Could Mary Magdalene be the wife of Jesus? Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene in Orthodoxy is a person revered as a saint equal to the apostles. She was the myrrh-bearer who followed Christ until His Crucifixion. Mary Magdalene became the one before whom the resurrected Messiah first appeared. It is mentioned not only in Orthodoxy, but also in Catholicism and Protestantism. The saint is considered the patroness of preachers and teachers, and her image was admired by the masters of the Renaissance.

The role of Magdalene in Christianity

The description of her activities is outlined in only a few fragments. The veneration of this woman is different in the traditions of Catholicism and Orthodoxy. For the latter, she appears exclusively as a myrrh-bearer, cured of demonic obsession. The Catholic Church speaks of Mary as an extraordinary beauty and a repentant harlot, the sister of the resurrected Lazarus. In addition, the Western tradition adds colossal mythical material to the Gospel texts.

Icon of the Holy Myrrh-Bearer Mary Magdalene

The Equal-to-the-Apostles saint was born and raised in a city called Magdala. Today, in its place stands the small village of Medjdel. The Holy Scriptures do not record Magdalene's early life, but it is said that Jesus Christ healed her from an attack of seven demons. This radical turn in her destiny encouraged the woman to follow in the footsteps of the Great Teacher and Savior.

• Mary was the inseparable companion of the Son of God during the period when He and the apostles chosen by Him preached Christianity in the populated areas of Judea and Galilee.
• Together with Magdalene, other pious women served Christ: Joanna, Susanna, Solomiya, etc. These myrrh-bearing women shared the labors of the apostles, spreading the good news of the coming of the Savior.
• Mary Magdalene was the first to follow Christ when He was led to Golgotha. Luke claims that the myrrh-bearing women wept when they saw Jesus suffering, but He consoled them and reminded them of the Kingdom of God. Mary was together with the Mother of God and John at the Cross at the time of the Crucifixion of the Messiah.
• Magdalene showed faithfulness to Jesus not only during the period of His exaltation, but also in the days of complete humiliation. She attended the funeral of God's Son and saw with her own eyes how His body was carried into the tomb. Further, the Equal-to-the-Apostles saint witnessed the closing of this cave with a large stone.
• Mary, faithful to God's law, along with the other myrrh-bearing women, coincided with the Easter holiday, remained in complete peace. On the first day of the week, the faithful disciples planned to come to the tomb and anoint the body of Christ with incense. The Myrrh-Bearers reached the burial place at sunrise, and Mary arrived while the darkness of the night still reigned.

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The Equal-to-the-Apostles saint saw that the stone that covered the entrance had been rolled away. In fear, she rushed to the apostles Peter and John, who lived closer than the others. Arriving at the place, they were surprised to see the folded shroud and shrouds. The apostles left the cave without saying anything, but Magdalene remained and cried, yearning for her Lord.

Mary Magdalene and angels in the Holy Sepulcher

Wanting to make sure that there really was no body, she approached the coffin. Suddenly, a divine light shone in front of the woman, and she saw two angels in snow-white robes.

• When she answered the question of the Heavenly messengers about the cause of her grief and turned in the other direction, the Risen Christ appeared at the entrance of the grotto. However, the disciple did not recognize God's Son until He spoke to her. This voice initially became a great ray of light for Mary after her healing from a demonic illness. She said with tremendous joy: “Teacher!” In this exclamation, respect and love, grandiose reverence, recognition and tenderness merged together.
• Magdalene threw herself at the feet of Christ to wash them with tears of divine joy, but Jesus did not allow himself to be touched, for the Son had not yet “ascended to the Father.”
• After everything she had seen, Mary went to the apostles and reported the news that everyone was eagerly awaiting. This is how the first sermon about the divine Resurrection of the Savior took place.
• When the apostles dispersed throughout the world to tell people about the great teaching of the Savior, the brave Mary Magdalene went with them. The saint, in whose heart the fire of love for the Lord did not subside, was on her way to pagan Rome. She announced the Resurrection, but few people accepted the preacher’s words as truth.

Interesting! The name "Maria" has Jewish origin and appears several times in the text of the New Testament. The nickname “Magdalene” carries a geographical meaning and indicates the place where the saint was born. Due to the fact that the “tower” (Magdala) was a symbol of knighthood, in the Middle Ages the image of Mary was given aristocratic features. In the Talmud, the nickname “Magdalene” was often deciphered as “hair curler.”

Walking in Italy and death

Scripture states: the first disciple of Christ appeared in the palace of Emperor Tiberius and presented him with a red egg - a symbol of the Resurrection. She told the story of the innocently condemned Christ, who performed miracles and was executed due to the evil slander of the high priesthood.

Red egg - a symbol of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

She reminded that salvation from the vanity of the world comes through the blood of the pure Lamb, and not through gold or silver items.

• Mary continued to spread the good news in Italy. Her work was praised by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans, recognizing her extraordinary courage and selfless devotion to the Almighty. Scripture says: Magdalene, already in old age, left Rome after the first trial of Paul. The saint equal to the apostles went to Ephesus to help the Apostle John in preaching. Here she quietly and peacefully left this mortal coil.
• Her incorruptible relics were transferred from Ephesus to Constantinople in the 9th century. Some researchers suggest that the remains were transported to Rome during the Crusades. The relics were placed in the Church of John Lateran, which was soon renamed and consecrated in honor of the Venerable Mary Magdalene herself.
• Some of the remains are located in France, near Marseille, as well as in the monasteries of Mount Athos and Jerusalem. A huge number of pious pilgrims come to venerate the relics of the saint.

Interesting articles:

On a note! Thanks to the preacher, the custom of giving has taken root throughout the Christian world. Easter eggs with exclamations: “Christ is risen! Truly Risen!” After the apostolic period, prayers were read in churches for the consecration of eggs and cheese. The brethren and parishioners heard songs of praise in praise of Magdalene, who was the first to set an example of joyful sacrifice.

Orthodox church in honor of the saint

The church is located in an area called Gethsemane, in East Jerusalem. Nearby is the tomb of the Venerable Virgin Mary. This church was erected Orthodox society Palestine at the expense of the imperial family and was consecrated in 1888. Since 1921, the remains of the Great Martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara have been kept here.

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene is part of the Gethsemane Orthodox Monastery complex

• The idea of ​​construction and the choice of location on the slope of the Hill of Olives belonged to Archimandrite Antonion. The first stone of the Church of Mary Magdalene was laid in 1885. In 1934, an Orthodox women's community was organized on the territory, the abbess of which was nun Maria, who was of Scottish origin.
• The monastery houses the Hodegetria icon, which became famous for its miracles in 1554. The remains of the Great Martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara are located in separate crayfish. Here parishioners worship the miraculous image of Mary Magdalene.
• The seven-domed Jerusalem Temple was built of white stone and designed in the style of Moscow architecture. The bell tower is small in size, and the iconostasis is made of marble with bronze ornaments.

Icons and images of Mary Magdalene

Images of the Equal-to-the-Apostles saint set an example for believers greatest love and devotion to the Almighty Father. The holy faces of Magdalene indicate the true path and require patience and spiritual fortitude from a person.

• Orthodox iconography depicts Mary with a red Easter egg, as well as with a vessel containing myrrh.
• Often on canvases she is shown together with the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist next to the crucifix. The saint can be seen on icons with a plot demonstrating the position of Christ in the tomb. In the Orthodox tradition, she is depicted among the myrrh-bearing women who came, who saw the emptiness in the cave and the angels of the gospel.
• The scene of Christ's appearance after the Resurrection is a rare occurrence for the Russian church. It can only be seen in examples of later icons of the Greek style.
• Before the holy face they ask for the acquisition of true faith and deliverance from harmful habits and flattering temptations. Prayers in front of the image relieve physical and mental illnesses.

In Catholicism, Mary Magdalene appears as a “repentant harlot” who, at the end of her life’s journey, retired to a desert area and indulged in severe asceticism, regretting her sins. Her robe fell apart from wear and tear, and her hair miraculously covered her entire body. After divine healing, she was taken up by angels into the Kingdom of Heaven. This legend had a huge influence on Western art.

• Many works where Magdalene is the main character are made in the “Vanitas” (Vanity) genre. A skull is displayed next to the woman, symbolizing awareness of frailty and understanding of the importance of the true path. Additional attributes are a whip and a crown of thorns. The scene is a cave in France: here the saint reflects, reads Scripture or repents, looking up to heaven.
• In Western European iconography, Magdalene is depicted washing the feet of the Messiah and wiping them with her luxurious hair.
• In the Catholic tradition, the myrrh-bearing wife is depicted with her hair flowing and holding a vessel with fragrant oils.
• In other variations, she is supported above the ground by winged angels. This plot has been found in Western art since the 16th century.
• Very rarely in Catholicism and Protestantism Mary's last communion and death are depicted.
• In some paintings, she mournfully hugs the leg of the Savior crucified on the cross of Golgotha. On the icons of “lamentation” she holds the feet of the Savior and mourns the loss.

Interesting! The name of Magdalene played an important role in the formation of Gnosticism, a theological and religious movement influenced by pagan views and ancient philosophers. The Gnostics said that Mary was the only and true recipient of revelation, the Savior’s favorite disciple. This religious and theological movement was recognized as a heresy in the 3rd century.

This woman showed divine love for her Teacher, remained devoted to Him forever and carried good news along with the apostles. In the Orthodox tradition, Mary Magdalene is considered a saint, cured by Jesus Christ of the disease of the “seven demons”, and following Him until the Resurrection. Orthodox texts say little about her, but various legends involving the Equal-to-the-Apostles disciple have gained popularity in Catholicism.

Video about the life of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene

", we continue to collect and connect together scattered information about the mysterious name, shrouded in ancient legends, secrets and sacred venerations. Why delve into the traditions of a thousand years of antiquity, when you don’t know for sure what happened just a century ago, the reader will ask. There’s a lot of things going on outside the windows, maybe Is it easier to leave it as it is and habitually be content with the generally accepted versions of the Orthodox and Catholic traditions? In this habitual and indifferent contentment, we admit, humanity spent truly terrible two thousand years, going through bloody wars, conquest and crusades, milestones of economic enslavement, as a result of building everything - a technocratic model of consumer society, in which knowledge about the nature of man and the purpose of his short stay on this small beautiful planet is completely lost. And today, even if someone does not believe it, we have approached the brink beyond which another global destruction is possible. Why? We will try to answer this question through an in-depth consideration of the essence of such a grandiose phenomenon, seemingly fantastic and unthinkable for the ordinary mediocre consciousness. After all, behind this name, believe me, there is much more than the story of one of the devoted students of one of the Teachers of mankind.

