The Perpetual Virginity of Mary, the Mother of God: Evidence from Orthodox Church

The Orthodox Church believes in the perpetual virginity of Mary, the mother of God the Son, based on scriptural interpretations and teachings from the Church Fathers. Orthodox Christians affirm that Mary remained a virgin before, during, and after the birth of Jesus.

Firstly, the Orthodox Church looks to the Gospel of Matthew, which records that Joseph did not have marital but betrothal relations with Mary until after Jesus' birth (Matthew 1:24-25). The interpretation of "until" implies that they continued as the past, rather than implying that they eventually did so. This understanding emphasizes that Joseph and Mary maintained her virginity according to Jewish customs during their betrothal and after Jesus' birth.

In the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the interpretation of "until" in the verse above signifies an endless state. See (Job 27:5, 2 Sam 6:23, Matt 28: 20, Ps 110:1). Similarly, her appearance was varying from time to time after conceiving the Lord, thus, this fact was recorded in the Gospel within that specific context.

Additionally, the Orthodox Church refers to the Gospel of Luke, which portrays Mary's response to the angel Gabriel's announcement that she would conceive a child. Mary questions how she can conceive since she has not "known" a man (Luke 1:34). This implies her intention to remain a virgin and indicates that she did not plan to have marital relations with Joseph, even in the future.

In the book of Ezekiel, it is stated that Prophet Ezekiel received a divine revelation regarding God's plan to keep St. Mary perpetually virgin, a plan sealed by the Holy Spirit. God said that a gate representing this virginity would remain closed and no one would enter through it, as the Lord Himself had entered through it (Ezk 44:2).

The Orthodox Church also upholds the teachings of the Church Fathers, who were early Christian theologians and writers. Church Fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch, Origen, and John Chrysostom supported the belief in Mary's perpetual virginity. They saw her perpetual virginity as a sign of her unique holiness and her dedicated commitment to God.

Furthermore, in the 2nd century, the Church Father Tertullian wrote that Mary "was a virgin before childbirth, a virgin during childbirth, and a virgin after childbirth." In the 3rd century, the Church Father Origen wrote that "Mary remained a virgin both before and after the birth of Christ."

Orthodox Christians understand Mary's perpetual virginity as a reflection of her spiritual purity and her unique role as the Theotokos, or God-bearer. It signifies her full devotion to God and her extraordinary participation in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the Orthodox Church venerates Mary as the Ever-Virgin, honoring her perpetual virginity as an important aspect of her identity and her faithfulness.