfer the
feast. Therefore it is best to check
with a local church to verify the date each year. Click here for
more on Lutheran practice in moving the feast, and here for
info on differences between Lutheran and other liturgical calendars.
Fact: Listed first among
the surviving cantatas of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, his Cantata
BWV 1, "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" was written in March 1725
for the Feast of the Annunciation.
As the feast date approaches
visit the Lutherans
For Life home page for info
on their Annunciation materials (some are available free of charge or for
nominal cost). Concordia Publishing
House also offers Annunciation materials intended for a Lutheran
congregation at CPH.org -- click
here for the Annunciation search page -- most relevant items will display
first (visual materials
like an Annunciation poster and print have also been offered in the past).
Most
LFL materials are listed at their Annunciation webpage available year round at www.lutheransforlife.org/store-the-annunciation
which features several downloads plus the following text: "The
Annunciation of Our Lord - March 25 ~ The path to the cross did not begin in
Bethlehem but in Nazareth! March 25 is
the most appropriate time to celebrate the Incarnation. God became man at Jesus’ conception in
Mary. To assist pastors and
congregations in observing the Annunciation of our Lord--and to teach the great
value God in Christ places on all human life--these resources are
available:" The downloads offered
via their Annunciation page are: a worship
service for "The Annunciation of Our Lord" in Word and PDF, and
the Annunciation sermon "Pregnant with God," plus a link to an
article "The Annunciation and Abortion" which has download
links to print copies yourself and an ordering link to buy printed copies.
Here are detailed
descriptions (plus alternate direct links) for the materials at LFL's year
round Annunciation page:
Worship Service — A sample worship service
for the Annunciation, including the hymn "O Word of God Incarnate"
and selections from scripture, the Book of Concord, Luther's Small Catechism
with Explanation, and 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, and an introduction that
begins: "A sign in the Holy Land
reads, 'Here the Word became flesh.'
You will not find this sign in Bethlehem, but in Nazareth. There the angel announced to Mary, not just
that she would bear a son, but also that she would conceive a son. By the power of the Holy Spirit, through the
words of the angel spoken in Mary's ear, the Son of God took on flesh as a tiny
embryo." Right-Click here to save a copy of the service in MS Word,
or right-click here for Adobe .PDF format.
Sample Sermon — Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb’s
sermon “Pregnant with God” (based on Luke 1:26-38) uses Scripture, Reformation
Era writings, the Lutheran Confessions, and quotes from more recent scholars
and theologians (Dr. Edward Koehler, Francis Pieper) to highlight the
Incarnational and pro-life significance of Christ’s conception. Right-Click here to save a download of the sermon.
Brochure — (“The Annunciation and
Abortion”) by Rev. Edward Fehskens — offers a historical review and addresses
the pro-life implications of the Annunciation and Visitation of Mary and the
Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Click here to read the text, or right-click here for an Adobe file you can print copies
from. Click the following link to order
brochures on-line.
Visiting
the Lutherans For Life home
page regularly will give a reminder
of the upcoming feast day up to two months in advance as the site features a linked
banner for these Annunciation materials as the feast day approaches (one of
several banners that appear sequentially across the top of the page).
In
the past, LFL has also offered or recommended the following:
Bulletin Insert — (“The Miracle of the
Incarnation”/"The Miracle of the Annunciation") -- Click here to order print copies and/or click the downloads
tab at the ordering page to save a simple text version at no cost -- or for
direct access to the free text version right-click here and save.
The site includes this description of the insert: "The Miracle of the Incarnation -- The path to
the cross did not begin in Bethlehem but in Nazareth! March 25 is the most appropriate time to celebrate the
Incarnation. God became man at Jesus’
conception in Mary. Since our
beginnings were sinful (Psalm 51:5), Jesus had to take our place from that very
moment. Part of the redemptive process
was for Jesus to pass through all stages of our development. What powerful implications for the value of
human life from the very beginning! Jesus’ divinity and humanity at the moment
of conception attest to our humanity from that moment."
Celebrate Life Service — Lutherans For Life suggests a "Celebrate Life" Service for March 25 in the "Speaking Through Worship" section of its "How You Can Speak" page.