Let us not at all doubt the historical fact of the coming of the Savior as the Son of God in those distant times and the epoch-making nature of his mission. The reason for concern is the well-founded suspicion that the real Teachings of Christ was distorted, rewritten and adapted to create a new powerful, more improved religious institution, the purpose of which is ordinary power and manipulation of the consciousness of the masses. We will certainly highlight in the near future the striking paradox of the fanatical conviction of the religious consciousness of Christians in their own exclusivity and ambitions for the Truth, while the officially recognized and objective point of view of modern historians trivially calls into question almost all the basic sources, which for some reason are unshakable and unshakable for the billion-strong church electorate. untouchable phenomena of "manifestation of divine revelation." Not in order to encroach on the dignity of believers of one of the revered religions, but in order to look at the situation from a slightly different angle, in order to still see the truth through the deceitful dust of centuries-old snows. Judging by the information found in the Gnostic works of the Nag Hammadi library, there is every reason to assume that the true Teachings of Christ went with her, Mary Magdalene, into the circles of the early Gnostic Christians, while the other branch, the apostolic “through Peter and Paul” created what we see today. Further confrontation or struggle for power divided the followers of Christ into SCISSENTERS and APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANS. As a result, the latter simply destroyed the former. Read more about this.

So, it is not unreasonable to continue to assume that Mary Magdalene is the one thanks to whom our two millennia human civilization is still “keeping afloat”, let’s take a closer look at the form in which information about it has reached our days through the Orthodox and Catholic tradition. We will use information that is authoritative for the majority from Wikipedia.

Mary Magdalene(Hebrew מרים המגדלית‎‎‎, ancient Greek Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνή, lat. Maria Magdalena) - a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a Christian saint, myrrh-bearer, who, according to the Gospel text, followed X Christ, was present at his Crucifixion and was a witness to his posthumous appearance. In the Orthodox and Catholic churches, the veneration of Magdalene differs: Orthodoxy venerates her according to the Gospel text - exclusively as the myrrh-bearer, cured of seven demons and appearing only in a few episodes of the New Testament, and in the tradition of the Catholic Church for a long time it was customary to identify with her image of a repentant harlot and Mary of Bethany, sister of Lazarus, as well as extensive legendary material.

In the New Testament her name is mentioned only in a few episodes:

• She was healed by Jesus Christ from being possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9)
• Then she began to follow Christ, serving him and sharing her wealth (Mark 15:40-41, Luke 8:3)
• Then she was present at Calvary at the death of Jesus (Matthew 27:56, etc.)
• After which she witnessed his burial (Matthew 27:61, etc.)
• She also became one of the myrrh-bearing women to whom the angel announced the Resurrection (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-8)
• She was the first to see the resurrected Jesus, at first she mistook him for a gardener, but when she recognized him, she rushed to touch him. Christ did not allow her to do this (Do not touch Me), but he instructed her to announce his resurrection to the apostles (John 20:11-18).

In the Orthodox tradition

In Orthodoxy, Mary Magdalene is revered as a saint equal to the apostles, based only on the gospel testimonies listed above. In Byzantine literature one can find a continuation of her story: after spending some time in Jerusalem, some time after the Crucifixion, Mary Magdalene went to Ephesus with the Virgin Mary to John the Theologian and helped him in his labors. (It is worth noting that of the four evangelists, it is John who provides the most information about Magdalene).

It is believed that Mary Magdalene preached the gospel in Rome, as evidenced by the address to her in the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans: “Greet Miriam, who labored much for us” (Rom. 16:6). Probably in connection with this journey, an Easter legend associated with her name later arose. The death of Mary Magdalene, according to this current of Christianity, was peaceful; she died in Ephesus.

The Orthodox tradition, unlike Catholicism, does not identify Mary Magdalene with the nameless gospel sinner, and honors her exclusively as the Holy Myrrh-Bearer, Equal-to-the-Apostles. There is no mention of fornication in her akathist. In addition, Orthodoxy did not identify Magdalene with several other evangelical women, which happened in Catholicism; it traditionally honored these women separately. Demetrius of Rostov emphasizes: “The Eastern Greek-Russian Orthodox Church now, as before, recognizes all these three personalities mentioned in the Gospels with different characteristics as different, special, not wanting to base historical information on arbitrary, only probable interpretations.”

Relics in Orthodoxy.

According to the “Four Menaions” of Demetrius of Rostov, in 886, under Emperor Leo VI the Philosopher, the relics of the saint who died in Ephesus were solemnly transferred to the Constantinople monastery of St. Lazarus. Their further fate is not described. Currently, the relics of Mary Magdalene are known to be found in the following Athonite monasteries: Simonopetra (hand), Esphigmen (foot), Dochiar (particle) and Kutlumush (particle).

In the Catholic tradition

In the Catholic tradition, Mary Magdalene, called directly by name only in the New Testament testimonies listed above, was identified with several other Gospel characters:

• Mary, mentioned in the Gospel of John as the sister of Martha and Lazarus, who received Jesus in their home in Bethany (John 12:1-8)
• unnamed woman who anointed the head of Jesus in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper (Matt. 26:6-7, Mark 14:3-9)
• an unnamed sinner (harlot) who washed Christ's feet with myrrh in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:37-38) (for more details, see Anointing of Jesus with myrrh).

Thus, Magdalene, identifying with these characters (and also borrowing some scenes from the life of the non-evangelical repentant sinner of the 5th century, St. Mary of Egypt), acquires the features of a repentant harlot. Its main attribute is a vessel with incense.

According to this tradition, Magdalene made money by fornication, after seeing Christ, she left her craft and began to follow him, then in Bethany she washed his feet with myrrh and wiped them with her hair, was present at Calvary, etc., and then became a hermit in the territory of modern France.

Opinion of the Church Fathers. The image of a harlot.

One of the main reasons for identifying Magdalene with the harlot is the recognition by the Western Church that she was the nameless woman who washed Jesus’ feet with myrrh.

And so, a woman of that city, who was a sinner, having learned that He was reclining in the house of a Pharisee, brought an alabaster flask of ointment and, standing behind His feet and weeping, began to wet His feet with tears and wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet. , and smeared it with myrrh. (Luke 7:37-38).

The problem of reconciling the Gospel stories about the anointing of Jesus by an anonymous woman was solved by the Fathers of the Church in different ways (for more details, see The Anointing of Jesus with Chrism). In particular, St. Augustine believed that all three anointings were performed by the same woman. Clement of Alexandria and Ambrose of Milan also admitted that we could be talking about the same woman.

Indirect evidence of the identification of Mary of Bethany with Mary Magdalene is first found in Hippolytus of Rome’s Commentary on the Song of Songs, which indicates that the first to whom the resurrected Jesus appeared were Mary and Martha. The reference is obviously to the sisters of Lazarus, but placed in the context of the morning of the Resurrection, in which Mary Magdalene actually appears in all four Gospels. The identification of all the women who appear in the gospel accounts of the anointing of Jesus with Mary Magdalene was finally made by Pope Saint Gregory the Great (591): “She whom Luke calls a sinful woman, whom John calls Mary (of Bethany), we believe is that Mary from whom seven demons were cast out according to Mark” (homily 23). The unspecified sin of Mary Magdalene/Mary of Bethany was interpreted as fornication, that is, prostitution.

In the popular consciousness of the inhabitants of medieval Europe, the image of the repentant harlot Mary Magdalene acquired extreme popularity and colorfulness and has been entrenched to this day. This myth found reinforcement and literary treatment in the “Golden Legend” of Jacob of Voraginsky, a collection of the lives of saints, the second most widespread book in the Middle Ages after the Bible.

In the 20th century Catholic Church, in an effort to correct possible errors of interpretation, softens the wording - after the reform in the Novus Ordo calendar of 1969, Mary Magdalene no longer appears as a “penitent”. But, despite this, the traditional perception of her as a repentant harlot by the mass consciousness, which has developed over the centuries thanks to the influence of a large number of works of art, remains unchanged.

SUMMARY

And again we are faced with an impenetrable “sacred” fog, cast in the early Christian centuries by the brilliant “architects” of human history. If we hadn’t let him in then, who knows what creative path our civilization would have taken and what heights it could have reached. Well, for now, nothing is known reliably from official sources about Mary Magdalene, but on a subconscious level, the vast majority have formed an erroneous opinion: " This story doesn't look entirely clean, so there's no need to go into too much detail. ". This is at least what the author of these lines thought until now. And considering that 90% of parishioners have no idea who is depicted on the icons, just a slight, unobtrusive hint of “uncleanliness” is enough to compare with " holy fathers churches" the name of Magdalene was avoided.

In fairness, let's sum up a small intermediate result:

• Mary Magdalene was not a harlot, not possessed by demons- because there are no direct indications of this anywhere.
• Mary Magdalene was the most favorite student Jesus Christ, for which evidence:
• - Gospel of Philip,
• - Gospel of Mary,
• - the mysterious painting of Leonardo da Vinci "The Last Supper",
• - version of Rigden Djappo himself (!!!), more about it later...
• Pure Knowledge from Jesus went with Mary to the early Gnostic groups, which were subsequently mercilessly destroyed by representatives of Apostolic Christianity (here a tragic analogy can be drawn with the Cathars in the 12th century).
• It was Mary Magdalene that Jesus Christ entrusted the secret of the holy grail(more on this in our next publications).
• In addition, the history of the Templar Order, who worshiped it as the greatest shrine, deserves special consideration...

In conclusion, we can say the following, in our opinion, it is not by chance that the fog has been cast, and it is not by chance that the name of Mary has been indirectly defamed today and placed in the church shadow. They try not to mention her, she is not on revered icons, they don’t know about her. In Orthodox churches, her image can be seen near the crucifixion of Christ - with a hunched back, a darkened face, and a downcast gaze. This is exactly how I see her since those long and memorable times when I first crossed the threshold Orthodox church. Neither in the large-circulation Orthodox literature that I read later, nor in the “soul-saving conversations” with confessors later, I never heard mention of either her life or her spiritual feat.

Consciously or out of ignorance, the Church carefully keeps silent about Mary Magdalene. And we already know why.

Prepared by: Dato Gomarteli (Ukraine-Georgia)

Holy Equal to the Apostles
MARY MAGDALENE

Mary Magdalene is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, one of the myrrh-bearing women from whom the Lord cast out seven demons and who, after healing, followed Christ everywhere, was present at the Crucifixion and witnessed his posthumous appearance. According to legend, some time after the Crucifixion, Magdalene went to Ephesus with the Virgin Mary to John the Theologian and helped him in his labors.

Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene was born in the city of Magdala, near Capernaum, on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, in Galilee, not far from the place where John the Baptist baptized. The remains of the ancient city have survived to this day. Now in its place stands only the small village of Medjdel. From the name of the city, Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary received her nickname Magdalene, to distinguish her from other pious women mentioned in the Gospel with the name Mary.

Mary Magdalene was a true Galilean. And a Galilean, a Galilean woman means a lot in preaching and establishing Christianity.

Christ the Savior Himself was called a Galilean, since He grew up and lived from infancy and then preached a lot in Galilee. All the first-called Apostles of Christ were Galileans, with the exception of only Judas Iscariot, the traitor who was not a Galilean. The majority of those who believed in the Lord immediately after His Resurrection consisted of Galileans. Therefore, in the beginning, all the followers of Christ the Savior were called “Galileans,” since the Galileans perceived and spread the teachings of Christ more zealously than other Jews. The Galileans also differed greatly and sharply from the Jews of other regions of Palestine, just as the nature of Galilee was contrastingly different from southern Palestine.

