Saint Anna Grandmother of the Jesus Christ Byzantine Style Body Icon. Certified 585 Rose Gold

Finely detailed Byzantine style body icon 'Saint Anna, Mother of the All-holy Theotokos' in rose gold. Image of the Saint is lovingly created by Russian master jeweler who gave it a life like appearance and depicts Her in all Her glory. Inscription in Russian 'Святая Праведница Анна, Моли Бога о нас' ('Saint Venerable Anna, Pray for us') on the reverse side, making pendant a holy item of orthodox faith. Dimensions (with bail): 21mm (13/16 inch) in height by 11mm (7/16 inch) in width. An exquisitely perfect, it may be considered as either a women's body icon or a children's body icon. Laser cutwork jewelry technique over textured 585 gold. Made in Kostroma, Russia.

Life of the Saint: Anna was the daughter of Matthan the priest, from the lineage of Levi, as was Aaron the high priest. Anna married Joachim in Nazareth, and in old age gave birth to Mary, the Most-holy Theotokos. Joachim and Anna had lived together in marriage for fifty years, and yet had lived remained barren. Once when in their old age they came to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice to God, God sent His angel who announced to them the birth of "a daughter most-blessed, by whom all nations on earth will be blessed and through whom the salvation of the world will come". Anna straightway conceived, and in nine months gave birth to the Holy Virgin Mary. St. Joachim lived for eighty years and Anna lived for seventy-nine, at which time they reposed in the Lord. The very first Church built in her glory goes back to the year 550 AD.