Bible-Based Study Guide (including Annunciation) — Offers the "God's Word for Life" Bible-based study guide including a section on The Annunciation and the Beginning of Life. In the Topical Index, under the "Beginning of Life" section you will find the subtopic "The Annunciation and the Beginning of Life."
Other Annunciation-themed
materials offered in the past that may be available from Lutherans For Life
include:
Article
— (“Womb
and Tomb”) by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb (Ex. Dir. Lutherans for Life) -- to read
the text of the article right-click to open/save this PDF file of the Spring 2005 edition of National Lutherans For Life's LifeDate
newsletter -- if LFL no longer
offers print copies, just print page 2 of the PDF file. The article is particularly relevant
for years in which March 25 falls on Good Friday but most of the text can be
used every year, such as the following excerpts: "March 25th, the
Annunciaton of our Lord…marks the conception of Jesus in Mary's womb….a good
reminder for pro-life Christians….
From the womb of the Virgin Mary to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea,
Jesus took our place. From the womb to
the tomb, He showed how much God values human life."
Orthodox and related traditions (generally celebrated as a fixed feast, on March 25th, or on April 7th--the old Julian calendar equivalent to March 25th)
[Take note of this quote from an early saint honored by both Orthodox and Catholics -- St. Theodore the Studite (died 826 AD) -- who in this excerpt from a sermon he gave on the Annunciation feast day (titled "On the Incarnate Dispensation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and That We Should Celebrate Spiritually") speaks specifically on how to celebrate the Annunciation and the importance of keeping in mind its true meaning: "BRETHREN AND FATHERS, the Annunciation is here and it is the first of the Feasts of the Lord, and we should not simply celebrate as most do, but with understanding and with reverence for the mystery. What is the mystery? That the Son of God becomes son of man, using the holy Virgin as the means, dwelling in her and from her fashioning for Himself a temple and becoming perfect man." Read more of the text here -- and for a site featuring interesting articles on the Orthodox view of the Annunciation and lovely photos of their tradition of releasing doves on the day, click here.
Note
on the Fixed Feast Practice, and the April 7th Tradition: In general, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox, and
Eastern Catholic Churches do not "transfer" the Annunciation feast to
another date if it conflicts with another important day on the liturgical
calendar. They often have special
combined liturgies for those years in which the Annunciation coincides with
another feast day. In addition, many of
these churches use the old Julian calendar and therefore have the tradition of
celebrating the Annunciation on or near April 7th, which is nine months before
their Christmas celebration on January 7th.
Click here for
more on the Julian calendar Annunciation feast. Most Eastern churches celebrate Christmas on January 7th,
and so logically their Annunciation feast will be April 7th, though the Armenian
Church has Christmas on January 6th but still celebrates Annunciation on April
7th; the Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek-speaking Christian world generally
observes Christmas on December 25 and therefore the Annunciation on March 25. Those churches that do celebrate Annunciation on the 7th of
April can consider having a pro-life event on that day and are also welcome to
observe the international Day of the Unborn Child on March 25th. Scroll down for more info on specific
practices within these traditions. Click here for
a Travelujah article on the Holy Feast of the Annunciation in the Orthodox
Church and related Annunciation celebrations.
Also see the following 2013 article on traditions (including the release
of birds) Orthodox Christians to Celebrate the Annunciation (scroll down past
the info on their new site to see a photo of the pigeon/dove release with the
onion-dome church in the background) -- if not available try the first link in this search list -- or here for a text-only printer-friendly version and view the
pic here.
Orthodox Church (in America)
Excerpt from the web page of The Nativity of the Holy Virgin, Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the West:
“There are many festive hymns with which the church
celebrates today’s sacrament of the incarnation of the Son of God. They teach
us, the believers, to properly celebrate the day of our salvation; but most
frequently, we hear the words ‘Today is the crown of our salvation and the
manifestation of the mystery that is from all eternity.’” Read more at http://www.tserkov.org/about_orthodoxy.html
-- just click The Twelve Great Feasts and scroll down to the section on the
Annunciation -- includes the excerpt from the Ikos of the Matins of the
Feast: Rejoice, you who are the throne
of the King: Rejoice, you who hold Him
Who holdeth all! Rejoice, Womb of the
Divine Incarnation!