In Galilee the nature was cheerful and the population lively and simple; in southern Palestine there is a barren desert and a people who do not want to recognize anything other than the letter and form of the rules. The inhabitants of Galilee readily accepted the ideas of the spirit of the law; Among the Jews of Jerusalem, one routine appearance dominated. Galilee became the birthplace and cradle of Christianity; Judea was withered by narrow Pharisaism and short-sighted Sadducees. However, the Galileans did not start scientific schools, and therefore the proud scribes and Pharisees of the Jews called the Galileans ignorant and fools; For the unclear, indistinct distinction and pronunciation of certain Hebrew guttural letters by the Galileans, the Jewish rabbis did not allow them to read prayers aloud on behalf of the congregation and ridiculed them. The Galileans were ardent, sympathetic, impetuous, grateful, honest, brave - they were enthusiastically religious, loved to listen to teachings about faith and about God - they were frank, hardworking, poetic and loved Greek wisdom education. And Mary Magdalene showed in her life many wonderful qualities of her Galilean relatives, the first and most zealous Christians.

We know nothing about the first period of the life of Saint Mary Magdalene until her healing from seven demons by Jesus Christ (Luke 8:2). The cause and circumstances of this misfortune of hers are unknown.

According to the Fathers Orthodox Church, the “seven demons” of Saint Mary Magdalene are only God’s allowance of her suffering from demonic spells, which did not even arise from the sins of her parents or her own. But in this example, He showed for all others the miracle of the healing of Mary Magdalene as an act of the power and mercy of God performed through His Messiah. And she herself, without these deep sufferings and healing from them, might not have experienced such a high feeling of love and gratitude to Christ and would have remained among many who sympathize with Him, marveling at His miracles or semi-formally professing faith, but without burning, without complete self-sacrifice.

Since then, the soul of Mary Magdalene was inflamed with the most grateful and devoted love to her Savior Christ, and she had already forever joined her Savior, following Him everywhere. The Gospel tells that Mary Magdalene followed the Lord when He and the apostles passed through the cities and villages of Judea and Galilee preaching the Kingdom of God. Together with pious women - Joanna, the wife of Chuza (Herod's steward), Susanna and others, she served Him from their estates (Luke 8:1-3) and, undoubtedly, shared evangelistic works with the apostles, especially among women. Obviously, the Evangelist Luke means her, along with other women, when he says that at the moment of Christ’s procession to Golgotha, when, after the scourging, He carried heavy cross, exhausted under his weight, the women followed Him, crying and sobbing, and He consoled them. The Gospel tells that Mary Magdalene was also on Calvary at the time of the Lord’s crucifixion. When all the Savior’s disciples fled, she fearlessly remained at the Cross along with the Mother of God and the Apostle John.

The evangelists also list among those who stood at the Cross the mother of the Apostle James the Less, and Salome, and other women who followed the Lord from Galilee itself, but everyone names Mary Magdalene first, and the Apostle John, besides the Mother of God, mentions only her and Mary of Cleopas. This indicates how much she stood out from among all the women surrounding the Savior.

She was faithful to Him not only in the days of His glory, but also at the time of His extreme humiliation and reproach. She, as the Evangelist Matthew narrates, was also present at the burial of the Lord. Before her eyes, Joseph and Nicodemus carried His lifeless body into the tomb. Before her eyes, they blocked the entrance to the cave with a large stone, where the Sun of Life had set...

Faithful to the law in which she was brought up, Mary, together with the other women, remained at rest the entire next day, for the day of that Saturday was great, coinciding with the Easter holiday that year. But still, before the onset of the day of rest, the women managed to stock up on aromas so that on the first day of the week they could come at dawn to the grave of the Lord and Teacher and, according to the custom of the Jews, anoint His body with funeral aromas.

Evangelist Matthew writes that the women came to the tomb at dawn or, as Evangelist Mark puts it, very early, at sunrise; Evangelist John, as if complementing them, says that Mary came to the tomb so early that it was still dark. Apparently, she was looking forward to the end of the night, but without waiting for dawn, when darkness still reigned all around, she ran to where the body of the Lord lay and saw the stone rolled away from the cave.

In fear, she hurried to where the closest apostles of Christ lived - Peter and John. Hearing the strange news that the Lord was taken away from the tomb, both Apostles ran to the tomb and, seeing the shrouds and the folded cloth, were amazed. The apostles left and did not say anything to anyone, and Mary stood near the entrance to a dark cave and cried. Here, in this dark coffin, her Lord lay lifeless just recently. Wanting to make sure that the coffin was really empty, she approached it - and then a strong light suddenly shone around her. She saw two Angels in white robes, sitting one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus was laid.

Hearing the question: “Woman, why are you crying?” - she answered with the same words that she had just spoken to the Apostles: “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they laid Him.” Having said this, she turned around, and at that moment she saw the Risen Jesus standing near the tomb, but did not recognize Him. Apparently, her soul was too heavy, and tears covered her eyes like a veil, and He Himself did not immediately reveal Himself to her, as well as to the apostles who met Him on the way to Emmaus.

He asked Mary: “Woman, why are you crying, Who are you looking for?” She, thinking that she saw the gardener, answered: “Sir, if you brought Him out, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.” Mary Magdalene does not even mention His name - she is so convinced that everyone knows Him, everyone should be as convinced as she is that He is God, and it is impossible not to know Him. This absolute, childlike, selfless faith in the Lord, complete and selfless love for Him does not allow her to think how she, who is not physically very strong, can carry His Body, although exhausted by the labors of earthly life, alone. And only when He calls her by name, she recognizes her Teacher in Him, and with this name on her lips she falls prostrate before Him, and He tells her not to touch Him, for he has not yet ascended to the Father, teaching her reverence for in relation to those Divine changes that occurred to him after His wondrous Resurrection.

Mary Magdalene and the risen Jesus Christ

But it is she who He trusts to bring His disciples the news of His ascension to His Father and, having uttered these words, becomes invisible, and the joyful Mary Magdalene runs to the apostles with the joyful news: “I have seen the Lord!” This was the world's first sermon on the Resurrection.

The Apostles were supposed to preach the gospel to the world, and she preached the gospel to the Apostles themselves. That is why Saint Mary Magdalene is canonized as a saint equal to the apostles.

Saint Gregory the Theologian finds a wonderful allusion in this: in the Old Testament, the wife accepted a tempting mortal drink from the serpent - the juice in the forbidden fruit - and gave it to the first man. The wife heard the Good News in the New Testament and announced it. Whose hand deprived humanity of Eternity, the same - through the centuries - brought him the cup of Life.
The legends about the further life of Saint Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, are diverse. She accompanied the Mother of God and the apostles in their apostolic service on earthly paths. It is known that the tradition of exchanging dyes on Easter is colored eggs also came from historical event, associated with the stay of Saint Mary Magdalene in Rome at the court of Emperor Tiberius, when she presented him with a red egg with the same words: “Christ is Risen!” and told in simple, heartfelt language about the entire history of the Lord’s earthly life, about the unjust trial of Him, about the terrible hours of the Crucifixion and the sign that happened at the same time, testifying then to His miraculous Resurrection and Ascension to the Father.

It was such a sincere sermon, imbued with love for the Lord, that Tiberius himself believed and almost ranked Christ among the host of Roman gods (!!!), which, naturally, the Senate opposed. Then the emperor issued a decree prohibiting insulting Christians and their faith, which greatly contributed to the further spread of Christianity - and this is also due to the merits of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene before the Lord.

Thanks to Mary Magdalene, the custom of giving each other Easter eggs on the day of Christ's Holy Resurrection spread among Christians all over the world. In one ancient handwritten Greek charter, written on parchment, stored in the library of the monastery of St. Anastasia near Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki), there is a prayer read on the day of Holy Easter for the consecration of eggs and cheese, which indicates that the abbot, distributing the consecrated eggs, says to the brethren : “So we accepted from the holy fathers, who preserved this custom from the very times of the apostles, for the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene was the first to show the believers an example of this joyful sacrifice.”

At first, Easter eggs were painted red, but over time, the decorations became richer and brighter, and now Easter eggs have become not only part of the Easter meal that we prepare for consecration on Maundy Thursday, but also an object of creativity - from folk wooden paints to the masterpieces of the most noble jewelers, for example, Faberge.

Mary Magdalene continued her evangelism in Italy and in the city of Rome itself. From Rome, Saint Mary Magdalene, already in old age, moved to Ephesus, where the holy Apostle John worked tirelessly, who, from her words, wrote the 20th chapter of his Gospel. There the saint ended her earthly life and was buried.

In the 11th century, under Emperor Leo the Philosopher (886 - 912), the incorruptible relics of Saint Mary Magdalene were transferred from Ephesus to Constantinople. It is believed that during the Crusades they were transported to Rome, where they rested in the temple in the name of St. John Lateran. Later this temple was consecrated in the name of St. Mary Magdalene, Equal to the Apostles. Part of her relics is located in France, in Provage, near Marseille. Parts of the relics of Mary Magdalene are kept in various monasteries of Holy Mount Athos and in Jerusalem, where in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives there is a wonderfully beautiful monastery of St. Mary Magdalene.

View of the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem

The main church of the monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem

Its main building is the church built in her honor by the Russian Emperor Alexander III on the advice of Archimandrite John Kapustin. In 1934, an Orthodox women's monastery arose around the church, founded by two Englishwomen who accepted the Orthodox faith - nun Mary (in the world - Barbara Robinson) and Martha (in the world - Alice Sprott).

Troparion, tone 1:
For Christ's sake, who was born of the Virgin, the honorable Magdalene Mary followed you, preserving the justifications and laws: and today we celebrate your all-holy memory, the resolution of sins through your prayers is acceptable.

Kontakion, tone 3:
The glorious one stood at the cross of Spasov with many others, and the Mother of the Lord was compassionate, and shedding tears, offering this in praise, saying: that this is a strange miracle; support all creation to suffer as it pleases: glory to Thy power.

