Excerpt from an Encomium on the Ancestors of God, Sts. Joachim and Anna

The Most-Holy Theotokos as a newborn, being embraced by her parents, Sts. Joachim and Anna (source)

 
Excerpt from an Encomium on the Ancestors of God, Sts. Joachim and Anna (by Kosma Vestitoros)

Therefore, the world is not worthy of these truly blessed birthgivers of the Mother of God, for through them, the Prophets were shown to be true regarding the incarnation of Christ. The Apostles, through their daughter, were shown to be sons of the Light, the Saints, for they martyrically were crowned, the Venerable and Righteous, as the inheritors of the good things to come, the sinners, as those shown mercy through the intercessions of the Ever-virgin Theotokos.

To them, therefore, let us cry out in thanksgiving:

Hail, O all-sacred Father Joachim, our hope after God, through the grace of the fruit of your loins.

Hail, O all-precious Mother Anna, the Mother of our life; glory to your womb.

Hail, O Father, tiller of many-seeded offspring.

Hail, O Mother of our salvation.

Hail, O Father, servant of the heavenly cluster of grapes.

Hail, O Mother, the good earth which yielded fruit a hundred-fold.

Hail, O Father, the sower of the spiritual paradise.

Hail, O Mother, the rock containing the pure emerald.

Hail, O Father, who opened the life-pouring spring.

Hail, O Mother, who was refreshed of the thirst for the bearing of children.

Our mouth is filled with the hymning of your excelling holiness. But we are not worthy even to hymn this godly pair, if it were not for the voice of Christ, their grandson according to the flesh, who even more greatly hymns them, saying: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in the Heavens.” For you, O Saints, because of your bareness, were disdained, and heard evil words, but after a short time, you rejoiced with the bearing of a child. And it is sufficient to praise you, as you bore the Mother of God. For truly, as worthy and Righteous ones, you were ordained to give birth to the Theotokos, and become the ancestors of Christ, according to the flesh.

   

(amateur translation of text from source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!