The Blessed Virgin Mary was born to old parents Joachim and Anna. Her father was from the tribe of David, and her mother was from the tribe of Aaron. She was of royal descent by her father, and of the archbishopric lineage by her mother, thus prefiguring the One who would be born from her, the Emperor and High Priest. Already old, Joachim and Anna fervently prayed to God to give them a child, to make them happy as he once made Abraham and Sarah happy by giving them a son, Isaac. And God blessed them, gave them more gifts than they could have dreamed of, not only a daughter but also the Mother of God. Born in Nazareth, after three years the Blessed Virgin was taken to the Jerusalem temple, to return to Nazareth where she soon heard the good news from the Archangel Gabriel that she would give birth to the Son of God.
Feast of the Holy Virgin of Kaliska. Feast of the icon of the Holy Virgin of Pochajevska.