St. Mary Magdalene is called "Equal to the Apostles" for many reasons. She was at the foot of our Lord’s cross offering comfort and devotion when the apostles had fled out of fear. Mary Magdalene was also the first to who was revealed Christ’s resurrection, and that, by Christ himself. She proclaimed "Christ is risen" to the apostles! She was an apostle to the apostles!!!

St. Mary was full of zeal, fervent faith, and ardent love for the glad tidings of God and preached the Christian faith in Jerusalem and other lands. When in Italy she sought an audience with the Emperor Tiberius I bringing as a gift an egg dyed red and saying "Christ is risen!". This emperor came to believe in Christ the Savior, threatening to execute anyone who dared offend those who believed in Jesus Christ. At Pascha, remember the origin of the red eggs and customary greetings!

The holy myrrh-bearer Mary Magdalene preached for a long time in Italy and Rome. According to tradition she then went to Effuses and assisted St. John the Theologian. She later reposed in peace and was buried there. In the 9^th century her relics were solemnly transferred from Ephesus to Constantinople and enshrined in the church of the monastery of St. Lazarus. Due to political upheaval and the fall of the 

Orthodox capital, Constantinople, to the Turks in 1453 AD it is not possible to definitely state the whereabouts of her holy relics. The Roman Catholic Church maintains that the majority of her relics are in Rome with portions also near Marseilles, France where there is a magnificent church dedicated to her memory. (This might be a good excuse for a trip to France.)

In order to discern the reason for her title of myrrh-bearer you will have to check the book out of our library and see for yourself. St. Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22^nd and also, two weeks after Pascha on the Sunday of the Myrrh- Bearing Women.

For those who prefer less daunting reading of this type, we now have several other short individual lives of saints in addition to Mary Magdalene: the Great Martyr Barbara, Great Martyr Catherine, Great Martyr and Victorious Wonderworker George, Mary of Egypt, Nectarios of Pentapolis, Nicholas the Wonder–Worker, and Spyridon of Tremithus.

St. John of Kronstadt Press prints this short book of only 47 pages, including the Liturgical Service and Akathist Hymn. It is available from our
St. Nectarios bookstore in Seattle, WA. for $4.00. 1-800-643-4233 or Email: orders@orthodoxpress.org.