How could Christ have a brother?translated

On November 5, the Church remembers the Apostle James, who is called the brother of the Lord. But how could Jesus Christ have a brother if the Church confesses that the Virgin Mary remained a Virgin even after the birth of the Savior?

Maria KHORKOVA

editor, journalist

We know from the Gospel that Jesus Christ had a brother, or rather even brothers and sisters. The inhabitants of Nazareth, amazed by the wisdom and depth of Christ's preaching, say: Isn't this the son of carpenters? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers Jacob and Joses and Simon and Judas? and are not His sisters all among us? (Matthew 13:55–56). Jesus' brothers are also mentioned by other evangelists. The Apostle Paul calls James the brother of the Lord (Gal 1:19). Moreover, nowhere in the New Testament are these people called children of the Virgin Mary.

Who are they?

Joseph's children from his first marriage

According to the most common version, Jacob and other brothers of the Lord were the children of the righteous Joseph the Betrothed from his first marriage. We find this legend already in ancient Christian literature, in particular in the “Proto-Gospel of Jacob,” a monument of the 2nd century. It is not included in the Holy Scriptures, but contains a number of stories about the Virgin Mary (for example, about her birth) and the family of Joseph. Among other things, it says that...