Where the breast to spread without love is impossible,
Where the meaning of the Word of the One and gives life,
And the - the great path of the Lord.
Author Eugene Kapustyan
Church of the Annunciation
Since then, the church officially exalted celebration of the feast of the Annunciation, around the world began to appear churches of the Annunciation.
It is hardly possible to differentiate among the most unique, they all differ in their solemn beauty, they exalt the ideal of purity of Mary
they perform the function of a kind of beacon, designed to show the way to the salvation of mankind and the blessing of the Lord.
Ancient temple of the Virgin
One of the oldest churches is the Virgin, who are on the picturesque island of ancient Greece. On one of the blessed island of Symi in the Dodecanese Islands, the patron of which is the Archangel Michael, located a lot of monasteries and churches, chapels and 13 big temples.
View of one of them, an ancient temple of the Annunciation, has revealed the sea. It is located on the highest point of the island's capital of Yialos, near the bay. Sometime in the knightly era temple was built within the fortress of St. John. Until 1923 at the church acted Orthodox school. In 1944 the church was blown up, it is now restored again.
Church of the Annunciation
Inside the temple, immediately attracts the eye department of unique wood carving, chiseled Greek chandelier, one of which is made of silver with images of the twelve apostles.
The rays of the sun playing on the colored glasses of the temple, fell and hung with gold chains, jewelry, rings, icon of the Annunciation. It is located in the open ark and cleaned with white lilies, flower represents purity.
They met in the temple with the inherent hospitality of the Greeks. It is especially interesting to visit the island on Easter. By tradition, on Easter night parishioners firing a cannon to signal the beginning of the Easter chimes all temples and churches Yialos.
Between the church and the Virgin located at the other end of the bay, the chapel of St. Athanasius, a cable is located with a special unit, which is placed with the layout of the ship on each side of firecrackers. Ship all in lights, floating through the air between the bays is a unique, unique spectacle.
Church of Our Lady Filerimskoy
Amazing island of Symi island called love and happiness are everywhere felt the grace of God and stay on the island does not leave the protection of the Archangel Michael.
Nearby Rhodes, Filerimos climb the mountain you can see the Church of Our Lady Filerimskoy.
It was built by the Knights of Rhodes in the XV century on the top of the mountain, where the monks were to guard the three relics, obtained in the Crusades. One of them was an icon depicting the Virgin Mary in her last years of earthly life, written by St. Luke.
Temple valid today, in its atmosphere of mystery and grace once united two directions of Christianity, and it consisted of two halves - the Orthodox and Catholic. The temple area is preserved from the early Christian church of the I century AD baptistery in the shape of a cross, is to perform the sacrament of baptism.
The temple was built in the Byzantine style, on the inner galleries of the temple is a mosaic image of the Mother of God, Christ, the twelve apostles, a mosaic of white and black pebbles, broken lines adorns the floor. This technique patterns rooted in the Hellenistic period and is called "Hohlakov."
Near the temple is spread over the cypress avenue, which embodies the path to Calvary. Along the avenue are Proskinitariy on bronze reliefs depicting the Passion of Christ.
Semnadtsatimetrovomu alley leads to the cross, with a viewing platform which offers an unforgettable view of the islands, peace and a sense of unity and harmony with nature, this is justified by the name of Filerimos, meaning one of peace and tranquility.
Church Feast of the Annunciation, history, customs and traditions
One of the biggest religious festivals, one of the brightest and most beautiful Annunciation in 2012 is celebrated on 7 April.
Church tradition says that when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, he found her reading the book of Isaiah.
That line reading of the birth of the Messiah, the Virgin Mary received the message of an angel on the performance of the prophecy of Isaiah, that the Son of God becomes the Son of man.
The history of the church celebration
Mary said yes to the angel, without such consent not to be a man of God, he can not use force, a person given full freedom to respond to God with love and consent.
She has found great grace of God - to become the Mother of the Son of God, for his humility. All this is delivered in the writings of the Church and the icon shown in the festival, which is already in its title conveys his main point - the good news about the conception and birth of her baby Jesus.
Annunciation
Holiday in antiquity had different names: The Annunciation of Christ, Christ's birth, an angel of the Annunciation of Mary, the beginning of redemption. In 560 the Emperor Justinian year was the date of the Annunciation on March 25 and the new style - on 7 April.
Select a date to explain the implications for the creation of man the day or the day of Christmas, December 25, until March 25, it passes exactly 9 months. By the way, especially under Justinian many churches were built in the name of God.
Where and when the first festival originated is unknown, but in the IV century St. Athanasius called it especially revered. In the V and VI centuries because of the heresy has spread, humiliated face of Our Lady of distorting the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Church exalted celebration of the holiday.
Images of the scene of the Annunciation in Christian art become a favorite subject, the first related to the V century. In old Russia to the Annunciation of the year began in the Middle Ages in many countries began a year from that day, in England, the custom remained until 1752.
Holiday equated Easter, according to the beliefs of the people in this day the sun plays that advised to check rising early pangs of the wicked in hell do not. If a holiday falls on Easter, it is not canceled, the combination of the two events was called Kiriopaskha.
Coincidence holiday falls very rarely following Kiriopaskha is expected in 2075. On this day, any job is considered a sin, even a bird in a nest Annunciation not Vietnamese, but the girl did not weave braids.
Customs and traditions
In those days there was quite a touching custom of releasing to the will of the avian cells on the day of the Annunciation, which was considered the day to proclaim liberty throughout the world.
In Belarus, it also heralded the arrival of spring, the same day were expecting arriving from the south storks, birds, enjoying the love and respect of the people. Interesting was a popular ritual in which girls climbed some hill and touted the spring, singing songs, stoneflies until dusk.
People believed that with the coming of the Day of the Annunciation of the working year, and bring happiness into the house and a good harvest. In Polissya even the custom to bake "golepu" ritual cakes depicting the legs of a stork. It was believed that on this day, even doubling the healing power of herbs.
In Armenia, April 7 is celebrated as Mother's Day, Women, spring and beauty. This is due to the perception of the Virgin Mary as the ideal mother, a woman with a long-suffering, but good fortune.
The Annunciation is one of the biggest religious festivals, one of the bright, beautiful and happy as on this day the Lord will bless all life on earth, in this day of celebration, and all nature rejoices.
