Friends!

Today Ukrainian believers celebrate one of the main holidays in the Orthodox calendar - Annunciation.

Name of the holiday was associated with its history. On that day, the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary good news that she will give birth to the Savior of the human race.

In the Israeli Nazareth, the place where the story took place, was built the Church of the Annunciation. It was built on the same time with the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the first mention of the Church of the Annunciation is dated 570 year. Unfortunately, this church was destroyed in the VII century after the Muslim conquest of Palestine.

The temple was rebuilt several times, its final construction was finished in 1969. Courtyard and interior of the church decorated with Theotokoses from around the world, there is an icon from Ukraine - a copy of Theotokos Zarvanytsya.

In Ukraine, people began to celebrate the feast after the establishment of Christianity. Over time, a host of rituals and customs related to the Annunciation appeared. For example, just after the Annunciation people could start work in the garden or in the field. Previously, "waking up" the land was considered a great sin. Also, one of the main emission ceremony was the will of the birds, that symbolized the liberation of the human soul from sin.

Unmarried girls especially liked the Annunciation. Previously believed that if today the girl will find blooming primroses – at the end of the year she will get married. In order to become more beautiful, she could pour a bowl of cold water, put a flower of primrose in it and wash with this water.

At the Annunciation spring finally wins the winter. Therefore, in this festive day I wish you a warm heart, a peaceful sky and good health to you and your families!