St. Hannah, Mother of the Prophet Samuel

Commemorated on December 9

The Holy Prophetess Hannah dwelt in marriage with Elkanah, but she was childless. Elkanah took to himself another wife, Phennena, who bore him children. Hannah grieved strongly over her misfortune, and every day she prayed for an end to her barrenness, vowing to dedicate her child to God.

She went to the Temple and prayed fervently, but the priest Heli thought that she was drunk and began to reproach her. But Hannah poured out her grief, and after she received a blessing, she returned home. After this, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel (which means “Asked from God”).

When the child reached the age of boyhood, his mother presented him to the priest Heli, and Samuel remained with him to serve before the Tabernacle (1 Kings/1 Samuel 2: 1-21).

By permission of www.wikipedia.org