Holy Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene

Life and Gospel context

Mary came from Magdala, a town near the Lake of Gennesaret in Galilee. The Gospels state that Christ cast seven demons out of her, and that after her healing she became His disciple. With other devout women, she followed the Lord as He preached through Judea and Galilee and supported His ministry from her own resources. Scripture does not describe Mary’s early life. The description of her former life as sinful belongs to Church Tradition. She should not be identified automatically with other women in the Gospel narratives whose names are not given in this account.

At the Cross and the empty tomb

Mary Magdalene remained at the Cross during Christ’s Crucifixion, together with the Mother of God, the Apostle John, and other women. She saw His burial and came to the tomb early on the first day of the week. The Gospel of John recounts that, after finding the tomb empty, Mary told Peter and John. Returning to the tomb in tears, she saw angels and then encountered the risen Jesus Christ. When He called her by name, she recognized Him. Christ sent her to announce to the apostles, “I have seen the Lord.” This biblical event is the foundation for her special honor as the first herald of the Resurrection.

Why she is venerated

The title “Equal of the Apostles” recognizes the apostolic character of her witness to the Resurrection. Church Tradition says that after the Lord’s Ascension Mary continued to proclaim Christ, traveled to Rome, and later ended her earthly life in Ephesus, where the Apostle John labored. The same Tradition associates her with the account of bringing a red egg to Emperor Tiberius and with the spread of the Paschal custom of exchanging eggs. These accounts are received as Church Tradition, not as independently proven historical facts. Her commemoration invites Christians to gratitude for healing, faithfulness to Christ in suffering, and joyful witness to His Resurrection.

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