Joachim And Anna - Feast Day September 9th

Holy Righteous Ancestors of God, Saints Joachim and Anna St. Joachim, son of Barpathir, was a descendant of King David, to whom God had revealed that the Savior of the world would be born from his descendants. St. Anna was the daughter of Matthan. On her father's side, she was of the tribe of Levi, and on her mother's side, of the tribe of Judah.

The spouses lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age and all their life they grieved over this. They had to endure derision and scorn, since at that time childlessness was considered a disgrace. They never grumbled, but fervently prayed to God, humbly trusting in Him.

Once during the time of a great feast, the gifts which Righteous Joachim took to Jerusalem for offering to God were not accepted by the priest Reuben, who considered that a childless man was not worthy to offer sacrifice to God. This pained the old man very much, and he, regarding himself the most sinful of people, decided not to return home, but to settle in solitude in a desolate place.

His righteous spouse Anna, having learned what sort of humiliation her husband had endured, with prayer and fasting, she sorrowfully entreated God to grant her a child. In his desolate solitude and with fasting Righteous Joachim also asked God for this. The prayer of the saintly couple was heard. An angel told them that a daughter would be born of them, Who would bless all the race of mankind. By order of this Heavenly Messenger, Sts. Joachim and Anna met at Jerusalem where, through the promise of God, a daughter was born to them, who would become the Mother of God.

St. Joachim died a few years later, at the age of 80, after the Entry of his daughter into the Temple. St. Anna died at age 70, two years after him, spending time in the Temple with her daughter.

Sts. Joachim and Anna are invoked by couples trying to have children.

Taken From The OCA Website

For a description of this icon and the troparion and kontakion for this saint please click here