ad5ae247-fe57-4a65-a021-90e6fb89368e, MARY KNEW - A Biography of Mary from Ancient Scriptures

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CHAPTER 1
MARY’S PARENTS

Joachim and Anna were beloved, pious and highly respected citizens who lived in the village of Nazareth in the Province of Galilee. They dedicated their child to God before her conception. She was named Mary and ordained by God before her conception to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Savior of humanity and the Messiah. 
	The name Joachim means “God prepares.” The name Anna means “grace.” It is fitting that their names meant “God prepares grace.” Unknown to them, their lives were in preparation for the existence of the Son of God on Earth.
 	At the time this story begins, Joachim and Anna had been happily married over forty years and lived quiet lives. They were devout and humble citizens living in a noisy and dusty peasant village. Financially, Joachim was in the upper echelon of the upper class in the Province of Galilee. Their small hamlet of Nazareth in lower Galilee, a few miles south of the larger village of Sepphoris, had a population of about four hundred. It was a Jewish enclave. Neither village had a synagogue.
	Like most happy couples, Anna and Joachim spent much time conversing over the evening meal before moving to their rooftop patio. A colorful and large cloth awning had been stretched across the patio to provide shade during the heat of the day. A short wall had been built around their patio for safety. They often spent Sabbaths there resting and relaxing in the gentle breezes. It was also used for recreation, sleeping and devotion. Evening rituals on the patio included resting on pillows or sitting on chairs while watching sunsets from the higher vantage point.
They usually conversed in common Greek with one another. Common Greek was easy for both Jews and gentiles to understand. They spoke in Aramaic with their servants and merchants.
When servants were informed the couple was going to the roof top patio after dinner, they would lay out a pitcher of cool water and one of wine on the patio. A tray with fruit, bread and goat cheese would be placed on a low table and covered with a light cloth to keep out insects. The contents of the tray provided snacks if Anna and Joachim so desired. When the sky darkened to a deep blue, servants would light hand-sized ceramic oil lamps resting at the top of the stairwell. The wicks were of flax. When there were guests, lamps with many wicks for brighter light were used.