"[O Theotokos and Virgin], rejoice, [Mary], full of grace; the Lord is with thee." (Luke 1:28) "Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb; [for thou hast given birth to the Saviour of our souls]" (Luke 1:42)
The first part of the prayer comes from the greeting of the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Theotokos (Luke 1:28). The second part is taken from Luke 1:42, where the Righteous Elizabeth, while being filled with the Holy Spirit, greets the Theotokos. In Eastern Orthodox practice, the prayer begins with "Theotokos Virgin" and concludes with "for you have given birth to the Savior of our souls." These parts were added to acknowledge the Theotokos as the Mother of God (and thus also acknowledging the divine nature of Christ), her state of holiness, and that salvation comes from Christ. In the Eastern Orthodox Church this prayer is said during Compline and other services, but it is not used quite as often as in the Western Church. In the Western Church the "Hail Mary" (in a slightly different form) forms the basis of the Rosary which has its roots in the early middle ages.
Θεοτόκε Παρθένε, χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη Μαρία, ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξί, καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου, ὅτι Σωτῆρα ἔτεκες τῶν ψυχῶν ἡμῶν.
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