On Lord, I have cried, four stichera are sung:

Tone Four

Taking pity upon that which He has made and bending down in His tender mercy, the Maker hastens to dwell in the womb of a Maiden, the Child of God. To her the great Archangel came, saying to her: ‘Hail, O thou who art full of divine grace, our God is now with thee. Be not afraid of me, the chief commander of the armies of the King. For thou hast found the grace that thy mother Eve once lost: and thou shalt conceive and bring forth Him who is one in essence with the Father’ (twice).

Mary said to the Angel: ‘Strange is thy speech and strange thine appearance, strange thy sayings and thy disclosures. I am a Maid who knows not wedlock, lead me not astray. Thou sayest that I shall conceive Him who remains uncircumscribed: and how shall my womb contain Him whom the wide spaces of the heavens cannot contain?’ ‘O Virgin, let the tent of Abraham that once contained God teach thee: for it prefigured thy womb, which now receives the Godhead.’

Having reached the city of Nazareth, Gabriel now salutes thee, the living City of Christ the King, and he cries aloud to thee: ‘Hail, thou who art blessed and full of divine grace: thou shalt hold in thy womb God made flesh, and through thee in His compassion He shall call back mankind to its ancient state. Blessed is the divine and immortal fruit of thy womb, who through thee grants the world great mercy.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone One

by Byzas

In the sixth month the chief of the angelic hosts was sent to thee, pure Virgin, to declare unto thee the word of salvation and to greet thee, saying: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee. Thou shalt bring forth a Son, begotten before the ages from the Father, and He shall save His people from their sins.’

Aposticha:

Tone Eight

Gabriel, leader of the powers above, flew down and greeted the Virgin, saying: ‘Hail, thou pure chariot of the divinity: God has loved thee from eternity, and He has chosen thee to be His dwelling. As servant of thy Master am I come to proclaim His coming. Thou shalt bring forth the Lord, yet still remain inviolate.’

℣. Tell forth from day to day the glad tidings of the salvation of our God (Psalm 95:2).

‘Why does thy figure blaze with fire?’ said she whom we venerate to Gabriel in her amazement. ‘What is thy rank and what the value of thy words? Thou dost announce to me that I shall bring forth child, yet I have no experience of man. Lead me not astray, O man, with crafty words, as the crafty serpent once led astray Eve our mother.’

℣. Sing unto the Lord a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 95:1).

‘The most Holy Spirit of God shall come upon thee, O pure Lady, thou dwelling-place of the divinity, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: and thou shalt bring forth a Child who shall preserve thy virginity unshaken. He is the Son without lineage; and having appeared, in His good pleasure He shall save His people.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Four

In the sixth month the Archangel was sent to the pure Virgin and with his greeting ‘Hail!’ he brought good tidings, that the Deliverer would come forth from her. And so, accepting his salutation with faith, she conceived Thee, the pre-eternal God, who wast pleased to become man ineffably for the salvation of our souls.

Apolytikion (troparion) of the feast:

Tone Four

Today is the crown of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery that is from all eternity. The Son of God becomes Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good tidings of grace. Therefore let us also join him and cry aloud to the Theotokos: Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.

Dismissal.

No reading from the Psalter.

On Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung:

Tone Six

to the special melody, Having set all your hope on the things of heaven…

Revealing to thee the pre-eternal counsel, Gabriel came and stood before thee, O Maid; and greeting thee, he said: ‘Hail, thou earth that has not been sown; hail, thou burning bush that remains unconsumed; hail, thou unsearchable depth; hail, thou bridge that leads to heaven, and ladder raised on high that Jacob saw; hail, thou divine jar of manna; hail, thou deliverance from the curse; hail, thou restoration of Adam, the Lord is with thee’ (twice).

‘Thou dost appear unto me in the form of a man,’ said the undefiled Maid to the chief of the heavenly hosts: ‘how then dost thou speak to me of things that pass man’s power? For thou hast said that God shall be with me, and shall take up His dwelling in my womb; and how, tell me, shall I become the spacious habitation and the holy place of Him that rides upon the cherubim? Do not beguile me with deceit: for I have not known pleasure, I have not entered into wedlock. How then shall I bear a child?’ (twice).

‘When God so wishes,’ said the bodiless angel, ‘the order of nature is overcome, and what is beyond man comes to pass. Believe that my sayings are true, O all-holy Lady, utterly without spot.’ And she cried aloud, ‘Let it be unto me according to thy word: and I shall bear Him that is without flesh, who shall borrow flesh from me, that through this mingling He may lead man up unto his ancient glory, for He alone has power so to do’ (twice).

