A Quasi-Fictitious Saint

 You've heard of St. Paul, St. Patrick, and St. Nicholas, but you've probably never heard of St. Anne. Why? Because, well, she's a little fictitious.

The Legend of St. Anne

Long ago, devout Christians began to wonder, "What were the grandparents of Jesus like?" Ultimately, legends emerged, and Mary's parents were given the names of Anne and Joachim, an elderly couple who longed for a child. One day, an angel answered their prayers, and said, "The Lord has looked with favor on your tears. You will conceive and give birth, and the fruit of your womb shall be blessed by all the world." They didn't know it when they first held Mary in their arms, but they were holding the very person through whom God would bring his only Son into our world.

Why Name Your Church After Her?

Did it really happen that way? Probably not, but that's okay. Even if the details are a little off, the example of St. Anne describes our church well. You see, St. Anne gave Mary to the world, and Mary gave Jesus. At St. Anne's Episcopal Church, we do the same thing. Like Anne, we nurture people within our walls to live loving, giving, faithful, compassionate, sincere lives. And by living those lives, our members, like Mary, bring Christ into the world each and every day.

St. Anne's Feast Day

We celebrate Anne and Joachim's annual feast day on the Sunday before July 26 with a festive Sunday service and fun on the grounds. We do not pray to or worship Anne (or Mary for that matter), but we look to her example as we strive to serve God in faithfulness and love.

Learn more about St. Anne by reading Fr. Lonnie's sermon "And Just Who Was St. Anne, Anyway?"