Saint Anne
Greek icon of Saint Anne and Mary, by Angelos Akotantos
Mother of the Virgin, Mystic, Maternal Heroine, Woman of Amram
Born	c. 1st century B.C.E.
Honored in	Christianity Islam Aglipayan Church
Feast	July 26 (Western calendar) and July 25 (Eastern calendar)
Attributes	Book, door, with Mary, Jesus or Joachim
Patronage	carpenters; childless people; equestrians; grandparents; homemakers/housewives; lace makers; lost articles; Fasnia(Tenerife); Mainar; Detroit; miners; mothers; moving house; old-clothes dealers; poverty; pregnancy; seamstresses; stablemen; sterility

Saint Anne (also Ann or Anna, from Hebrew Hannah חַנָּה, meaning "favor" or "grace") of David's house and line, was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ according to Christian and Islamic tradition. English Anne is derived from Greek rendering of her Hebrew name Hannah. Mary's mother is not named in the canonical gospels or the Qur'an, and her name and that of her husband Joachim come only from New Testament apocrypha, of which the Protoevangelium of James, written perhaps around 150, seems to be the earliest that mentions them.

Church tradition[link]

The story bears a similarity to that of the birth of Samuel, whose mother Hannah had also been childless. Although Hanna receives little attention in the Western church prior to the late 12th century,^[1] dedications to Hanna in the Eastern church occur as early as the 6th century.^[2] In the Eastern Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches, she is revered as Hanna. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, Hanna, is ascribed the title Forbear of God, and both the Birth of Mary and the Dedication of Mary to the Temple are celebrated as two of the Twelve Great Feasts. The Dormition of Hanna is also a minor feast in the Eastern Church. In Protestant tradition it is held that Martin Luther chose to enter religious life as a monk after receiving heavenly aid from St. Anne.

Islamic view of Anne[link]

Anne (Arabic: Hannah) is also a revered woman in Islam and is recognized as a highly spiritual woman as well as the mother of Mary. The daughter of Faqud, Hannah was childless until her old age. She saw a bird feeding its young while sitting in the shade of a tree, which awakened her desire to have children of her own. She prayed for a child and eventually conceived. Her husband, known as Imran in the Qur'an, died before the child was born. Expecting the child to be male, Hannah vowed to dedicate him to isolation and the service in the Temple.^{[N 1][3][4]} However, Hannah bore a daughter instead, and she named her Mary. Her words ^{[N 2]} after the birth of Mary reflect her status as a great mystic. Hannah wanted a son, but she realized that the daughter was God's gift to her.^[3][4]

Legends[link]

Varying theologians have believed either that Joachim was Anne's only husband or that she was married thrice. Ancient belief, attested to by a sermon of St John Damascene, was that Anne married once. In late medieval times, legend held that Anne was married three times, first to Joachim, then to Clopas and finally to a man named Solomas and that each marriage produced one daughter: Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary of Clopas, and Mary Salomae, respectively.^[5] The sister of Saint Hanna was Sobe who was the mother of Saint Elizabeth.

Similarly, in the 4th century and then much later in the 15th century, a belief arose that Mary was born of Anne by virgin birth.^[6] Those believers included the 16th century Lutheran mystic Valentine Weigel who claimed Anne conceived Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. This belief was condemned as an error by the Catholic Church in 1677. Instead, the Church teaches that Mary was conceived in the normal fashion, but that she was miraculously preserved from original sin in order to make her fit to bear Christ. The conception of Mary free from original sin is termed the Immaculate Conception—which is frequently confused with the Virgin Birth or Incarnation of Christ.

In the fifteenth century, the Catholic cleric Johann Eck related in a sermon that St Anne's parents were named Stollanus and Emerentia. The Catholic Encyclopedia (1907) regards this genealogy as spurious.^[7]

Anne in art[link]

Fresco of Saint Anne in Serbian Orthodox church.

