Does the Bible say that the body of Saint Mary was taken up to heaven?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
The Holy Bible does not explicitly record the departure or the assumption of the body of St. Mary into heaven. The biblical narrative regarding her life concludes primarily with her presence in the upper room with the Apostles after the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, where they were "continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:14).
However, the Coptic Orthodox Church relies on Holy Tradition, which was passed down from the Apostles and the early Church Fathers, to document this event. According to this tradition:
- Her Departure: St. Mary departed this world on the 21st of the Coptic month of Tobe. The Apostles were present for her departure, except for St. Thomas, who was preaching in India.
- The Assumption: On the 16th of Mesra (August), we celebrate the Assumption of her body. St. Thomas, while returning from India on a cloud, saw the pure body of St. Mary being carried by angels into heaven. An angel told him, "Hurry and kiss the pure body of Saint Mary," which he did.
- The Apostles' Discovery: When St. Thomas met the other Apostles, he asked where they had buried her. They took him to the tomb, but upon opening it, they found it empty. St. Thomas then shared what he had seen—the angels ascending with her holy body.
- The Promise Fulfilled: The Lord had promised the Apostles they would see her again in the flesh. After the Apostles fasted and prayed, on the 16th of Mesra, the Lord fulfilled this promise, and the Apostles saw her sitting at the right hand of her Son.
While not written in the Gospels or Epistles, the Church views the Assumption as the fulfillment of prophetic imagery found in the Bible. For instance, Psalm 132:8 (LXX 131:8) says, "Arise, O Lord, into Your rest; You and the ark of Your sanctuary." In Coptic theology, St. Mary is the true Ark of the Covenant; just as the Ark was made of incorruptible wood and stayed in the Tabernacle, it is fitting that her body, which held the Divine Word, would not see corruption in the grave but be taken to the heavenly sanctuary.