Благовещение Божией Матери

Even in Joseph’s house, the Blessed Virgin did not abandon the pious customs she had learned in the church. In her free time from work, she devoted herself to prayer and reading the Word of God. Once she read the book of the prophet Isaiah and reached the place where he predicts the birth of the Savior from the Virgin. After reading this verse, she thought: “What a happy maiden she is, and how I would like to be her last servant!” Suddenly the Archangel appears and announces to her that she is God’s chosen one. “Rejoice, full of grace,” said the Archangel to the Blessed Virgin: “The Lord is with you! Blessed are you among wives!” Mary, out of deep humility, was embarrassed by the Archangel’s praise; however, she immediately regained control of herself and wondered what kind of greeting this would be. Seeing that Mary has calmed down, the Archangel continues his gospel and seems to be in a hurry to tell her (in such a wondrous mood) everything that was commanded to him from above. Having spoken of the birth of a Son from her, whom she would call Jesus, the Archangel announced: “He 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 over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Maria asked: “How will it be when I don’t know my husband?” “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” the Archangel answered her, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, therefore the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Here is Elizabeth,” continued the holy Archangel, “your relative, called barren, and she conceived a son in her old age, and she is already in her sixth month. “With God,” the Archangel concluded, “no word will remain powerless.” Then Mary, with all faith and devotion to God, said: “Behold (here I am) the servant of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word.” The order given from above to the Archangel was fulfilled. The mystery of our salvation was accepted by the holy Virgin, as it should be, with humility and faith, and the Archangel departed from Her. Annunciation of the Mother of God. The author of the painting is Fyodor Antonovich Bruni (1799–1875). The painting was placed in Vienna in the embassy church. No color reproductions found. You might be interested in: