The Perpetual Virginity of Mary (Teachings of the Orthodox Church) Christianity. Orthodoxy. Catholicism. Sense of life. Articles for Christians.
“I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.                “You shall have no other gods before me.                “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.                “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.                “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labor six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.                “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.                “You shall not murder.                “You shall not commit adultery.                “You shall not steal.                “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.                “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
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The Perpetual Virginity of Mary (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)
   

QUESTION:

The Bible refers to Jesus as having "brothers" -- e.g., "He was still addressing the crowds when His mother and His brothers appeared outside to speak with Him."

Saint Jerome (the translator of the Bible into the latin vulgate) was a champion of the defense of Mary's prepetual virginity in the fifth century. The Roman Catholic church subscribes to this belief stating that Jesus' brothers are not Mary's children. They might have been Joseph's from a previous marriage, adopted, or actually cousins who lived in the same household.

Many protestant churches teach that Jesus' brothers are Mary's other male children.

What is the Orthodox Church's thinking concerning the prepetual virginity of Mary?

ANSWER:

Concerning Mary's perpetual virginity, the Orthodox Church also holds firmly to this doctrine. We firmly believe that Mary remained a virgin after she gave birth to Christ, while we reject the notion that she had other children after Him.

In the case of the word "brother," it is clear that it has meanings other than biological, as you note.






Published in January 2011.









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