| Feast of the Annunciation | |
|---|---|
 The Annunciation by Paolo de Matteis. | |
| Observed by | Christianity |
| Type | Christian |
| Date | 25 March |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Christmas Day, Lady Day, March equinox |
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| Part of a series on the |
| Mariology of the Catholic Church |
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 Catholicism portal |
The Feast of the Annunciation (Greek: Ο Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου, romanized: O Evangelismós tis Theotókou, lit. 'the Annunciation of the Mother of God') commemorates the visit of the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, during which he informed her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is celebrated on 25 March; however, if 25 March falls either in Holy Week or in Easter Week, the feast is postponed to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter.
Other names for the feast include the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Lady Day, Feast of the Incarnation (Festum incarnationis), and Conceptio Christi (Christ's Conception).
The Feast of the Annunciation is observed almost universally throughout Christianity, especially within the Eastern Orthodox Church, Anglicanism, the Catholic Church, and Lutheranism. It is a major Marian feast, classified as a solemnity in the Catholic Church, a Festival in Lutheranism, and a Principal Feast in the Anglican Communion. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, because it announces the incarnation of Christ, it is counted as one of the eight great feasts of the Lord.[1] The importance attached to the Annunciation, especially in the Catholic Church, are the Angelus and the Hail Mary prayers, the event's position as the first Joyful Mystery of the Dominican Rosary, the Novena for the Feast of the Annunciation,[2] and the numerous depictions of the Annunciation in Christian art.
- ^ "The Major Feasts of the Church". Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 22 February 2024.