Prayer to Saint Mary Magdalene, Equal to the Apostles:
O holy myrrh-bearer and all-praised equal-to-the-apostles disciple of Christ, Mary Magdalene! To you, as the most faithful and powerful intercessor for us, sinners and unworthy God, we now earnestly resort to you and pray in contrition of our hearts. In your life you have experienced the terrible machinations of demons, but by the grace of Christ you have clearly freed them, and through your prayers you have delivered us from the snare of demons, so that in all our life we ​​may faithfully serve the only Holy Master God in our deeds, words, thoughts and secret thoughts of our hearts, as they were promised to Him. You loved the sweetest Lord Jesus more than all earthly blessings, and you followed Him well through all your life, with His Divine teachings and grace not only nourishing your soul, but also bringing many people from pagan darkness to Christ’s wonderful light; then, knowingly, we ask you: ask us from Christ God for the grace that enlightens and sanctifies, so that we, overshadowed by it, may succeed in faith and piety, in the labors of love and self-sacrifice, so that those who earnestly strive to serve our neighbors in their spiritual and physical needs, remembering the example of your love for mankind. You, holy Mary, have lived your life on earth cheerfully by the grace of God and have peacefully departed to the heavenly abode, pray to Christ the Savior, that through your prayers He will grant us the power to complete our journey without stumbling in this vale of weeping and to end our life in peace and repentance, so that Having lived in holiness on earth, we will be granted eternal blissful life in Heaven, and there with you and all the saints together we will praise the Indivisible Trinity, we will glorify the One Divinity, the Father and the Son and the All-Holy Spirit, forever and ever. A min.

Mary Magdalene: biography

Mary Magdalene is a follower mentioned both in Catholicism and in Orthodoxy and Protestantism. Shelters for fallen women are named after her, the image of a repentant sinner is identified with her, and prayers addressed to the icon of Magdalene bestow humility, courage, help in persecution and admonition of non-believers. Mary is traditionally considered the patroness social workers, preachers and teachers. Mary Magdalene was also a favorite subject of Renaissance artists.

Childhood and youth

The biography of Magdalene is full of mysteries and secrets, because the only source pointing to the reality of the life of the legendary follower of Jesus Christ is the Gospel text. Therefore, to this day, biographers and scientists cannot confirm or deny whether Mary Magdalene is a historical figure.

There is practically no information about the childhood and youth of this heroine. The name of the supporter of the Messiah is mentioned only in some sources - in the Gospel of Luke, where, in the narration of the existence of the Son of God, miraculous healing from demons is mentioned, as well as in the other three manuscripts - John, Matthew and Mark - the woman’s name can be found only in a few episodes.

Equal to the Apostles Mary Magdalene was born in the Israeli city of Magdala, located on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, in the northern part of the Holy Land.

One can only guess in what family Mary grew up and was brought up, and who her parents were, because the holy scriptures are silent about this. Although Western European legends say that her parents were called Sir and Eucharia, other sources indicate that Magdalene was an orphan and worked in the market.

It is worth paying attention to the name of the disciple of Jesus Christ. Mary comes from the Hebrew language, and Christian tradition translates this name as “lady.” According to traditional biblical beliefs, this was the name of the mother of Jesus Christ, after whom other revered Christian figures were named. And the nickname Magdalene has geographical roots and means “a native of the city of Migdal-El.”

Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Gethsemane

The toponym literally stands for “tower”, and there are reasons for this. The fact is that in the Middle Ages these buildings were a feudal symbol of knighthood, and, therefore, this noble connotation was transferred to the personal qualities of Magdalene, who was endowed with an aristocratic character.

But there is another assumption regarding the nickname of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Virgin: in the multi-volume religious codex the Talmud there is the expression “magadella,” which translated from Hebrew means “hair curler.”

Meeting with Jesus Christ

Based on the Holy Scriptures, it can be assumed that the first meeting of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene took place in the house of the Pharisee Simon, where the Savior was anointed with myrrh. Confirmation is a sacrament in which the believer, along with specially prepared consecrated oil, is given the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

According to the legend, the woman who appeared to Christ poured water on the head of Jesus from an alabaster vessel, and also washed His feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. Judging by the four Gospels, the disciples of Jesus were unhappy that the visiting guest was wasting expensive oil, which could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor. The Pharisee also noted that the one touching Christ was a sinner, but Jesus, comparing Simon’s inhospitality and Mary’s efforts, said:

“Therefore I tell you: her many sins are forgiven because she loved much, but he who is forgiven little loves little. He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

But some suggest that the meeting of Magdalene and Jesus took place earlier than in Simon's house. Christ said that she “loved much,” that is, Himself, so it can be assumed that Mary may have been among those who followed the Messiah to Jerusalem. After forgiveness, Magdalene began to be considered Christ’s best disciple, but Mary was not among the 12 apostles in the painting “The Last Supper.”

Magdalene began to follow Christ, serving him and sharing her property, and the messiah trusted this woman with even the most intimate secrets, which is why Magdalene earned the dislike of Christ’s disciples, who demanded that the virgin be removed from His circle.

According to legend, this woman was the only one who did not abandon the Savior when he was arrested, while Peter, the most devoted of the apostles, denied his leader three times after he was taken into custody.

It is known that Mary Magdalene was present at the execution of Jesus Christ along with His mother, mother’s sister and Mary of Cleopas. The follower of the Son of God stood next to Christ, sharing the great maternal suffering of the Mother of God. When the Savior’s heart stopped beating, Mary mourned the Savior, and then accompanied the body of Jesus to the tomb carved by Joseph in the rock.

Byzantine literature indicates that after the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene, together with the Mother of God, went to the ancient city of Ephesus, to John the Theologian, and helped him in his labors. By the way, it is the Gospel of John that contains the most information about the life of Magdalene.

According to legend, Mary Magdalene returned a day after the death of Christ to that cave to show her devotion to the Savior by anointing His body with aromatic oils and myrrh. But when Jesus’ companion approached the rocky mountain, she discovered that the stone covering the entrance to the cave had been moved and the cave itself was empty.

Desperate Mary in grief went to John and Peter to tell them that the body of the Messiah had disappeared from the burial place. Then the apostles, together with Magdalene, again went to the rocky mountain and saw that the cave was empty. The disciples of Christ left the grotto in grief, while Mary remained next to the tomb, crying and trying to understand the reason for the disappearance of Jesus Christ.

Mary Magdalene raised her tear-stained eyes and saw two angels sitting in front of her. When they asked about the reason for the suffering of the unfortunate maiden, she replied that she was tormented by the unknown. Then the woman looked up and saw Jesus Christ, whom she initially mistook for a gardener and asked to indicate where the teacher’s grave was located. But when the one who came said her name, she recognized the Son of God and threw herself at His feet. Based on the gospel accounts, Jesus answered Mary:

“Do not touch Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; But go to My brothers and say to them: “I ascend to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”

Christianity

According to biblical legends, the holy virgin became a follower of Jesus Christ after healing from evil spirits and repentance for sins, which is why many admirers Christian traditions There was an idea that Mary Magdalene was a great harlot and sinner.

This identification of Mary with the nameless woman of the Gospels who washed the Savior’s feet can be found in the Catholic tradition, but the fornication of a follower of Christ is not mentioned either in the Menaion or in its akathist. Thus, in Catholicism, Magdalene takes the form of a former harlot, and the Italian painter was able to convey the woman’s emotions in his painting “The Penitent Mary Magdalene.”

According to Catholicism, Mary Magdalene was a representative the oldest profession, and having met the Son of God, she abandoned her craft and became his follower.

It is worth noting that Orthodox scriptures speak only about Magdalene’s demonic possession, denying her riotous past. But Mary's life was not sweet, because the virgin was not married and had no children. In those days, such women were looked upon with suspicion, and in order to protect herself from the advances of men, Maria had to pretend to be possessed.

In the Orthodox tradition, Mary Magdalene appears as the Holy Myrrh-Bearer Equal to the Apostles (in Protestantism - exclusively as the Holy Myrrh-Bearer). She made an undeniable contribution to the work of preaching. Mary spread the word about Jesus in Italy and one day visited the pagan leader Tiberius.

The woman handed him a gift egg, for lack of anything else, and said “Christ is Risen!” Tiberius stated that resurrection was as impossible as the fact that a donated egg would turn scarlet. However, the egg turned blood red. This is how I was born Easter tradition.

It is believed that Christ’s companion worked a lot in Rome, as evidenced by the book of the New Testament, which contains the collections of the letters of the Holy Apostle Paul.

As for Catholicism, it is said that Mary Magdalene spent the second part of her life in the desert, where she led ascetic image life and repented of my sins every day. The clothes of the holy virgin had decayed, so the women covered their nakedness long hair, and Mary herself was carried into heaven by angels in order to heal her exhausted old body. But it is worth saying that this plot is borrowed from the description of the life of the Christian saint Mary of Egypt, considered the patroness of confessing women.

Love theories

The personal life of Mary Magdalene is shrouded in a halo of mystery, so it is not surprising that various love theories about the Equal-to-the-Apostles saint appear among historians. For example, some believe that Mary Magdalene was the wife of John the Theologian, while others are confident that the myrrh-bearer was the wife of Jesus Christ, because this woman plays a significant role in almost the most important episode of the New Testament.

Since church representatives tried to get rid of unofficial books, there is practically no news about who Jesus’ beloved was, and there is an assumption that the lines about the family life of the Messiah in the New Testament were cut out on purpose.

But most scholars are inclined to favor Magdalene. In the Gospel, there is an indicative episode when the disciples of the Son of God were jealous of Jesus for Magdalene because of a kiss on the lips.

Also in those days single woman had no right to accompany wanderers on the road, unlike the wife of one of them. Among other things, scientists refer to the fact that after the resurrection Christ appeared to Mary, and not to his disciples. And besides, men who did not have a wife were considered a strange phenomenon, so an unmarried Jesus would hardly have been able to become a prophet and teacher.

Death

In Orthodoxy, Mary Magdalene died quietly and calmly, a woman died in Ephesus, and her relics were transferred to the Constantinople monastery of St. Lazarus.

According to another branch of the Christian movement, while Mary was a hermit in the desert, she was given communion by a priest who accidentally wandered into those parts, who was at first embarrassed by the naked appearance of the woman. According to Catholicism, the remains of the Equal-to-the-Apostles saint are kept in the church of Saint-Maximin-la-Saint-Baume, in Provence.

In memory of Mary Magdalene, many colorful paintings were painted and filmed documentaries. It is noteworthy that on the canvases the disciple of Christ is depicted in individual scenes extremely rarely, whereas she can often be seen in the image of the myrrh-bearer, with a vessel of incense.

Memory

• 1565 – painting “Penitent Mary Magdalene” ()
• 1861 – poem “Mary Magdalene” (Nikolai Ogarev)
• 1923 - cycle of poems “Magdalene” ()
• 1970 – rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” (Andrew Lloyd Weber)
• 1985 – song “Maria Magdalena” ()
• 2017 – film “Mary Magdalene” (Garth Davis)

Brief Life of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Myrrh-Bearer

The holy equal of the capital Ma-ria Mag-da-li-na, one of the wives of the mi-ro-no-sits, was honored as the first of all May you see the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. She was born in the village of Mag-da-ly in Ga-li-ley. The Ga-li-leys lived by immediacy, ardor of character and self-confidence. These qualities were also present in Saint Mary Mag-da-lina. Since her youth, she suffered from a serious illness - demon (). Before the coming into the world of Christ the Savior there were especially many demons: the enemy of mankind -why, seeing his loved one's disgrace, he rose up against people with ferocious force. Through the illness of Mary Mag-da-li-na, the glory of God appeared, and she herself acquired a great good-de-all. lo-go trust in the will of God and a certain kind of devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Lord drove seven demons out of her, she, leaving everything, followed Him.

