On September 9th we commemorate the righteous Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Most Holy Theotokos and grandparents of Jesus Christ. Saint Anna is also commemorated on the feast of her dormition which falls on July 25.
Saint Joachim was of the tribe of Judah, and a descendant of King David. Saint Anna was of the tribe of Levi as was Aaron the High Priest. The pious couple had been married for 50 years, but despite being old and barren, they never lost faith in the Lord’s ability to provide them with a child.
Having been chastised at the Temple in Jerusalem by the High Priest who perceived that the couple’s childlessness was divine punishment for their sins, Saint Joachim retreated in deep grief to the wilderness to pray, while Saint Anna prayed fervently in her garden.
At that moment, the Archangel Gabriel then appeared separately to them to deliver them the news that the Lord had heard their prayers, and that they would give birth to the most blessed daughter through Whom the Saviour would be born.
Obeying the instructions of the heavenly messenger, the couple rushed to meet at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem where they shared a joyous embrace (image 4). Then, as God promised, a daughter was born to them and they named her Mary.
Having dedicated their daughter to the Temple, Saint Joachim reposed a few years later after at the age of 80. Saint Anna reposed 2 years after her husband at the age of 70.
In the first icon, the holy lineage of the Virgin Mary is represented as she sprouts from the Tree of Jesse, the father of King David. This depiction originates from a passage in the Book of Isiah; "There shall come forth a Rod from the root of Jesse, and a flower shall grow out of his root. The Spirit of God shall rest upon Him.” (Isiah 11:1-2).
The “Rod” mentioned in the above passage is seen as a prophecy of the Theotokos who brings forth the flower of Christ. As Saint Ambrose of Milan concurred: “The root is the household of the Jews, the rod is Mary, the Flower of Mary is Christ. She is rightly called a rod, for she is of the royal lineage, of the house and family of David.”