Very often, turning to the icons of St. Anne or with a prayer for help and protection, ignorant believers are not exactly sure which Anna they are trying to make contact with. This leads to the fact that the prayers remain unheard, and their faith is questioned. Let's look at all the famous saints named Anna, as well as their area of protection.
Saint Anna, mother of the Virgin
In memory of the holy righteous Anna are dedicated on December 22, August 7 and September 22 in a new style. Saint Anna comes from the family of Aaron, and her husband, Saint Joachim, comes from the house of King David himself, from where, according to ancient legends, the Messiah was to come. The couple lived in Nazareth and monthly gave part of the proceeds for the construction of the Jerusalem temple, as well as donations to the poor.
Unfortunately, God did not give a pair of children to a very old age, about which the spouses were incredibly mourned. It is known that among Jews, childless families are considered the most unhappy, and infertility is called the grave punishment of God. However, the saints did not give up and fervently prayed for the appearance of offspring. Joachim went to the wilderness and spent 40 long days there praying for a miracle, but Anna blamed herself for their misfortune, she also asked the Lord to give her a child, promising to bring him a gift to God.
The prayers of the spouses were heard, an angel came down to them and announced the miracle. Thus, in Jerusalem, the couple had a daughter - the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to legend, the holy righteous Anna died in old age in Jerusalem before the Annunciation. The first temple in honor of the saint was built in Devter, and her assumption is celebrated on August 7. Prayers to St. Anne are offered during infertility, as well as in case of complications during pregnancy, in order to find healthy offspring. Like St. Anna, Mary, her daughter, began to live a godly life and was fortunate enough to bring into the light of Jesus Christ our savior.
Princess Anna Kashinskaya
Among Russian saints, Anna Kashinskaya occupies a special place. It is known that every saint has one or another virtue, which can be given to those who worship them. Anna's virtue is patience - one of the most valuable qualities of Christians, without which further spiritual development is impossible.
Saint Anne had many sorrows. She devoted her whole life to God, eventually becoming a nun. Great-grandfather of the saint, Vasily of Rostov, gave his life for faith, refusing to change Orthodoxy. Saint Anna of Kashinskaya also lived at a time when Christians were subjected to all kinds of persecution: during the time of the Yoke of the Horde.
All the misfortunes that befell Anna and her family simply cannot be counted. It all started with the death of her father. Then the grand-ducal tower with all the property was destroyed by fire. After some time, Anna’s husband, Mikhail, became seriously ill. Death passed him by, but touched the first-born of the spouses - their daughter Theodora died even in infancy. Finally, the misfortune befell Prince Michael: the Horde tortured him to death, trying to force his idols to be accepted.
Tests and sorrows of the princess
On this test of faith and patience of the saint did not end. One by one, her close and dear people died: first her eldest son, who tried to avenge the death of his father, then the second son and grandson died during the uprising in Tver. After that, Anna decided to leave as a nun, going to her own monastery. There, she devoted the rest of her life to offering prayers for the tranquility of the souls of her near and dear ones, as well as for the liberation of the Russian land.
In 1368, St. Anna Kashinskaya died and was buried in the Assumption Monastery. For a long time, her tomb was left without proper attention, but rumors of miracles from the relics of the saint reached the Patriarch, and it was decided to open them. However, even after the death of trouble, the saint did not leave, and soon she began to be considered a symbol of schismatics, as a result of which she was deprived of the status of a saint for as much as 230 years. The first cathedral of St. Anne was built in St. Petersburg in 1910.
Saint Anna Kashinsky pray before important endeavors, as well as facing troubles and temptations. They also come to her coffin before marriage and before monasticism. Saint Anna, the patroness of orphans and widows, blesses every Christian soul who seeks help.
Righteous Anna the Prophetess
The holy righteous Anna, daughter of Fanuel, was an unusually virtuous woman. Having married early, but having lived with her husband for only 7 years, she devoted the rest of her life to God, adhered to strict fasting and prayed relentlessly. For her restrained and modest life, as well as for her unwavering faith, the saint was awarded the gift of foresight. It is noteworthy that she was the only woman named in the New Testament as the Prophetess.
