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St. Mary

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › St. Mary and the Saints › St. Mary

The question

Why did the Jews not stone St. Mary to death when she became pregnant? I know the angel appeared to St. Joseph, but the Jews did not know that and she was engaged, but not married.

The answer

St. Joseph accepted St. Mary to be his betrothed virgin wife before her pregnancy was revealed to others. St. Mary never tried to defend her position or explain her situation, not even to St. Joseph. Having profound knowledge of the Holy Scripture, she knew the consequences and public humiliation she would face and accepted God’s will. However, God spared her this hardship and sent an angel to comfort St. Joseph's heart concerning St. Mary's purity and chastity, and encouraged him to take her as his wife.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

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Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2007 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.