🕀 The Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Blessed Omelian Kovch, Priest.
Day 38 of the Great Fast. Feast of the Theotokos. [Holy Day of obligation.]
Hebrews 2:11-18; Luke 1:24-38.
Read Luke 1:24-38
Gabriel stood in your presence, O holy Virgin, and revealed the eternal plan to you. He greeted you and announced: Rejoice, O earth that has not been sown! Rejoice, O burning bush that was not consumed! Rejoice, O unsearchable depth! Rejoice, O bridge which leads to heaven; O high ladder which Jacob saw! Rejoice, O vessel of divine manna! Rejoice, O invocation of Adam! The Lord is with you.
The blameless Maiden said to the captain of the heavenly hosts: You appear to me as a mortal, and your words go beyond human thought. You have said that God is with me, and that He shall take up abode in my womb. Tell me then, how am I to become a holy temple for the Infinite One, the Lord Who rides on the Cherubim? Do not mislead me with deceit, for I have known no pleasure and have not approached wedlock. Therefore, how shall I give birth to a child?
The archangel then said to her: Whenever God wills, the order of nature is overcome, and that which is beyond human power is accomplished. Therefore, O most pure and everlasting One, believe my true words. She then cried out, saying: Let it now be done to me according to your word, and I will give birth to the One Who is without flesh. He will take flesh from me, so that by the union He may raise the human race to the original dignity, for He alone is all-powerful.
(Stichera from Great Vespers)