The Conception of Saint Anna When She Conceived the Most Holy Mother of God
Galatians 4:22-31; Luke 8:16-21
All-Night Vigil feast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy. Nativity Fast.
Read Galatians 4:22-31
Today we celebrate the feast of the conception of St. Anne when she conceived the Most Holy Mother of God. In the West this feast is known as the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is celebrated on December 08. This feast first appeared in the east around the 5th century and then spread throughout the Byzantine Empire. Around the 9th century the Byzantine churches in southern Italy inspired the Western tradition to take up the feast also. The Western Church moved the feast to December 8th and slowly it continued to be accepted by the rest of the Western Church in Europe.
In the East this feast is not one of the 12 major feast days and the faithful are encouraged to attend, but not obliged. The Roman Church has elevated this feast to a rank of high solemnity, while in our Church it has the rank of ‘All-Night Vigil’, which is a second rank behind the 12 major feasts—in other Eastern Churches it is given the rank of ‘Polyeleos’, which is one rank below the ‘All-Night Vigil’. The Eastern themes of this feast are twofold. First, the amazing miracle of the opening of the womb of St. Anne who was barren into her old age. Second, that the fruit of her womb will bring forth the tree of life who is our Saviour.
There are three conceptions that are celebrated on the calendar year: Jesus (Mar 25), Mary (Dec 09) and St. John the Baptist (Sept 23). In the Eastern calendar, only Jesus has a perfect nine-month gestation period (Dec 25), which signifies that he is the perfect man, our Saviour and the source of our holiness. Both the birth of Mary (Sept 8) and St. John (June 24) signify that they rely on the Perfect One to achieve perfection. Both of them need Jesus Christ to save them from sin, death and the devil. Today we rejoice and celebrate with Joachim and Anne, for God has heard their prayer and blessed them—through them the entire human race— with a child who will become the Immaculate, Panagia (All-Holy), Theotokos (God-Bearer or Bohorodytsia [Богоро́диця]) when she conceives in her womb the Saviour of the world.