The parents of the Virgin Mary, Joachim and Anna, hold a significant place in Christian tradition, despite their names not being mentioned in the canonical Gospels. Most accounts about them originate from apocryphal texts, particularly the Protoevangelium of James (2nd century CE). According to these sources, Joachim was a descendant of King David, while Anna belonged to the Levitical tribe. They were righteous and devout individuals who remained faithful to God despite enduring a long period of childlessness. During prayer, an angel appeared to each of them separately, announcing the birth of a daughter who would become the Mother of the Savior. This miraculous event was part of God’s divine plan for humanity’s salvation.

Iconography

In Ukrainian sacred art, Joachim and Anna are often depicted in scenes associated with the Virgin Mary. The most common representations include:

• Icons of “The Virgin Mary with Praise”: Joachim and Anna are typically shown in the lower central register among prophets of the Old Testament, who foretold the coming of the Virgin and the Savior.
• Icons of “The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary by St. Anne”: These portray the apocryphal account of the Virgin’s conception. Such icons often depict shoots growing from the bodies of Joachim and Anna, merging into a single blooming branch with a bud containing the Virgin Mary. Unlike Muscovite icons, where the Virgin is usually depicted as a miniature adult figure, Ukrainian icons represent her as a young girl with loose hair, symbolizing her innocence and unmarried state.
• “The Meeting at the Golden Gate”: A common iconographic theme that illustrates the reunion of Joachim and Anna in Jerusalem following the angelic announcement.

Anna is frequently depicted in a light red maphorion, and from the 17th century onward, her head is often covered with a white kerchief, distinguishing her from the Virgin Mary, traditionally shown in a dark purple maphorion. Her typical attribute is a lily flower, symbolizing purity. Joachim, portrayed as an elderly man with a short, rounded beard, often holds a staff as his identifying attribute.

Mykhailo Skop

Icons of The Meeting at the Golden Gate
Icons of The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary by St. Anne