First Flower of Pascha

The Feast of the Annunciation is the first flower of Pascha, which the Holy Archangel Gabriel holds in his hand. "Rejoice, O Blessed One, the Lord is with you!" And at Pascha, when everything will blossom already with the new life of God, for which man was created, we will hear: "The angel cried to the Blessed One: Pure virgin, rejoice. And again I will say, Rejoice!
This is the joy of God becoming man. There has never been anything like it in the world before. This mystery is the highest and humblest, the greatest good news from God that ever was. Nothing in heaven or on earth can compare with this mystery. There is nothing more precious in all the history of the world, nor will there ever be anything more precious...
Now the doors of heaven are opening. The fiery cherub does not block the entrance, but invites everyone to enter, where the only way through are the words: "Be it unto me according to thy word".

Rev. Alexander Shargunov