According to the ancient tradition known as the “Gospel of James”, Anne, the mother of Mary, was born in Bethlehem—the very place where Jesus would later be born. She married Joachim of Nazareth, and together they lived a prosperous life in Jerusalem.
However, after twenty years of marriage, they remained childless. Filled with sorrow, they prayed earnestly and vowed to dedicate their child to God if blessed with one. Despite their constant prayers, no child came for many years.
One day, an angel appeared to Joachim, saying that God had heard their prayers. He assured Joachim that Anne would bear a daughter who would be named Mary and dedicated to God.
At the same time, Anne also received the angel’s message and was told to meet Joachim at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem. Their joyful reunion marked the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Anne later gave birth to a daughter, Mary, who would become the mother of Jesus.
The life of St. Anne and St. Joachim reminds families of the importance of faith, patience, and traditional values. It teaches the younger generation to respect the wisdom and experience of elders and to cherish the deeper meaning of life.