Mary was a key figure in the Bible, being the mother of Jesus Christ. However, the Bible does not give a definitive account of when she died or details surrounding her death. There are some extra-biblical sources and traditions that provide some information, but overall the specifics of her death remain a mystery. Here is an overview of what we do know about the end of Mary’s earthly life from the Bible and other sources:
Biblical References
The last explicit mention of Mary in the Bible is in Acts 1:14, where she is pictured among the disciples after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. This is around 30-33 AD. After this verse, Mary disappears from the biblical narrative. She is not mentioned in accounts of the early church or the ministry of the apostles and disciples after Pentecost.
From the information given in the Gospels, it is clear that Mary was still alive at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. She is described as being at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified (John 19:25-27). Jesus, in his concern for her earthly care after his death, entrusts her to the beloved disciple John. This indicates Mary was still living after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.
The Bible gives no information about the later life and death of Mary after Acts 1. The date, location, circumstances, and details about her passing are absent from the biblical text. The apostle John, who cared for Mary per Jesus’ instructions, makes no mention of her death in his gospel or letters.
Extra-Biblical Sources
Since the Bible does not provide any details about Mary’s death, scholars have looked to other ancient sources and traditions to try to gain insight about when and how she died. These must be considered carefully, as they were written later than the biblical texts. Some key sources include:
– The Protoevangelium of James (c. 150 AD) – One of the earliest extra-biblical documents, likely composed in the middle of the 2nd century. This text presents the story of Mary’s birth and upbringing. It also claims that the apostle John cared for her after Jesus’ crucifixion up until the time of her death.
– Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 315-403 AD) – A church father and bishop in Cyprus, he wrote that Mary died in Jerusalem and was buried in Gethsemane.
– Gregory of Tours (c. 538-594 AD) – A bishop and church historian, Gregory records the tradition that Mary died in Jerusalem and was buried in Gethsemane.
– The Six Books Apocryphon (5th-6th century AD) – Claims that the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary when she neared death to tell her she would be reunited with her Son in 3 days.
– John the Theologian (6th century AD) – A Syrian legend recounts that the apostle John traveled to Ephesus with Mary after Pentecost. It states she died in Ephesus.
Dormition and Assumption Traditions
By the late 4th century, traditions began to arise in the church about the “Dormition” (the “Falling Asleep”) and Assumption of Mary. “Dormition” refers to her natural death, while “Assumption” refers to the belief that her body was miraculously taken up into heaven afterward. These traditions include:
– The Account of St. John the Theologian (400s AD) – Claims that all the apostles were miraculously transported to be with Mary before she died in Jerusalem. Jesus then appeared and took her soul into heaven.
– The Tradition of the Holy Apostles (5th century AD) – States that the apostles experienced a miraculous gathering in the clouds with Mary, similar to the account above. Jesus then received her soul.
– The Book of John Concerning the Dormition of Mary (5th-6th century AD) – Says that after Mary’s death, the apostles carried her body to Gethsemane for burial but her body was assumed into heaven for reunification with her soul.
By the late 6th century, the Feast of the Dormition began to be celebrated in Jerusalem and some eastern churches. In the 7th century it spread to Rome. By the end of the 7th century, the Dormition and Assumption of Mary became standardized doctrine in the Catholic church. The eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the Dormition as a major feast day on August 15. Roman Catholics added the formal Feast of the Assumption of Mary in 1950.
Proposed Dates for Mary’s Death
Taking into account some of the historical sources above, here are some of the dates that have been proposed for Mary’s death:
– 45-55 AD – Shortly after the events of Acts 1. Her death would have occurred in Jerusalem.
– After 61 AD – Based on the reference to Mary leaving Jerusalem just before the Jewish revolt against Rome which began in 66 AD.
– Around 72 AD – After the martyrdom of the apostle James in around 62 AD, but before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
– Around 98-102 AD – Estimating that the apostle John cared for her until his exile to Patmos under Emperor Trajan.
As can be seen, suggested dates range over several decades following the biblical narrative we have recorded in Acts 1. The sources are late and come from traditions that developed several centuries after her death. So it is difficult to pinpoint a precise date. The early sources favor an earlier date in Jerusalem while she was still under John’s care.
Location of Mary’s Death
The location of Mary’s passing is also uncertain. Again, taking into account some of the historical sources, here are some of the places that have been suggested:
– Jerusalem – This city is favored by the earliest sources. Jerusalem is where Mary was living just after Pentecost according to Acts 1. As the original birthplace of Christianity, traditions naturally connect Mary’s death to this city.
– Ephesus – Ephesus is associated with John’s later ministry. Some traditions claim John traveled there with Mary and she died sometime after John became bishop of the city. The House of the Virgin Mary is a Catholic shrine near Ephesus that claims to be her final home.
– Gethsemane – Since Gethsemane had a strong early tradition as the burial place for Mary, several sources suggest she died somewhere in Jerusalem near this garden.
So again, there are diverging opinions on the location. The sources are not conclusive. Jerusalem seems the most likely based on the biblical record of her presence there after Pentecost. But Ephesus and other locations became associated with her legacy later on.
Cause of Mary’s Death
The circumstances and cause surrounding Mary’s passing are not described in any detail in early sources. Natural causes from old age are typically assumed. However, some later traditions suggest she may have died as a martyr. These include:
– A legend that Mary was killed by an angry Jew while ministering.
– A suggestion that Mary willingly sacrificed herself, allowing her soul to depart from her body.
– Claims that the 12 apostles witnessed her death as a sacrifice.
– A tradition that Jews from Jerusalem chased her and attempted to kill her.
However, these martyrdom traditions seem to arise late and lack credibility. The biblical portrait of Mary is of a quiet, pious Jewish mother devoted to her Son. Violent persecution seems inconsistent with her character. Most scholars conclude she likely died peacefully of old age in the care of the apostle John.
Conclusion
In the end, the Bible gives no definitive details about the passing of Mary, the mother of Jesus. This leaves the exact date, location, circumstances, and causes unknown to us. However, Mary clearly remained alive at least until just after Pentecost as recorded in Acts 1. Extra-biblical sources provide some possible insights, pointing to an earlier date of death most likely in or near Jerusalem under the care of the apostle John. While later traditions added stories of dormition, assumption, and martyrdom, the earliest evidences suggest she died peacefully of old causes. The importance of her life was tied to her miraculous role as the mother of Jesus, not the circumstances of her death. While intriguing, the unknown details do not impact core biblical teachings about Mary or her Son. Her godly, faithful example remains regardless of when or how she died. The biblical portrait of her stands on its own.