“You are about to become heaven, a God-containing tabernacle, a living temple of God, wider and higher and more wondrous than the seven firmaments”

The Angel
Hear, most blessed one, hear the hidden words of the Most High:

“Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall produce a son, and shall call him Jesus” (Luke 1.31). Prepare then for Christ’s coming. For I have come to announce to you what has been decreed before the foundation of the cosmos.

The Theotokos
Depart O man, from my city and my fatherland. Depart quickly from this house. Go a long way from my vestibule, you who speak to me. Do not bring this announcement to me, unworthy as I am.

The Angel
The Lover of mankind, wishing to fulfill His ancient plan, and having mercy on mankind’s wandering, was pleased in his goodness and love for man to become man. Why do you not accept my greeting, O blessed one?

The Theotokos
Young man, I see the beauty of your comely form which is worthy to be painted, and the radiant vision of your appearance, and I hear your words, which I have never heard before, and I am suspicious that you have come to lead me astray.

The Angel
Know truly and believe that I am more amazed at seeing your God-created beauty. Seeing you I know that I am examining closely the glory of my Lord.

The Theotokos
I have heard a tongue which I do not comprehend. I have beheld an appearance which I have never seen. How should I not be perplexed? I begin to tremble all over. I have obtained a proper suitor, and am not accustomed to speak with strangers.

The Angel
Accept this joyful message which is worthy of being heard, along with the song of praise which is due to you. For “the one who is borne of you, shall be called the son of the Most High” (Luke 1.35), and your son shall be born in the height of hallowed goodness.

The Theotokos
I am afraid and I tremble at your words. I suspect that you have come to deceive me like another Eve. I am nothing like her. What a greeting you bring to a maiden whom you have never seen before!

The Angel
I proclaim to you good news of joy. I proclaim to you unimaginable birth. I proclaim to you the inexplicable coming of the Most High. Perhaps even that purple thread you are holding foretells your royal status.

The Theotokos
Since you are telling this to me, and since you won’t stop saying it, for the rest I will say to you that I don’t trust this announcement of yours. You come to debase my virginity, and to grieve my betrothed.

The Angel
Zacharias the prophet and the beloved of your cousin Elizabeth, will convince your unbelief. Go to her so that you may learn from him the things that will happen to him.

The Theotokos
Joachim and Anna are my holy and blameless parents, and I their child, how can I be an embarrassment to them? Who will inform them that Mary did not misbehave?

The Angel
When my words shall come to pass in their own time, then you will understand the power of this incomprehensible mystery. Then you will know the result of my words and the ineffable condescension of the Most High.

The Theotokos
You have heard that I am of the House and the ancestry of David. How shall I assist in these awesome, heavenly mysteries? And how shall I be able to conceive the holy Jesus who sits upon the Cherubim?

The Angel
You shall be called the throne which bears God, the royal seat of the heavenly King. As you are Queen and Virgin, and a daughter of David the earthly king, so you have a royal character.

The Theotokos
How shall I become the throne of the Most High? Answer me, you who are speaking to me! How can flesh made of clay touch the unapproachable light which is brighter than the Sun? You are proclaiming impossible news, young man.

The Angel
Why? For what purpose, for what reason, have you distrusted my good news, Glorified one? How long will you disobey the angel that was sent to you from heaven? I am not Eve’s deceiver—far from it.

The Theotokos
I have seen your many changeable faces, and have heard your most marvelous message, which no one has ever heard. And therefore I cannot accept this good news.

The Angel
Even though my voice and my form terrify you, I know that the words of my mouth shall become a harbinger of ineffable joy to you. And all heaven and earth shall bless you according to your own words.

The Theotokos
How shall I know this, that what he says will be accomplished? I am an unwedded virgin, and have not experienced shameful, sweet pleasure. For I am the handmaiden of the Lord who created me.

The Angel
I shall tell you clearly, that Elizabeth your cousin at this very moment is about to give birth in her old age to a son, and at his birth many shall rejoice and be amazed, for his name will be called John.

The Theotokos
You who speak to me, receive these gifts from me and leave. Whether you are an angel or a man I do not truly know. I see the vestments of an angel, and in the glance I perceive a man.

The Angel
You saw me, didn’t you, O blessed one, when you were in the Holy of Holies, and when you received nourishment from my fiery hands? I am Gabriel, who always stand before the glory of God.

The Theotokos
I have a pious, holy and righteous fiancé, who is a master carpenter. I am cautious about him lest he may come upon me conversing with you, a stranger, and especially since we are alone.

