Mary’s Announcement Date: May 7
Mary’s Announcement is a religious observance for Coptic Orthodox Christians all over the world.
For Orthodox Churches the feast of Mary’s Announcement does not move in any way even if it falls on the same date as any other more important feast. It is to be celebrated nine months before Christmas. It remembers the moment when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would have a child and he would be called Jesus. It is the moment that starts the Incarnation of Christ.
History of Mary’s Announcement
Mary is known by Orthodox Christians as the Theotokos, Greek for “Mother of God”. According to the New Testament, an angel named Gabriel visited Mary at the time when her cousin Isabel was six months pregnant with John, later to be known as John the Baptist. Mary, still a virgin and engaged to Joseph was surprised and asked the angel how that could be. And the angel told her what would happen since she had found favor with God. It was in that moment that the Incarnation of Jesus began, through Mary in her womb.
This feast was celebrated as early as the sixth century. Some scholars believe that the date set for the celebration of Mary’s Announcement is in direct correlation with the date set for Christmas since it happened nine months before the birth of Jesus.
For Western Christians if the date falls within the period of Easter, it may be moved so that it does not overlap with Easter, a celebration that has major importance in the liturgical year. For Eastern Orthodox Christians this is not allowed, and if in any year the date of the feast falls during the period of Easter, there are special liturgical celebrations that are followed so that the date is not moved.
Mary’s Announcement Traditions, Customs and Activities
All Orthodox Christians on the Feast of Mary’s Announcement attend religious services that are specially made for the day. It is a day during which it is common to organize pilgrimages to temples where icons of Theotokos, Mother of God, are displayed.
The biggest of these pilgrimages is organized in Greece to the island of Tinos (Island of the Winds) where thousands of pilgrims gather around the Church of Evangelistria (Our Lady of Good Tidings). This church has an icon of Mary that is known to be miraculous. On the Feast of Mary’s Announcement the icon is carried in a procession for adoration of all the pilgrims that are on the island. Pilgrims traditionally crawl down a street known as Leoforos Megalochares (Street of Great Joy) that goes from the island port to the sanctuary.
For Orthodox Christians, Mary holds a special place of adoration since it was on the moment of the Annunciation that Mary in her doubts and fears said “yes” to the plan of God for her life. In this same way Orthodox prayers ask from Mary her faithfulness and readiness to serve God.
Other interesting posts:
- Orthodox Pentecost Monday Observed by Orthodox Christians
- The Building of the Cross Observed by Orthodox Coptic Christians
- Jesus’ Circumcision Celebrated by Orthodox Christians
- Coptic Epiphany Observed by Coptic Orthodox Christians
- Orthodox Ash Wednesday Observed by Western Rite Orthodox Christians
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