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Who was Elizabeth in relation to Mary, the mother of Jesus?
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Mary
Madonna and Child, oil and tempera on panel by Antonello da Messina, 1475; in the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
In the New Testament, Elizabeth is identified as a relative of the Virgin Mary. While the specific nature of their kinship is not detailed beyond this description, the Gospel According to Luke records a significant meeting between the two women known as the Visitation.123
During this encounter, Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, visited Elizabeth, who was pregnant with St. John the Baptist. Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth felt her child leap in her womb and was filled with the Holy Spirit, leading her to proclaim Mary "blessed among women". This event remains a central moment in Christian tradition, with Elizabeth’s words forming part of the Hail Mary prayer.31