Podcasts about great feasts

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Best podcasts about great feasts

Latest podcast episodes about great feasts

Saint of the Day
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel - March 26

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025


Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:   "The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: 'I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God' (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies 'man of God'. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael's service is the suppression of the enemies of God's truth, while Gabriel's is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race."

Saint of the Day
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel - March 26th

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024


Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:   "The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: 'I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God' (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies 'man of God'. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael's service is the suppression of the enemies of God's truth, while Gabriel's is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race."

Saint of the Day
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024 2:08


Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:   "The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: 'I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God' (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies 'man of God'. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael's service is the suppression of the enemies of God's truth, while Gabriel's is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race."

Saint of the Day
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel - March 26th

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2023


Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:   "The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: 'I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God' (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies 'man of God'. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael's service is the suppression of the enemies of God's truth, while Gabriel's is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race."

Saint of the Day
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2023 2:08


Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:   "The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: 'I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God' (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies 'man of God'. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael's service is the suppression of the enemies of God's truth, while Gabriel's is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race."

Unraveling The Words of Yahweh
Special Was Jesus Born December 25

Unraveling The Words of Yahweh

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2022 72:18


This morning I will be changing Topics. Instead of continuing in the Book of Revelation, I thought it best if I were to talk about the Birth of Yahshua Messiah or as many Christians say Jesus Christ. Now I know that next Sunday many churches in Sussex County and across this great nation and throughout the world will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ or as I like to say Yahshua Messiah.But here lies the question that I am asking you, the listeners this morning, “Was Yahshua Messiah really born on our December 25?Can your pastor or reverend tell you without batting an eye that Yahshua Messiah was born on December 25th? Many pastors will tell you that we may not know the exact date, but that's okay, because this is the day that the church fathers of old picked!My dear friends, the problem with that answer is the fact that December 25 is actually a pagan holiday! That's right, you heard me, a pagan holiday!Paul wrote in Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Yahshua Messiah.” Luke Chapter 1 verse 5Abijah = This was the eighth of the priestly courses of ministration in the Temple (1 Chronicles 24:10), and occurred, as did the others, twice in the year.  The "Courses" were changed every week, beginning each with a Sabbath. The reckoning commenced on the 22nd day of Tisri Bearing in mind that all the courses served together at the three Great Feasts, the dates for the two yearly "ministrations" of Abiah will be seen to fall as follows: The first 9 ministration was from 12-18 Chisleu = December 6-12. The second ministration was from 12-18 Sivan = June 13-19.  The announcement therefore to Zacharias in the Temple as to the conception of John the Baptist took place between 12-18 SIVAN (June 13-19), in the year 5 B.C. After finishing his "ministration", the aged priest "departed to his own house" (Luke 1:23), which was in a city10 in "the hill country" of Juda (verse 39).  The day following the end of the "Course of Abia" being a Sabbath (Sivan 19), he would not be able to leave Jerusalem before the 20th.  The thirty miles journey would probably occupy, for an old man, a couple of days at least. He would therefore arrive at his house on the 21st or 22nd. This leaves ample time for the miraculous "conception" of Elizabeth to take place on or about 23rd of SIVAN 11 - which would correspond to June 23-24 of that year. The fact of the conception and its date would necessarily be known at the time and afterwards, and hence the 23rd SIVAN would henceforth be associated with the conception of John Baptist as the 1st TEBETH would be with that of our Lord. The conception of John Baptist  | on or about 23rd SIVAN = June 24  | in the year 5 B.C. The Gennesis (Begetting) of our Lord  | on or about 1st TEBETH = December 25  | in the year 5 B.C. The birth of John Baptist  | on or about 4th-7th NISAN = March 25-28  | in the year 4 B.C. The birth of our Lord  | on or about 15th TISRI = September 29  | in the year 4 B.C. 280 days = 40 weeks - forty sevens, the perfect period of human gestation7x5x8=280]. The Component Numbers of 280 are highly significant in this connection.  7 denotes Spiritual Perfection.  5 denotes Divine Grace.  8 denotes Resurrection, Regeneration, Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!Have any questions? Feel free to email me at keitner@netzero.net

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 16th: St Longinus the Centurion

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 2:37


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 15th: Holy Hieromartyr Lucian

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2022 1:25


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 14th: Holy Martyrs Nazarius, Gervasius, Protasius and Celsius of Milan

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 1:56


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 13th: Holy Martyrs Carpus and Papylus with Agathodorus and Agathonica

