Saints Anne and Joachim (flourished 1st century bce) were the parents of the Virgin Mary, according to tradition derived from apocryphal writings.
Anne (Hebrew: Ḥannah) was born in Bethlehem in Judaea, and Joachim was born in Nazareth. They married, and, although they shared a wealthy and devout life at Nazareth, they eventually lamented their childlessness. Joachim, reproached at the Temple of Jersualem for his sterility, retreated into the countryside to pray, while Anne, grieved by his disappearance and by her barrenness, solemnly promised God that, if given a child, she would dedicate it to the Lord’s service. Both received the vision of an angel, who announced that Anne would conceive and bear a most wondrous child. The couple rejoiced at the birth of their daughter, whom Anne named Mary.