The iconographic subject of Joachim and Anne The Meeting at the Golden Gate fitted both views, and was a regular component of artistic cycles of the Life of the Virgin. The couple meet at the "Golden Gate" of Jerusalem and embrace. They are aware of Anne's pregnancy, of which they have been separately informed by an archangel. For those believing in the virgin birth of Mary, this moment stood for her conception, and the feast was celebrated on the same day as the Immaculate Conception. Art works representing the Golden Gate and the events leading up to it were influenced by the narrative in the widely read Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voragine. The Birth of Mary, the Presentation of Mary and the Marriage of the Virgin were usual components of cycles of the Life of the Virgin in which Anne is normally shown.

Anne is never shown as present at the Nativity of Christ, but is frequently shown with the infant Christ in various subjects. She is sometimes believed to be depicted in scenes of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the Circumcision of Christ but in the former case this likely reflects a misidentification through confusion with Anna the Prophetess. Anna is described in Luke's Gospel as a holy widow who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah at his Presentation, along with Simeon the Righteous and both frequently appear in artistic depictions of the story. There was a tradition that Anne went (separately) to Egypt and rejoined the Holy Family after their Flight to Egypt. Anne is not seen with the adult Christ, so was regarded as having died during the youth of Jesus.^[8] Anne is also shown as the matriarch of the Holy Kinship, the extended family of Jesus, a popular subject in late medieval Germany, some versions of these pictorial and sculptural depictions include Emerentia who was reputed in the 15th Century to be Anne's mother. In modern devotions, Anne and her husband are invoked for protection for the unborn.

Another typical subject has Anne teaching the Virgin Mary how to read (see gallery below).

Patronage[link]

Ann is the patron saint of the following places:^{[citation needed]} Detroit, Michigan;^[9] Brittany, France; Castelbuono, Sicily, Italy; Quebec and the Mi'kmaq peoples of Canada; Fasnia; Adjuntas, Puerto Rico; Norwich, Connecticut; Santa Ana Pueblo; Santa Ana, El Salvador; Jucuarán, El Salvador; Seama, New Mexico; Taos, New Mexico; Chiclana de la Frontera, Spain; Marsaskala; Tudela, Navarre; Philippines, where the National Shine of St. Anne is in the poblacion of Hagonoy, Bulacan,Santa Ana, Taguig City; Santana, São Paulo, Brazil; Saint Anne, Illinois; and places in Malaysia and South Vietnam. She is also the patron saint of horseback riders, housewives, grandmothers, cabinet makers, unmarried women, women in labor and miners.

Düren has been the main place of pilgrimage for Anne since 1506, when Pope Julius II decreed that her relics should be kept there.

Cities[link]

The city of Santa Ana, California was named in her honour. Many schools and places of worship are named after St Anne, the most famous being a parish church and primary school in Caversham, Reading.

Gallery[link]

• 

  Coptic, 8th century

• 

  German, 15th century. Anne holds Mary and Christ

• 

  German, 15th century, Legends of St Anne

• 

  Presentation of Mary at the Temple

• 

  German, 16th century. Relief of the St. Annes Head, Annakirche Dueren

• 

  Annunciation to Anne mosaic, 12th century, Chora Church, Istanbul

• 

  An Anna Selbdritt in the Cathedral Museum of the Church of Santiago Compostela

• 

  A Belgian Anna Selbdritt (labeled Ste Anne Trinitaire by the museum)

• 

  A Spanish Anna Selbdritt influenced ultimately by Greek "Hodegetria" icons

• AnnaSelbdrittMexico.jpg

  An Anna Selbdritt from Oaxaca, Mexico

• AnneGiuLungara.jpg

  St. Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read, Church of San Giuseppe alla Lungara, Rome

• 

  St. Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read, Church of St Andrew by the Wardrobe, London

• 

  St. Anne Teaching the Virgin to Read, Parish church of St.Ulrich in Ulrichsberg, 1722

See also[link]

• Anna (Bible)

Notes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Saint Anne

• Saint Anne at Patron Saints Index

Wikisource has the text of the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia article St. Anne.

