The righteous Anna was the daughter of Matthew and was from the tribe of Levi on her father's side, and from the tribe of Judah on her mother's side. The holy righteous Joachim, her husband, the son of Varpafir, was a descendant of King David, to whom God promised that the Savior of the world would be born from the seed of his descendants. The couple lived in Nazareth of Galilee. They did not have children until a very old age and grieved for it all their lives. They had to endure contempt and ridicule, since at that time violence was considered a disgrace. But they never murmured and only fervently prayed to God, humbly trusting in His Will.
One day, during a great feast, the gifts that the righteous Joachim took to Jerusalem to offer to God were not accepted by the priest Reuben, who believed that a childless husband was unworthy to sacrifice to God. This made the elder very sad, and he, considering himself the most sinful of people, decided not to return home, but to settle alone in a deserted place. His righteous wife Anna, having learned what humiliation her husband had suffered, began to mournfully ask God in fasting and prayer for the gift of her child. In solitary solitude and fasting, the righteous Joachim also asked God for the same thing. And the prayer of the holy spouses was heard: an Angel announced to both of them that a Daughter would be born to them, whom the whole human race would bless.
By the command of the Heavenly Messenger, the righteous Joachim and Anna met in Jerusalem, where, according to God's promise, they had a Daughter, named Mary. Saint Joachim passed away a few years after the introduction of his Blessed Daughter into the temple, at the age of 80. Saint Anna died at the age of 79, two years after him, having spent them at the temple, next to her Daughter.
During the reign of the Holy King Justinian (527-565), a temple was built in her honor in Devtera, and Emperor Justinian II (685-695; 705-711) renovated her temple because the righteous Anna appeared to his pregnant wife; at the same time, her body and the maforium (veil) were transferred to Constantinople.