| Mary | |
|---|---|
 The Madonna in Sorrow, by Sassoferrato, 17th century. | |
| Born | Circa 20 BC; celebrated 8 September |
| Residence | Nazareth, Galilee |
| Nationality | Israelite, Roman Empire |
| Ethnicity | Jewish |
| Spouse | Joseph |
| Children | Jesus of Nazareth |
| Parents | (According to the Gospel of James, circa AD 150): Joachim and Anne |
Mary, Aramaic, Hebrew: מרים, Maryām, Miriam; Arabic:مريم, Maryam, more commonly referred to as Saint Mary, Mother Mary, Virgin Mary or Lady Mary was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee. She is identified in the New Testament as the mother of Jesus Christ through divine intervention.[Mt 1:16,18–25] [Lk 1:26–56] [2:1–7]
The canonical gospels of Matthew and Luke describe Mary as a virgin (Greek παρθένος, parthénos). Christians believe that she conceived her son, Jesus Christ, miraculously by the agency of the Holy Spirit. This took place when she was already betrothed (engaged) to Joseph and was awaiting the concluding rite of marriage, the formal home-taking ceremony. She married Joseph and accompanied him to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
The New Testament begins its account of Mary's life with the Annunciation, where angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced her divine selection to be mother of Jesus. Church tradition and early non-biblical writings state that her parents were an elderly couple named Joachim and Anne. The Bible records Mary's role in key events of the life of Jesus from his virgin birth to his crucifixion. Other apocryphal writings tell of her subsequent death and bodily assumption into heaven.
Christians of the major ancient traditions including the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the more recent Anglican Communion believe that Mary, as mother of Jesus, is the Mother of God (Μήτηρ Θεοῦ) and the Theotokos, literally, Birthgiver of God. Mary has been an object of veneration in the Christian church since the Apostolic Age. Throughout the ages she has been a favorite subject in Christian art, music, and literature.
Read more