Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God

25 March

Troparion, Tone 4.
Today is the beginning of our salvation and the manifestation of the eternal mystery. The Son of God becometh the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announceth the good tidings of grace; therefore, let us also cry out with him to the Mother of God: Hail, thou who art full of grace; the Lord is with thee!

Glory. Now and ever.

Kontakion, Tone 8.
To thee, our mighty leader in battle, O Mother of God, we thy servants offer hymns of victory and thanksgiving, for we have been delivered from dangers. Since thou dost possess power invincible, set us free from every peril, that we may cry to thee: Rejoice, thou Bride unwedded!

Prokeimenon, Tone 4.
Psalm 95:2b, 1.
Shew forth from day to day: the salvation of our God.
Verse: Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: sing to the Lord, all the earth.

The Lesson of the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Hebrews.
Hebrews §306 (2:11-18).
Brethren: He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: “I will declare Thy name to My brethren; in the midst of the church will I praise Thee. And again: “I will put my trust in Him.” And again: “Behold I and my children, whom God hath given Me.” Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that, through death, He might destroy him who had the empire of death, that is to say, the devil: and might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude. For no where doth He take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham He taketh hold. Wherefore it behoved Him in all things to be made like unto His brethren, that He might become a merciful and faithful Priest before God, that He might be a propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that, wherein He Himself hath suffered and been tempted, He is able to succour them also that are tempted.

Alleluia, Tone 1.
Psalm 71:6, 17a.
Alleluia.
Verse 1: He shall come down like rain upon the fleece: and as showers falling gently upon the earth. Alleluia.
Verse 2: Let His name be blessed for evermore: His name continueth before the sun. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke.
Saint Luke §3a (1:24-38).
In those days: Elizabeth, the wife of Zachary, conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He hath had regard to take away my reproach among men.” And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father; and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of His kingdom there shall be no end.” And Mary said to the angel: “How shall this be done, because I know not man?” And the angel answering, said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: because no word shall be impossible with God.” And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.

Zadostoinik.
O earth, announce glad tidings of great joy! Ye heavens, praise the glory of God!
Irmos: Let the hand of the defiled in nowise touch the animate ark of God; and let the lips of the faithful unceasingly cry out with joy to the Theotokos, chanting the words of the angel: Hail, O thou who art full of grace! The Lord is with thee!

Communion.
Psalm 131:13.
The Lord hath chosen Sion: He hath chosen it for His dwelling. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.