在天主教和東正教的教義中,聖母瑪利亞(Mary, mother of Jesus)死後,她的靈魂和肉身一同被上升到天堂。有一個小區別是,天主教認為瑪利亞在死的同時,立刻就升天了。而東正教認為,她的靈魂是立刻升天的,但她的肉身是在死後第三天才被天堂接受。
還有一個教義上的細節,耶穌的升天英文叫 Ascension,瑪利亞的升天英文叫 Assumption。Ascension 這個詞是主動語態,代表著耶穌是憑借(被)自己的力量升到天上。Assumption 有被動語態含義,指的是瑪利亞死後,被聖父聖子聖靈接到天堂。
 Assumption of the Virgin, 1517, by Rosso Fiorentino (1494–1540), Basilica of the Annunciation of Mary
Assumption of the Virgin, 1517, by Rosso Fiorentino (1494–1540), Basilica of the Annunciation of Mary
 
 Assumption of Mary, 1516-1518, by Titian (1490–1576), Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Assumption of Mary, 1516-1518, by Titian (1490–1576), Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
 
 Assumption of Mary, c.1590, by Annibale Carracci (1560–1609), Museo del Prado, Spain
Assumption of Mary, c.1590, by Annibale Carracci (1560–1609), Museo del Prado, Spain
 
 The Assumption of the Virgin, 1670, by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682)
The Assumption of the Virgin, 1670, by Bartolome Esteban Murillo (1617-1682)
 
 The Assumption Of The Virgin, by Jacopo Amigoni (Italian, 1682 – 1752)
The Assumption Of The Virgin, by Jacopo Amigoni (Italian, 1682 – 1752)
 
 The Assumption of the Virgin (c. 1816 – 1819), by Pierre-Paul Prud’hon (French, 1758-1823)
The Assumption of the Virgin (c. 1816 – 1819), by Pierre-Paul Prud’hon (French, 1758-1823)
 
最後,耶穌,或者是耶穌/天父/聖靈一起,給瑪利亞戴上王冠。這一幕被稱作聖母加冕(Coronation of the Virgin)。
 Marienkrönung (Coronation of the Virgin Mary), c.1437, by Fra Angelico (circa 1395 –1455)
Marienkrönung (Coronation of the Virgin Mary), c.1437, by Fra Angelico (circa 1395 –1455)
 
 Coronation of the Virgin, 1502-1504, by Raphael (1483–1520), Vatican Museum
Coronation of the Virgin, 1502-1504, by Raphael (1483–1520), Vatican Museum
 
 The Coronation of the Virgin, 1597, by El Greco (1541–1614)
The Coronation of the Virgin, 1597, by El Greco (1541–1614)