At the age of 84, St. Anna the Prophetess was honored to see Jesus in one of the temples of Jerusalem. The baby was brought for consecration to God, and Anna, along with Simeon the God-Receiver, proclaimed him the Messiah.
In memory of St. Anne dedicated on February 3 and 16, and also on September 10. This saint is considered the patroness and protector of infants. If your child is sick, address with a sincere prayer to the icon of St. Anna - and you will see a real miracle. Also, St. Anna the Prophetess helps to heal from infertility, sorrow and temptations. Girls born with this name should carry the holy icon with them in order to protect themselves from all evil and temptations.
Church of St. Anne in Jerusalem
The main church dedicated to St. Anne is, of course, located in Jerusalem, on the spot where Anna gave birth to Mary. The church was built in 1142, but it was perfectly preserved, contrary to expectations. Queen Melisande strongly supported the construction, being a spiritual follower of St. Bernard Klervovsky. For her good deeds, the queen was honored to be buried in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin.
In 1187, the crusaders were expelled from Jerusalem, and many churches suffered destruction, but the church of St. Anne survived. In 1856, the church was donated to Napoleon III for help in the Crimean War, and then was transferred to the “White Fathers” - the monastic brotherhood.
Later, the church was restored by M. Mouse, who restored the spirit of the Crusader era. In 1954, Philippe Kappelen, a French sculptor, built the main altar. On both sides of it, as well as on the pediment, the most important events in Mary's life are depicted: an introduction to the Temple, training, the Annunciation, and others. Noteworthy is the underground crypt, in which you can go down from the basilica. It is she who is considered the main holy place of the church.
Miracles occur even when leaving the church. Not far from the shrine, at the Sheep Gate, there is another noteworthy place: the reservoir, where Jesus once performed the miracle of healing. The water from the font was considered sacred, and many sick people sent from the temple were awaiting divine healing here.
Miraculous source
The small Ukrainian village of Onishkivtsi is always ready to receive guests: here is the famous healing spring that helped a lot of people get rid of ailments. The source is located near the monastery of St. Righteous Anna, and therefore bears her name. Gradually flowing out into a small lake, he grants healing from infertility, so hundreds of women come to St. Nicholas Monastery in order to ask for a miracle.
According to ancient legends, the holy lake of Anne arose not without divine help. First, a church was built in its place, which was destroyed during the invasion of the Tatars. After some time, it was restored, and the place was marked by the appearance of the image of St. Anne. The icon was brought to the temple, but the next day they found that it had moved to the place of appearance. This miracle happened several times, after which a chapel was built on this site. Some time later, the holy spring scored .
During the time of total atheism, the church was again destroyed, and the source was covered with earth and covered with concrete slabs. However, sacred water broke out, and the peasants cleared a place for the return of the lake.
Now, on the site of the lake, a whole bathhouse has been built, with separate cabins for men and women. It is noteworthy that the temperature of the lake does not change, regardless of the time of year. In summer, the water does not heat up, and in winter it does not freeze ...
Gothic Cathedral in Vilnius
This church is considered a true masterpiece of late Gothic. The small cathedral looks so fragile and miniature that it attracts much more enthusiastic looks than the huge church of St. Bernard standing behind it. Who exactly and in what period of time built this cathedral is not exactly known, but it looks so dazzling that Napoleon himself wanted to transfer it to Paris.
Now the famous Church of St. Anne is considered one of the symbols of Vilnius. If you look at the main facade of the cathedral, you will find the letters "A" and "M", which may mean "Ave Maria" or "Anna Mater Maria". According to some experts, the facade composition imitates the pillars of the Gediminids, the tops of which are 3 small turrets.
In the 19th century, a bell tower was built near the church, made in a pseudo-Gothic style. Now a beautiful park is set up near the church, where everyone can sit in the shade of trees or lie on the grass, enjoying the beauty of the cathedral. For tourists there are special tours lasting one and a half or 3 hours, including with Russian guides.
