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The scriptural story of the Annunciation is rich and complex. When writing the story into an icon, there are many elements to draw from. The iconographer can chose from these elements to emphasize different actions and times within the story.

Each element in the Annunciation above was chosen because of its particular meaning. The elements combine to tell the aspects of the story that the iconographer wants to emphases; the moment of greeting, the moment of response, and the decent of the Holy Spirit.

Gabriel 's robe flutters about him. He has just arrived and is seen with his hand raised in the greeting "Hail Mary, full of Grace."

Mary is spinning in the garden. The calm expression on her face is reflective of the faith which is seen in her response, "Let it be done to me according to your word."

A tiny Jesus is incorporated into the descending finger of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore the fullness of the moment depicted here includes the entrance of the Word as He comes down from heaven to take on His mother’s flesh.

The garden in which Mary sits is bursting with life. The rose trees behind her refer to the "rose blooming from Jesse's tree." The stream at her feet is full of fish and plants and birds. It symbolizes her ‘life giving grace’.Through her response all of creation will be blessed.