Wednesday, September 9

Apostolic · 1st century BC

Ss Joachim and Anna

Ancestors of God, parents of the Theotokos

Joachim and Anna are honored by the Church as the parents of the Most Holy Theotokos and thus the grandparents of the Lord according to the flesh — the 'Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God' invoked at the dismissal of every Orthodox service. The ancient tradition preserved in the second-century Protoevangelium of James tells that Joachim was of the royal line of David and Anna of the priestly line, that they lived in piety and generosity, giving a double portion of their goods to God and the poor, and that they remained childless into old age, bearing the reproach that barrenness carried in Israel. When Joachim's offering was refused in the Temple, each gave themselves to fervent prayer, and an angel announced to both that they would bear a child who would be spoken of in all the world. Anna bore Mary, and at three years they dedicated her to God in the Temple. Their synaxis follows the feast of their daughter's Nativity.

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