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[[image:Joachimanna.jpg|right|thumb|Ss. Joachim and Anna, grandparents of [[Christ]], with their daughter the Ever-virgin [[Mary]].]]The holy and [[righteous ]] '''Joachim and Anna''' are the parents of the [[Theotokos]], the grandparents of [[Jesus Christ]]. Their [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[September 9]], following the [[Nativity of the Theotokos]]; the dormition of St. Anna is commemorated on [[July 25]].==Lives==St. Joachim was of the tribe of [[Judah]], and a descendant of King [[David]]. Anna was the daughter of Matthan the priest, of the tribe of Levi as was Aaron the High Priest. Matthan had three daughters: Mary, [[Zoia]], and Anna. Mary was married in Bethlehem and bore Salome; Zoia was also married in Bethlehem and bore [[Elizabeth]], the mother of St. [[John the Forerunner]]; and Anna was married in Nazareth to Joachim, and in old age gave birth to the [[Theotokos]]. Joachim and Anna had been married for fifty years, and were barren. They lived devoutly and quietly, using only a third of their income for themselves and giving a third to the poor and a third to the Temple, and they were well provided for. Once, when they were already old and were in Jerusalem to offer sacrifice to God, the High Priest, Issachar, upbraided Joachim, "You are not worthy to offer sacrifice with those childless hands." Others who had children jostled Joachim, thrusting him back as unworthy. This caused great grief to the two aged souls, and they went home with very heavy hearts. Then the two of them gave themselves to prayer to God that He would work in them the wonder that He had worked in [[Abraham]] and [[Righteous Sarah|Sarah]], and give them a child to comfort their old age.

St. Joachim was of the tribe of God sent them His [[Judahangel]], and a descendant who gave them tidings of King [[David]]. Anna was the birth of "a daughter most blessed, by whom all the nations of Matthan the priestearth will be blessed, of and through whom will come the tribe salvation of Levi as was Aaron the High Priestworld. Matthan had three daughters: " Anna conceived at once, and in the ninth month gave birth to the holy Virgin Mary, . This [[ZoiaConception of the Theotokos|Conception of the Most Holy Mother of God]], and Anna. Mary was married in Bethlehem and bore Salome; Zoia was also married in Bethlehem and bore is celebrated by the Church on [[ElizabethDecember 9]], and the mother of St. [[John Nativity of the ForerunnerTheotokos]]; and Anna was married in Nazareth to Joachim, and in old age gave birth to the is celebrated on [[TheotokosSeptember 8]].  Joachim and Anna had been married for fifty yearstook Mary, and were barren. They lived devoutly and quietlyat the age of three, using only a third of their income for themselves and giving a third to the poor and a third temple to be dedicated to the Templeservice of the Lord, and they were well provided forpresented her to the priest Zechariahs. OnceThe parents then, when they were already old and were in Jerusalem to offer after offering up her sacrifice (according to God, the High Priestcustom of the time), Issachar, upbraided Joachim, "You are not worthy to offer sacrifice with those childless hands." Others who had children jostled Joachim, thrusting him back as unworthy. This caused great grief to left the two aged souls, and they went home Virgin with very heavy hearts. Then other maidens in the two apartments of them gave themselves the temple to prayer to God that He would work in them be brought up therein. The Church commemorates the wonder that He had worked in [[AbrahamPresentation of the Theotokos]] and on [[Righteous Sarah|SarahNovember 21]], and give them a child to comfort their old age. God sent them His [[angel]], who gave them tidings  ==Dormition of the birth of "a daughter most blessed, by whom all Righteous Anna==During the nations of the earth will be blessednext seven years, Righteous Anna and through whom will come Joachim visited Mary often at the salvation of the world." Anna conceived temple until they died, leaving her an orphan at once, and in the ninth month gave birth to the holy Virgin Maryage ten. St. Joachim lived for 80 years and Anna for 79, and they both entered into the kingdom of Godbefore the [[Annunciation]] to the Most Holy Theotokos. The Dormition feast day of St. Anna is celebrated on [[July 25]].==Relics==During the reign of St [[Justinian]] the Emperor (527-565), a church was built in honor of St Anna at Deutera. And since St Anna had appeared to his pregnant wife, Emperor Justinian II (685-695; 705-711) restored her church. It was at this time that her body and maphorion (veil) were transferred to Constantinople.

:the couple honored by God

==Source=Dormition of the Righteous Anna hymns===Troparion - Tone 4:Divinely-wise Anna, you carried in your womb the pure Mother of God, who gave life to our Life.:Therefore, you are now carried joyfully to the inheritance of heaven,:To the abode of those who rejoice in glory,:Where you seek forgiveness of sins for those who faithfully honor you, ever blessed one. Kontakion - Tone 2:We celebrate the memory of the progenitors of Christ,:And with faith we ask their help,:That deliverance from every affliction be granted to those who cry out::"Be with us, O God, who in Your good pleasure glorified them."==Sources==What the Church knows of the Theotokos’ parents, survives from several sources, primarily the [[Protoevangelion of James]].