ANNUNCIATION (itn-nim'shI-fi'shim). This word, like many others, has obtained a particular signification in theological writings.
As a general term. it expresses the communica tion of important intelligence by chosen messengers of Ileaven; but it became, at an early period of Christianity, restricted to the announcement of the blessed Virgin's miraculous conception. The first formal mention that we meet with of its being commemorated among the festivals of the church, is in the decrees of the Council of Trull°, con vened at the close of the seventh century. By one of the acts of this assembly it is ordered to be ob served, though occurring in the solemn season of Lent, like the Sabbath and the Lord's day. Ser mons attributed to St. Athanasius and other fathers have been referred to as proving the ob servance of the day long before the seventh cen tury; but the best critics consider these discourses as spurious.
The effect of the solemn announcement upon the mind of the blessed Mary was doubtless deep and permanent. It is conjectured by some that her hastening to Elizabeth was the consequence of an eager desire to prove at once the reality of the angelic visitation. The pious writers who have hazarded this opinion seem to have forgotten that such a notion represents the Virgin as more wanting in faith than 'Zacharias himself, and that it can scarcely be made to agree with the beautiful and devout sentiment, 'Behold the hand maid of the Lord : Be it unto me according to thy word !' The annunciation of the birth of John the Baptist illustrates and confirms much of that re specting Him of whom he was the forerunner.