Annunciation

thumb|upright=1.6|Annunciation (Leonardo da Vinci)|Annunciation (), [[Uffizi, is thought to be Leonardo da Vinci's earliest complete work.]] The Annunciation (; ; also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation of Our Lady, or the Annunciation of the Lord; ) is, according to the Gospel of Luke, the announcement made by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Son of God, marking the Incarnation. thumb|Annunciation by Armenian illuminated manuscripts|Armenian manuscript illuminator [[Toros Roslin, 13th century]]

According to the Annunciation occurred in the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy with John the Baptist. Many Christians observe this event with the Feast of the Annunciation on 25March, an approximation of the northern vernal equinox nine full months before Christmas, the traditional birthday of Jesus.