A festive liturgy on the occasion of the Annunciation was held in Vitebsk
This holiday is established in memory of the day when the Archangel Gabriel, sent by God, appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and his kingdom will never end."
The Annunciation is considered one of the most important and revered days in the Orthodox calendar. It is called a minor Easter, the greatest holiday in God's eyes. In Vitebsk, the main divine services, led by Archbishop Dimitry, took place in the church built in the XII century in honor of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Mother of God. This unique monument of ancient Russian architecture is called the crystal and canonical church of ancient Rus'. It was to this church that the city residents came on Sunday morning to share their joy and celebrate together the bright day that announced the good news to the world.
After the solemn liturgy and procession around the church, the head of the diocese addressed the attendees. The Archbishop wished everyone goodness, love, patience, and strength of faith. The chairman of the regional council of deputies Vladimir Terentyev, the deputy chairman of the regional executive committee Vladimir Penin, and other representatives of the authorities took part in the festive event. Together with the priests, they released white doves into the sky. This beautiful custom symbolizes the soaring soul, freedom from sin, and the joy of spiritual renewal.
According to folk beliefs, the Annunciation marks the arrival of spring, when the Lord Himself blesses the earth for fertility, that is, for human well-being. On this day, our ancestors called for spring with songs, baked birds from dough – larks – and tossed them up with the words: "Larks, larks, fly here, bring spring with you!". According to a prevailing belief, the weather on the Annunciation would be the same as on Easter.
