Bible Dictionaries
Annunciation

Holman Bible Dictionary

Act of announcing or of being announced. The name is given the announcement to Mary by the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to a son who was to be named Jesus (Luke 1:26-38 ). This followed the account of Gabriel's announcement to Zacharias that he and his wife Elizabeth were to become the parents of John the Baptist. While the announcement to Mary about the Incarnation has become associated with the annunciation, the announcements to Samson (Judges 13:2-5 ), Joseph (Matthew 1:20-25 ), and Zechariah (Luke 1:11-20 ) follow a similar pattern.

The Feast of the Annuniciation is celebrated on March 25 (Lady Day) by Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians. The first references to the feast, besides the Gelasian and Gregorian sacramentaries, are in acts of the Council of Toledo (656) and of the Trullan Council (692).