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 2:34


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 12th: St Symeon the New Theologian

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 2:56


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

orthodox church new theologian st symeon great feasts
Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 11th: Holy Apostle Philip, One of the Seven Deacons

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2022 6:00


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 9th: Holy Apostle James, Son of Alphaeus

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2022 4:20


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 7th: Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 4:47


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 8th; St Thais the Repentant Harlot

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 2:42


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 6th: Holy Apostle Thomas

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 1:22


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 4th: St Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 3:41


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 5th: Holy Martyr Charitina of Amissos

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 2:30


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 2nd: St Andrew the Fool for Christ

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2022 3:48


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 3rd: St Dionysius the Areopagite

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2022 3:54


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
October 1st: The Protection of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2022 5:19


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 30th: St Gregory the Enlightener of Armenia

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 4:47


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 29th: St Kyriakos the Solitary

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 3:25


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 28th: St Hariton the Confessor of Palestine

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 2:06


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 27th: Holy New-Martyr Callistratus and the Forty-Nine Martyrs with him

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2022 4:48


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

holy forty martyrs orthodox church great feasts new martyr
Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 25th: Our Righteous Mother Euphrosyne

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 5:35


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 26th: Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist, St John the Theologian

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 3:22


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 24th: Holy Protomartyr Thecla, Equal to the Apostles

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2022 3:34


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 23rd: Conception of John the Baptist

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2022 2:51


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 22nd: Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 2:57


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church,

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 21: The Holy Prophet Jonah; The Leave-taking of the Exaltation of the Cross

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 3:07


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 20th: Holy Great Martyr Eustathius with his Family

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 3:25


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 19th: Holy Martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius and Dorymedon of Synnada

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 2:07


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 18th: St Eumenes, Bishop of Gortyna

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 2:36


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the saints of the Orthodox Church.

orthodox church eumenes great feasts
Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 17th: Holy Martyrs Sophia and her daughters, Faith, Hope and Love

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2022 2:55


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 16th: Holy Great-Martyr Euphemia the All-praised of Chalcedon

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 4:24


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 15th: Great Martyr Niketa the Goth

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 1:33


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 14th: Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 4:05


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 13th: Forefeast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 2:55


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 12th: Leavetaking of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 2:27


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 11th: Our Holy Mother Theodora of Alexandria

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2022 2:33


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 10th: Holy Martys Menodora, Metrodora and Nymphodora

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2022 1:26


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 9th: Holy Ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2022 4:00


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 8th: The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 2:32


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 7th: Forefeast of the Nativity of the Theotokos

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 3:48


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 6th: Miracle of the Archangel Michael at Colossae

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2022 4:34


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 5th: Holy and Glorious Prophet Zacharias, father of St John the Baptist

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 6:48


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church
September 4th: Hieromartyr Babylas, bishop of Antioch and those with him

Daily Saints of the Orthodox Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2022 7:29


Daily commemoration of the Great Feasts and the lives of the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Saint of the Day
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2022 2:14


Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:   "The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: 'I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God' (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies 'man of God'. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael's service is the suppression of the enemies of God's truth, while Gabriel's is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race."

Saint of the Day
Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel

Saint of the Day

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2022


Each of the Great Feasts of the Church is followed by a commemoration of some holy one who figures in the events of the Feast. So, today we commemorate the Holy Archangel Gabriel, who brought the glad news of the conception of Christ to Mary, the Theotokos. The Prologue gives the following teaching:   "The herald of the incarnation of the Son of God, he is one of the seven great angels who stand before the throne of God. He revealed to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: 'I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God' (Lk. 1:19). His name, Gabriel, signifies 'man of God'. Speaking about the Annunciation, the holy Fathers comment that an angel with such a name was sent to signify who He was, and of what nature He was, who would be born of the most pure Virgin. He would be the Man of God, the Man-God, the strong and mighty God. Others have found that it was this same Gabriel who announced the conception of the Virgin Mary to Joachim and Anna, and that it was he who taught Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis. The holy Fathers consider that Gabriel belongs to the foremost and highest order of the heavenly powers, the seraphim, since the seraphim stand closest to God. And so he is one of the seven seraphim closest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selathiel, Jegudiel and Barachiel. Some would add Jeremiel to this number. Each has his own particular service, but all are equal in honour. Why did God not send Michael? For the reason that Michael's service is the suppression of the enemies of God's truth, while Gabriel's is the annunciation of the salvation of the human race."