On the Perpetual Virginity of Mary

Is Mary, the Theotokos, Perpetually a Virgin?
by Petros Theodoros Presbeftes

Since the inception of the Church of Christ in 33 AD, the Holy Tradition has always held that Mary, the Mother of God is Perpetually Virgin.  And this dogma was not challenged for over 300 years, until a Roman Citizen, known as Helvidius,  in 380 A.D., maintained that the mention in the Gospels of the "sisters" and "brethren" of our Lord was proof that the Blessed Virgin had subsequent children with Joseph.  He supported his mistaken opinion by the writings of Tertullian and Victorinus. The Blessed Jerome, wrote a response to Helvidius, pointing out the errors of the theory espousing the opinion that  Mary the Mother of our Lord had had children after birthing Jesus, the Christ Child.  Jerome's arguments are persuasive and successfully defeat Helvidius' erroneous contentions.

All Christians continued to hold to the Dogma of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary until at least the 18th century, when the "Age of Enlightenment" among the Protestant followers revived the erroneous doctrines that Mary was:

1) merely the Mother of Jesus, and

2) that the Virgin Mary had birthed other children with Joseph.

Yet, today, many denominations of Christian Churches do not accept the dogma of the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, nor that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Christ, is to be called the Mother of God even though she birthed Jesus, the Christ.

Why is this so?

Why is there this division among "christians" who profess their "faith"?  Could it be that Satan is at work again among the heterodox?  What do you think?

Who is Correct?

Of course, it is easy for this servant of Christ to say that the Early Christians are correct, since that is the belief and dogma held by the Holy Orthodox Church, but who is truly correct about this matter?  If we look at the logic of the situation for a moment, the truth will make itself plainly evident.

Jesus is the Christ, the Person of Son of God in the One God Head

For those who sustain the conclusion that Mary is merely the Mother of Jesus, problems develop by also holding to the dogma for which most "christians" can agree: Jesus is the Christ.  And, if we accept that Jesus is the Christ, then Jesus, the Christ, must also be the Son of God, the Person of the One God Head.  So, therefore, since Jesus, the Christ, is Eternally God and is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore:  What do you think Jesus, the Christ, was at his birth by Mary?  The answer is obvious:  Jesus was still God at that instant in time.  This means that Mary birthed God when she birthed Jesus, the Christ, because Jesus, the Christ, is God.   Therefore, Mary is properly to be called the Mother of God, or as the Greek term synonymously coins, the Theotokos (the Birth-Giver of God.)  By coining this attribution upon Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Christ, we DO NOT mean to infer that Mary is God herself!

Who is the Father of Jesus, the Christ?

To answer the question concerning whether, or not, the Theotokos is perpetually a virgin, we must study God, and the Holy Scriptures.  When we do, we will come to the proper conclusion.  The Holy Scripture tells us that God is Holy and that by the term Holy, God is DEFINED as a SUPREMELY PERFECT BEING WHO IS WITHOUT SIN.  We are told by the Archangel Gabriel that Mary, the Theotokos, was to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit of God and that she would at that time conceive and bear a Son, whom she should name Jesus, Who is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  From this description, we can deduce, logically, that the Father of Jesus, the Christ, is the Holy Spirit of God, a Person of the One God Head, a Member of the Holy Triune God.

What follows from this information: that the Father of Jesus, the Christ, is the Holy Spirit of God?

It follows that, in order for Mary to have taken part in this spectacular event, that the Holy Spirit cleansed her of all sin and made her Holy from that point onward.  In order to stay Holy, the Most Holy Theotokos would not be permitted to have children with another man for the remaining duration of her life, because in accordance with the Ten Commandments of God: Thou shalt not commit Adultery.

Further Evidence of the Perpetual Virginity of the Most Holy Theotokos: Jesus, the Christ, is the Only-Begotten Son of God both in Heaven and on Earth

Holy Scripture makes it clear that Jesus, the Christ, is the Only-Begotten Son of God.  If Jesus is TRULY the ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, then the MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS REMAINED EVER-VIRGIN.  This is true, because, if she had birthed other children after Jesus, then Jesus could no longer be known as the Only-Begotten Son of God.  But, praise God, the Most Holy Theotokos is Perpetually a Virgin and Jesus is IN FACT the ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.

Further Evidence of the Perpetual Virginity of the Most Holy Theotokos

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!" (Gospel of John, Chapter 19, Verse 26)   "Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." (Gospel of John, Chapter 19, Verse 27).  If we test the logic of this situation:

1. Jesus, the Christ, is Holy at all times.

2. Mary, the Most Holy Theotokos, has no one to care for her after Jesus departs this world.

3. Jesus, the Christ, is the Only-Begotten Son and Word of God.

then, we cannot accept the erroneous theories of Helvidius, but we must accept the fact that Holy Scripture supports the proposition that Mary retained her virginity throughout her earthly existence and that she had no other sons or daughters except Jesus, the Christ.  In fact, had Jesus, the Christ, uttered the words that are written in the Gospel of John while having actual brothers and sisters, by blood relationship, Jesus, the Christ would then and there have committed a sin against his family by putting His Mother Mary in the care of a disciple, not related to Him by blood relationship.  Moreover, Jesus, the Christ, if we take Helvidius' theory, would have exposed the sins of adultery in his own family.  But, we cannot give such heed to Helvidius and his heresies now, can we?  Absolutely not!  Otherwise, we lose our salvation and our only hope, because we deny John 3:16 by holding fast to Helvidius' erroneous doctrine.  That is Satan's trap!!!  Don't fall for Satan's trap!!!