• Brief American Catholic article on "Sts. Joachim and Ann"
• "Anna, Grandmother of Jesus" by Claire Heartsong
• St. Anne page at Christian Iconography
• "Here Followeth the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady" from the Caxton translation of the Golden Legend
• The Protevangelium of James
• The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew

Gee Atherton

Personal information
Full name	George David Atherton
Nickname	Gee, GeeMan
Born	(1985-02-26) 26 February 1985 (age 27) Salisbury, England, United Kingdom
Height	185 cm
Weight	85 kg
Team information
Current team	GT
Discipline	MTB
Role	Rider
Rider type	DH & 4X
Professional team(s)
2001 2002–2003 2004 2007–2011 2011–	Animal Animal/Muddy Fox Muddy Fox Animal Commençal GT Bicycles
Major wins
GBR DH National Champion (1 Wins) EUR DH European Champion (1 Wins) UCI DH World Champion (1 Wins) UCI DH World Cup (5 Wins) UCI 4X World Cup (1 Wins)
Medal record Competitor for  United Kingdom Mountain Bike World Championships Silver 2007 Fort William Downhill Gold 2008 Val Di Sol Downhill
Infobox last updated on 19 May 2009

Gee Atherton in the Elite Men's Dual Slalom race at the 2009 Sea Otter Classic in Laguna Seca, CA.

George David Atherton, known as Gee Atherton (born 26 February 1985, near Salisbury, England) is a professional racing cyclist specialising in downhill and four cross mountain bike racing, and is a multiple national champion, multiple World Cup winner, and 2010 downhill World Cup Champion.

Since 2007, Gee has been one third of the Animal Commençal racing team, alongside brother Dan Atherton and sister Rachel Atherton.

Gee, along with Rachael and Dan, is the star of the web series "The Atherton Project" a series which follows their day to day lives. In 2012 Gee will be racing for GT racing.

Gee appeared on the BBC's Top Gear (series 7), racing a Renault Clio down the streets of Lisbon and winning.^[1]

Palmarès[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• athertonracing.co.uk
• Atherton Racing Profiles, Silverfish
• George Atherton, Doug Cook, Descent World, 2004
• Gee Atherton Interview, British Cycling, 29 April 2006
• An interview with the Athertons, Steve Thomas, Cycling News, 6 September 2007
• Gee Atherton Wins Garbanzo Downhill, NSMB, 10 August 2008

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009)

This article is written like a personal reflection or essay rather than an encyclopedic description of the subject. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (January 2009)

Mercyful Fate
Mercyful Fate Frontman King Diamond
Background information
Origin	Copenhagen, Denmark
Genres	Heavy metal, black metal[1][2]
Years active	1981–1985, 1992–1999 (hiatus)
Labels	Combat, Roadrunner, Metal Blade, Rave On
Associated acts	Fate, Black Rose, King Diamond, Brats, Force of Evil, Memento Mori, Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars, Metallica
Website	www.covenworldwide.org
Members
King Diamond Hank Shermann Sharlee D'Angelo Bjarne T. Holm Mike Wead
Past members
Michael Denner Timi Hansen Kim Ruzz Snowy Shaw

Mercyful Fate was a Danish heavy metal band from Copenhagen. Initially active from 1981 to 1985, they reunited in 1992. The band went on hiatus again in 2000, when frontman King Diamond decided to continue his solo career. They are cited as major influences by many artists in the black metal, thrash metal, power metal, and progressive metal genres.

Biography[link]

Formation (1981-1982)[link]

Mercyful Fate was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1981^{[citation needed]} from the remaining members of Hank Shermann's band Brats and King Diamond's band Black Rose. In early 1981 they helped out Michael Denner with demos for his band Danger Zone. Soon, Shermann, Denner, Diamond, and Denner's bass player Timi "Grabber" Hansen realized their potential as a unit and started performing as Mercyful Fate. The band experienced the usual member changes for a new band, as Denner left (and later returned). In addition, the drummer position was a revolving door, but Kim Ruzz finally established himself as the drummer.

Main career and disbandment (1982-1985)[link]

In early 1982, Mercyful Fate contributed to the Ebony Records sampler Metallic Storm. Later on in the year, the band recorded their first material, The Mercyful Fate EP, on vinyl for the Dutch label Rave On. The EP was released in 1982 and included material that would later inspire the black metal genre.

