The Virgin Mary: A Celebration of Our Faith
Session 3: The Annunciation -- Senior Group

Theme Of Lesson: The Annunciation
Sub-Theme: Mary’s obediance and humility

Objectives:

• Describe the events in the Annunciation and the Virgin Mary’s later meeting with her cousin Elizabeth .
• Compare the poem of Hannah in 1 Samuel as a model for Mary's song of thanksgiving (the Magnificat) in Luke.
• Discuss the incarnation of Christ as a miracle: “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
  

Resources:

• Bible
• Bible aids
• Luke 1: 26 – 56 [includes Mary’s meeting with her cousin Elizabeth.]
• 1 Samuel 2: 1 – 10 (Hannah)

Liturgy, Feasts, Hymns

Troparion of the Annunciation to the Most Holy Theotokos (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 of the Annunciation
To You, the Champion Leader of Triumphant Hosts,
do I, your city ascribe thank offrings of vic’try;
for from terrors you have delivered me,
O Theotokos; and as You possess the pow’r invincible,
do You free me from ev’ry kind of danger, that I may cry to You;
Hail, O Bride unwedded.

Hymn to the Theotokos
As you are a living Temple of God,
let no impure hand touch you, O Theotokos.
But let the lips of all believers sing,
constantly magnifying you in joy with the angelic salutation:
Truly you are above all creatures, O Pure One!

Activities

• Construct a chart which shows similarities between Mary’s obedience and the joyful proclamation made by her cousin Elizabeth with Hannah’s proclamation in 1 Samuel.
• Further compare the biblical texts with the text of the hymn, kontakion and troparion above.
  

Icons, Art, Photos

• A copy of the icon will be included, as well as the section from The Icon Book.
  

Teacher’s Notes & Discussion-Starter Questions:

• Discuss how the meekness of the Theotokos is not passivity, but strength, as reflected in the Kontakon, "possessing power invincible." When can humility be invincible strength?
• Discuss the term "incarnation" and why the annunciation of Gabriel to the Virgin Mary is the "beginning of our salvation." Construct a causal chain beginning with the Annunciation and leading to the Resurrection of the incarnation of Christ.
• in·car·na·tion

  1. Incarnation Christianity. The doctrine that the Son of God was conceived in the womb of Mary and that Jesus is true God and true man.
  2. A bodily manifestation of a supernatural being.
  3. One who is believed to personify a given abstract quality or idea.
  4. A period of time passed in a given bodily form or condition: hopes for a better life in another incarnation.
  5. A rosy or red color; flesh color; carnation. [Obs.]
  

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