Why don't the heterodox "christians" become Orthodox Christians, and put an end to the evils of denominationalism?

This paragraph is not directed to Orthodox Christians who may be reading this paper.  It is directed to the others who are not Orthodox Christians, and who do possess some requisite understanding of the Orthodox Christian Apostolic Faith of Christ Jesus.  Why do you trust the theories of men and women who espouse foreign doctrines and espouse a different gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord?  Why do you run away from the Holy Spirit of God and the Apostolic Witness towards a different authority, towards deception in high places?  Why don't you trust God enough to come to a Faith that is grounded in the Truth, and that is there to nurture and love your soul?  Why do you pursue another gospel that is not Christ Jesus?  For there is only ONE GOSPEL, not many!!!  Why do you consistently fall for Satan's traps?  Simple, because you are captivated by the spirit of this world and a different Jesus who is your one stop short order servant who leads you to destruction by giving you partial truths and outright deviously viral gospels of Satan.  Friend, do you think you can be saved without Holy Baptism?  My friend, how do you think you can be saved and still remain apart from the true Holy Spirit of God?  Why don't you trust the One, Holy, Universal (Katholeekos), and Apostolic Church, Established, Headed, and Operated by our Holy Triune God?

What are all those brethren of Jesus as referenced in Holy Scripture?

What are all those brethren of Jesus as referenced in Holy Scripture?  In view of what you have learned about the dogma of Mary, the Most Holy Theotokos, have we now found a big discrepancy in Holy Scripture?  Satan would have us believe that this servant of God has finally uncovered a most egregious discrepancy in God's Holy Scripture, such as, to call into question, whether we can, in truth, rely on Holy Scripture, for our Faith.  Did Jesus really die on the Cross, did He really rise and overcome death by Death?  But fear not, my friends, there is no discrepancy uncovered, at all!!!

Think of the logic of the term brother and sister.  When we go to church, we refer to our friends as brother or sister even though they are not related to us by blood relationship.  Moreover, certain cousins and Uncles and Aunts are referenced as brethren.  Why is this so?  Because we all perceive ourselves as being members of the Body of Christ Jesus, our Lord, and thus, it is permissible, even desirable, to reference our friends as our spiritual brethren.  So, then, in Holy Scripture, the term brother and sister was used not only for persons related by blood relationship, but by clans of families who gather for a common purpose.

Thereby, when you read Holy Scripture, be careful for the meaning, for it is not always so clear as you think it to be, at first glance.  And, consult the Holy Oral Tradition given us by Jesus Christ through the Apostles, to clarify the meaning of Holy Scripture, for the edification and salvation of our soul.  We are a Church that believes that Salvation is a Gift of God, for those who believe in the Only-Begotten Son of God, Who came into this world to be the Living Sacrifice for our sins, and moreover, that our good works, taken alone, cannot save us.   The evidence of our Faith in Christ Jesus is our good works, for it shows that we love God enough to faithfully love God and our neighbor all our life long, as we would love ourselves.  It is equally obvious that a person who cannot demonstrate any good works following his or her profession of faith is dead in their faith and that such a person does not know our Lord.  "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, Verse 40)

It is Time to Trust God's Headship Through Jesus Christ and be United with the ONE True Body of Christ

The One, Holy, Universal, and Apostolic Church has stood the test of time.  Since 33 A.D., it has not deviated from the principles and dogma espoused by our Lord Jesus Christ.  It has remained steadfast under the direction of Jesus Christ, by the move of the Holy Spirit of God under the authority of God the Father.  All Grace, coming from God, comes through the Holy Spirit.  You, who are Orthodox Christians know this truth.  Have you shared it with others?  But, you who are not Orthodox are now opening your mind to the truth, and you are consequently being set free from the snares of Satan, and being loosed from the traps of the Evil One, the great Deceiver.  Don't fall for Satan's lies any longer.  Be joined with the Holy Orthodox Church, the Church that can say, with Truth, that it is the Undivided Church of Christ, established by Christ Jesus for our salvation, and which is the rightful successor in interest to the Holy Priesthood established by God in Old Testament Times.  My Jewish Brethren, come and be sanctified by God's Holy Priesthood and receive your Gift from God: the Salvation of your soul and Eternal Life with God is yours, when you do this faithfully all your life long.

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father, and the Communion of the Good and Life-Creating Holy Spirit of God be with you all.  Amen.

+Brother Petros Theodoros Presbeftes
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