Orthodox Annunciation Prayer (Author: Orthodox
Church): Click here
and scroll down to read this lovely prayer that begins, "Lord who came
down from heaven and stayed in the womb of St. Mary…"
The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Annunciation
according to the Gregorian calendar on March 25th. This
website notes that it is a fixed feast. March 25 is also Greek Independence
Day. Click here
for more on Greek
Orthodox Annunciation resources.
The Russian Orthodox Church has a beautiful tradition in
Moscow of releasing white doves on the Annunciation (celebrated on April 7th
according to the Julian calendar). See
the Fast & Fascinating
Facts page for details and links to photos.
The Armenian Orthodox Church (Armenian Apostolic Church): The Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church
celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation on the 7th of April, but this is not a
transferred date -- it is fixed on April 7--nine months (minus one day) before
their January 6th observance of Christmas. However, the
difference in date is not a result of using the Julian calendar as many
Orthodox churches do. Though their
Christmas celebration is only one day apart from other churches in the Orthodox
tradition that use Jan. 7th, the Armenians are using the modern Gregorian
calendar. The difference in the
Armenian feast date reflects an old tradition of celebrating the Christmas
feast of Christ's birth, Epiphany adoration of the Magi, and Christ's baptism together on
January 6th (the day when Catholic and other churches commonly celebrate
Epiphany alone) -- and this combined feast is now called the "Feast of the
Nativity and Theophany." A
detailed explanation of the origins of this feast date can be found at this website or click here for
a .pdf version. The Armenian practice
is interesting and instructive in that the adoration of the wise men is a
"manifestation" feast revealing the divinity of Jesus, as is the
feast of his baptism (when the Holy Spirit descended like a dove revealing
Christ's true nature). Theophany means the visible appearance of
God to man, and grouping these postnatal manifestation feasts with Christmas
highlights Christ's birth as another form of manifestation--the first time in
history mankind can see God in the flesh face to face--the Incarnation revealed
(for more information on combined feasts click here). Counting
back nine months minus one day from this January 6th Christmas/Theophany
combination feast to an April 7th Annunciation reflects the approximate
pregnancy-length interval and has the fortuitous effect of the Armenian Church
celebrating Annunciation along with other Orthodox churches that also have an
April 7th Annunciation feast but with a different (Julian calendar)
origin. This site has info on the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America feast days including the April 7th Annunciation and the nine-month
interval. Another webpage on the
Annunciation from the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church can be found here.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church): The Syrian Orthodox (Indian Orthodox) Church
uses the March 25th Gregorian calendar date.
The importance of the feast is reflected in the fact that they celebrate
the Divine Liturgy even when the Annunciation comes on Good Friday. In the Syrian Orthodox Church the word for
the Annunciation is "Suboro."
Visit this website for
additional information on the Annunciation in the Malankara Orthodox
Syrian Church.
The Syriac Orthodox Church: The
Syriac church uses the Gregorian calendar for fixed feasts like the
Annunciation so it is celebrated on the 25th of March. One tradition of the Syriac Orthodox March
25th Annunciation observance is to put a "siboro" around one's wrist
from March 25th to Easter Monday (or Easter Day) -- a white and red thread
interwoven to symbolize that at the moment Mary became pregnant with the unborn
Christ by the Holy Sprit, the divine nature (white) was united with a human
nature (red). For more details on this
tradition click
here. A listing of Syriac feast days can be
found at this website
which has a separate webpage here for the Annunciation feast, which they also
call Suboro (Sooboro). For poignant quotes on the
Annunciation in an essay (by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas) on
the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch Archdiocese of the Eastern United States
website click here -- the first quote on the subject reads,
"The most celebrated and greatly significant feast in Christendom is the
Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, which falls on March 25th"
-- then scroll down to the web page's "Annunciation" subheading for more, including this
quote: "The event of Annunciation
of Divine Conception marks the beginning of the two mysteries of Incarnation
and Redemption. In honor of the Holy
Virgin Mary Syrian Church Fathers instituted that the faithful read the angel’s
salutation at the end of daily offices morning and evening, and even at the end
of individual prayers at their will" -- the page also has several lines of
poetry on the Annunciation written by Jacob of Serugh on the Trinity, Mary, and
the Annunciation from the prayer of the third hour said on Wednesday, including
this excerpt: "...Glory be to the Father, who chose her for her humility
and adoration be to the son who descended in humility (from high) and dwelled
in her. Thanks are due to the (Holy) Spirit who is pleased to dwell in humble
ones. Glory be to the one nature of the Trinity…May you, oh, Son of God, through
the prayer of Mary, who bore you nine months, keep wrath away from
us.")
