St. Mary Magdalene
Apostle to the Apostles
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”
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About St. Mary Magdalene
St. Mary Magdalene was a Galilean Jew and close disciple of the Lord Jesus. Her name comes from Magdala, an ancient town by the coast of the Sea of Galilee. We do not know the details of her early life, but she was evidently wealthy. She was under the power of demons until she met Christ. Christ cast out seven demons from her and she became His disciple. She followed Him from town to town as He and the Twelve preached the Gospel. Along with other holy women (Susanna and Joanna), Mary Magdalene was a patroness supporting Christ and the Twelve financially. She would have heard His parables, seen His miracles, and learned whatever teachings concerning the Gospel of the Kingdom that Christ was teaching all the disciples.
“Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.”
St. Mary The Apostle to the Apostles
When Christ was crucified, St. Mary Magdalene, in pure devotion to the Lord Who had delivered her from the power of the Wicked One, stood by His Cross. She went with other holy women to anoint His Body on that Sunday morning. When she found no Body in the tomb and that the tomb was open, she went and told the Apostles, who also found no Body. Forlorn, she stayed in the Garden near the tomb and became the first to whom Christ appeared after His resurrection. He comforted her and sent her to tell the Apostles that He has risen. She told them of the Resurrection, and therefore she is called the “Apostle to the Apostles”.
After the ascension of the Lord, she remained ministering to the disciples. She received the gifts of the Spirit of Comfort, fulfilling the prophesy of Joel the prophet which said,
"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."
Lessons From Her
St. Mary Magdalene teaches us through her life about the renewing power of God. Just as He took her out from under the power of the demons and transformed her into a minister of Christ and a preacher of the Resurrection, He can do the same with any of us. He can deliver our souls and bodies from demons and their intrigues. We then become fit ministers of Christ – servants in the Holy Church of God.
St. Mary Magdalene also inspires us through her life to have a deep devotion to and love for the Saviour, for He is the Good and Loving One. Once we see the amazing humility and love He showed us by coming among us and destroying the power of death and of the Devil, we should be moved to have a deep love and affection for Him. Just as St. Mary Magdalene waited at the tomb of Christ, longing for Him, so we should stay awake and pray, awaiting and longing for His presence with us and in us.
Icon of St. Mary Magdalene
Different renderings of her icons show her holding an egg and myrrh. The egg is a symbol of the resurrection and the myrrh is what she brought with the other women to anoint Christ’s Body after His death.
