When it is said
The Church sings it on 9 December, the feast of St Anna’s conception of the Mother of God, at Vespers, Matins and the Liturgy.
In the Greek service books it is the day’s apolytikion, its main troparion.
Where it comes from
No author known
Joachim and Anna’s prayer
The hymns of 9 December tell how Joachim and Anna lived faithfully under the Law of Moses and had no child. One of them gives the couple a prayer of their own, in which they tell God, “Thou knowest the pain, reproach and grief of childlessness. Wherefore, grant us fruit of the womb.” This troparion sings of the day God answered them.
English Menaion for 9 December, All-Saints Eastern Orthodox Church
Hannah on the same day
The Orthodox Church remembers the prophetess Hannah on 9 December too. Like Anna, she longed for a child for years. She wept as she prayed at Shiloh, and the son she was given was the prophet Samuel.
OCA, troparia and kontakia for 9 December; 1 Samuel 1:10-20
The Scripture in it
The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Greek
Σήμερον τῆς ἀτεκνίας δεσμὰ διαλύονται·
τοῦ Ἰωακεὶμ γὰρ καὶ τῆς Ἄννης εἰσακούων Θεός,
παρ' ἐλπίδα τεκεῖν αὐτοὺς σαφῶς,
ὑπισχνεῖται θεόπαιδα,
ἐξ ἧς αὐτός ἐτέχθη ὁ ἀπερίγραπτος,
βροτὸς γεγονώς,
δι' Ἀγγέλου κελεύσας βοῆσαι αὐτῇ.
Χαῖρε Κεχαριτωμένη,
ὁ Κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.