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Same Tone

by John the Monk

Gabriel the Archangel was sent from heaven to announce to the Virgin the glad tidings of her conceiving; and coming to Nazareth he pondered in amazement on this wonder. ‘O how shall He who dwelleth in the heights, whom none can comprehend, be born of a Virgin? How shall He whose throne is heaven and whose footstool is the earth be held in the womb of a woman? He upon whom the six-winged seraphim and the many-eyed cherubim cannot gaze has been pleased at a single word to be made flesh of this His creature. It is the Word of God who dwells within her. Why then do I stand here, and not say to the Maiden: Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee. Hail, O pure Virgin; hail, Bride unwedded. Hail, Mother of Life: blessed is the fruit of thy womb.’

Entrance, O joyful light, and prokimenon of the day.

Lessons:

Reading from Genesis (28:10–17).

Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel (43:27–44:4).

Reading from Proverbs (9:1–11).

If the feast falls on Saturday or Sunday, or during Easter Week, two further lessons are added:

Reading from Exodus (3:1–8).

Reading from Proverbs (8:22–30).

After the lessons, the service proceeds as follows:

If the feast falls on a Thursday or Saturday in Lent, or on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday in Holy Week, we continue with the Liturgy of the Presanctifed.

If the feast falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Friday in Lent, we continue with Vespers, saying Vouchsafe, O Lord, and then the Litany, Let us complete our evening prayer to the Lord.

If the feast falls on a Sunday or Monday in Lent, on Monday in Holy Week, or on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday in Easter Week, we conclude Great Vespers in the normal way, continuing with the Litany of Entreaty and the Lity.

If the feast falls on Good Friday or Easter Sunday, we continue with the Liturgy of St. Basil.

If the feast falls on Holy Saturday, we continue with Great Vespers according to the rules laid down for Good Friday, concluding with the procession of the epitaphios.

At the end of the Small Doxology, there follows the Lity:

Tone One

by Byzas

In the sixth month the chief of the angelic hosts was sent to thee, pure Virgin, to declare unto thee the word of salvation and to greet thee, saying: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee. Thou shalt bring forth a Son, begotten before the ages from the Father, and He shall save His people from their sins.’

Same Tone

by Anatolios

In the sixth month Gabriel the Archangel was sent from heaven to the city of Nazareth in Galilee, to bring to the Maiden glad tidings of joy. And coming before her he cried aloud, saying: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee. Hail, thou vessel containing the Nature that cannot be contained: for thy blessed womb has held Him whom the heavens held not. Hail, O Lady, thou restoration of Adam and deliverance of Eve, thou joy of the world and great rejoicing of our kind.’

Same Tone

The angel Gabriel was sent from heaven by God to the city of Nazareth in Galilee to an undefiled Virgin, to bring her glad tidings of the strange manner of her conceiving. The bodiless servant was sent to the living City and the spiritual Gate, to make known to her the condescension and the coming of the Master. The captain of heaven was sent to the living Pavilion of the Glory, to make ready an everlasting Dwelling for the Maker. And coming before her he cried: ‘Hail, fiery throne, more glorious by far than the living creatures with four faces. Hail, thou Seat of the King of Heaven, hail, uncut mountain and precious vessel. For in thee the whole fullness of the Godhead has come to dwell bodily, by the good pleasure of the everlasting Father, and by the joint operation of the Holy Spirit. Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.’

When the feast falls on Saturday or Sunday we sing:

Glory be to the Father…

Tone Eight

by John the Monk

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice: for the Son who is coeternal with the Father, sharing His throne and like Him without beginning, in His compassion and merciful love for mankind has submitted Himself to emptying, according to the good pleasure and the counsel of the Father; and He has gone to dwell in a virgin’s womb that was sanctified beforehand by the Spirit. O marvel! God is come among men; He who cannot be contained is contained in a womb; the Timeless enters time; and, strange wonder! His conception is without seed, His emptying is past telling: so great so great is this mystery! For God empties Himself, takes flesh, and is fashioned as a creature, when the angel tells the pure Virgin of her conception: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord who has great mercy is with thee.’

