(d. c.30) Son of Zachariah and Elizabeth (cousin of the Virgin MaryVirgin Mary Mother of Jesus and wife of Saint Joseph. She is believed to have conceived Jesus through the agency of the Holy Spirit alone, thus remaining a virgin. The Council of Ephesus (431) confirmed upon her the title of theotokos, 'godbearer'The account of Mary's life in the New Testament was amplified by apocryphal documents and doctrines concerning her person and role developed in succeeding centuries. Justin Martyr (d.c.165) contrasted Mary's obedience with the disobedience of Eve, but the assertion that Mary, like her son, had been immaculately conceived (i.e. free from original sin) was disputed throughout the Middle Ages. The Book of James (mid-2nd century) named her parents as Joachim and Anna and asserted her perpetual virginity. The belief that she did not die but was taken up bodily into heaven was celebrated in the Feast of the Assumption. Faith in Mary's powers as intercessor on behalf of sinful men and women was given fresh impetus by St Bernard (1090-1153) and she was popularly regarded as the Queen of Heaven.See also Joys and Sorrows of Mary. Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Purification (February 2); Annunciation (March 25); Assumption (August 15); Nativity (September 8); Conception (December 8).), and the ‘forerunner’ whose ministry of preaching and baptismBaptism The Sacramental rite of admission into the Christian Church. The candidate is immersed in or sprinkled with water in the name of the Trinity and may also be anointed with oil. prepared the way for the message of JesusJesus (Greek form of Hebrew 'Joshua' meaning 'Yahweh [God] is salvation') Also given the title Christ, meaning 'anointed one' or Messiah. His life is recorded mainly in the Four Gospels although he is also mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus (c. 37-c.100) and the Roman historian Tacitus (c.110).. Appeared c. 27 by the banks of the Jordan preaching repentanceRepentance Renunciation of sin coupled with determination to obey God in the future.. He baptised Jesus in the Jordan and hailed him as the ‘Lamb of GodLamb of God Lamb of God (Latin Agnus Dei) Symbolic description of Jesus Christ based on the the words of John the Baptist: 'Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world' (John 1: 29) - a reference to his death for the sins of others. In Revelation 5: 6 Jesus is represented as a lamb who has been slain. The symbolism of the sacrificial lamb is found in the Old Testament stories of Abel and Abraham and Isaac, the Passover and the practice of offering sacrifices for sin’. Later beheaded by Herod Antipas at the instigation of Salome due to his criticism of Herod’s incestuous marriage to Herodias (Matthew 14:1-12)