Welcome to the Antiochian Church of the Annunciation in Calgary, Alberta, Canada!
Our parish is part of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America under the care of His Eminence Metropolitan JOSEPH. We are a Eucharistic community, dedicated to serving our Lord Jesus Christ through worship in the ancient and beautiful Orthodox Christian tradition, sharing the Gospel with others, rejoicing together in a family-oriented environment. Our services are conducted in both Arabic and English.
The Annunciation (arabic: Bechara) to the Theotokos is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church celebrated on March 25. According to the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce to her that she would conceive and bear a son, even though she "knew no man."
This date was selected by the Church Fathers to be exactly nine months ahead of the Nativity of Our Lord, indicating that Christ was conceived in perfection at that time "of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary," as stated in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
Hymns
Troparion (Tone 4)
Today is the beginning of our salvation,
The revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace,
The Lord is with You!
Kontakion (Tone 8)
O Victorious Leader of Triumphant Hosts!
We, your servants, delivered from evil, sing our grateful thanks to you, O Theotokos!
As you possess invincible might, set us free from every calamity
So that we may sing: Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!