Both now…

Tone Two

by Cosmas the Monk

Gabriel today announces the good tidings to her who is full of grace. ‘Hail, O unwedded maiden who hast not known marriage. Be not struck with dismay by my strange form, nor be afraid: I am an archangel. Once the serpent beguiled Eve, but now I announce to thee the good tidings of joy: O Most Pure, thou shalt remain inviolate and yet shalt bear the Lord.’

But if the feast falls on a day of fasting (Monday to Friday inclusive) we sing:

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Gabriel today announces…

Aposticha:

Tone Four

In the sixth month the Archangel was sent to the pure Virgin and with his greeting ‘Hail!’ he brought good tidings, that the Deliverer would come forth from her. And so, accepting his salutation with faith, she conceived Thee, the pre-eternal God, who wast pleased to become man ineffably, for the salvation of our souls.

℣. Tell forth from day to day the glad tidings of the salvation of our God (Psalm 95:2).

The Theotokos heard a voice she knew not, when the Archangel brought her the glad tidings of the Annunciation; and accepting the salutation with faith, she conceived Thee the pre-eternal God. Therefore in great rejoicing we also cry unto Thee: O God, who without change hast been made flesh from her, grant peace unto the world and to our souls great mercy.

℣. Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 95:1).

Lo, our restoration is now made manifest to us: God is ineffably united to men. At the words of the Archangel error is laid low; for the Virgin receives joy, and the things of the earth have become heaven. The world is loosened from the ancient curse. Let the creation rejoice exceedingly and raise its voice to sing: O Lord, our Maker and Deliverer, glory to Thee.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Four

by Andrew of Jerusalem

Today there come glad tidings of joy: it is the feast of the Virgin. Things below are joined to things above. Adam is renewed, and Eve set free from her ancient sorrow; and the Tabernacle of the human nature which the Lord took upon Himself, making divine the substance He assumed, is consecrated as a Temple of God. O mystery! The manner of His emptying is unknown, the fashion of His conceiving is ineffable. An angel ministers at the wonder; a virgin womb receives the Son. The Holy Spirit is sent down; the Father on high gives His consent; and so the covenant is brought to pass by common counsel. In Him and through Him are we saved, and together with Gabriel let us cry aloud unto the Virgin: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee. From thee has Christ our God and our Salvation taken human nature, raising it up unto Himself. Pray to Him that our souls may be saved.’

Apolytikion (troparion) of the feast:

Tone Four

Today is the crown of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery that is from all eternity. The Son of God becomes Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good tidings of grace. Therefore let us also join him and cry aloud to the Theotokos: Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.

And the Dismissal.

After the first reading from the Psalter, sessional hymn:

Tone One

The mighty captain of the companies of angels drew near to the city of Nazareth and announced to thee, O Undefiled, the coming of the King and Lord of the ages, saying to thee: ‘Hail, blessed Mary, thou wonder past speech and beyond understanding, who art the restoration of mortal man.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Repeat.

After the second reading from the Psalter, sessional hymn:

Tone Three

Today all creation greatly rejoices, for the Archangel says unto thee, ‘Hail! Blessed art thou, O Pure and Holy, Undefiled and Spotless.’ Today the proud insolence of the serpent is brought low, for the fetters of the curse laid on our forefather are loosened. Therefore with all the world we cry aloud to thee: Hail, thou who art full of grace.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Repeat.

After the polyeleos, the megalynarion:

With the voice of the Archangel we cry aloud to thee, O pure Virgin: Hail, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

℣. Give the King Thy judgements, O God, and Thy righteousness unto the King’s Son (Psalm 71:1).

With the voice of the Archangel…

℣. He shall come down as rain upon a fleece (Psalm 71:6).

With the voice of the Archangel…

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, glory be to Thee, O God (three times).

With the voice of the Archangel…

Sessional hymn:

Tone Four

Gabriel from heaven cried out to her that is holy and pure: ‘Hail! For in thy womb thou shalt conceive the pre-eternal God, who by His word has set together the ends of the earth.’ ‘I know not a man’, Mary answered: ‘how can I bear a son? Who has ever seen a birth without seed?’ Disclosing God’s purpose, the angel said to the Theotokos and Virgin: ‘The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee.’

Glory be to the Father…

Repeat.

Both now…

Same Tone

Gabriel was sent to the pure Virgin, and disclosed to her joy past telling: ‘Thou shalt conceive without seed and shalt remain inviolate. For thou shalt bear a Son who is the pre-eternal God, and He will save His people from their sins. Such is the testimony of Him who sent me to cry aloud to thee, O blessed Lady, “Hail!” As a Virgin shalt thou bear child, and after childbirth thou shalt remain Virgin.’

