St. Anne

St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ, is a figure whose life is primarily documented through apocryphal writings such as the *Protevangelium of James* and the *Evangelium de nativitate Mariae*. Born in Bethlehem, she married Joachim, and they lived a devout life in Nazareth. The couple, initially barren, prayed fervently for a child, and an angel announced that Anne would conceive a child who would be renowned throughout the world. This child was Mary, whom they dedicated to God's service by presenting her at the Temple of Jerusalem when she was three years old. St. Anne's cult was prominent in the Eastern Church by the 4th century, and her devotion was introduced to Rome in the early 8th century. In the Western Church, her feast day, July 26, began to be celebrated in the 16th century. St. Anne is revered as a patron saint of mothers, women in labor, and grandparents. Her legacy is marked by numerous churches built in her honor, including one in Jerusalem around 550 AD. Despite the lack of direct New Testament references, St. Anne's influence on Christian tradition is significant, with her veneration spreading across Europe and beyond. Her canonization date is not formally documented, but her recognition as a saint is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition.