April 7, 2013
Photo: RIA Novosti
On April 7, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother of God, one of the 12 main holidays in the Church calendar.
On this day, Archangel Gabriel announced to Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the son of God, the Savior.
It is an old tradition to release birds from cages on this holiday. It symbolizes liberation, capabilities of a human as a free person, and search for God’s kingdom.
In Moscow, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill is due to release pigeons at the Annunciation Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin after performing divine service there later in the day.
Source: VoiceOfRussia
