Saint Anne or Anna was the mother of The Virgin Mary. Her name Anna is a Greek rendering of a Hebrew name, Hannah. According to the non-canonical Gospel of James, Anne and her husband Joachim, after years of childlessness, were visited by an angel who told them that they would conceive a child. Anna promised to dedicate the child to God's service. Joachim and Anne brought Mary to live in the Second Temple when Mary was about three years old. Anne is a patron saint of Quebec and Brittany, and patroness of women in labor and miners.
The story is similar to the story of Samuel whose mother had also been childless and was named Hannah. The story was not accepted in the Western church until the 13th century although, in the Eastern church, dedications to Anne date to the 6th century. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Anna is ascribed the title Forbear of God, and both Conception of Anne and Dedication of Mary to the Temple are celebrated as two of the Twelve Feasts.
In Western iconography, Anne may be recognised by her depiction in red robe and green mantle, often holding a book. Images may also be found depicting Anna holding a small Mary who in turn holds an infant Christ — more elaborate carved statuettes open up to reveal Mary inside Anna with Christ in turn inside her. Such trinitarian representations mirror similar depictions of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and were sometimes produced as pairs.
In late medieval times, legend held that Anne was married three times, first to Joachim, then to Clopas and finally to a man named Solomas and that each marriage produced one daughter, Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Clopas and Mary Salomae respectively. This view however was rejected in the 16th century by the most prominent Catholic theologians.
In the 4th century, and then much later in the 15th century, a belief arose that Mary was born of Anne by virgin birth. Those believers included the 16th century mystic Valentine Weigel who claimed Anne conceived Mary by the power of the Holy spirit. This was condemned as an error by the Catholic Church in 1677. However, it is held, of course, that birth of Jesus from Mary was indeed a virgin birth.
Her feast day is 26 July (Western calendar) and 25 July (Eastern calendar).
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