Is it true that Mary, the Theotokos, had other children?

There is a misconception among some people who interpret Mary's marriage literally and believe that she had other children besides Jesus. They often refer to the verse in Matthew 13:55 which mentions Jesus' brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. However, according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church and the writings of Church Fathers, the word "brothers" in this context refers to Jesus' cousins, not his biological siblings.

The Greek word used in Matthew 13:55, adelphoi, can have multiple meanings including "brothers" or "cousins." In the context of the Bible, it is commonly used to refer to cousins, as seen in the case of Lot and Abraham in Genesis 14:16.

Similarly, it was a cultural practice in Hebrew culture to call closer family members brother or sister, as demonstrated by Abraham calling his nephew Lot his brother (Genesis 29:15) and Laban calling his nephew Jacob his brother (Genesis 14:14).

The interpretations of Church Fathers further support this understanding of Matthew 13:55. For example:

St. Jerome stated that the brothers of the Lord were actually the sons of Joseph from a previous marriage, not Mary.

St. John Chrysostom wrote that the brothers were actually cousins of Jesus and the children of Mary, who was the sister of the Virgin.

St. Epiphanius of Salamis also stated that the brothers of the Lord were not born of Mary, but rather from Joseph's previous marriage.

By considering these explanations and quotes from Church Fathers, it becomes clear that the Orthodox Church interprets Matthew 13:55 to mean that Mary did not have any children besides Jesus.