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The Archangel Gabriel. He appears in motion, as if having just come down from heaven. His left hand holds a staff, the symbol of a messenger. His right hand extends in a gesture of blessing, corresponding to words of his joyful greeting to the Holy Virgin saying "“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” ().
Flowers symbolized the presence of the divine, according to the ancient Jewish understanding. Sacred spaces like the Temple of Solomon were adorned with flowers. The Annunciation proclaims the coming of the Messiah which in Isaiah 35 is described as a blossoming of flowers in the desert: "The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy...they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God."
A red garment indicates that this scene takes place indoors. The buildings symbolize the Ark of the Covenant which held the divine tablets, the manna and the rod of Aaron which budded and thus prophetically foreshadowed the Holy Virgin as the Ark, who contained the divine God-Man Jesus Christ. The red garment also refers to the curtain of the temple that, according to tradition, was weaved by the Holy Virgin, as seen in the spool of red yarn in her hand. The color red symbolizes the divine and points to how in her pure body was woven the flesh of the incarnate God-Man Jesus Christ.
A dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. A beam descends down towards the Holy Virgin, symbolizing the words of Archangel Gabriel: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:26-35
The Holy Virgin Mary, stands on an elevated throne, symbolizing that she is the Queen of Heaven and "more honored than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim," and the throne of the King. Her head slightly bowed in a gesture of humility and obedience to the message from God. Her right hand is raised in a gesture of prayer and praise of God. Her red outer garment symbolizes how the divine came upon her and overshadowed her. Her left hand holding a spool of red yarn, symbolizes the weaving of the divine flesh of the Son of God in her womb, which began the moment she said, "Let it be done unto me."
The Holy Virgin as a young child, while she was still in the temple shown in miniature behind her. Note the presence of the red garment in the temple and draped around her body, indicating her life and destiny.
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Posted On January 29, 2024
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 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

 

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