The Angel
Now I have begun to speak. I am full of eternal words; and for the rest I shall tell you that the Lord who is about to be born of you, is the King of kings, and “will rule over the House of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1.35).

The Theotokos
Now my heart is troubled and I do not know what to make of this wondrous vision. For I believe that your words are true. And Joseph will hand me over to those who judge these things.

The Angel
I cannot comprehend, O holy one, that you are doubtful about me who come to you from on high. Rather, I should be cautious concerning you as you are about to become the mother of my Lord, and I should tremble in your royal presence.

The Theotokos
Your message is strange to me. Your authoritative manner of coming contradicts your words and demeanor. You come into my house and approach me without being announced, as if to a servant girl, not as if you considered me a lady.

The Angel
You have been entirely pure and blameless. I am amazed that you have so much distrusted my words, O full of grace. Behold even as I speak, I think that the King of Glory has made his residence in you, O Queen.

The Theotokos
You are greeting an untried virgin, and an unmarried girl you extol. You know the truth: when and where and “How will this happen to me, since I know no man?” (Luke 1.34).

The Angel
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and therefore the holy one who is born of you shall be called the Son of God. Fear not Mary, you have found favor with God” (Luke 1.35 and 1.30).

The Theotokos
You came from heaven and deliver to me a much-anticipated message. You proclaim to me the presence of the Holy Spirit; but how should I not reject and even more disbelieve this paradoxical good news? Tell me, you who speak to me.

The Angel
Cast away your unbelief, Virgin. For behold, as it seems to me, my words have been accomplished, a lump is rising in your belly. Even if you do not wish it, “with God nothing is impossible” (Luke 1:37).

The Theotokos
I am a sprout of the root of David. I fear that on me as on him David will come unexpected scorn of adultery, and the golden plate of the holy head dress of the priest will show me to be a sinner.

The Angel
You shall bear the Lord, the Savior, who is one of the life-beginning Trinity. You shall bring unexpected joy to the world, which neither angels nor men have ever brought; and your name shall be called blessed.

The Theotokos
Tell me, young man, what kind of savior, am I to bear? For truly your good news is strange even to the spiritual powers of angels, fiery might of archangels, and the commanders of the many-eyed cherubim.

The Angel
At all times your words are sweet and joyous, O blessed one. It is because of this that I will say to you, your pregnancy is due not to the will of the flesh but to the will of God and the descent of the Holy Spirit.

The Theotokos
Who will persuade Joseph that I shall conceive not by the will of man, but by the descent of the Holy Spirit? For it has never at any time been heard that a virgin has given birth to a child without a man.

The Angel
All the races of men shall take refuge under your compassion. And all tongues of clay shall bless you. And your name shall be spoken from generation to generation, for through you, the Lord, the light of the world, is about to be born.

The Theotokos
How shall the race of men flee to me who am matter and drawn from the earth? And how shall I embrace Christ the Light of the World? And how shall that unsetting Sun be born by the spiritual moon? Or how will the race of men take refuge with me?

The Angel
Put on a joyful countenance, O blessed one. You are about to become heaven, a God-containing tabernacle, a living temple of God, wider and higher and more wondrous than the seven firmaments.

The Theotokos
I shiver at the beginning of the paradox of my unusual childbearing. I am concerned about Joseph and I do not know what will happen. But it is good for me to go to the house of Zacharias, to see my kinswoman.

The Angel
You shall become the common propitiation of all Christians. And therefore again I salute you as is fitting, “Hail 0 full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1.38).

The Theotokos
I am of royal blood, and spent my earliest childhood in the royal house of Bethlehem, and my childhood I spent blamelessly in the temple; and being a virgin up to now, how can I be called the mother of my child?

The Angel
The Most High searched all the universe, and did not find a mother like you. Certainly, as he knew, as he wished, as he was pleased, from you, the holy one, he shall become man because of his love for mankind.

The Theotokos
I shall praise the Lord in song, “for he has looked upon the lowliness of his handmaiden; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed” (Luke 1.48) and the people of the Gentiles shall unceasingly praise me.

The Angel
O Virgin, bringer of heavenly joy,joyful and marvelous dwelling place, and propitiation of the whole cosmos, the only truly blessed one among women, prepare yourself for the mystical coming of Christ.

The Theotokos
O young man, messenger of ineffable joy, you have come from the bodiless ones, and speak to one made of clay. How long shall I tolerate you? How long will you continue to speak? “Behold, the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1.38).

St Germanos of Constantinople