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Orthodox believers on Wednesday, April 7, celebrate the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, RIA Novosti reports.
The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the morning led a service at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. After the end of the service, Patriarch Kirill released white doves into the sky. This has become a tradition that the Church has followed for many years.
The Annunciation is one of the 12 major Christian holidays. It is celebrated 9 months before the birth of Christ. The Gospel of Luke says that on this day the archangel Gabriel appeared to the Mother of God and proclaimed that she would give birth to Jesus Christ, whose coming was then expected by the people of Israel. The custom of Christians to release pigeons is associated with the fact that this bird is considered a symbol of the Holy Spirit who descended on the Virgin Mary.
On the feast of the Annunciation, it is allowed to eat fish and wine. Festive chants are sung in churches, the clergy change dark vestments to light ones.
Believers on this day observe the ban on work, including domestic work.
Russkiy Mir