Continuing the EP, the band released their debut studio album, Melissa, in 1983 and their follow-up album, Don't Break the Oath, in 1984. Both are now considered by many to be classics in both the heavy metal, power metal, and first wave black metal genres. Following the tour in support of Don't Break the Oath, which saw them play in the United States for the first time, King Diamond split ways with the band in April 1985 as a result of frustration over creative differences with Hank Shermann. With him, Diamond brought band mates Hansen and Denner to found a new band under his own name. Mercyful Fate disbanded shortly after. Diamond's new venture continued the tradition of Mercyful Fate, but with a more progressive, conceptual twist to it. In response, Shermann formed the band Fate, which pursued a more melodic rock direction.

Reunion (1992-1999)[link]

Mercyful Fate reformed in July 1992 and signed a contract with Brian Slagel's Metal Blade Records. All the original members without Kim Ruzz (replaced by Morten Nielsen) reformed and released their third studio album, In the Shadows, in 1993.^[3] The album featured a re-recording of "Return of the Vampire", with Metallica drummer, Mercyful Fate enthusiast and fellow Dane Lars Ulrich playing on the track. In the years since, the band has released four other studio albums, with the last being 9. Similar to the band's first run, members have left and been replaced; Michael Denner left and was replaced by Mike Wead, Nielsen was later replaced by Snowy Shaw who was then replaced by Bjarne Holm, Timi Hansen left quickly and was replaced by Sharlee D'Angelo. The lineup remained the same for Time and The Bell Witch EP.

Unfortunately, Michael Denner had also parted ways with the band at this point, to stay with his wife and family. His replacement was Mike Wead, who recorded with the band on Dead Again and 9, and has proven to be a sufficient replacement for Denner.

Hiatus (2000-present)[link]

Following the release of 9, King Diamond put Mercyful Fate on hold and continued his solo career. Shermann, Denner, Holm and (King Diamond Bass player) Hal Patino formed Force of Evil, which incorporates many of the themes of the original Mercyful Fate. In a March 2008 interview, King Diamond stated that Mercyful Fate is currently "hibernating", but had never split up. Though he does not know when the band will become active again, he stated "It's definitely not finished, at least in my book."^[4]

In 2008, King Diamond was approached for the use of Mercyful Fate's songs (and his own image) on the musical Guitar Hero: Metallica (as Metallica themselves cite the band as an influence and even recorded a medley of their songs simply titled "Mercyful Fate" on their cover album Garage Inc.). After King agreed, he later found out that the original master recordings of the chosen songs in question ("Evil" "Curse of the Pharaohs" and "Into the Coven") were lost. So instead of searching on the unlikeliest places, King decided to bring the almost-original lineup back together (Hank Shermann, Michael Denner and Timi Hansen with Bjarne T. Holm sitting in on drums) and they re-recorded the songs specifically for the game (though "Curse of the Pharaohs" was cut from the final game due to gameplay reasons). Around the release date of the game, a promotional single featuring both re-recordings was released by their label Metal Blade.

Asked in June 2010 what are upcoming plans for Mercyful Fate, guitarist Hank Shermann replied, "We have a DVD coming out with the early years, likely sometimes in early 2011! Should be interesting with a lot of never-before-seen footage and how it all started. I'm sure we'll record a new Mercyful Fate album in the future; we just need to get the timeframe framed and then some patience."^[5]

Semi-reunion[link]

On December 7, 2011, the original members of Mercyful Fate (King Diamond, Hank Shermann, Michael Denner, and Timi Hansen) reunited on stage at Metallica's 30th Anniversary performance at the Fillmore in San Francisco, California, where they performed a medley of their songs.^[6][7]

Melissa[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2011)

"Melissa" is the name of a skull King Diamond used to carry on stage, and also a fictional deceased witch that appears in three songs. Before the recordings of the album Melissa, King Diamond had acquired a human skeleton that he named "Melissa". He used the femur bones to make his trademark microphone handle. The skull was apparently stolen during a show in the Netherlands in the mid-1980s. In August 2006, it was rumored that the skull had been returned, but these rumours were false.^[8]

