While unproven, some apocryphal accounts state that at the time of her betrothal to Joseph, Mary was 12–14 years old. According to ancient Jewish custom, Mary could have been betrothed at about 12. Hyppolitus of Thebes says that Mary lived for 11 years after the death of her son Jesus, dying in 41 AD.

Do Orthodox believe in Mary perpetual virginity?

Eastern Orthodox Church recognizes Mary as Aeiparthenos, meaning ever-virgin. The 2nd century Gospel of James affirms that Mary was always a virgin before, during and after childbirth, stating that Jesus brothers (adelphos) are sons of Joseph from a previous marriage.

How old was Jesus when Joseph married Mary?

90 years old In another early text, The History of Joseph the Carpenter, which was composed in Egypt between the 6th and 7th centuries, Christ himself tells the story of his step-father, claiming Joseph was 90 years old when he married Mary and died at 111. The theory caught on.

How can Mary be a virgin?

Belief in the virgin birth comes from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Their birth stories are different, but both present Mary as a virgin when she became pregnant with Jesus. Mary and Joseph begin their sexual relationship following Jesus birth, and so Jesus has brothers and sisters.

Why do Protestants not pray to saints?

In many Protestant churches, the word saint is used more generally to refer to anyone who is a Christian. Many Protestants consider intercessory prayers to the saints to be idolatry, since an application of divine worship that should be given only to God himself is being given to other believers, dead or alive.

Why is praying to Mary wrong?

The special place that Mary, the mother of Jesus, has in the Catholic Church is a frequent source of confusion for non-Catholics. They point to statues of Mary in Catholic churches and Catholics praying the Hail Mary as indisputable evidence of idolatry, blasphemy or other heresies.