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Annunciation of the Most Holy Virgin Mary When the time came for the Son of God to become a man, in the whole world there was no one more holy and worthy than the Virgin Mary “to incarnate God and serve the sacrament of our salvation.” Living in the monastery of the Temple of Jerusalem until he came of age and constantly practicing the thought of God, prayer and reading Divine books, St. The Virgin, according to the legend of the Church Fathers, knew about the approaching time of the coming of the promised Messiah not only from prophecies, but also from direct revelation from God, who was pleased to announce to Her the incarnation of the Son of God from Her, even during Her stay in the Temple of Jerusalem. Shortly before the Annunciation, according to legend, about 4 months, St. The Virgin was betrothed to the righteous Joseph so that he would be a protector and witness of Her chastity and so that Her sacred virginity would not turn out to be a condemnation of marriage. After her betrothal, She lived in Joseph's house in the Galilean city of Nazareth. Tradition says: “And Joseph was the holy imaginary husband of Her (Luke 3:23), the chaste guardian of Her virginity and the servant of the virgin life, filled with great shrines. In the house of Her betrothed, the Most Pure Virgin did not change Her previous life, which led to the Holy of Holies. She practiced nothing else but prayer, reading Divine books and ordinary decent needlework. For Her, Joseph’s house was like a church of prayer, from which She did not leave anywhere and did not talk with anyone, except with Joseph’s daughters.” To the Galilean city of Nazareth, to the house of Joseph, to St. The Virgin Mary, 6 months after the conception of John the Baptist, was sent by the Archangel Gabriel to announce to Her the secret of the incarnation of God the Word from Her. Rejoice, full of grace: the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women, the heavenly messenger greeted Her - with the words that the Church now repeats daily in prayer: “Virgin Mother of God, rejoice!” Before the appearance of the Archangel St. The Virgin remained in silence, practicing reading Scripture and thinking about God. She, having seen the Archangel, was embarrassed about his words, and thought about what this kiss (greeting) would be like. Do not be afraid, Mariam, for you have found grace from God, the Archangel told Her. And behold, you conceived in your womb and gave birth to a Son, and you called His name Jesus. This one will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of His father David: and he will reign in the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. How will this happen if I don’t know where my husband is? asked Virgo. The Holy Spirit will come upon You, said the Archangel, and the power of the Highest will overshadow You: in the same way, the holy thing to be born will be called the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth is Thy daughter, and she conceived a son in her old age: and behold, the sixth month is called unfruitful for her: for with God every word shall not fail. Behold the servant of the Lord, be unto Me according to thy command, the Virgin, humble and completely devoted to the will of God, answered the Archangel (Luke 1:26–38). Thus, “The archangel’s voice drove away the destructive word of the devil, the tempter of the foremother Eve.” After the Annunciation, Mary went to her relative, the righteous Elizabeth, and the truth of the mystery of the Annunciation was revealed during their meeting. When, having arrived at the house of Zacharias, the blessed Virgin greeted Elizabeth, the grace of the Holy Spirit filled her and her baby. In the womb of Elizabeth, the baby leaped with joy and confessed the incarnate Lord, and the mother, filled with the Holy Spirit, in a feeling of holy delight, called Mary blessed among women, Mother of the Lord, blessed: blessed are You among women and blessed is the fruit of Your womb. And where do I get this from, so that the Mother of my Lord may come to me: blessed is she who believed! Mary responded to Elizabeth with prophetic words of humble thanksgiving to God: My soul magnifies the Lord, and My spirit rejoices in God My Savior: for He has looked upon the humility of His servant: for from now on all generations will bless Me (Luke 1:39–55). Venerable Nikander, hermit of Pskov Venerable Nikander, hermit of Pskov (see his memorial on September 24). Saint Pelagius, Bishop of Laodicea, in Syria Saint Pelagius, Bishop of Laodicea, in Syria. According to Theodoret: “the wonderful Bishop of Laodicea Pelagius was united with the bride in marriage from his youth, but from the very moment of marriage he convinced her to honor brotherly love above marital relations.” – During the reign of the emperor, Valens suffered from the Arians. – (Remembered again on Cheese Saturday).