The skull was inspiration behind the album Melissa, and the title track of the album is very different from the rest of the album, as it is much slower than the other songs (which are speedier and more aggressive). The lyrics tell of a male protagonist (usually identified as King Diamond himself by fans) who lost the love of his life, who was a witch who was burnt at the stake by a Catholic priest. The story builds itself up around the emotions of the protagonist, who first feels sadness and uncertainty, hope for her to still be alive, and then rage over his loss. He swears revenge on the priest who burnt her, proclaiming he must die in the name of hell. The song ends with a whisper that hints Melissa's spirit is still with the protagonist. The other songs contain themes and events that hint and relate to Melissa's burning, in effect gathering every song in a loose concept & overall context.

The second song Melissa appears on the album Don't Break the Oath in the song "Come to the Sabbath", once again at the climax of the album. The lyrics tell about a Satanic coven holding a sabbath, in which the protagonist emerges to perform a ritual to "put an evil curse on the priest who took the life of Melissa". Though she is not the focus of the lyrics this time, because of her mention the song is known as a "Melissa song". Additionally, one of the main characters on the King Diamond album "Them" was named "Missy", which is a common diminutive of Melissa.

The final song Melissa appears in is on Mercyful Fate's reunion album In the Shadows on the song "Is That You, Melissa?". The lyrics tell of the protagonist once again in sorrow about the loss of his love. He begins to hear her voice and goes to the coven to have them perform a ritual to speak with her ghost. The coven objects, saying it is against the rules. The protagonist is visited by Melissa's spirit who shares a kiss with the protagonist. The subject of the song is argued by some; one side says the lyrics are not a continuation of the Melissa story but a tribute by the band to their past, while the other side sees it as the end of the Melissa story. She is the girl on the album cover of "In the Shadows" facing the old oak tree. After In the Shadows, Melissa has not been mentioned any more in both lyrics and artwork.

Members[link]

Current members[link]

• King Diamond - vocals, keyboard (1981–1985, 1992–present)
• Hank Shermann - guitar (1981–1985, 1992–present)
• Sharlee D'Angelo - bass (1993–present)
• Bjarne T. Holm - drums (1994–present)
• Mike Wead - guitar (1996–present)

Former members[link]

• Michael Denner - guitar (1981, 1982–1985, 1992–1996, 2008)
• Timi Hansen - bass (1981–1985, 1992–1993, 2008)
• Kim Ruzz - drums (1981–1985)
• Tommie "Snowy Shaw" Helgesson - drums (1993–1994)

Session members[link]

• Old Nick - drums (1981)
• Lars Ulrich - drums (1993)
• Morten Nielson - drums (1993)

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

• Melissa (1983)
• Don't Break the Oath (1984)
• In the Shadows (1993)
• Time (1994)
• Into the Unknown (1996)
• Dead Again (1998)
• 9 (1999)

Compilation albums[link]

• The Beginning (1987)
• Return of the Vampire (1992)
• A Dangerous Meeting (1992)
• The Best of Mercyful Fate (2003)

Extended plays[link]

• The Mercyful Fate EP (1982)
• The Bell Witch (1994)

References[link]

Joseph 'Val' Valiante (June 25, 1926 - June 11, 1985) was a mandolinist and bluegrass music pioneer from New England.

Biography[link]

Joe Val was born Joseph Valiante in Everett, Massachusetts. Although raised in the northeast, he took a very early interest in bluegrass music, prompted chiefly by hearing Bill Monroe on radio and records. The region in which Val was raised had a very strong bluegrass affinity. He also listened to local bands, and especially the work of fiddler Tex Logan. It was Logan who coined the name 'Val' (short for Valiante). Tex could not pronounce the Italian last name, thus introducing Joe onstage as Joe 'Val'.

