Rubrics for the Feast of the Annunciation

The Feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos

Vespers with the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts:

No Kathisma (the transfer of the Gifts takes place during the singing of Lord, I have cried, and all the Lamp Lighting prayers should be said by the priest during the reading of Psalm 103 as at a usual vespers).

Lord I have Cried, Tone 8, on 10: Triodion 5 (idiomelon of the day (In my wretchedness) x2, then the three prosomia (O Lord, Thou hast made – The season of the fast – O ye apostles) – Triodion, p. 370f); Feast: 5 (Gabriel stood before thee); G/N: Feast (The Archangel Gabriel).

Entry; O Gladsome Light. Prokimenon, Tone 4: The Lord is the God of vengeances; the God of vengeances hath spoken openly. Reading: Gen. 17:1-9. Prokimenon, Tone 4: O sing unto the Lord a new song, sing unto the Lord all the earth. Reading: Prov. 15:20-16:9. Then the 3 readings for the Feast.

Let my prayer arise; and the rest of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts.

If the Presanctified Liturgy is not served:

Lord I have Cried, Tone 8, on 8: Triodion 3 (The three prosomia (O Lord, Thou hast made – The season of the fast – O ye apostles) – Triodion, p. 370f); Feast: 5 (Gabriel stood before thee); G/N: Feast (The Archangel Gabriel).

At the Aposticha: Triodion (The idiomelon of the day in Tone 8, twice (In my wretchedness) and the martyricon (If there be any virtue) – written at Lord, I have cried, Triodion, p.270f), with the usual refrains from the Horologion; G/N: Feast (Today the joy of the Annunciation).

Now lettest Thou. Trisagion. Troparion of the Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation). Litany and the usual lenten ending of Vespers. Prayer of St Ephraim with three prostrations only.

The Vigil

Great Compline: The priest, vested in a phelonion, proclaims Blessed is our God, and censes the whole church.* Reader: Amen. And then we read Great Compline according to its order, singing God is with us. (The Royal Doors are opened for God is with us and for the singing of the troparion and the kontakion.)

After the first Trisagion: Troparion of the Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation)

After the second Trisagion: Kontakion of the Feast (To thee the champion leader)

After the Doxology: Litia of the Feast (In the sixth month); G/N: Today Gabriel announceth.

Aposticha: Feast (During the sixth month); G/N: Today is the joy.

Now lettest Thou. Trisagion.

Troparia: Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation) x3.

The Blessing of the Bread before Blessed be the name.

*The Bogosluzhebniye Ukazaniya outlines how the censing is done: The curtain and the Royal Doors are opened. The priest and the deacon begin as on all festivals with vigils, that is, first they cense the throne and the entire altar. The deacon with a candle comes to Solea and proclaims: Bless, Master. Priest before the Holy Table says: Blessed be our God (while making a cross with the censer). Choir: Amen. Reader: Glory to Thee, our God, Heavenly King, etc., and reads Great Compline. The priest proceeds from the altar preceded by the deacon with a candle and performs a complete censing of the entire church, as at the beginning of the all-night vigil. At the end of the censing, the Royal Doors are closed. The Curtain remains open.

Matins: God is the Lord, Tone 4; Troparia: Feast (Today is the fountainhead of our salvation).

Kathismas 6, 7, and 8.

After the first Kathisma: Sessional Hymns from the Triodion (Divinely-shining lights; G: O company; N: The Son and Word – Triodion, p. 388f), without litany.

After the 2nd and 3rd Kathisma: Small litany, and Sessional Hymns of the Feast.

Polyeleos and Magnification of the Feast: With the Archangel’s voice we cry to thee, O most-pure one: Rejoice, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Psalm Verse: O God, give Thy judgment to the king, and Thy righteousness to the son of the king.

Small litany and sessional hymns of the Feast: Gabriel from heaven; G/N: Gabriel was sent.

Hymns of Ascents, First Antiphon, Tone 4: From my youth. Prokimenon of the Feast, Tone 4: Proclaim from day to day the good tidings of the salvation of our God. Matins Gospel: Luke 1:39-49,56 (§4).

Psalm 50; G: Through the prayers of the Theotokos; N: Repeat; Have mercy on me, O God; Sticheron of the Feast (Today Gabriel). Save, O God, Thy people.

Canon: Odes 1, 3, 5, 6, and 7:

Feast 14 Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Katavasia: I shall open my mouth.

