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The Annunciation of the birth of the Virgin Mary

The Annunciation of the Birth of the Virgin Mary

Hanna, mother of the Virgin Mary was a righteous pure woman. She was known during her times by her righteousness and sanctity. She lived a peaceful and content life with her righteous husband Joachim. Although it was a joyous life, they had suffered being deprived of children to carry their name hereafter.

At that time, being barren was shameful, and people used to consider such a couple labelled as             cursed and denounced by heaven. This is why when Mary’s cousin Elizabeth was about to give birth to John the Baptist she said: “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” (Luke 1:25) Thus echoing the very words of Hanna mother of Samuel, the prophet who was also barren and was disgraced by her rival as well as others, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” (1 Samuel 1:10-11)

Hanna remained barren and years passed by ever since she was married without having any children. She was very upset and prayed to the Lord frequently and bitterly. St. Ephraim El-Souriany (306 – 373) says, that while Hanna was lamenting for not having children, she was wondering about the value of life without children. While the animals and birds and other creatures have their off-spring, she was denied children, her sadness was overwhelming her and she prayed to God and told him: “O Lord Almighty who listened to Sarah, wife of Abraham and gave them Isaac in their old age. Who listened to Rachelle and gave her Joseph and Benjamin. Listen O Lord to my prayers I am poor at heart, denied in children, grant me a child to cherish my heart as I am cast away from amongst my family and tribe. Moreover, my spouse Joachim is bitterly sad. Therefore, hence I make a vow that the child you grant me will be Yours, before he/she sets foot on earth I will offer the child to Your altar.” 

As Hanna was saying these words in prayers she wept bitterly, then all of a sudden Angel Gabriel appeared to her with heavenly light and said: “Hanna, the Lord has listened to your prayers, thou shalt be pregnant and give birth to a blessed daughter that will be praised by all generations and in the whole world. She will give birth to the one who will grant salvation to Adam and all his descendants from the captivity of the devil. “Hanna answered and said: “Praise to the living God if I am granted a daughter I will offer her to the Lord God to serve him all the days of her life in his Holy altar”

As for Hanna’s husband, he went to the desert fasting and dwelt in a tent. He spent forty days fasting and praying to the Lord. Then Angel Gabriel appeared to him, the announcer and told Joachim the good news that his wife will become pregnant to a daughter named Mary. She will be the source of happiness to him and to the whole world.

Joachim went back home and told Hanna the good news as he described the revelation to her. She believed him and informed him how the same Angel announced this news to her too. They had great joy and said: “May the Lord’s name be forever blessed.” They then served a great banquet and offered a thanksgiving offering to the Lord.

The Church celebrates the feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary on the 7th of Messra while the Roman Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church celebrate it on the 9th of December. Hanna became pregnant as proclaimed by the Angel and after 9 months, she gave birth to the blessed daughter and named her Mary. The Church celebrates her birthday on the 1st of Bashans, while the Roman Church celebrates it on the 8th of September.

Hanna kept her promise and fulfilled her vow. As soon as Mary turned 3 years old (which ends the period of nursing) Hanna took her to the altar to serve the Lord at His house. Hanna would visit her every now and then bringing her parcels of food and clothing. At the age of eight Mary’s mother passed away. Her father had passed two years earlier – when the Virgin Mary was six years old. Hence, the Virgin Mary was left an orphan at eight years old serving in the Lord’s house until she turned twelve years old.

After giving birth to the Virgin Mary, Hanna was granted another child. It was another daughter and she was named Mary as well to be known as “the other Mary” (Matthew 27:61) Hanna said “The first Mary (meaning Virgin Mary) was allotted to me. This other Mary, sister to the Virgin Mary, grew up to become wife to a man named Haefa or Cleophas. It was the tradition for some Jews to have two names, a Jewish (Hebrew) one and another Greek name where Cleophas was the Greek name.

 So the Virgin Mary’s sister came to be known as “Mary wife of Cleophas” (John 19:25) She is the one who gave birth to James, Joseph, Simon and Judas. That is why it is written in the Bible “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things? (Matthew 13:55-56), (Mark 6:3)

Actually these were only cousins to the Lord Jesus but not sisters and brothers in the strict sense of the word. Their mother, being sister to the Virgin Mary, and Cleophas their father, being a brother to Joseph the carpenter – the fiancé of the Virgin Mary. This is what St. Abifanious Bishop of Slamina in Cyprus (315 – 403 AC.) States, copying St. Higisipous, one of the fathers of the 2nd century (Book of answers to Heresies 87:7). Yousibious, the historian mentions this as well, namely that, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas were not brothers to the Lord Jesus in the strict sense of the word but rather cousins related to Him through the Virgin Mary’s sister and Joseph’s brother. (Yousibious - Church History - Part 3 - Parag. 11) (Parag. 32:1-8), (Part 3 parag. 4, 5:22).

That’s why the Virgin Mary’s sister is known in the Bible as: Mary, Mother of James and Joseph (Matthew 27:56), or Mary mother of young James and Joseph (Mark 15:40) or Mary Mother of James (Mark 16:1) (Luke 24:10) or Mary Mother of Joseph (Mark 15:47).