“Anne, with the wisdom of God you carried in your womb the pure Mother of God, Who gave birth to Life itself. Therefore, you passed into heavenly happiness, the dwelling place of all those who rejoice. Now in glory and joy, you pray for the forgiveness of sins for those who honor you with love, O ever-blessed one.”  (Tropar)

Our Ukrainian Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Dormition of St. Anne on July 25^th on the Gregorian calendar and on August 7^th on the Julian calendar. St. Anne is a role model for motherhood. We honor her qualities, maternal traits, of love, prayerfulness, perseverance and self-sacrifice. Thereby, many today regard St. Anne  as a patron for all women, but especially for those seeking healing from infertility.

For many years, Anne along with her husband Joachim fervently prayed that God would bless them with the birth of a child. Joachim and Anne were already much older with many giving up hope that they could bear a child. Nonetheless, their prayers remained constant and fervent. And one day, God did grant that Anne would bear a child in her old age. By God’s favor the pious Anne bore in her womb, Mary the Holy Theotokos Who would one day give birth to Life itself, the long-awaited and foretold Messiah, Jesus Christ Our Lord.

The righteous Anne helped prepare Mary to grow and develop in the faith. This Anne did by means of instruction, by word and by example. Her patient reliance upon God enabled Anne to prepare Mary to one day conceive and give birth to Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. And in passing from this life to eternal life, Anne would be counted worthy of entry into the eternal kingdom of Heaven after the Lord opened wide the gates to Heaven following His rising from the dead.

In the words of the Prokimen for the Feast: “God is wonderful in His saints, the God of Israel.”

Rev. D. George Worschak