The first antiphon of the hymn of degrees in Tone Four.

Prokimenon:

Tone Four

Tell forth from day to day the glad tidings of the salvation of our God (Psalm 95:2).

℣. Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 95:1).

Let everything that hath breath…

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (1:39–49, 56).

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Psalm 50.

Glory be to the Father…

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Both now…

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Have mercy upon me…

Tone Two

Gabriel today announces the good tidings to her who is full of grace. ‘Hail, O unwedded maiden who hast not known marriage. Be not struck with dismay by my strange form, nor be afraid: I am an archangel. Once the serpent beguiled Eve, but now I announce to thee the good tidings of joy: O Most Pure, thou shalt remain inviolate and yet shalt bear the Lord.’

Canon of the feast, by John the Monk. In each Canticle the irmos is repeated, and then twelve troparia are used.

Tone Four

Canticle One

Irmos: I shall open my mouth and the Spirit will inspire it, and I shall utter the words of my song to the Queen and Mother: I shall be seen radiantly keeping feast and joyfully praising her conceiving.

Most holy Theotokos, save us.

Let thy forefather David sing to thee, O Lady, striking upon the harp of the Spirit: ‘Hearken, O Daughter, to the glad voice of the Angel, for he discloses to thee joy past telling.’

The Angel

In gladness I cry to thee: incline thine ear and give heed unto me, as I tell thee of God’s conception without seed. For thou, O Most Pure, hast found grace before the Lord such as no other woman ever found.

The Theotokos

O Angel, help me to understand the meaning of thy words. How shall what thou sayest come to pass? Tell me clearly, how shall I conceive, who am a virgin maid? And how shall I become the Mother of my Maker?

The Angel

Thou dost think, so it seems, that I utter words deceitfully; and I rejoice to see thy prudence. But take courage, O Lady: for when God wills, strange wonders are easily accomplished.

Katavasia: I shall open my mouth…

Canticle Three

Irmos: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount, give strength to those united in spiritual fellowship, who sing hymns of praise to thee: and on this feast of thy holy conceiving vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.

The Theotokos

There is no more a prince from Judah’s line, but the time is at hand in which Christ, the hope of the Gentiles, shall appear. But do thou make plain to me how I, being a virgin, shall bear Him?

The Angel

O Virgin, thou dost seek to know from me the manner of thy conceiving, but this is beyond all interpretation. The Holy Spirit shall overshadow thee in His creative power and shall make this come to pass.

The Theotokos

My mother Eve, accepting the suggestion of the serpent, was banished from divine delight: and therefore I fear thy strange salutation, for I take heed lest I slip.

The Angel

I am sent as the envoy of God to disclose to thee the divine will. Why art thou, O Undefiled, afraid of me, who rather am afraid of thee? Why, O Lady, dost thou stand in awe of me, who stand in reverent awe of thee?

Katavasia: O Mother of God, thou living and plentiful fount…

Sessional hymn

Tone Eight

The Word of God is now come down upon earth. The Angel stood before the Virgin and cried aloud: ‘Hail, blessed Lady, who alone among women hast preserved the seal of thy virginity, while yet receiving in thy womb the pre-eternal Word and Lord, that He as God may save mankind from error.’

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Repeat.

Canticle Four

Irmos: He who sits in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus the true God, is come in a swift cloud, and with His pure hand He has saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ.

The Theotokos

I have learnt from the Prophet, who foretold in times of old the coming of Emmanuel, that a certain holy Virgin should bear a child. But I long to know how the nature of mortal men shall undergo union with the Godhead.

The Angel

The bush that burnt with fire and yet remained unconsumed, disclosed the secret mystery that shall come to pass in thee, O pure Maiden, full of grace. For after childbirth thou shalt remain ever-Virgin.

The Theotokos

O Gabriel, herald of the truth, shining with the radiance of Almighty God, tell me truly: how shall I, my purity remaining untouched, bear in the flesh the Word that has no body?

The Angel

I stand before thee in fear, as a servant before his mistress, and in awe I am afraid to look at thee now, O Maid. In His good pleasure shall the Word of God descend upon Thee, as dew upon the fleece.

