The Annunciation is celebrated on March 25, nine months before the Nativity of Christ. In the Gospel of Luke, the Archangel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God, and she answers with obedience: "Let it be to me according to your word."
Orthodox worship sees this feast as the beginning of salvation because it announces the Incarnation. The eternal Son truly becomes human. The feast therefore stands at the center of Orthodox teaching about Christ, the Theotokos, and human cooperation with divine grace.
Why March 25 matters
The date expresses the connection between Annunciation and Nativity. Christ's birth is not an isolated winter celebration; it is joined to the mystery announced to Mary. The feast also often falls during Great Lent, which gives it a unique liturgical character.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When is it? | March 25 according to the parish calendar. |
| Why nine months before Christmas? | It marks the announcement and conception of Christ before His Nativity. |
| Does it fall in Lent? | Very often, which affects the services and fasting practice of the day. |
Mary's obedience and human freedom
Orthodoxy does not treat Mary as passive scenery in the story of salvation. Her faithful response is real, free, and humble. Yet the feast is not finally about human achievement. It is about the mercy of God entering history through the Incarnation of Christ.
Annunciation during Great Lent
When the feast falls on a weekday of Great Lent, the celebration has particular liturgical arrangements. For ordinary faithful, the safest rule is simple: attend the parish services if possible and follow the fasting guidance given locally. Internet charts cannot replace parish practice.
Source note
This page follows Luke 1:26-38 and Orthodox liturgical teaching, especially the Orthodox Church in America's account of the Annunciation. Liturgical details may vary depending on the date and parish calendar.
Questions people ask
Is the Annunciation a feast of Christ or Mary?
It is both, but always Christ-centered. Orthodox Christians honor Mary as Theotokos because the child she bears is truly the Son of God.
Why is the Annunciation called good news?
Because it announces the Incarnation: the Son of God becomes man for the salvation of the world.
Can the Annunciation happen during Holy Week?
Its date is fixed, so it can coincide with different parts of the Paschal cycle. The Church has specific liturgical rules for those years.
A Feast In Time
Follow fixed feasts without losing the Paschal cycle.
Orthodox Daily Prayer keeps feast days, saints, Scripture, and fasting awareness close to daily life.