Manuscripts Reveal Legend of Jesus' Great-Grandmother

A pious, and ultimately, saintly woman named Ismeria was grandmother to the Virgin Mary, and great-grandmother to Jesus, according to a medieval legend.  

Now, an examination of two manuscripts from 14th- and 15th-century Florence, Italy, reveals who exactly the legendary great-grandmother was, telling the story of the woman who gave birth to St. Anne, who became Mary's mother. The story of her life reflects expectations among Florentines living at that time, according to Catherine Lawless of the University of Limerick in Ireland. [Who Was Jesus the Man?]... Read More