On the feast of the Annunciation of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-virgin Mary, the main celebrations in the Diocese of Jinja were held at the feasting parish of Nakyaka in Kamuli district.
On Tuesday, 25 March 2025, Fr. Chrysostom Koolya, the Vicar General, led the glorious celebrations with the blessings of His Grace Bishop Silvester Kisitu. Fr. Chrysostom was joined in the eucharistic assembly by the Parish Priest, Fr. Steven Lunagula, and Fr. Joseph Panuha, assisted by Deacon Samuel Kirunda.
At the end of the Liturgy, the Artoklasia service (blessing of bread) was offered for thanksgiving before the Vicar General delivered the festal homily conveying greetings from the Bishop who was unavailable.
This is the day on which the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of the eternal mystery are remembered. Archangel Gabriel was sent down to Nazareth to announce the conception to the Virgin. ‘Rejoice, you who are full of grace; the Lord is with you. Rejoice, O pure Virgin! Rejoice, O unwedded Bride! Rejoice, O Mother of Life! Blessed is the fruit of your womb.’”
By the Archangel’s declaration to the Virgin Mary that “the Lord is with you”, it indicated that the flesh of Jesus was already in the womb of the immaculate one, thus she became Theotokos on the day she received the good news. This is also confirmed by Elizabeth when Mary visited her and the former said, “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43).
On March 26, services are held in honor of the Archangel Gabriel, which practice was instituted very early on, since he ministered the divine and supernal and ineffable mystery. It is the leave-taking of the feast thus, we commemorate the Archangel who announced the great mystery of the Incarnation of Christ to the Virgin Mary. There is no period of after-feast due to Great Lent.
How is the feast of Annunciation celebrated?
Since the Annunciation of Theotokos is one the twelve Great Feasts of the Liturgical calendar, it is celebrated with great solemnity. Even though it falls during Great Lent, the joy of Incarnation takes precedence over the fast. On this day, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is celebrated even if it falls on a weekday. In normal circumstances of the penitential nature of the fast, it is the Pre-sanctified Liturgy which is served during the weekdays and Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great celebrated on Sunday.
The Church relaxes the strictness of abstinence from certain foods on this day; fish, oil and wine are permitted. However, if it coincides with Great and Holy Friday or Holy Saturday, only wine and oil are allowed. This creates a good proportion between the festal and penitential elements of the period.
In Greece and Greek Communities around the world, it is a dual celebration because 25 March marks the Greek Independence. It is therefore one of the most significant holidays in the history of Greece and Greek culture.