Rejoice, Mary, the chair of the Announcement and the akathist.

The Greeting of Gabriel

When the archangel Gabriel enters Mary’s home in Nazareth, his first word is chaire (χαῖρε), translated as Ave in Latin and “Rejoice” or “Salute” in Portuguese. This Greek word is not a neutral greeting; in the Hellenistic world, chaire was a salutation given to kings and prominent figures, conveying the meaning of “rejoice” or “be glad.” Scholars like René Laurentin and Ignace de la Potterie emphasize that Gabriel does not simply say “hello.” Instead, he proclaims Mary’s joy in the messianic salvation, the very joy foretold by the prophets (Jeremiah 3:14-17; Zechariah 9:9) for the daughter of Zion at the coming of the Messiah.

Mary and the Tradition of the Daughter of Zion

The context from the Old Testament is crucial. In Jeremiah 3:14, God invites the daughter of Zion to exult: “Rejoice, O daughter of Zion; shout with joy, Israel! Sing for joy and glory, O daughter of Jerusalem!” Similarly, in Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey.” These messianic prophecies set the stage for Gabriel’s chaire: Mary, as the daughter of Zion, receives the promised joy because the King-Messiah is about to be born from her. The joy of the Annunciation is not merely personal but cosmic and eschatological.

The Akathist Hymn: “Rejoice, Mary” in 24 Strophes

The most elaborate poetic expression of “Rejoice, Mary” is the Akathist Hymno (Ακάθιστος Ύμνος, “Hymn that is sung standing”), a significant liturgical Marian poem from the Orthodox tradition, likely composed in the 6th century (attributed to Romano Melode or Sergius I of Constantinople). The Akathist is structured in 24 alternating strophes, kondakia and oikoi, following the Greek alphabet. Each oikos (long stanza) expands on “Rejoice,”: “Rejoice, you who brought forth joy; Rejoice, you who banished curse…” The Akathist is sung in Eastern churches during the fifth Friday of Great Lent and has become one of the most influential Marian texts in Christianity.

Further Study

Dive deeper into these topics: explore Gabriel Arcanjo (Archangel Gabriel), Kecharitômênē (Chosen One), Ave Maria (Hail Mary), Mariologia (Mariology), and consider enrolling in the Post-Graduate Program in Mariology at Locus Mariologicus.