The Doctrine of the Assumption of Mary had its Beginnings in the Byzantine Empire Around the 6th Century. An Annual Feast Honoring Mary Gradually Grew into a Commemoration of Mary’s Death Called the Feast of Dormition {"Falling Asleep"}. The Assumption of Mary {or the Assumption of the Virgin} is a Doctrine which Teaches that After the Mother of Jesus Died She was Resurrected Glorified and Taken Bodily to Heaven. The Word Assumption is Taken from a Latin word Meaning "to take up." The Assumption of Mary is Taught by the Roman Catholic Church and to a Lesser Degree the Eastern Orthodox Church. As the Practice Spread to the West an Emphasis was Placed on Mary’s Resurrection & the Glorification of Mary’s Body as well as her Soul & the Name of the Feast was Thereby Changed to the Assumption. It is Still Observed on Aug 15 as it was in the Middle Ages.The Bible Does Record God "Assuming" Both Enoch and Elijah into Heaven {Genesis 5:23; 3 Kings 2:12}. Therefore it is Not Impossible that God Would have Done the Same with Mary. It is Not Wrong to Believe that God "Assumed" Mary into Heaven. The Problem is that There is no Biblical Basis for the Assumption of Mary. The Bible Does not Record Mary's Death or Again Mention Mary after Acts Chapter 2. Rather the Doctrine of the Assumption is the Result of Lifting Mary to a Position Comparable to that of Her Son. Some Roman Catholics go so Far as to Teach That Mary was Resurrected on the Third day just Like Jesus and that Mary Scended into Heaven just like Jesus. The Assumption of Mary was Made an Official Dogma of the Roman Catholic Church in 1951 by Pope Pius XII.The New Testament Teaches that Jesus was Resurrected on the Third day {Luke 24:6} & That He Ascended Bodily into Heaven {Acts 1:8}. To Assume the Same thing Concerning Mary is to Ascribe to her Some of the Attributes of Christ. While the Idea of the Assumption of Mary is not Heretical in and of Itself in the Roman Catholic Church the Assumption of Mary is an Important step Toward why Mary is Venerated Worshipped Adored and Prayed to. To Teach the Assumption of Mary is a step Toward making her Equal to Christ Essentially Proclaiming Mary’s Deity.