For over 25 years, Joe Val was, in the words of ^[1] Peter Rowan, "The voice of bluegrass in New England." It didn't matter that he was a short, skinny Italian from a blue-collar Boston suburb, nor did it matter that his renditions of Bill Monroe and Jimmie Rodgers standards were often tinted by a decidedly Yankee inflection. On-stage he was an unassuming, bespectacled, quietly smiling presence until he opened his mouth to sing. His smooth, high tenor voice made Joe no less an authority than a Bill Monroe or Del McCoury.

Joe Val worked a full-time day job as a typewriter repairman. He often had to ask for time off from work to tour with his band. Joe helped blaze the trail for Boston's folk and bluegrass scene with the Lilly Brothers in the early '60s, and later surrounded himself with the cream of that city's musical crop including Joan Baez, The Charles River Valley Boys, banjo legends Don Stover and Bill Keith and the less well-known members of the New England Bluegrass Boys (most notably the amazing, yet relatively unknown guitarist and singer, Dave Dillon).

Val had started out on guitar, but also played banjo and finally the mandolin, which brought him lasting renown. Joe honed his skills as he played with several bands including the Radio Rangers, the Berkshire Mountain Boys and The Lilly Brothers & Don Stover. Val was in the right place to become involved with the Boston-area bluegrass boom among the region's university and college students in the 1960s. He played and recorded with the Bill Keith-Jim Rooney Band, and The Charles River Valley Boys. In both instances, he comfortably accommodated contemporary shifts in bluegrass but never lost his preference for the traditional form of the music.

In 1970, Joe Val formed his own band, The New England Bluegrass Boys, bringing in Herb Applin (guitar/vocals), Bob French (banjo), and Bob Tidwell (bass). The band recorded their first album, the very first bluegrass release for Rounder Records, entitled One Morning In May in 1972.^[2] Joe Val & The New England Bluegrass Boys recorded exclusively with Rounder Records for what turned out to be a relatively short recording career, releasing albums from 1973-84 on that label.

The personnel varied slightly through the years. Among those that played in the band were guitarists/lead vocalists Dave Dillon and Dave Haney, banjo players Paul Silvius, Karl Lauber and Joe Dietz, bass player Eric Levenson, fiddler Sonny Miller and dobro player Roger Williams.

The band's days were numbered however. Just when Joe Val made the decision to finally make touring a full-time occupation, he learned that he was suffering from Lymphoma. Joe's last full show was performed during an afternoon set at a festival in Keene, NH in 1984. Shortly after that set, he was shuffled off to the hospital with the help of close friends and fellow musicians. Joe missed the evening set, perhaps for the first time in his long career. The band's final engagement was to be at the 1984 New Year's Eve Jekyll Island Bluegrass Festival in Georgia. Though Joe was feeling ill, he insisted on making the trip from New England and attempted to perform. However he was flown back home to a Boston hospital.

Two major fundraising benefits were held to help defray medical costs and household bills while Joe was ill and unable to work. The first benefit concert was organized in November 1984 by Len Domler (The Sounding Board Coffeehouse) and fellow musician Kevin Lynch in West Hartford, CT. The Johnson Mountain Boys, Del & Jerry McCoury, Bob & Dan Paisley and Traver Hollow donated their time, expenses and talents to entertain a sold-out theater crowd.

The second benefit, the Joe Val Benefit and Appreciation Day, on June 9, 1985 (two days before Joe died) was organized by the Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU), the now defunct North River Bluegrass Association (Cathy & Ted Howland and Linda FitzPatrick) and many volunteers. A full day and early evening of jams, workshops and concerts drew many familiar names and a large crowd. Among the performers were the duo of Tony Rice & Jimmy Gaudreau (making a surprise appearance), John Lincoln Wright, Bill Keith, Traver Hollow, White Mountain Bluegrass, Joe's brother Paul Valiante and more.

During his final weeks, Joe was humbled and comforted by the outpouring of good will and best wishes. He received calls, visits and countless cards & letters from fans and friends, as well as many of his peers in the music business. The likes of Joan Baez,^[3] Bob Dylan,^[4] and several other notable figures from Joe's early days in the Boston area music scene, took the time to make personal visits and phone calls.