Holy Mary Mag-da-li-on-following Christ, together with other same-on-mi, is-tse-len-ny-mi State- around the house, showing touching care for Him. She did not leave the Lord after the Jews took Him, when those closest to her began to believe in Him students. The fear that bu-wed to the re-re-relation of the apostle of Peter, in the soul of Mary Mag-da-li-na, was defeated by any view. She stood at the Cross together with the Most Holy God and the Apostle John, living through the suffering Teach the divine and communicate with the grief of God. Holy Mary Mag-da-li-na with-pro-leader-da-la Most-pure Body of the Lord after Jesus Christ at the re-ne-se- His burial in the garden of the righteous Joseph Ari-ma-fei-skogo was at His burial (;). Having served the Lord during His earthly life, she wished to serve Him after death, giving the last honoring His Body, minding it, according to the custom of the Jews, with peace and aro-ma-ta-mi (). The risen Christ sent Saint Mary with a message from Him to the disciples, and the blessed wife, rejoicing, brought la apo-sto-lam about vi-den-nom - “Christ is risen!” As the first good-west-ni-tsa of Christ's resurrection, Holy Mary Mag-da-li-na is recognized at the Church-view of the Rav -noap-oh-so-noy. In this good news is the main co-existence of her life, the beginning of her apostolic service.

According to legend, she is a blessing not only in Ieru-sa-li-me. Holy Mary Mag-da-li-na went to Rome and saw im-per-ra-to-ra Ti-ve-ria (14-37). Known to his-same-sto-ko-ser-di-em im-pe-ra-tor, you-listened to Saint Mary, who ras-s-sal-la him about the life, miracles and teachings of Christ, about His unjust condemnation of Judas, about the little spirit of Pi-la-ta . Then she brought him a red egg with the words “Christ is risen!” With this step of St. Mary, the Magus are connected with the pas-hal custom of giving each other red eggs (yay -tso, a symbol of that-in-life, you-ra-ha-has faith in the coming general Resurrection).

Then Saint Mary went to Ephesus (Asia Minor). Here she spoke to the holy apostle and evan-ge-li-stu John of God in his pro-ve-di. Here, according to the tradition of the Church, she died and was laid to rest. In the 9th century, under the reign of Leo VI Philo-so-the (886-912), the incorruptible relics of St. Mary the Magus were not -re-ne-se-ny from Ephesus to Kon-stan-ti-no-pol. They say that during the Crusades they were taken to Rome, where they congregated in the temple in the name of Saint John of La-te-ran-skogo. Pope of Rome Go-no-ri III (1216-1227) consecrated this temple in the name of the holy equal of the capital Mary Mag-da-li-na. Part of her relics resides in France, in Pro-va-zhe near Mar-se-la, where a temple was also erected, dedicated to the holy that Maria Mag-da-lina. Parts of the holy relics of the Equal Mary of the Magus are kept in various monasteries of the Holy Go -ry Athos and in Ieru-sa-li-me. Numerous monuments of the Russian Church, these holy places still exist, blessedly -worshipping her holy relics.

The Complete Life of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Myrrh-Bearer

On the shore of Ge-ni-sa-ret-sko-go lake between the mountains of Ka-per-na-u-mom and Ti-ve-ri-a-doi races -po-la-gal-a small city of Mag-da-la, the remnants of which have survived to this day. Now in its place there is only a small village named Med-zhdel.

In Magda-la, a woman was once born and raised, whose name forever became part of the Evangelical tradition. to-ryu. The Gospel tells us nothing about the young years of Mary, but the Pre-da-nie informs us that Mary is from Mag-da -you were young, beautiful, and led a sinful life. In the Gospel it is said that the Lord drove out seven demons from Mary. From the moment of Ma-riya’s research, she began a new life. She became a faithful student of Spa-si-te-la.

Evan-ge-lie says that Ma-ria Mag-da-li-is behind the Lord's house, when He is with the apo-sto-la-mi walked through the cities and villages of Judea and Galilei with the message of the Kingdom of God. Together with the good-che-sti-mi wives - Ioan-noy, wife of Khu-zy (do-mo-pra-vi-te-lya Iro-do-va ), Su-san-noy and others, she served Him from her estates () and, undoubtedly, shared with the apo-sto-la -my good-west-no-che-works, especially among women. Obviously, she, along with other women, is meant by Evangelist Lu-ka, saying that in -the moment of the procession of Christ to Gol-go-fu, when, after the bi-che-va-niya, He carried a heavy Cross on Himself, from-being unable to under it heavy, the women followed Him, crying and sobbing, and He consoled them. Evan-ge-lie says that Ma-ria Mag-da-li-na-ho-di-la and on Gol-go-fe at the moment of the crucifixion of the State -Yes. When all the Spa-si-te-la's students ran away, she fearlessly stayed at the Cross with Bo-go-ro-di -cey and the apostle John.

Among the hundred who appeared at the Cross, the Evan-ge-li-sty also include the mother of the apostle Ia-ko-va of the Lesser, and Sa- lo-mia, and other women who followed the Lord's house from Gal-leya itself, but everyone calls Maria first Mag-da-li-well, and the Apostle John, besides Bo-go-ma-te-ri, only mentions her and Mary Cleo-po-vu. This speaks volumes about how different you are from all the women who surrounded Spa-si-the-la.

She was faithful to Him not only in the days of His glory, but also at the moment of His extreme unification and destruction. She, as the Gospel of Mat-fei says, was in the presence of the Lord and at the burial of the Lord. Before her eyes, Joseph and Ni-ko-di-mom carried His lifeless body into the tomb. Before her eyes, they blocked the entrance to the cave with a large stone, where the Sun of life had set...

Faithful for the co-well, in which she was born, Maria, together with other wives, was the whole next day was quiet, for the great day was that Saturday, which coincided that year with the Easter holiday. But still, before the end of the day, the women managed to get their aromas so that on the first day of the week they could come to the race -keep-to-the-mo-gi-le of the Lord and Teach-te-la and, according to the custom of the Jews, to anoint His body with aro-ma -ta-mi.

It is necessary to assume that, having gathered to go to the Gro-bu on the first day of the week early in the morning, the holy women dispersed on Friday evening at their houses, didn’t you have the opportunity to meet each other on Saturday, and how As soon as the light of the next day was just around the corner, we went to the tomb not together, but each from our own house.

Evan-ge-list Matthew writes that the women came to the tomb at dawn, or, as you say, Evan-ge-list Mark, very early, at sunrise; Evangelist John, as if completing them, says that Mary came to the tomb so early that it was still dark . See, she was impatiently waiting for the windows of the night, but without waiting for the light to break, when there was still a ri-la darkness, be-zha-la there, where the body of the State lies.

So, Maria came to the grave alone. Seeing a stone from the cave, she was in fear and rushed to where the closest apostles lived. lys of Christ - Peter and John. Having heard the strange news that the Lord had been taken away from the coffin, both apos-la went to the coffin and, seeing the pe-le- We and the rolled board were amazed. The apostles left and didn’t say anything to anyone, but Maria stood near the entrance to the gloomy cave and pla -ka-la. Here, in this dark coffin, not long ago, her Lord lay breathless. Wanting to make sure that the coffin was really empty, she went to it - and here a strong light suddenly surrounded her. She saw two Angels in white robes, sitting one at the head, and the other at the feet, wherever -lo-lo-same-but the body of Jesus-so-in. Hearing the question: “Woman, why are you crying?” - she said the same words that she had just said to the apo-sto-lams: “Did the Gos-po-da mo- and I don’t know where He lives.” Having said this, she turned back and at that moment saw Jesus risen again, standing near the tomb, but I didn’t recognize Him.

He asked Maria: “Woman, why are you crying, Who are you looking for?” She, thinking that she sees the garden, from-ve-cha-la: “Sir, if you carried Him out, tell me where you are.” -lo-lived Him, and I will take Him."

But at that moment she recognized the voice of the Lord, a voice that was familiar from the very day He healed her. She heard this voice in those days, in those years, when, together with other blessings, you women I went for the Lord's house in all the cities and villages where His prophecy was spread. A joyful cry burst from her chest: “Rav-vu-ni!”, which means “Teacher.”

Respect and love, tenderness and deep reverence, a sense of appreciation and acknowledgment of His superiority. how great the Teacher was - everything merged in this one voice. She couldn't say anything more and rushed to the feet of her Teacher to wash them with tears of joy . But the Lord said to her: “Do not come to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brothers and say live to them: “I ascend to My Father and your Father and to My God and your God.”

She came to her senses and again ran to the apostles in order to fulfill the will of her Glorious One to preach. Again she ran into the house, where the Apostles were still in turmoil, and brought them good news: “ Vi-de-la Gos-po-da!” This was the first time in the world to talk about the Resurrection.

The apo-sto-lys should be the blessing of the world, and it is the blessing of the apo-sto-lam...

Sacred Scripture does not tell us about the life of Mary Mag-da-li-na after the Resurrection of Christ, but it is possible but I have no idea that if, during the terrible moments of Christ’s crucifixion, she was at the foot of His Cross with His Most Holy Mother - I stand with Ma-the-ryu and Ioan-nom, then it is undeniable that she remained with them and all the near-time after the resurrection- nii and voz-no-se-nii of the State. So, Saint Luke in the book of De-ya-niy of the Apostles writes that all the Apostles are one soul, but were in one lit-ve and prayers with some of the same and Mary, Mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The Holy Precept tells us that when the apostles dispersed from Jerusalem to propagate to all ends of the world -ra, then Maria Mag-da-li-na went with them to the pro-po-po. An important woman, whose heart was full of memories of the Risen One, left her native land and went with the message to the pagan language. And she carried the message to people about Christ and His teachings, and when many did not believe that Christ had risen, she repeated to them the same thing that she had said on the bright morning of the Resurrection apo -sto-lam: “I see the State.” With this proclamation she went all over Italy.

Pre-da-nie says that in Italy, Ma-ria Mag-da-li-na appeared to him-per-ra-to-ru Ti-ve-rius (14-37) and good news to him about the risen Christ. According to legend, she brought him a red egg as a symbol of the Resurrection, a symbol of new life, with the words: " Christ is risen!" Then she told him that in his province of Judea Jesus Ga-li-le-ya was convicted without guilt. Nin, a holy man, who did miracles, strong before God and all people, was executed according to the Jewish traditions -shchen-ni-kov, and the thief was approved by the famous Ti-ve-ri-em pro-ku-ra-tor Pontius Pi-lat.

Mary repeated the words of the apo-sto-lovs, that those who believed in Christ were saved from the vanity of life and are not perishable. silver or gold, but the precious blood of Christ as an immaculate and pure Lamb.