Katavasia: He who sits in glory upon the throne of the Godhead…

Canticle Five

Irmos: The whole world was amazed at thy divine glory: for thou, O Virgin who hast not known wedlock, hast held in thy womb the God of all, and hast given birth to an eternal Son, who rewards with salvation all who sing thy praises.

The Theotokos

I cannot understand the meaning of thy words. For there have often been miracles, wonders worked by the might of God, symbols and figures contained in the Law. But never has a virgin borne child without knowing a man.

The Angel

Thou art amazed, O all-blameless Virgin; and amazing indeed is the wonder that comes to pass in thee: for thou alone shalt receive in thy womb the King of all who is to take flesh. It is thou who art prefigured by the utterances and dark sayings of the prophets and by the symbols of the Law.

The Theotokos

How can He whom nothing can contain, upon whom none can gaze, dwell in the womb of a virgin whom He Himself has formed? And how shall I conceive God the Word, who with the Father and the Spirit has no beginning?

The Angel

He who promised to thy forefather David that of the fruit of his body He would set upon the throne of his kingdom, He it is that has chosen thee, the only excellency of Jacob, as His spiritual dwelling-place.

Katavasia: The whole world was amazed at thy divine glory…

Canticle Six

Irmos: Prefiguring Thy three-day burial, the prophet Jonah cried out in the belly of the whale: ‘Deliver me from corruption, O Jesus, King and Lord of hosts.’

The Theotokos

Receiving thy glad tidings, O Gabriel, I am filled with divine joy. For thou dost speak to me of joy, a joy without end.

The Angel

Divine joy is given to thee, O Mother of God. All creation cries unto thee: ‘Hail, O Bride of God.’ For thou alone, O pure Virgin, wast foreordained to be the Mother of the Son of God.

The Theotokos

May the condemnation of Eve be now brought to naught through me; and through me may her debt be repaid this day. Through me may the ancient due be rendered up in full.

The Angel

God promised to our forefather Abraham that in his seed the Gentiles would be blest, O pure Lady; and through thee today the promise receives its fulfilment.

Katavasia: As we celebrate this sacred and solemn feast of the Mother of God, let us come, clapping our hands, O people of the Lord, and give glory to God who was born of her.

Kontakion

Tone Eight

To thee, O Theotokos, victorious leader of triumphant hosts, we thy servants, delivered from calamity, offer hymns of thanksgiving. In thine invincible power, keep us free from every peril, that we may cry to thee: Hail, thou Bride unwedded.

Ikos

A prince of the angels was sent from heaven to say to the Theotokos, ‘Hail!’ And seeing Thee, O Lord, take bodily form at the sound of his bodiless voice, he was filled with amazement and stood still, crying to her thus:

Hail, thou through whom joy will shine forth:

Hail, thou through whom the curse will cease.

Hail, thou restoration of fallen Adam:

Hail, thou redemption of the tears of Eve.

Hail, thou Height hard to climb for the thought of man:

Hail, thou Depth hard to perceive even for the eyes of angels.

Hail, thou that art the throne of the King:

Hail, thou who dost hold Him who holdeth all.

Hail, thou Star who dost make the Sun appear:

Hail, thou Womb of the divine incarnation.

Hail, thou through whom the creation is made new:

Hail, thou through whom the Creator becomes a newborn child.

Hail, thou Bride unwedded!

Canticle Seven

Irmos: The Holy Children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire, preferring not to worship created things rather than the Creator, and they sang in joy: ‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our fathers.’

The Theotokos

Thou dost bring me good tidings of divine joy, that the immaterial Light, in His abundant compassion, will be united to a material body; and now thou criest out to me: ‘O All-Pure, blessed is the fruit of thy womb.’

The Angel

Hail, O Lady, hail, O most pure Virgin; hail, thou vessel wherein God is contained, hail, thou candlestick of the Light, the restoration of Adam and the deliverance of Eve, holy Mountain, shining Sanctuary, and Bridal Chamber of immortality.

The Theotokos

The descent of the Holy Spirit has purified my soul and sanctified my body: it has made of me a Temple that contains God, a Tabernacle divinely adorned, a living Sanctuary, and the pure Mother of Life.

The Angel

I see thee as a Lamp with many lights and as a Bridal Chamber made by God. As an Ark of gold, O spotless Maiden, receive now the Giver of the Law, who through thee has been pleased to deliver the corrupt nature of mankind.

