Sept 8:
The Feast of the Nativity (Birth) of the Most Holy Theotokos
Every year on Sept. 8 the Church commemorates the birth of the Most Holy and Pure Theotokos. There is no scriptural reference for this feast since it recounts events that the evangelists did not record in the four gospels. Soon after Jesus' death numerous writings circulated throughout Palastine and Syria that contained sayings and the words of the Lord. By early 100 A.D four of these accounts (the four gospels) were accepted for use in the Church. The other stories were retold but were never accepted. One should not be alarmed that this feast is not recorded in the scriptures. The early Christians accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and redeemer and naturally they would hold his mother (Mary) in high regard and re-tell stories about her life too. She was the one who said "yes" to God when he promised that she would bear a son called Jesus (Lk. ch. 1-2).
According to the hymnography of the Church both Joachim and Anna were elderly and Anna was barren:
Although by the will of God other women who were barren have brought forth from famous offspring, yet among all such children Mary has shone most brightly with divine glory. For herself born wondrously of a barren mother, she bore in the flesh the God of all, in fashion surpassing nature, from a womb without seed. She is the only gateway of the Only-Begotten Son of God, who passed through this gate, yet kept it closed; and having ordered all things in His own wisdom He has brought salvation for all mankind.
Today Anna the barren gives birth to the child of God, foreordained from all generations to be the habitation of the King and Maker of all, Christ our God, in fulfillment of the divine dispensation. Through her we children of earth have been formed anew, and restored from corruption to life without end.
The Lord worked through Anna in order to give her Mary who was foreordained (or pre-ordained) to give birth to Jesus. The word "foreordained" is not the same as fate. Christians do not believe in fate. According to Webster's Dictionary fate is, "the cause beyond man's control that is held to determine events." Both Anna and Mary allowed the Lord to work through them and let his will be done in their lives. The Lord never forced his will on them. We have been "restored from corruption to life without end" because both Anna and Mary said "yes" to the Lord.
However, in order to work through Anna and Mary there was a long time of preparation. The Lord worked through Moses, Abraham, Issac, Sarah, Rachel, and Deborah. Each person in their own way said "yes" to the Lord and allowed the Lord to work through them. All of the time, effort, and waiting finally culminated in Anna and her daughter Mary.