Meeting
of Joahim and Anna by the Golden Gates
by Konrad
Witz |
Protoevangelium of James
names St.
Joachim the husband of St.
Anne and the father of Virgin Mary. He was a rich man in Jerusalem.
After twenty years of marriage to Anne they still remained childless. Once
when Joachim came to the Temple on a feast day to make an offering, he was
turned away by the high priest for being childless. Much ashamed Joachim
did not return home, instead he spent the night with his shepherds in the
desert, where an angel appeared to him and foretold that Anne would give
birth to a daughter, who should be called Mary. The girl, in her turn, would
become the mother of Jesus, 'Son of the Most High.' As proof Joachim was
to meet his wife at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem. The angel then appeared
to Anne with a similar message. |
