“Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife” (Mathew 1: 20, RSV).

In Matthew 1:20, a biblical verse states "But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'"

Some people believe that Mary and Joseph were married and had a marital relationship. However, the Orthodox Church believes that Mary and Joseph were espoused and had a betrothal relationship, and the term "wife" in this context is understood as betrothed. This belief is based on the Greek word used for "betrothed" in Matthew 1:18 (mnesteuomenos), which is the same word used for "betrothed" in other verses in the Bible, such as Genesis 29:20 and Deuteronomy 22:23-24.

Mary's betrothal served two purposes: firstly, to ensure that she would be entrusted to the care of St. Joseph, an elderly man who would provide for her like a bird of the Heavenly Father, and secondly, to uphold the Old Testament law as stated in Deuteronomy 22:23-24.

According to the Orthodox Church, Joseph initially planned to leave Mary when she conceived during their betrothal period because he was concerned about her reputation. In the ancient world, a woman who became pregnant before marriage was seen as a harlot, and the betrothed could legally end the engagement. However, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and assured him that Mary's pregnancy was the result of the Holy Spirit. The angel instructed Joseph not to be afraid to take her, indicating that Mary was innocent. Joseph then agreed to proceed with the angel's instruction.

The belief held by the Orthodox Church, that Mary and Joseph had a betrothal relationship rather than a marital one, is significant as it confirms the concept of the virgin birth of Jesus. It teaches that Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born into a pure and holy family. This belief signifies that Jesus is fully human and fully divine, fulfilling the Old Testament law perfectly.

Support for the Orthodox Church's belief can be found among the Church Fathers. For instance, St. John Chrysostom (349-407 AD) states that the angel refers to the betrothed as "wife" because the Holy Bible regularly refers to the betrothed couple as "man and wife" before their marriage, as seen in verses such as Genesis 29:21, Exodus 21:10, Deuteronomy 22:23-24, Judges 14:1, and Ruth 4:10.

Therefore, the Orthodox Church interprets the phrase "your wife" in Matthew 1:20 as referring to Mary's betrothal to Joseph. This interpretation is crucial for the belief in the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy regarding the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.