Odes 4, 8, and 9:

Feast 6 Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Triodion (both canons) 8 Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.

Katavasia: After Odes 4 and 8, the Irmos from the second canon of the Triodion; but at Ode 9, the Irmos of the second Canon of the Triodion, and the refrain and Irmos of the feast.

After Ode 3, Sessional hymns of the Feast (The Word of God); G/N: Feast (Gabriel, the supreme commander).

After Ode 6, Kontakion (To thee the champion leader) and Ikos of the Feast.

At Ode 9, We do not sing More Honorable. We instead sing the refrains of the Feast: O earth, announce glad tidings of great joy! Ye heavens, praise the glory of God; with the canon of the feast, but the usual refrain (Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee) for the troparia from the Triodion.

Exapostilaria: Feast (The supreme commander) x2; G/N: Feast (The mystery of God).

Praises, Tone 1: Feast 4 (Flying down to Nazareth); G/N: Feast (Today the mystery is revealed).

After the doxasticon, the priest does not say To Thee glory is due, O Lord our God…, but instead immediately announces Glory to Thee Who hast shown us the light! The Small Doxology is read. Litany: Let us complete our morning prayer.

Aposticha: Triodion (Idiomelon (Into the ambushes) x2, with the usual psalm verses from the Horologion; Martyricon (Putting on the breastplate) x1 – Triodion, p. 415); G/N: Feast (Tone 8, Let the heavens be glad). It is good to give praise unto the Lord x1; Trisagion; Troparion of the Feast. Litany: Have mercy on us, O God; followed by the Prayer of St. Ephrem, with 3 Great Prostrations. No dismissal for Matins, but instead the first hour is begun.

First Hour: Kathisma 9. Troparion: Feast; Kontakion: Feast. At the end, three Great prostrations with the prayer of St. Ephrem. Then immediately (no concluding Trisagion) O Christ, the true Light. Festal Dismissal: May Christ our True God, through the intercessions of His Most Pure Mother and of all the saints.

Third, Sixth, and Ninth Hours: With Kathismas 10, 11, 12. At the end of each hour, 3 Great Prostrations, with the prayer of St. Ephrem. Troparion and Kontakion of the Feast. At the 6th Hour, the troparion of the prophecy; and the prokimena and reading from the Triodion.

Typika: The Typical psalms are not said, but rather, at the conclusion of the 9th hour we read the Beatitudes, quickly, without prostrations. The Creed is not read, but after Both now skip to Remit, pardon, forgive, O God. Our Father. Kontakion of the Feast. Lord, have mercy x40. G/N: More honorable. In the name of the Lord, father (master) bless. Priest: God be gracious unto us. Reader: Amen. 3 Great Prostrations, with the prayer of St. Ephrem. O All-Holy Trinity, the Consubstantial Dominion. Priest: Wisdom! Choir: It is truly meet to bless thee, the Theotokos, ever-blessed and most blameless and Mother of our God. Priest: O most holy Theotokos, save us. Choir: More honorable. And the dismissal as usual.

Vesperal Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: No kathisma.

Lord I have cried, Tone 8, 11 stichera: Triodion: 5 (The idiomelon (Of mine own free will) x2, and the three prosomia (Nailed, O Lord – Shining with the radiance – We venerate – Triodion, p. 416f); Feast: 3 (During the sixth month); Archangel: 3 (The great Gabriel) with the refrain for the 11th sticheron: He maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire); G/N: Feast (The Archangel Gabriel was sent).

Entry with the Gospel; O Gladsome Light. Prokimenon, Tone 7: Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet, for it is holy. Reading: Genesis 18:20-33. Prokimenon, Tone 6: Shout with jubilation unto God, all the earth. Reading: Proverbs 16:17-17:17. 2 Readings for the Feast, from Exodus and Proverbs. Small Litany.

Trisagion Hymn, as usually done at a liturgy

Prokimenon of the Feast in Tone 4: Proclaim from day to day the good tidings. Epistle: Heb. 2:11-18 (§306). Alleluia, Tone 1. Gospel: Luke 1:24-38 (§3). And the rest of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

Instead of It is truly meet, we sing the refrain Proclaim, O earth; with the Irmos of the Ninth Ode of Annunciation (Let no profane hand).

Communion Hymn: The Lord hath elected Zion, He hath chosen her to be a habitation for Himself. Festal Dismissal. Fish, wine and oil are allowed at trapeza.

Small Compline is served in the evening.