Mary 2024

After years spent fervently praying for a child, the angel Gabriel reveals a profound message to Joachim in 18 BC while he is in solitude in the desert. During his 40 days of fasting, Joachim believed that the Lord had punished him by denying him a child. Gabriel informs him that he and his wife, Anne (played by Hilla Vidor), are destined to have a daughter. In a sacred exchange, they promise to dedicate their future child to the service of God, who insists that she will dwell within His temple.

Nine months later, Anne gives birth to Mary in Nazareth, and she blossoms on her family’s olive farm where Joachim works tirelessly. Meanwhile, we diverge to the situation in Judea under the oppressive rule of Herod the Great, portrayed by Anthony Hopkins. Herod’s audacious ambition to rebuild the Second Temple in 17 BC has stirred unrest among the Hebrew people, who view it as a vanity project to gain Roman approval—a monument to Herod’s tyrannical reign, which has involved bloodshed and manipulation to maintain his authority. Resentment brews as whispers of a savior among the Hebrews gain traction.

Accompanied by the political turmoil of the time, tragedy strikes when Herod resolves to eliminate rival claims to power. Aristobulus, portrayed by Salim Benmoussa, becomes the target of Herod’s jealousy and is assassinated by Marcellus, a Roman officer dutiful to Herod. The strife deepens when Herod’s own wife, Mariamne (Mili Avital), confronts him and meets a tragic fate at his hands when he stabs her. Adding to the intrigue, Herod’s sister, Salome, alarmed by rumors of the impending Hebrew savior, conveys troubling information from her husband, Castobarus, further inflating Herod’s paranoia.

Years pass, and Gabriel once again visits Anne, compelling her to keep her promise regarding Mary. Consequently, Joachim and Anne bring Mary to the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 6 BC to be consecrated to God. Here, Mary is greeted by Anna (Susan Brown), a revered prophetess, and Baba Ben Buta (Mehmet Kurtulus), a sage who previously advised Herod on the temple’s construction. Mary dedicates herself to serving the Lord, showing kindness by sharing leftover temple food with the needy.

Amid her devoted life, Mary faces temptation when she encounters Lucifer (Eamon Farren), who tries to sway her with earthly pleasures, yet she remains steadfast in her resolve. The political landscape shifts dramatically when Herod, intent on consolidating power, decorates the temple walls with the Aquila of the Roman Empire, provoking the ire of Baba Ben Buta, whose disapproval leads to his blinding.

One fateful day while washing clothes in a stream, Mary meets Joseph, a humble Galilean carpenter. Instantaneously smitten, he seeks her hand in marriage, a union that Joachim and Anne support, recognizing the divine guidance of Gabriel behind this encounter. Although Mary is hesitant due to her vow, they soon realize that this path aligns with divine purpose.

In a pivotal moment, Gabriel visits Mary once more, announcing that she will conceive the son of God, Jesus, who is destined to reign over the house of David. Faced with disbelief due to her virginity, she learns that through the Holy Spirit, she will bear a child.

As rumors spread regarding Mary’s condition, she faces scorn and is cast out of the temple by the High Priests. In a gesture of support, Anne sends her to spend time with her cousin Elizabeth (Keren Tzur), who is also expecting. The situation escalates when Mary, seeking reassurance from Joseph, finds herself in danger of mob violence stirred by Lucifer’s manipulations. However, Joseph intervenes, vowing his unwavering love for both Mary and their unborn child.

Despite their marriage, danger lurks as they attempt to flee to Bethlehem amidst political turbulence and a personal tragedy: the murder of Joachim. As unrest escalates in Judea, Herod discovers the prophecy of the King of the Hebrews set to be born in Bethlehem—a threat to his brutal rule. He orders the heinous Massacre of the Innocents, targeting every male infant in the vicinity as he hunts for the prophesied child.

In the midst of calamity, Joseph and Mary seek refuge but are met with denial at every inn due to overwhelming numbers of pilgrims. Their desperation leads them to a humble stable where, in AD 1, the miraculous birth of Jesus occurs, attended by three wise men bearing gifts for the newborn king.

Hounded by Herod’s relentless pursuit, Mary and Joseph must flee to Egypt to save their child. Along their journey, they encounter kindness but also peril, as Herod’s tyranny culminates in chaotic consequences. In the end, the couple returns to Jerusalem amid the shifting tides of power following Herod’s demise, where they present Jesus to the Temple—marking the dawn of a new era for the Hebrews.