St. Anne (Patmos)

St. Anna was born of the priestly tribe of Levi, and lived a devout and very charitable life as St Joachim's wife for 50 years but remained childless. At that time, if a couple did not bear children it was considered a disgrace and a lack of blessing from God. Then God heard their supplications and sent Archangel Gabriel to give them the assurance that she would conceive and bear "A daughter most blessed....through whom will come the salvation of the world". From them was born the Most Holy Virgin Mary.
 
They raised the child until she was three when they brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem, where the Theotokos would dedicate herself to God alone. When St. Anne was later widowed, she went also to live in the Temple. She lived long enough to see and hold her daughter's Divine Son in her arms, and then left this world at the age of 79. 
Those who have a hard time conceiving children would often pray to St. Anna for help. Here in the icon shows young Virgin Mary presents her mother, St Anne with a blossoming flower to represent her future child Jesus Christ. 
 
This icon is from Patmos , a small island in Greece. It was reproduced in a small monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the beautiful southwest of Wisconsin USA. It is believe to be the largest selection of historical icons produced and distributed anywhere in the world. 
 
Size : 14 x 18 cm