Bla-go-da-rya Marya Mag-da-lina custom of giving each other eggs on the day of the Holy Resurrection of Christ -niya races between the christ-a-na-mi of the whole world. In one ancient ru-co-written Greek charter, on-pi-san-nom on per-ga-men-those, stored in the library -te-ke mo-na-sta-rya of St. Ana-sta-sia near Fes-sa-lo-nik (So-lu-nya), at-the-place-at the mo-lit-va, chi- that-e-May on the day of Holy Easter for the consecration of eggs and cheese, in which it is indicated that the abbot, once when he gives the consecrated eggs, he says to the brethren: “So we received from the holy fathers, who preserved these customs.” but-ve-nie from the very times of the apostolic, for the holy equal of the capital Mary Mag- da-li-na first-for- La believe-ru-yu-sh-im-example of this ra-worthy sacrifice."

Ma-ria Mag-da-li-na pro-longed her good-news in Italy and in the city of Rome itself. Obviously, it is precisely this that the apostle Pavel refers to in his Epistle to Romans (), where, along with the pro-chi- mi-mov-ni-ka-mi pro-po-ve-di Evan-Gel-skoy trusts Mary (Ma-ri-am), who is paradise, as he she's happy, "she worked a lot for us." Obviously, they served the Church without hesitation and with their means, and with their labor, under avoiding the dangers, and dis-de-la-la with the apo-sto-la-mi of the work of pro-know-no-thing.

According to church tradition, she stayed in Rome until the arrival of the Apostle Paul and two more years later after his departure from Rome after the first trial over him. From Rome, Saint Mary Mag-da-li-na, already at an advanced age, moved to Ephesus, where the saint worked tirelessly that Apostle John, who, from her words, wrote the 20th chapter of his Gospel. There the holy earthly life ended and it was done.

Her holy relics were transferred to the capital of the Byzantine Empire in the 9th century - Kon-stan-ti-no -pol and po-lo-zhen-us in the temple of the mo-na-sta-rya in the name of St. La-za-rya. In the era of the Crusades, they were transferred to Italy and settled in Rome under al-ta-rem La -te-ran-sko-go-bo-ra. Part of the relics of Mary Mag-da-li-na is in France near Mar-se-la, where there is a cart above them at the foot of a steep mountain -move in honor of her magnificent temple.

The Right-Glorious Church sacredly honors the memory of St. Mary Mag-da-li-na - a woman, called by the Sa-mim of the State House from darkness to light and from the power of sa-ta-na to God.

See also: "" in the text of St. Di-mit-ria of Ro-stov.

Prayers

Troparion to Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Myrrh-Bearer

You followed Christ, born of a Virgin for our sake, / the honorable Magdalino Mary, / who preserves the justifications and laws. / Meanwhile today we celebrate your all-holy memory, / the resolution of sins / / prayers We accept yours.

Translation: You followed Christ, born of the Virgin for our sake, venerable Mary Magdalene, keeping His commandments and laws. Therefore, on this day, celebrating your all-holy memory, we receive forgiveness of sins through your prayers.

Troparion of the Week of the Myrrh-Bearing Women

An angel appeared to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb, crying:/ Peace is fitting for the dead/ Christ has appeared as a stranger to corruption./ But cry: the Lord is risen,// Grant greatness to the world awn.

Translation: Appearing at the tomb, the Angel exclaimed: “Befits the dead, but Christ appeared not subject to control; It’s better to shout: The Lord has risen, giving great mercy to the world!”

Kontakion of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Myrrh-Bearer

Standing, glorious one, at the Cross of Spasov with many others,/ and the Mother of the Lord is compassionate, and shedding tears,/ offering this in praise, saying:/ that this is a strange miracle?/ Contain all creation , suffer as you please. // Glory to Your power.

Translation: Standing, glorious, at the Cross of the Savior with many other wives, and compassionate the Mother of the Lord, and shedding tears, she brought it in praise, and exclaimed: “What is this extraordinary miracle? He who has chosen to suffer has favored all creation. Glory to Your power!”

Kontakion of the Week of Myrrh-Bearing Women

You commanded the myrrh-bearers to rejoice,/ You quenched the cry of your foremother Eve/ with Your resurrection, O Christ God,/ You commanded Your apostle to preach // The Savior is risen from the grave.

Translation: “Rejoice,” shouting to the myrrh-bearers, You stopped Eve’s crying with Your resurrection, O Christ God; He commanded Yours to proclaim: “The Savior has risen from the grave!”

The Greatness of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Myrrh-Bearer

We magnify you,/ the myrrh-bearing holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene,/ and we honor your illnesses and labors,/ in which you labored/ in the gospel of Christ.

Prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Myrrh-Bearer

Oh, holy myrrh-bearer and all-praiseworthy equal-to-the-apostles of Christ, Mary Magdalene, the disciple! To you, as the most faithful and powerful intercessor for us to God, sinners and unworthy ones, we now diligently resort to you and pray in contrition of our hearts. In your life you experienced the terrible machinations of demons, but by the grace of Christ you clearly freed them, and with your prayers you delivered us from the snare of demons, so that we may be taken out in all our lives. In words, thoughts and secret thoughts of our hearts let us faithfully serve the one Holy Master God, as they promised Him. You loved the sweetest Lord Jesus more than all the earthly blessings, and You followed Him well throughout your life, His Divine teachings and grace not only feeding your own soul, but also many people Bringing from pagan darkness to Christ the wonderful light; then, leading, we ask you: ask us from Christ God for the grace that enlightens and sanctifies, so that we may be blessed by it, succeed in faith and piety, in the labors of love and self-sacrifice, and serve without laziness You to your neighbors in their spiritual and physical needs, remembering the example of your love for mankind. You, holy Mary, you cheerfully flowed through your life on earth with the grace of God and you peacefully departed to the heavenly abode, pray to Christ the Savior, that through your prayers He will make us worthy without stumbling. This is our journey in this vale of tears and in peace and repentance we will end our lives, and so Having lived in holiness on earth, we will be honored with eternal blissful life in Heaven and there with you and all the saints together we will praise the Indivisible Trinity, we will sing praises to the One Divinity, the Father and S God and the All-Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.

Another prayer to Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Myrrh-Bearer

Oh, Holy Myrrh-Bearer, Equal-to-the-Apostles Magdalene Mary! With your warm love for Christ God, you trampled the evil machinations of the enemy and you found the priceless beads of Christ, and you reached the Kingdom of Heaven. For this reason I fall to you and with a tender soul and a contrite heart I cry out, I am unworthy: look down on me from the heights of Heaven, I am overcome by sinful temptations, see that I have many sins and troubles Every day the enemy will trample me, seeking my destruction. Glorious and all-praiseworthy disciple of Christ Mary! Pray to Christ God, whom you love and love you, that He may grant me remission of many of my sins, and strengthen me with His grace to soberly and cheerfully walk the path of His holy commandments And may the fragrant temple of the Holy Spirit make me, so that in peace I will shamelessly end my laborious life on earth and I will dwell in the bright and blessed abodes of Heavenly Paradise, where you and all the saints will joyfully glorify the Consubstantial Trinity, the Father and the Son and the All-Holy Spirit. Amen.

Canons and Akathists

Canon of Equal to the Apostles Mary Magdalene

Song 1

Irmos: Having traversed the water like dry land, and having escaped the evil of Egypt, the Israelite cried out: Let us drink to our Deliverer and our God.

Decorated with Divine kindnesses and shining Divine luminaries, illuminate my darkened heart with your prayers, Mary.

Sanctify the Word of the Father, having delivered you from the spirits of malice; having been a disciple of Him, you have been filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Filled with life-giving waters from an unenvious source, for the mercy of the Lord who appeared on earth, you dried up the muddy currents of sin.

Theotokos: Mother by the nature of the Creator, we sing to Thee, the Young Lady, who reconciled to God the fallen human nature, the Mother of God, the All-Immaculate Lady.

Song 3

Irmos: The Supreme Creator of the heavenly circle, O Lord, and the Creator of the Church, Thou strengthen me in Thy love, the desires of the land, the true affirmation, the only Lover of Mankind.

Having loved first the culprit, our mercifully deified nature, you followed Him zealously, Mary, obeying the Divine command.

Weeping, you reached the tomb of the Deliverer, having first seen the Divine resurrection of the maiden. Moreover, you appeared as the evangelist, crying: Christ is risen, clasp your hands.

Theotokos: The Word incarnate, O Most Pure One, saves me from Thy most pure blood, resolving the condemnation of the first fall with the riches of goodness. Unceasingly pray to Him to save Thy flock.

Sedalen, voice 8

To the impoverished Word with much mercy, Mary Magdalene, you truly served as a disciple, seeing this, you were lifted up on the Cross and laid in the tomb, you wept, tearfully. In the same way, we honor you and celebrate your triumph by faith, glorious myrrh-bearer, pray to Christ the God of sins to leave taxes to those who honor your holy memory with love.

Song 4

Irmos: I heard, O Lord, Thy sacrament, I understood Thy works and glorified Thy Divinity.

Without the embarrassment of the possessors of worldly vanity, the thought, Thou hast served the One who came to save the whole world from flattery.

Washed with tears, having reached the life-giving tomb, you saw an angel, announcing Christ's resurrection to Mary.

Thy heart was immaculate in the justifications of Christ, and the only one thou didst desire, Red with kindness, worthy of glory.

Theotokos: Through the slumber of laziness I have fallen into a sinful sleep, O Otrokovitsa, comprehend, with Thy invigorating prayer raise me to repentance.

Song 5

Irmos: Who didst thou cast me away from Thy presence, O undefeated Light, and didst thou cover me with an alien darkness, the accursed one? But turn me and direct my path to the light of Your commandments, I pray.

The great-grandmother, who was deceived by these words and expelled from paradise, was seen in ancient times to be trampled underfoot by pure women, the masculine character of those who have acquired them, and eternally rejoices with them.

Dead and in the tomb of the Closed One, who breathes life into all, is wounded by love, offering myrrh to the sweetness of His love, Magdalene, honorable Mary, and shedding tearful aromas.

According to the Divine passion, according to the terrible ascension of the Savior, you pass, proclaiming the honest word everywhere and catching many who are deceived by ignorance, like a glorious disciple of the Word.

Theotokos: Delivers me, having fallen into sinful multi-braided cases, who deigned to be born from You for immeasurable mercy, the Most Holy Maiden, who begged Him to be delivered from all harm by faith in those who sing to You.

Song 6

Irmos: Cleanse me, O Savior, for my iniquities are many, and bring me up from the depths of evil, I pray, for I have cried out to You, and hear me, O God of my salvation.

Your words of water and sorrow have been taken away from your disciples, O honest one, just as you cried out: Christ has arisen, the belly has appeared, the sun is clear in its leaves.

Behold, your luminous memory has risen, enlightening the faithful, singing to you in it, and driving away the darkness of the evil demons of temptation, most wonderful.

Theotokos: The priesthood is a mental and inviolable purification, you have appeared as a candlestick of light, and you have led the bridge to God to those who confess Thee, the Mother of God, the Immaculate One.

Kontakion, tone 3

Standing, glorious one, at the Cross of Spasov with many others, and compassionate with the Mother of the Lord, and shedding tears, they offered this in praise, saying: what is this strange miracle? Let all creation suffer as you please. Glory to Your power.

