Mary living at the Temple is linked to her being symbolically the ‘Ark of the New Covenant’. Assumption is a belief connected not only to people, but also to the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden case covered with pure gold. The lid was elaborately designed with two cherubim. Continue reading “#7 The Ark of the Covenant”
Category Archives: Assumption
#6 Mary Ward of the Temple
The tradition that Mary’s parents were called Anne and Joaquin is derived from the pseudepigrapha writing called the Gospel of James. The book presents Mary as being brought up as a ward of the Temple. The text is thought to have been written in the second century and not by James, the brother of Jesus. TheContinue reading “#6 Mary Ward of the Temple”
#5 Assumption of Mary
Assumption is a word associated with the Virgin Mary, although we have seen that there were two and maybe three precedents for this in the Old Testament with Enoch, Moses and Elijah. The New Testament does not describe the later years of Mary or how she died. Information concerning Mary’s death, burial and assumption comeContinue reading “#5 Assumption of Mary”
#4 Elijah Collected by Chariot
Elijah was born in c.900 BC. He saved the religion of Israel from being corrupted by the worship of Baal. Baal was a collection of gods including the Canaanite god of fertility. These gods had representations – idols that were worshiped in the idolatry prohibited by the Ten Commandments. When the prophet Elijah knew itContinue reading “#4 Elijah Collected by Chariot”
#3 Enoch and Moses Assumed Assumption
There are two cases of possible assumptions in the Old Testament. The first was of a man who disappeared and the second of burial in a grave that was never found. Enoch Enoch was the great grandfather of Noah. He was a prophet who walked with God. He is the first example of someone assumedContinue reading “#3 Enoch and Moses Assumed Assumption”
#2 No Bodily Relics of Mary
There are relics of many, if not most saints, but there are no relics of the Virgin Mary. John of Damascus or John Damascene (c.675 – c.750), a Christian Arab theologian wrote the following about a request for the relics of Mary to be sent: “St Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of ChalcedonContinue reading “#2 No Bodily Relics of Mary”
#1 The Assumption of Mary: Jerusalem or Ephesus?
Introduction The Assumption of Mary is a belief shared by Orthodox and Catholics, but not shared by Protestant Christians. The Assumption of Mary has been celebrated throughout the church since before the 5th century. The Feast of the Assumption was established in the eastern church on the 15th August by Emperor Maurice in about 600 AD. InContinue reading “#1 The Assumption of Mary: Jerusalem or Ephesus?”
Merry and True 