Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Feast!
We are publishing the festal canon – a poetic dialogue between the Mother of God and the Archangel – in simple form (without the Lenten canons from the Triodion) so that it may be prayed wherever parishioners find themselves on this wondeful feast.
May God bless you all.
Ode I, 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 wonders.
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.”
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The Angel: In gladness I cry to thee: incline thine ear and give heed unto me, as I tell of God’s conception without seed. For thou, O Most pure, hast found grace before the Lord such as no other woman ever found.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
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?
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
Ode III, 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 in thy divine glory vouchsafe unto them crowns of glory.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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?
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
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.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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?
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Sessional Hymn, Tone VIII, Spec. Mel. “Of the shepherds’ pipes …”: The Word of God is now come down upon earth. The Angel stood before the Virgin and cried aloud: “Rejoice, 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.”
Another Sessional Hymn, same tone: Spec. Mel. “That which was commanded …”: Gabriel, the supreme commander, was sent from heaven by God; and he quickly presented himself before the animate city, manifestly saying to her: “Thou shalt receive the Creator in thy womb, O Virgin, and shalt immutably give birth to him in the flesh! Wherefore, I am sent to announce to thee thy strange birthgiving, O pure one, and stand here, crying aloud to thee: Rejoice, O bride unwedded!”
Ode IV, Irmos: He who sitteth in glory upon the throne of the Godhead, Jesus the true God, is come in a swift cloud and with His sinless hands he hath saved those who cry: Glory to Thy power, O Christ.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
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.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
Ode V, 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.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
The Theotokos: How can He whom nothing can contain, upon whom none can gaze, dwell in the womb of a virgin who He Himself has formed? And how shall I conceive God the Word, who with the Father and the Spirit has no beginning?
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
Ode VI, 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.’
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The Angel: Divine joy is given to thee, O Mother of God. All creation cries unto thee: “Rejoice, O Bride of God.” For thou alone, O pure Virgin, wast foreordained to be the Mother of the Son of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
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.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Kontakion, in Tone VIII: To Thee, the Champion Leader, we Thy servants dedicate / a feast of victory and of thanksgiving / as ones rescued out of sufferings, O Theotokos: / but as Thou art one with might which is invincible, / from all dangers that can be do Thou deliver us, / that we may cry to Thee: // Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Ikos: An archangel was sent from Heaven to say to the Theotokos: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he was amazed and with his bodiless voice he stood crying to Her such things as these:
Rejoice, Thou through whom joy will shine forth:
Rejoice, Thou through whom the curse will cease!
Rejoice, recall of fallen Adam:
Rejoice, redemption of the tears of Eve!Rejoice, height inaccessible to human thoughts:
Rejoice, depth undiscernible even for the eyes of angels!
Rejoice, for Thou art the throne of the King:
Rejoice, for Thou bearest Him Who beareth all!
Rejoice, star that causest the Sun to appear:
Rejoice, womb of the Divine Incarnation!
Rejoice, Thou through whom creation is renewed:
Rejoice, Thou through whom we worship the Creator!
Rejoice, Thou Bride Unwedded!
Ode VII, Irmos: The holy children bravely trampled upon the threatening fire, / refusing to worship created things in place of the Creator, / and they sang in joy: // ‘Blessed art Thou and praised above all, O Lord God of our Fathers.’
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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.”
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The Angel: Rejoice, O Lady, rejoice, O most pure Virgin; rejoice, thou vessel wherein God is contained, rejoice, thou candlestick of the Light, the restoration of Adam and the deliverance of Eve, holy Mountain, shining Sanctuary, and Bridal Chamber of immortality.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
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.
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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.
Ode VIII, Irmos: 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.
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
The “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.”
Most Holy Theotokos, save us.
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 speak in guile. Yet lo, thou criest out: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord.”
We bless, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 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.”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The Theotokos: “Thou showest thyself to me as a herald of the truth,” the Virgin said, “for thou hast come as a harbinger of common joy. I have therefore cleansed soul and body. Be it unto me according to thy word, that God may dwell in me, to Whom I cry out with thee: “Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and supremely exalt Him throughout all ages!”
Ode IX.
Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.
Irmos: Let no profane hand touch the living Ark of God, / but let the lips of the faithful, chanting unceasingly / the words of the angel to the Theotokos, with joy cry out: // Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.
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: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.”
Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.
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: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.
Refrain: Proclaim, O earth, good tidings of great joy; / ye heavens, praise the glory of God.
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: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
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: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace: the Lord is with thee.”
Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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: “Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.”
Troparion, Tone IV: Today is the fountainhead of our salvation / and the manifestation of the mystery which was from eternity. / The Son of God becometh the Virgin’s Son, / and Gabriel proclaimeth the good tidings of grace; / wherefore, we also cry to the Theotokos with him: / Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, // the Lord is with thee.