Ikos

Lord Christ and King of creation, do not leave Heaven, who came down as you willed, and accept corruptible flesh by will. Having seen Him, the Immaculate Mother was nailed to the Cross, standing with the honest virgins and Magdalene Mary, crying. For the one who exists there and always shows the warmest faith, who follows Christ and sees the tomb, waiting and crying: Thou hast deigned to suffer, glory to Thy power.

Song 7

Irmos: The Jewish youths in the cave boldly quenched the flame and turned the fire into dew, crying: Blessed are you, O Lord God, forever.

You have driven away various ailments, having the words that help you, and stand before Him now, crying out to the Myrrh-Bearer: Blessed are you, Lord God, forever.

You were the only one who saw before and the life of our Christ rising, but you did not despise Him, crying out: Blessed are you, Lord God, forever.

Theotokos: Thou hast set forth the course of death, the Immortal God, having conceived and given birth, the Pure One, to whom we all will drink: blessed art thou, O Lord God, unto the ages.

Song 8

Irmos: By the sevenfold, the Chaldean tormentor furiously kindled the cave of the Godly, but by the best power they were saved, having seen this, they cried out to the Creator and Savior: fathers, bless, priests, sing, O people, exalt to all ages.

Your life has appeared brightly, with the dawn of leaves, O Magdalene! Virtuous deeds, Divine preaching, a hedgehog to God's beck, and rays even to the Creator of love, Whom the Angels and priests sing, sing, O people, exalt Him forever.

You stood at the Cross, beholding the unrighteous, glorious, who poured out the slaughter of Yourself for unspeakable mercy, and, groaning and shedding tears, what a strange thing, you cried out to Mary, a miracle? How is death slain and dies, an animal by nature?

Theotokos: Yako Mother of God With one mind we glorify You and the highest creation, Pure One, because of You the condemnation that came from Adam was required and the apostate being appropriated by men sings: Priests, bless, O people, exalt Him forever.

Song 9

Irmos: Heaven and the ends of the earth were terrified at this, for God had appeared as a man in the flesh, and Your womb was the most spacious of Heaven. Thus Thea, the Mother of God, the Angels and the people of the ranks are magnified.

You have now turned yourself to the Divine joy, to the most expansive breadth of heaven, to the mental and worldly abodes, where there are venerable ranks, where there is a pure voice of those who brightly celebrate, God-bearing Mary. We will also please you all.

You preferred nothing to those who exist on earth more than the love of Christ God, but He alone was consumed by kindnesses and directly, all-honorable, sent by the rays sent to His feet, you cried out, following: I magnify You, Most Merciful.

Having received God-created deification, and having drunk from the stream of grace, and having accepted the rewards of illnesses from the beginning, and being counted by the apostolic rank, Magdalene, disciple of the Word, preserve the love of thee with your prayers.

Theotokos: As Mother, who suffered for us, deliver me from strangled passions; For you are merciful, forgive the sins of my captives; for the Good, please my soul now embittered by demonic temptations, O Virgin Mother of God, may I sing to Thee, the All-Singing One.

Svetilen

The unsetting sun, to the maiden, who had risen from the Father before the ages, was sealed in the tomb of the Jewish host, but you saw the resurrected one first, Mary, and you proclaimed it to your disciples.

Akathist to Saint Mary Magdalene Equal to the Apostles

Kontakion 1

Prepared by the Lord for equal-to-the-apostles service, Saint Mary Magdalene, you followed your beloved Christ: with the same songs we praise you with love; But you, who have great boldness towards the Lord, deliver us from all troubles with your prayers, so that with joy we cry to you:

Ikos 1

The Creator of angels and the Lord of hosts, foreknowledge of your good will, holy myrrh-bearer, chose you from the city of Magdala, freeing you from the devil’s snare; You, a faithful servant of the Lord, have appeared to this day, zealous for the glorification of His life and service. We, marveling at God’s vision of you like this, in the tenderness of our hearts, call to you:

Rejoice, you who were called from the Son of God from the darkness of the devil into His wonderful light; Rejoice, for by His grace you remained pure in body and spirit to the end.

Rejoice, having preserved spiritual poverty to the end with purity of heart; Rejoice, you who were privileged to behold the risen Christ above all others.

Rejoice, thou who has conquered the power of the enemy for good; Rejoice, you who shone forth with strong faith and warm love for Christ our God.

Rejoice, you who loved Christ the Savior with all your heart; Rejoice, you who served Him faithfully even to death.

Rejoice, thou who hast been renewed with grace in thy soul; Rejoice, you who have contained the preaching of the Gospel in the treasure of your heart.

Rejoice, you who proclaimed the preaching of the resurrection by the apostle; Rejoice, venerable angelic conversation.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 2

Seeing Holy Mary to be delivered from seven fierce demons, to cleave to the conqueror of hell to Christ God with all her heart, teaching all people not only with their lips, but also with all their lives to serve God, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

The human mind is perplexed, thinking, from what troubles, to the height of an angelic life, by the grace of Christ, you ascended, worthy of praise to Mary Magdalene. In the same way, we, who are your good intercessor, warmly pray to you: deliver us from the abyss of sin, and let us cry out to you in love:

Rejoice, you who escaped the cruel slavery of demons; Rejoice, you who have exposed the flattery of crafty demons.

Rejoice, having taught everyone to run to Christ God in the adversity of the enemy; Rejoice, causing no one to despair in the great sinful sorrow.

Rejoice, having shown the path to holiness to all sinners; Rejoice, thou who has known the omnipotent power of the grace of Christ.

Rejoice, good teacher worthy of thanksgiving to God; Rejoice, faithful teacher of true praise of God.

Rejoice, in your life you showed us the right path of the earthly course; Rejoice, good intercessor for all sinners before God.

Rejoice, protector of our souls from satanic flattery; Rejoice, our warm intercessor for Christ in all sorrow.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 3

By the power of Divine grace, coupled with your good will, you sadly left your father’s house, like Abraham of old, and joyfully followed Christ God; We also pray to you, disciple of Christ, glorious Mary, with your prayers, enlighten our hearts with love for God, and now and ever we cry out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having the power God-given to you, you courageously rejected Mary Magdalene, the red one of this world, and like a good disciple, you truly served the Word that was impoverished for us with much mercy. For this reason, we cry out to you with tenderness:

Rejoice, good disciple of Christ; Rejoice, teacher of true love for God.

Rejoice, you who have known the vanity of this world well; Rejoice, you who courageously rejected his joys.

Rejoice, red one who has imputed nothing to the world; Rejoice, you who have shown the monastic rite a good path of life.

Rejoice, you who guide everyone to Christ God; Rejoice, you who came forth from your earthly home for works of mercy.

Rejoice, having found Christ’s mercy here and in Heaven; Rejoice, for you have achieved eternal bliss.

Rejoice, wise lamb, who ran from the evil wolves to the good shepherd Christ; Rejoice, you who entered into the fold of His verbal sheep.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 4

A storm of demonic rage rushes with great force towards the temple of your soul, holy Mary, but it is not possible to shake it completely: for you have found salvation on the firmament of faith, the stones of Christ, on which you, wise woman, standing motionless, teach all the good God to sing the song: Alleluia .

Ikos 4

Hearing, God-wise Mary, because in following Christ you have found true joy of heart, truth, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, we strive to appear as partakers of this Kingdom of God. To you, as a partaker of that existence and who showed us the way to it, with your whole mouth the following:

Rejoice, thou who has loved the heavenly sweetness of Jesus; Rejoice, having found true life in Christ.

Rejoice, you who faithfully showed us the same image; Rejoice, you who now live forever in heavenly joy.

Rejoice, you who eat the heavenly food; Rejoice, having kindled the fire of love for God in your heart.

Rejoice, O Christ God, as His faithful and beloved servant; Rejoice, diligent prayer book for us to God.

Rejoice, helper in our troubles; Rejoice, our kind and gentle teacher.

Rejoice, most holy dwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 5

The God-bearing star, accompanying Christ, the glorious Mary, you appeared in the midst of the myrrh-bearers. With them now I will take out the upcoming ones Holy Trinity, and unite us with your prayers to the sacred face, illuminating the dark path of our life with your light, so that we joyfully cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing, holy Mary, Christ God hanging on the cross, you showed wondrous courage: for many disciples left their Teacher; But you, having kindled your soul and thought with His incessant divine teachings, you overcame the weakness of your female nature and thus you partook of Christ’s more salvific passion. For this reason, we, your valiant courage visible, cry out to you:

Rejoice, wise women are beauty and fertilizer; Rejoice, good joy to all Christians.

Rejoice, Christ God, hanging on the cross, compassionate; Rejoice, you who showed us the way more unshakably than love for Him.

Rejoice, having gained great boldness through your love for us in your intercession with God; Rejoice, kindness and praise to women.

Rejoice, strong refuge for Christians; Rejoice, stronger than strong men.

Rejoice, wisest of the wise men of this world; Rejoice, for God has revealed His secret wisdom to you.

Rejoice, for God the Word Himself taught you true theology; Rejoice, you who loved Christ God more than your own life.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 6

By Your grace you healed the weak and made weak vessels strong, O Christ the King. The myrrh-bearing women stand courageously at Thy Cross and fearlessly proclaim the grace of the cross to everyone; The faces of the wise women, likened to the faces of angels, ardently, cheerfully cry out to the Trinity of Saints: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Seeking to be illuminated by the light of true understanding of God, when you saw God hanging on the Cross, you said tearfully, marvelous Mary: how can Life now accept free death? We, who lead your glorious enlightenment through the grace of the Holy Spirit, cry out to you:

Rejoice, you who mourned Christ crucified from the depths of your soul; Rejoice, having found eternal joy in the heavenly villages.

Rejoice, you who showed us the image of good crying; Rejoice, for you are our constant joy.

Rejoice, true consolation for all who mourn; Rejoice, as for Christ, for His sake, you suffered on earth.

Rejoice, for you are glorified with Him in Heaven; Rejoice, strong conqueror of all our enemies.

Rejoice, you are an ambulance in all our sorrows; Rejoice, for your memory is sweet to all Christians.

Rejoice, for your name is most honorable to the entire Church of Christ; Rejoice, true vine of Christ's grapes.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 7

Wanting to understand the all-conquering power of the Cross, until the end of Christ’s passion you stood at the cross of Spasov with other wives, glorious Mary. The Mothers of the Lord are painfully compassionate, so you cried out in bewilderment: what is this strange miracle? Let all creation suffer as you please. We, by the will of the Ascended Love, cry out to the Life-Giving Cross: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Thou didst appear as a wondrous wife, blessed Mary, through thy love for Christ God: for she expressed her sorrowful sobs, falling to Him taken down from the Cross, and with pure tears thou didst wash His wounds. You also followed the noble Joseph and the truth-loving Nicodemus, to the tomb of Spasov with other holy wives you flowed, weeping, His Immaculate Mother weeping inconsolably, you passed through her soul with a fierce weapon, comforting. We, who know such valor of yours, humbly cry out to you:

Rejoice, you who washed the pure wounds of Christ with your tears; Rejoice, O Mother of That Most Immaculate One who had compassion.

