Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church
Proclaiming & Living the Holy Orthodox Faith
in the California Central Valley

 

Leavetaking of the Annunciation

Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel
Commemorated on March 26

On the Leavetaking of the Feast of the Annunciation, the Church commemorates the Archangel Gabriel, who announced the great mystery of the Incarnation of Christ to the Virgin Mary. 

Troparion — Tone 4
Today is the beginning of our salvation, / the revelation of the eternal mystery! / The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin / as Gabriel announces the coming of Grace. / Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos: / Rejoice, O Full of Grace, / the Lord is with You!

Kontakion — Tone 8
O Victorious Leader of Triumphant Hosts! / We, your servants, delivered from evil, sing our grateful thanks to you, O Theotokos! / As you possess invincible might, set us free from every calamity / so that we may sing: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!

The Archangel Gabriel was chosen by the Lord to announce to the Virgin Mary about the Incarnation of the Son of God from Her, to the great rejoicing of all mankind. Therefore, on the day after the Feast of the Annunciation, the day on which the All-Pure Virgin is glorified, we give thanks to the Lord and we venerate His messenger Gabriel, who contributed to the mystery of our salvation.

Gabriel, the holy Archistrategos (Leader of the Heavenly Hosts), is a faithful servant of the Almighty God. He announced the future Incarnation of the Son of God to those of the Old Testament; he inspired the Prophet Moses to write the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament), he announced the coming tribulations of the Chosen People to the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 8:16, 9:21-24); he appeared to Saint Anna (July 25) with the news that she would give birth to the Virgin Mary.

The holy Archangel Gabriel remained with the Holy Virgin Mary when She was a child in the Temple of Jerusalem, and watched over Her throughout Her earthly life. He appeared to the Priest Zachariah, foretelling the birth of the Forerunner of the Lord, Saint John the Baptist.

The Lord sent him to Saint Joseph the Betrothed in a dream, to reveal to him the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God from the All-Pure Virgin Mary, and warned him of the wicked intentions of Herod, ordering him to flee into Egypt with the divine Infant and His Mother.

When the Lord prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Passion, the Archangel Gabriel, whose very name signifies “Man of God” (Luke. 22:43), was sent from Heaven to strengthen Him.

The Myrrh-Bearing Women heard from the Archangel the joyous news of Christ’s Resurrection (Mt.28:1-7, Mark 16:1-8).

Mindful of the manifold appearances of the holy Archangel Gabriel and of his zealous fulfilling of God’s will, and confessing his intercession for Christians before the Lord, the Orthodox Church calls upon its children to pray to the great Archangel with faith and love.

Troparion — Tone 4
Gabriel, commander of the heavenly hosts, / we who are unworthy beseech you, / by your prayers encompass us beneath the wings of your immaterial glory, / and faithfully preserve us who fall down and cry to you: / “Deliver us from all harm, for you are the commander of the powers on high!”

Kontakion — Tone 8
Supreme commander Gabriel, / you are the glorious intercessor and servant / before the all-radiant, worthy, all-powerful, infinite and awesome Trinity. / Ever pray now that we may be delivered from all tribulations and torments, / so that we may cry out to you: / “Rejoice, protection of your servants!”

 

Lenten Reading Schedule
Read All Four Gospels During Great Lent
Click on Chapter numbers to READ in Bible Gateway (RSV Version) 
Click HERE to LISTEN to the AUDIO Bible  (ESV Version)
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
Feb 27:  Matthew 1-2 March 06:   Matthew 15-16 March 13:  Mark 1-2 March 20: Mark 15-16
Feb 28:  Matthew 3-4 March 07:  Matthew 17-18 March 14:  Mark 3-4 March 21:   Luke 1-2
March 01:  Matthew 5-6 March 08:  Matthew 19-20 March 15:  Mark 5-6 March 22:   Luke 3-4
March 02:  Matthew 7-8 March 09:  Matthew 21-22 March 16:  Mark 7-8 March 23:   Luke 5-6
March 03:   Matthew 9-10 March 10:  Matthew 23-24 March 17:   Mark 9 -10 March 24: Luke 7-8
March 04:  Matthew 11-12 March 11:  Matthew 25-26 March 18:   Mark 11-12 March 25: Luke 9-10
March 05: Matthew 13-14 March 12:  Matthew 27-28 March 19:   Mark 13-14 March 26:  Luke 11-12
       
Week 5 Week 6 Week 7
March 27:  Luke 13-14 April 03:  John 3-4 April 10:  John 17-18
March 28:  Luke 15-16 April 04:  John 5-6 April 11:  John 19-20
March 29:  Luke 17-18 April 05:  John 7-8 April 12:  John 21
March 30:  Luke 19-20 April 06:  John 9-10  
March 31:  Luke 21-22 April 07:  John 11-12  
April 01:  Luke 23-24 April 08:  John 13-14  
April 02:  John 1-2 April 09:  John 15-16  

 

An Introduction to the

Orthodox Christian Church

Adapted from: John Meyendorff. The Orthodox Church

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