On S. Anne and S. Joachim
ICON: S. Joachim and S. Anne Embracing at the Beautiful Gate (feast: 26 July)
An ancient text, Protoevangelium of S. James, which dates to A.D. 150 and was known widely by Church Fathers, tells of S. Anne (or Anna) and S. Joachim. Anne, the mother of Mary, was the youngest daughter of the priest Nathan from Bethlehem, and descendent of the tribe of Levi. She married Joachim, native of Galilee of the tribe of Judah and descendent of David. They lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age, grieving over this and enduring much scorn, since childlessness meant disgrace. They never grumbled, but trusted God and fervently prayed to Him.
Once, during a great feast, the gifts which Joachim took to Jerusalem as an offering to God were not accepted by the priest Reuben, who said that a childless man was not worthy to offer sacrifice to God. This pained Joachim, and he, regarding himself as sinful, decided not to return home, but to settle in solitude in a desolate place, praying to God for a child.
When Anna learned what humiliation her husband had endured, she was sorrowful in her garden. Beholding in a tree a nest of young birds being fed by their mother, Anne asked God, “Lord, why was I born?”
As shown in the icon, their prayer was heard: an angel told them separately that a daughter would be born to them, who would be blessed above all other women. They were told she would remain a virgin, would be dedicated to the Lord, live in the Temple, and give birth to the Savior. Obeying the instructions of the angel, Joachim and Anna met at the Beautiful Gate in Jerusalem: a moment of joyous, loving embrace depicted in the icon and which is known as the “immaculate conception of Mary.”