The Death of Mary and the Apostles

According to tradition an angel with a lighted palm leaf announces to Mary that her end is coming. Having received Holy Communion from John, she praises God. Her soul, in the form of a child, is led up to Heaven by Christ Himself. When the Apostles want to inter the body, Mary’s soul is supposed to return and ascend with the body to Heaven, leaving roses behind.

Non-biblical sources tell us that Mary casts down her belt to the Apostle Thomas who is absent at the Assumption and therefore doubts it. This motif is called Madonna of the Girdle.