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church refers to the Annunciation as
"Feast of the Incarnation" which they call "Tsinset." Click here for more on this title of
"Annunciation Feast of the Incarnation." It is celebrated on April 7th, the same day the Julian
calendar churches celebrate, but using the Ethiopian calendar which names and
numbers the months differently, the date is called Magabit 29 (the month
Magabit or Megabit spans early March to early April). They celebrate Christmas on the day we call January 7th, so the
pregnancy-length interval between the Annunciation and the feast of Christ's birth
is preserved, though their months differ in number the period is equivalent to
nine Gregorian calendar months. Click here for info on this alternate calendar as it
relates to the feast days. This feast of Christ's Incarnation is considered to
be a day of forgiveness for mankind in the Ethiopian church. Visit this
site, which gives more information on the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar and
notes that this is the feast of "His conception."
The Coptic Orthodox Church:
The Coptic Church, one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, observes the
Annunciation on April 7th as do Julian calendar churches, but it calls the date
by another name using the Coptic Calendar--the 29th of Baramhat (also known as
Paremhotep or Paremhat), which is the seventh month of their calendar and
covers early March through early April.
Their Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, so the pregnancy length
interval is preserved, though their months are named and divided
differently. Click here
for an article titled, "The Feast of the Annunciation" by Pope
Shenouda III, which notes the gestational interval and states, "The feast
of the Annunciation comes every year on the 29th of Baramhat. There is between
it and the Feast of the Nativity which comes on the 29th of Kiahk, a period of
nine months that constitutes the period of the holy pregnancy with the Lord
Christ. Thus the feast of the
Annunciation is the first among the Lord feasts;" "We bring the good
news to people that God had begun the execution of His divine plan for the
salvation of the human race; beginning with the operation of the Incarnation by
the holy pregnancy." This site also gives information on where to obtain copies
of the booklet as well as publication information ("The Feast of the
Annunciation" by His Holiness Amba Shenouda III, Pope and Patriarch of
Alexandria and of the Apostolic See of All the Predication of Saint Mark,
edited by Orthodox Coptic Clerical College in Cairo, translated from the Arabic
first edition of April 1997, available from http://www.copticchurch.net
). Another website lists and describes "The Seven Major
Feasts of the Lord in the Coptic Orthodox Church" including this quote,
"The Annunciation (Baramhat 29, c. April 7): In it we recall the
fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, and the attainment which the men
of God had longed for across the ages, namely the coming of the Word of God
incarnated in the Virgin’s womb (Matt. 13:17)." It is also interesting to note that the Coptic Orthodox Church also
celebrates the Resurrection on this same day -- for more on this dual-feast
date visit this website that includes the following quote about Mary, the newly
conceived Christ, and the Annunciation feast: " "When she had
accepted this Divine Annunciation, the Only Begotten Son, the Word of God, who
is One of the Three eternal Persons, came and dwelt in her womb, a dwelling,
the human race can not comprehend. And
straightway He united with perfect humanity a complete unity inseparable and
unchangeable after the unity. This day
then is the first-born of all feasts, for in it was the beginning of the
salvation of the world which was fulfilled by the Holy Resurrection of our
Lord, saving Adam and his offspring from the hands of Satan."
The Eritrean Orthodox Church:
Click
here
for a list of Eritrean Orthodox feasts including the Annunciation, celebrated
on April 7th (Baramhat 29th), reflecting the pregnancy length interval before
their January 7th Christmas "Feast of the Nativity" celebration.
