The Ever Virginity of Mary, The Mother of God: EOTC Perspective Part II

In part I of this essay, we explored the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s (EOTC’s) profound belief in the ever-virginity of Mary, the Mother of God, a belief deeply rooted in scripture and the teachings of the Church Fathers. In this second part, we will explore further the biblical evidence that supports the belief in the perpetual virginity of the Holy Virgin.

Numerous passages within the Bible testify to Mary's perpetual virginity. One compelling example is found in John 19:26, which states: "ኢየሱስም እናቱን ይወደው የነበረውንም ደቀ መዝሙር በአጠገቡ ቆሞ ባየ ጊዜ እናቱን፦ አንቺ ሴት፥ እነሆ ልጅሽ አላት።" Here, Jesus entrusts John to care for His mother, indicating that Mary had no other children to rely on. Had she given birth to other children, Jesus would have entrusted her to them as well, and at least some would have been present there. This moment, occurring 33 years after Mary's betrothal to Joseph underscores the Holy Virgin bore no other child but Christ.

Moreover, the verses surrounding Mary’s flight to Egypt suggest her unmarried status during this critical period. In Matthew 2:13, the angel commands Joseph, saying, "...ሕፃኑንና እናቱንም ይዘህ ወደ ግብፅ ሽሽ፥ እስክነግርህም ድረስ በዚያ ተቀመጥ አለው." This highlights that the focus is on the child and his mother—not a wife. Similarly, Matthew 2:20 emphasizes, "የሕፃኑን ነፍስ የፈለጉት ሞተዋልና ተነሣ፥ ሕፃኑን እናቱንም ይዘህ ወደ እስራኤል አገር ሂድ አለ::" Again, the angel specifically refers to "the child with his mother," further supporting the notion that Mary's primary role was as the mother of Christ, not a wife.

The prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 is another basis of this belief: "ስለዚህ ጌታ ራሱ ምልክት ይሰጣችኋል እነሆ ፥ድንግል ትፀንሳለች፥ ወንድ ልጅም ትወልዳለች፥ ስሙንም አማኑኤል ብላ ትጠራዋለች". This verse emphasizes that Mary was to conceive and bear a son while remaining a virgin. It does not imply that Mary would later marry and bear additional children, reinforcing the belief in her eternal virginity.

Additionally, as indicated in Matthew 2:1, 7, and 16, when the wise men (የጥበብ ሰዎች) arrived, Christ was about two years old. If Mary had intended to marry Joseph, it is unlikely that she would have waited for such an extended period before doing so.

Lastly, the Song of Songs beautifully sums up this belief in 4:12: "እኅቴ ሙሽራ የተቈለፈ ገነት፥ የተዘጋ ምንጭ የታተመም ፈሳሽ ናት". This poetic imagery indicates that Mary's womb, untouched by man's seed, is sealed, symbolizing her perpetual virginity.

In conclusion, the ever-virginity of Mary is deeply rooted in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church's teachings, supported by a range of biblical texts. Each passage reinforces the belief that Mary was chosen to bear Christ as a virgin and remained so throughout her life, underscoring her unique role in salvation history. This profound belief continues to inspire and guide the faithful in their devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.