Church in Augsburg
The church, along with a small monastery, was erected in the very center of the city in 1321, after which it was restored and reconstructed many times. By 1420, thanks to donations, the monastery of St. Anne doubled its original area. A jeweler chapel was built, and then a Fugger chapel. It belonged to one of the most influential families of the city and was almost the first building in the Renaissance style.
One of the attractions of the church is the Martin Luther Museum. Its history dates back to 1518, when Luther arrived in the city for a theological conversation with the cardinal himself. As a result of this meeting, the papal legate planned to arrest the partisan leader. However, after the meeting, Luther secretly left the city. In 1551, a new history of the temple began, where the school, and then the gymnasium of St. Anne, opened. A little time later, the city architect erected a new building specifically for the gymnasium with a library and a church tower with a spire.
Church decorations
In the 16th century, the church became the owner of a unique collection of paintings that can be seen there to this day. Some of the works of art belong to the hand of the great German master Lucas Cranach the Elder. As for the artistic component of the design of the temple, there is something to see for both pilgrims and ordinary tourists who are not members of the Christian faith. Firstly, you should pay attention to the murals on the ceiling, made in the Rococo and Baroque styles. Numerous murals and stucco depict such great events as Judgment Day, Crucifixion and Sermon on the Mount.
Built entirely on donations, the Jewelers chapel was expanded and decorated with frescoes depicting King Herod. According to the plot, the king turns to the warlocks with a request to find out the whereabouts of Jesus. Also, frescoes depict Jesus himself, the Magi, Saints Helena, George and Christopher.
Mount Athos of St. Anne
Greece has one of the most popular pilgrimage sites dedicated to St. Anne. The Athos monastery has a miraculous icon that protects motherhood. It is known that thousands of people after prayers in front of the icon received children, and Saint Anna helped them. The icon has been standing here since ancient times, as evidenced by an old lamp with an egg, standing next to the icon.
It turns out that the Turkish Sultan presented this lamp as a gift to the monastery over 200 years ago! The history of this gift is extremely interesting. The fact is that the Sultan Limnu was childless, and, as mentioned earlier, among Muslims infertility is like a curse on the whole family. Time passed, the Sultan was gradually aging, and there was still no hope of gaining offspring. Then he heard rumors that a miraculous icon was standing in the Athos monastery, helping parents to find children. And the sultan without hesitation sent generous gifts to the monastery with a request to bring him holy water and oil from the lamp.
However, the pilgrims thought: “How do we hand the shrine to a person who does not even profess Christianity?” And they poured oil. However, the sultan believed in the power of the icon and again demanded that the pilgrims fulfill their request. Confused, the pilgrims went for advice to the fathers of the monastery. "What do we do? they asked. “If we do not fulfill the request of the Sultan, he will execute us!” And the fathers answered: “Then take him plain butter and plain water.”
It was decided to do so. Believing in the miraculous power of the icon, the sultan drank ordinary water from a stream and began to pray desperately, because Saint Anna became his last hope. The icon really helped, and soon a miracle happened: the Sultan received the long-awaited son! Full of gratitude, the Sultan sent a lamp adorned with a precious stone. However, soon the thieves stole the stone, and the Sultan sent in his place a silver egg.
For prayer to gain strength ...
Many people refuse to believe in God just because they do not receive answers to their prayers. But what if it is the fault of the worshipers themselves? The fact is that very often we are too focused on our own sorrows to pay due respect and attention to the greatness of the Lord to whom we turn. When we focus only on our own needs, our prayer loses its strength. The main condition for the success of any prayer is trust in the love and power of God who wants to help us.
For prayer to be strong, it is necessary to consider it in the light of the grace of God, then we can ascend to it, and the prayer will be heard. Learn to “meet” with God in every prayer. After all, we crave a meeting with loved ones and relatives, and most often we just want something from God. However, God is not like a seller. He grants goodness to those who truly believe and long for the presence of the Lord in their lives.
Using the example of the sultan, one can judge that the faith of a person is not so much important as the sincerity of his prayers and motives. Therefore, even if the “unfaithful” sincerely turns to God and asks for his participation in his life, the Lord will answer his prayers.