Other Christian & Non-Denominational Churches:
Note: Depending upon how they are organized, denominations that don't
use a traditional calendar or have an abbreviated version (including a wide
variety of independent and non-denominational churches) may vary greatly in
terms of the holy days they recognize, the titles they use for them, and how
they are celebrated. There may be
differences not only within denominations but also between one branch and
another. The examples given below do
not necessarily reflect the position of all churches of the given denomination,
but represent welcome contributions to the growing awareness of the importance
of the Annunciation holy day in Christian history:
Cedar Park Church -- Assembly of God (member of the Assemblies
of God): The Cedar Park Church
website has a nicely done webpage dedicated to the importance of the
Annunciation. Titled, "Annunciation March 25--Nine
Months Before Christmas," the following excerpt is only a sampling -- read
the full text at the website for the context with New Testament
quotations: "In
case of the Annunciation, Gabriel’s announcement of the conception of Jesus, we
have the ultimate goal of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The fact that
God used the process of conception, fetal development, childhood, and youth as
preparation is significant and provides the model for understanding human
development….March 25, the date of the annunciation, has been important in the
church for centuries….Luke Gospel begins with two amazing stories of life
within the womb….From the rest of the Bible we know this was the beginning of
the mission that would lead to the cross and the resurrection….It is clear that
Jesus was Jesus from the moment of conception, not just the moment of birth.
This kind of a day helps us to understand the development of Jesus and to
consider what all that means. He is the prototype of humanity. He was fully
human, illustrating our own lives. If Jesus was Jesus from the moment of
conception, then you were you from conception forward."
Epworth United Methodist Church: The church website mentions the March 25th Annunciation as one of
the "exceptions to the Lenten austerity" -- celebrating "the
most sublime moment in the history of time." For more visit its webpage
on liturgical seasons, which includes the following: "On the Solemnity of the Annunciation, we celebrate a feast that
propels us into the Christmas mystery.
Jesus, the Savior who will shortly give his life for our sins, is this
day conceived in the Virgin Mary's womb."
LDS/Mormon: Some
members of LDS/Mormon churches honor the Annunciation as the moment of Incarnation
on March 25th. For example, see these
March 25th Annunciation postings for 2014
and also 2015 advising fellow LDS members on how to "honor the
miraculous Annunciation that we celebrate today."
Churches that Commemorate the Annunciation During Advent: Many churches, Presbyterian for example,
may be far more likely to acknowledge the Annunciation on a chosen day in
Advent as a preparation for Christmas.
This may be as simple as reading the Gospel text of Luke 1:26-38
regarding Christ's conception/Incarnation, or something more such as the recitation
of 17th-century writer John Donne's beautiful "Annunciation" poem with its memorable ending
line, "Immensity
cloistered in thy dear womb." For an example of a historical reference to March 25th in a
lecture or sermon during the Christmas season see this webpage --
and for a worship service example of the Annunciation incorporated into Advent
see the pcusa.org "Eucharistic Prayer for Annunciation text
(Advent)". Even if official
worship highlights the Annunciation only in Advent, that doesn't preclude a
late March sermon mentioning that the historical Annunciation observance on
March 25th is a pregnancy-length nine months before Christmas. In fact, many churches acknowledge March
25th as a significant day without specifically celebrating it. Note: Churches often use online calendars
with a broad range of Christian observances noted on their respective days far
beyond the number that the church using that calendar actually celebrates. Some will simply list the name of the holy
day and label it as an "All Day" event as at this calendar page -- but this is a standard description and may
simply mean that no specific events at a particular time are being held. Regardless of whether your church has had an
official March Annunciation observance in the past, don't assume a general
calendar reference means an event will take place -- always inquire first and
if you have an idea you'd like to share use the opportunity to make a
suggestion.
Note: If you do not see an example of acknowledgment and celebration of
the Annunciation or March 25th for your faith community, use the search
function on the websites for your church and denomination for the terms:
Annunciation -or- March 25 -or- Christ's conception -or- conception
of Jesus -or- nine months before Christmas -- etc. If you don't find anything, use a search
engine website to find the words and phrases above occurring with the name
of your denomination. Don't assume that
if your church has no active pro-life ministry that it has no tradition or
recognition of the Annunciation -- it may be that it acknowledges and observes
the Incarnational aspect of the day honoring Christ's conception, if not the
more recent designation as Day of the Unborn Child. Having a specific reference to the Annunciation's importance
within your faith tradition lays the groundwork for celebration of the day, and
is helpful as a reference in suggesting or offering to organize an event.
[To return
to home page click http://dayoftheunbornchild.com/
]
[This
page was updated 02/2016]