I like to recall that the Blessed Virgin was prepared for the Annunciation - her entire life was a preparation for that moment. Therefore this 'Mystical City of God' had to have many secret experiences before the actual Incarnation, which the annunciation of the angel and the consent of the
Blessed Virgin obtained. (Not sure if I phrased that very well.)
Anyway, I think often of the pre-annunciation and like to share the account each year on today's feast day.
According to the apocryphal Protoevangelion of James, the Blessed Virgin first heard the greeting of the Angel while she was fetching water from the well, frightened, she returned home. The scene is often depicted in iconography depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin.
In the Protoevangelion of James, there is first a “pre-annunciation” scene, in which Mary goes to the well to fetch water. There she hears a voice saying: “Greetings, favoured one. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” Mary looks around but does not see anyone. Frightened, she goes back inside and, “taking up the purple, she sat down in her house and began to spin.”
The angel then appears visually to her, telling her initially not to be afraid: “You have found favour in the sight of the Lord of all.”
The Annunciation story then continues along the same narrative outline found in the Gospels according to Saint Matthew and Saint Luke until the author returns to the story of Mary’s role in weaving the temple veil: “And she finished the purple and the scarlet and took them up to the high priest.” - continue reading here.
This is the Annunciation scene that appears on the “royal doors” of the iconostasis of almost every Orthodox church.
Mary is depicted either standing or sitting, with purple or red skeins falling from her fingers. The threads Mary is holding reveal that she wove the Temple veil that later was rent from top to bottom when Christ died on the cross. Her acceptance of God’s will in this and in all things is represented by her upraised and open hand or, in some cases, by placing her hand upon her heart.
Saint Andrew of Crete, in his Great Canon, sang to her: “As from purple silk, O undefiled Virgin, the spiritual robe of Emmanuel, His flesh, was woven in thy womb. Therefore, we honour thee as Theotokos in very truth.” - ibid
The well is symbolic of marriage - many biblical characters meet their spouses there. And yesterday, if you have catechumens, we read of the woman at the well.
ReplyDeleteI think of how Angels always came to prepare people for a specific mission. They are messengers to herald a significant event. Angels were at Mary's house, at Bethlehem, and Fatima. I imagine angels will come to announce the next big thing in human history; our final days.
ReplyDeleteThe reason the Annunciation is on the Royal Doors is that it's our entrance to salvation.
ReplyDeleteIntersting. Thanks Nan.
DeletePS. My father had a sister named Nan. I only met her twice many years apart because she lived in Scotland. She was a lovely lady. I think of her with fondness when I read your name. Such good memories. Thanks.