Dormition of Holy Anna, Mother of the Mother of God

Today we commemorate the Dormition of the Righteous and Holy Anna, the mother of the Mother of God. Known principally through tradition, we understand that Anna was the daughter of the priest, Matthan, and his wife, Mary and was of the tribe of Levi and lineage of Aaron. She married Joachim, a shepherd given the task of supplying the temple of Jerusalem with sheep for sacrifices. After twenty years of marriage Ann and Joachim had no children. Once, when Joachim overheard ridicule because of their childless state, he is said to have gone into the desert to plead with God to give them a child. After a time of fasting an angel appeared to assure Joachim that he and Anna would be given a child, to be named Mary and dedicated to God. Anna died peacefully in her sleep before the Annunciation to her daughter, Mary, the Mother of God.

Troparion of Holy Anna (Tone 4)

O holy Anna, you are filled with the wisdom of God, and you gave birth to the most pure Mother, the one who gave birth to Life.  Therefore, you have been carried up in glory on this day to the blessedness of heaven, to the abode of those who exult with joy.  And now you pray, O ever-blessed one, for the forgiveness of sins for all those who honor you with all their heart.

 Anna is the patroness for conceiving children and for help in difficult childbirth.