Conception of Saint Anne
It is celebrated every year on December 9
The Gospels, nor the rest of the books of the New Testament, do not mention anything about the mother of the Virgin Anna. However, according to Church tradition, Priest Matthan, a resident of Bethlehem, had three daughters: Maria, Sovi and Anna.
Mary, after being married in Bethlehem, gave birth there to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.
Anna married Joachim of Galilee. After many years of childlessness, she had a daughter, the Virgin Mary.
Tradition states that her parents dedicated her to the service of the Jerusalem Temple at the age of three. They died after a few years.
Saint Anna has been honored since ancient times. We infer this from various Fathers of the Church, but also from ancient church hymns, which exist in honor of the Mother of God. Also, in the year 550 AD, the emperor Justinian dedicated a temple in Constantinople in honor of Saint Anna.