Katavasia: The Holy Children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire…

Canticle Eight

Irmos: The offspring of the Theotokos saved the Holy Children in the furnace. He who was then prefigured has since been born on earth, and He gathers together all the creation to sing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord and exalt Him above all for ever.

The Angel

‘Hearken, O pure Virgin Maid: let Gabriel tell thee the counsel of the Most High that is ancient and true. Make ready to receive God: for through thee the Incomprehensible comes to dwell with mortal men. Therefore I cry rejoicing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.’

The Theotokos

‘All mortal thought is overwhelmed,’ answered the Virgin, ‘as it ponders the strange wonders of which thou tellest me. I am filled with joy at thy words, yet am afraid: I fear lest thou deceive me, as Eve was deceived, and lead me far from God. Yet lo, thou criest out: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.’

The Angel

‘See, thy difficulty is resolved’, said Gabriel to this. ‘Thou hast well said that this matter is hard to grasp. Obey, then, the words of thine own lips: doubt not as though it were deceitful, but believe in this thing as very truth. For I cry rejoicing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.’

The Theotokos

‘Childbirth comes from mutual love: such is the law that God has given to men’, said again she who is without reproach. ‘I know not at all the pleasure of marriage: how then dost thou say that I shall bear child? I fear lest thou speakest in guile. Yet lo, thou criest out: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.’

The Angel

‘O holy Virgin,’ replied the Angel, ‘thou speakest to me of the customary manner whereby mortal men are born. But I tell thee of the birth of the true God. Beyond words and understanding, in ways that He alone knows, He shall take flesh of thee. Therefore, I cry rejoicing: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.’

The Theotokos

‘Thou dost appear to me to speak the truth’, answered the Virgin. ‘For thou hast come as an angel messenger, bringing joy to all. Since, then, I am purified in soul and body by the Spirit, be it unto me according to thy word: may God dwell in me. Unto Him I cry aloud with thee: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.’

Katavasia: ‘Hearken, O pure Virgin Maid…’

Canticle Nine

The Magnificat and Greater in honour than the cherubim are not sung, but before the irmos and the troparia we sing the megalynarion:

O earth, announce good tidings of great joy: ye heavens, praise the glory of God.

Irmos: Let every mortal born on earth, carrying his torch, in spirit leap for joy; and let the order of the angelic powers celebrate and honour the holy feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry: Hail! Thou blessed and ever Virgin, who gavest birth to God.

Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of God, but let the lips of the faithful, singing without ceasing the words of the Angel to the Theotokos, cry aloud in great joy: Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.

Having conceived God in ways past understanding, O Maiden, thou hast escaped from the ordinances of nature. For though by nature mortal, thou wast not subject to the established laws of motherhood. Therefore, as is meet, dost thou hear the salutation: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.’

How dost thou give milk, O pure Virgin? This the tongue of mortal man cannot make plain. For thou showest forth a thing unknown to nature, that utterly surpasses the usual laws of birth. Therefore, as is meet, dost Thou hear the salutation: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.’

The Holy Scriptures speak of thee mystically, O Mother of the Most High. For Jacob saw in days of old the ladder that prefigured thee, and said: ‘This is the stair on which God shall tread.’ Therefore, as is meet, dost thou hear the salutation: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.’

The bush and the fire showed a strange marvel to Moses, the initiate in sacred things. Seeking its fulfilment in the course of time, he said: ‘I shall observe it brought to pass in the pure Virgin. To her as Theotokos shall the salutation come: Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.’

Daniel called thee a spiritual mountain; Isaiah, the Mother of God; Gideon saw thee as a fleece and David called thee sanctuary; another called thee gate. And Gabriel in his turn cries out to thee: ‘Hail, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.’

Katavasia: Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of God…

Exapostilarion:

The captain of the angelic hosts was sent by God Almighty to the pure Virgin, to announce the good tidings of a strange and secret wonder: that, as man, God would be born a babe of her without seed, fashioning again the whole race of man. O ye people, announce the good tidings of the refashioning of the world (twice).

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Hail, O Theotokos, deliverance from the curse of Adam. Hail, holy Mother of God; hail, living Bush. Hail, Lamp; hail, Throne; hail, Ladder and Gate. Hail, divine Chariot; hail, swift Cloud. Hail, Temple; hail, Vessel of gold. Hail, Mountain; hail, Tabernacle and Table. Hail, thou release of Eve.

