Saint Anna, Mother of the Prophet Samuel

Life

Anna was the wife of Elkanah, from Ramathaim or Arimathea (1 Sam. 1). She bore no children, for she was barren, because of which she grieved bitterly and wept. But the merciful God took pity on her and removed her barrenness because of her unceasing sighs and prayers. And Anna bore a son, Samuel, and consecrated him to God from his very childhood. This was Samuel, the great leader of the people of Israel and a prophet, who anointed two kings, Saul and David. And Saint Anna sang a song of thanksgiving to God, a song wondrous in wisdom and beauty, which to this very day is used in divine services in the church (1 Sam. 2:1).