Rejoice, you who did not leave Christ even to the grave; Rejoice, thou who has been placed in the grave of a Life that has matured in bewilderment.

Rejoice, our good teacher, tears of repentance; Rejoice, teaching us to wash away those tears of sinful defilement.

Rejoice, you who encourage us to soften our hardened hearts; Rejoice, you who showed us the image of true wisdom.

Rejoice, you who teach us to remember the passions of Christ; Hail, glorious Mary, together with the Immaculate Virgin Mary, our faithful intercessor.

Rejoice, good servant of Christ; Rejoice, O Lord, and not pleasing to man.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 8

It is strange, God-wise Mary, when the burial of the life-giving Life-Giver appeared to you to all: He was wounded by love, even to the present darkness, to His tomb you brought myrrh and shed tearful aromas. In the same way, you are now in the fragrant villages of paradise, with angelic faces crying out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

All the sweetness, all the joy, all the life to you was Jesus, holy Mary, For this sake, having seen the stone taken from the tomb, But not having found this, you flowed weeping to the living stone of faith Simon and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, painfully saying: having taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where he laid Him. Now you, having been freed from that sorrow, rejoice with Christ forever in Heaven. We on earth are filled with such joy through your prayers, we cry out to you with tenderness:

Rejoice, having conquered the darkness of the night with the radiance of your love for Christ; Rejoice, you who taught us night vigil in prayer.

Rejoice, shone with eternal light in Heaven; Rejoice, having purchased the Kingdom of Heaven through spiritual poverty.

Rejoice, for through your sorrow over the passion of Christ you have found abundant consolation; Rejoice, meek woman, heir to the land of Heavenly Paradise.

Rejoice, you who have hungered and thirsted for the righteousness of Christ, for you are now satisfied with the Heavenly table; Rejoice, merciful one, having received the mercy of the Lord and earnestly asking for His pardon.

Rejoice, for now, as pure in heart, you see God face to face; Rejoice, for you have been vouchsafed above all others to see the resurrection of Christ, the Eternal World.

Rejoice, expelled righteousness for the sake of Christ, for yours is the Kingdom of God; Rejoice, having gained eternal joy and much reward in Heaven.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 9

Every order of angels was amazed great secret Your glorious resurrection, O Christ the King; Hell was in awe, seeing that you had descended into the underworld of the earth and crushed the eternal faiths that contained the bound ones, Christ. We rejoice with the joy of the myrrh-bearing women and cry out with joy: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The waving tongues of many things are not sufficient to adequately express your great sorrow, O glorious Mary, when you stood outside the tomb weeping. Who will be able to solve the illness of your soul, when you did not find your beloved Lord in the tomb more than the life of your beloved? Your sad heart is unable to heed the consolation of the bright angels. Remembering your great sorrow with tenderness, we sing to you like this:

Rejoice, to see Christ Jesus leaning into the cave; Rejoice, now seeing Him on the Throne of Glory.

Rejoice, thou who hast seen the bright celestial beings still existing on earth; Rejoice, from those who received the voice of joy of the resurrection of Christ.

Rejoice, for now you rejoice with them forever; Rejoice, you who brought myrrh to Christ through love.

Rejoice, thou who hast flowed sweetly into the fragrant peace of Christ; Rejoice, you who have rejected the joys of the sinful world and bitterness.

Rejoice, thou who has loved the heavenly sweetness of Jesus; Rejoice, good summer-bush of the garden of Jesus.

Rejoice, fruitful vine of the garden of God; Rejoice, the most adorned temple of the All-Holy Spirit appearing.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 10

Although thou didst descend immortally into the grave to save the world, thou didst destroy the power of hell and rose again as a conqueror, O Christ God, who said to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice. With them we now bring a song of joy to Ty: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

The walls of stone became solid, your love for Christ who loved you, the glorious myrrh-bearing Mary Magdalene. Moreover, you were the only one who saw before our Life rising from the grave. You did not expect the heli-grader to exist and you cried out to Him, forgetting the weakness of nature: “If you took Him, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.” But show Him the sweet voice of the Teacher, and teach us the herald:

Rejoice, you who have risen first and beheld the true Vertogradar; Rejoice, thou who art settled in the heavenly city.

Rejoice, you who are now feeding on the grapes of God’s grace; Rejoice, rejoicing in the wine of heavenly joys.

Rejoice, for your love for God has conquered your nature; Rejoice, for you have taught us the zeal of God to eat.

Rejoice, you who first received the broadcast of the resurrection from the lips of Christ; Rejoice, you who first proclaimed the words of joy as an apostle.

Rejoice, having found eternal joy in Heaven; Rejoice, for you call us to that joy with you.

Rejoice, for you have interceded with God on our behalf; Rejoice, for you bring warm prayers for us to Him.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 11

Not a single word is sufficient to sing the divine joy of the resurrection of Christ, even with other wives, the glorious Mary, the apostle to proclaim on this appointed and holy day, a feast of feasts and a triumph of triumphs. Moreover, before the greatness of Your ineffable bounties, O Christ the King, who were upon us, bowing, with humility and love, we call You: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

You appeared as a luminous star to the sinful world, O Mary of Magdalene, when, after the glorious Ascension of the Savior, cities and weights were passing away and proclaiming the word of the Gospel everywhere, you bowed many under the good yoke of Christ. Having reached even ancient Rome, you courageously appeared before Tiberius Caesar and with that image of a red egg and with wise words you understood the life-giving power of Christ, but you denounced the wicked Pilate and the godless bishop, so that for their lawless deeds they will accept worthy, marveling at such a feat of your apostleship, joyfully We cry out to you:

Rejoice, glorious evangelist of Christ’s teachings; Rejoice, radiant chaser of pagan darkness.

Rejoice, you who have resolved the sinful bonds of many people; Rejoice, having taught everyone the wisdom of Christ.

Rejoice, you who have led many people from the darkness of ignorance into the wonderful light of Christ; Rejoice, you who showed us the image of standing firmly for the truth of Christ.

Rejoice, you who loved the salvation of the souls of sinners more than your own life; Rejoice, you who have understood the commandments of Christ well.

Rejoice, you who followed faithfully; Rejoice, you who boldly exposed the darkness of the pagans.

Rejoice, thou who was not afraid of Caesar’s wrath; Rejoice, you who showed the malice and deceit of Christ’s enemies.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus above all blessings.

Kontakion 12

Abundantly filled with grace from God, you brought many souls to Christ, O glorious Mary, for this reason you came to Ephesus, where you served apostolic love with the Apostle for the salvation of man, and reposed in a blessed dormition to the Lord, and now you will take him out with numerous heavenly singers to eat: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your praiseworthy life on earth and the glory that is in Heaven, we joyfully glorify, sing and magnify the wondrous Heavenly King in our saints, for not only you yourself, holy Mary, now rejoice in His grace in the villages of the righteous, but also make us glad on earth, Having left us the valuable myrrh of your relics, even the wise King Leo commanded to bring the city from Ephesus to Constantine. You and we, who exude boundless grace with love flowing to all who flow, with faith and love, mentally kissing, touchingly sing to you like this:

Rejoice, you who burned with love for Christ on earth; Rejoice, you who have taken up residence in Heaven in the heavenly abode of Him.

Rejoice, firm intercession of the faithful; Rejoice, fragrant myrrh, fragrant Church.

Rejoice, golden censer, bringing incense of prayer for us to God; Rejoice, endless source of healing.

Rejoice, inexhaustible treasure of God's grace; Rejoice, faithful partner of the angelic faces.

Rejoice, Heavenly palaces glorious resident; Rejoice, for your reward is abundant in Heaven.

Rejoice, for your joy is eternal in the abodes of the saints; Rejoice, for you have given us joy, and you have interceded for grace and glory.

Rejoice, holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, who loved the Sweetest Lord Jesus more than all the blessings.

Kontakion 13

O wonderful and wondrous adornment of women, praise and joy to all Christians, who appeared equal to the apostle, the glorious myrrh-bearer Mary Magdalene! Having accepted our present prayer, from all our troubles and sorrows, mental and physical, and from the visible and invisible enemies that come upon us, deliver us, and through your intercession direct everyone to the Kingdom of Heaven, with tenderness and love singing about you to God: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos: “Creator of Angels...” and the 1st kontakion “Prepared by the Lord...”

First prayer

O holy myrrh-bearer and all-praised equal-to-the-apostles disciple of Christ, Mary Magdalene! To you, as the most faithful and powerful intercessor for us, sinners and unworthy God, we now earnestly resort to you and pray in contrition of our hearts. In your life you have experienced the terrible machinations of demons, but by the grace of Christ you have clearly freed them, and through your prayers you have delivered us from the snare of demons, so that in all our life we ​​may faithfully serve the only Holy Master God in our deeds, words, thoughts and secret thoughts of our hearts, as they were promised to Him. You loved the sweetest Lord Jesus more than all earthly blessings, and you followed Him well through all your life, with His Divine teachings and grace not only nourishing your soul, but also bringing many people from pagan darkness to Christ’s wonderful light; then, knowingly, we ask you: ask us from Christ God for the grace that enlightens and sanctifies, so that we, overshadowed by it, may succeed in faith and piety, in the labors of love and self-sacrifice, so that those who earnestly strive to serve our neighbors in their spiritual and physical needs, remembering the example of your love for mankind. You, holy Mary, have lived your life on earth cheerfully by the grace of God and have peacefully departed to the heavenly abode, pray to Christ the Savior, that through your prayers He will grant us the power to complete our journey without stumbling in this vale of weeping and to end our life in peace and repentance, so that Having lived in holiness on earth, we will be granted eternal blissful life in Heaven, and there with you and all the saints together we will praise the Indivisible Trinity, we will glorify the One Divinity, the Father and the Son and the All-Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer

O holy myrrh-bearer, Equal-to-the-Apostles Magdalene Mary! With your warm love for Christ God, you trampled underfoot the evil machinations of the enemy and found the priceless pearl, Christ, and reached the Kingdom of Heaven. For this reason, I fall to you and with a tender soul and a contrite heart I cry out to you, unworthy one: look down from the heights of Heaven on me, who have been overcome by sinful temptations, see that the enemy besieges me with many sins and troubles every day, seeking my destruction. Glorious and all-praised disciple of Christ Mary! Pray to Christ God, beloved by you and who loved you, to grant me forgiveness of many of my sins, strengthen me with His grace to soberly and cheerfully walk the path of His holy commandments, and may He make me a fragrant temple of the Holy Spirit, so that in the world I will shamelessly end my difficult life on earth and I will dwell in the bright and blessed abodes of Heavenly Paradise, where you and all the saints will joyfully glorify the Consubstantial Trinity, the Father, the Son and the All-Holy Spirit. Amen.