Lauds. Four stichera are sung:

Tone One

to the special melody, O purest Virgin, thou joy of the heavenly hierarchies…

Gabriel flew down from the vault of heaven and came to Nazareth; and standing before the Virgin Mary, he cried to her: ‘Hail! Thou shalt conceive a Son, more ancient than Adam, the Maker of all things and the Deliverer of those who cry to thee: Hail, pure Virgin’ (twice).

Gabriel brought from heaven good tidings to the Virgin, and he cried out to her: ‘Hail! Thou shalt conceive in thy womb Him whom the world cannot contain, who yet shall be contained in thee; and thou shalt be the bearer of Him who shone forth from the Father before the morning star.’

The coeternal Word of the Father without beginning, not being parted from the things on high, has now descended here below, in His infinite compassion taking pity upon fallen men; and assuming the poverty of Adam, He has put on a form that is alien to Him.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Tone Two

by Theophanes

Today is revealed the mystery that is from all eternity. The Son of God becomes the Son of man, that, sharing in what is worse, He may make me share in what is better. In times of old Adam was once deceived: he sought to become God, but received not his desire. Now God becomes man, that He may make Adam God. Let creation rejoice, let nature exult: for the Archangel stands in fear before the Virgin and, saying to her ‘Hail’, he brings the joyful greeting whereby our sorrow is assuaged. O Thou who in Thy merciful compassion wast made man, our God, glory to Thee.

Doxology and Dismissal.

On Weekdays during Lent, the Liturgy is celebrated after Vespers (see below, p. 233). But on Saturdays and Sundays during Lent (except for Holy Saturday), and on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday during Easter Week, the Liturgy is celebrated before Vespers at the usual hour, as follows:

The Typika (Psalms 102 and 145) and the Beatitudes. With the Beatitudes are sung four troparia from Canticle Three of the Canon of the Feast and four troparia from Canticle Six.

There is no more a prince from Judah’s line, but the time is at hand in which Christ, the hope of the Gentiles, shall appear. But do thou make plain to me how I, being a virgin, shall bear Him?

O Virgin, thou dost seek to know from me the manner of thy conceiving, but this is beyond all interpretation. The Holy Spirit shall overshadow thee in His creative power and shall make this come to pass.

My mother Eve, accepting the suggestion of the serpent, was banished from divine delight: and therefore I fear thy strange salutation, for I take heed lest I slip.

I am sent as the envoy of God to disclose to thee the divine will. Why art thou, O Undefiled, afraid of me, who rather am afraid of thee? Why, O Lady, dost thou stand in awe of me, who stand in reverent awe of thee?

Receiving thy glad tidings, O Gabriel, I am filled with divine joy. For thou dost speak to me of joy, a joy without end.

Divine joy is given to thee, O Mother of God. All creation cries unto thee: ‘Hail, O Bride of God.’ For thou alone, O pure Virgin, wast foreordained to be the Mother of the Son of God.

May the condemnation of Eve be now brought to naught through me; and through me may her debt be repaid this day. Through me may the ancient due be rendered up in full.

God promised to our forefather Abraham that in his seed the Gentiles would be blest, O pure Lady; and through thee today the promise receives its fulfilment.

Alternatively, according to the modern Greek practice, the following antiphons may be sung:

Antiphon One

Tone Two

℣ 1. Give the King Thy judgements, O God: and Thy righteousness unto the King’s Son (Psalm 71:1).

At the prayers of the Theotokos, save us, O Saviour.

℣ 2. May the mountains bring peace to Thy people: and the little hills righteousness (Psalm 71:3).

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

℣ 3. Tell forth from day to day the glad tidings of the salvation of our God (Psalm 95:2).

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

℣ 4. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it: of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne (Psalm 131:11).

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

At the prayers of the Theotokos…

Antiphon Two

Same Tone

℣ 1. He shall come down as rain upon a fleece: and as the dew which falls upon the earth (Psalm 71:6).

O Son of God, incarnate of the Virgin, save us who sing to Thee: alleluia.

℣ 2. The Most High hath sanctified His tabernacle (Psalm 45:5).

O Son of God…

℣ 3. Our God shall plainly come, and shall not keep silence (Psalm 49:3).

O Son of God…

℣ 4. In His days righteousness shall shine forth: and abundance of peace, so long as the moon endureth (Psalm 71:7).

O Son of God…

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

O Only-begotten Son and Word of God…

Antiphon Three

Tone Four

℣ 1. His Name shall be blessed for ever: His Name shall continue longer than the sun (Psalm 71:17).

The troparion of the feast:

Tone Four

Today is the crown of our salvation and the manifestation of the mystery that is from all eternity. The Son of God becomes Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel announces the good tidings of grace. Therefore let us also join him and cry aloud to the Theotokos: Hail, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.

℣ 2. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things (Psalm 71:18).

The troparion of the feast.

℣ 3. And blessed be His glorious Name unto the ages, and unto the ages of ages (Psalm 71:19).

The troparion of the feast.

Introit:

Tell forth from day to day the glad tidings of the salvation of our God (Psalm 95:2).

O Son of God, incarnate of the Virgin, save us who sing to Thee: alleluia.

The troparion of the feast; Glory be to the Father… Both now…; the kontakion of the feast.

Prokimenon:

Tone Four

Tell forth from day to day the glad tidings of the salvation of our God (Psalm 95:2).

℣. Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 95:1).

Reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews (2:11–18).

Brethren, both 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 unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee. And again, I will put my trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.

Alleluia:

Tone Two

℣ 1. He shall come down as rain upon a fleece: and as the dew which falls upon the earth (Psalm 71:6).

℣ 2. His Name shall be blessed for ever: His Name shall continue longer than the sun (Psalm 71:17).

Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (1:24–38).

After those days Elisabeth the wife of Zacharias conceived, and hid herself five months, saying. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named 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 came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

In place of It is meet, we sing the megalynarion and irmos from Canticle Nine of the Canon.

O earth, announce good tidings of great joy: ye heavens, praise the glory of God.

Irmos: Let every mortal born on earth, carrying his torch, in spirit leap for joy; and let the order of the angelic powers celebrate and honour the holy feast of the Mother of God, and let them cry: Hail! Thou blessed and ever Virgin, who gavest birth to God.

Communion verse:

The Lord hath chosen Zion: He hath desired it for His habitation (Psalm 131:13).

On Lord, I have cried, six stichera are sung, three being of the feast:

In the sixth month the Archangel was sent to the pure Virgin…

The Theotokos heard a voice she knew not…

Lo, our restoration is now made manifest to us…

Then three stichera of the Archangel:

Tone One

Gabriel, the greatest and most godlike of the spiritual powers, shining with heavenly brightness, who with the hosts on high gazes upon the light of the Threefold Sun, came to the Virgin and announced to her the glad tidings of the divine mystery full of awe; and he intercedes for our souls.

To thee alone, O Gabriel, was entrusted the great mystery, till then unknown to the angels and hid from all eternity: coming to Nazareth, thou hast not dared to impart it to any save the pure Virgin alone. Pray with her that our souls may be granted peace and great mercy.

Thou who art ever filled with light, who doest the will and fulfillest the decrees of the Almighty, O Leader of the angels, Gabriel the all-perfect, preserve those who honour thee with love, and ask at all times that our souls may be granted peace and great mercy.

Glory be to the Father… Both now…

Gabriel the Archangel was sent from heaven…

Entrance with the Gospel, O joyful light, and prokimenon of the day.

Lessons:

Reading from Exodus (3:1–8).

Moses came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And He said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover He said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

Reading from Proverbs (8:22–30).

The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there: when He set a compass upon the face of the depth: when He established the clouds above: when He strengthened the fountains of the deep; when He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth: then was I by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.

On weekdays during Lent, and during Holy Week (except on Good Friday), the Liturgy follows, with the Small Litany, the trisagion, and then the Prokimenon, Epistle, and Gospel given above (pp. 232 ff).

On Saturdays and Sundays, Vespers continue as usual: we sing the aposticha from Small Vespers, Gabriel, leader of the powers above, etc. (pp. 220 ff).

Apolytikion (troparion) of the Archangel:

Tone Four

O chief commander of the heavenly hosts, in our unworthiness unceasingly we pray to thee: surround us with the rampart of thine intercessions. Shelter us beneath the protection of thy wings of spiritual glory, for we fall down before thee, crying earnestly: deliver us from peril, O leader of the powers on high.

If the feast of the Annunciation falls within Lent, fish, wine, and oil are allowed, but meat and animal products may not be eaten. If it falls in Holy Week, however, wine and oil only are permitted, but not fish, and on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, wine is permitted, but not oil. Within Eastertide, there is a general dispensation from all fasting, as usual during Easter Week.

The feast of the Annunciation closes either at Vespers on 25 March, or else on the day following, 26 March.