Feast of the Myrrhbearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene
Categories: reading, hymns, feast-days
Date: 21 July 2007 23:13:36
[I've got about 100 pages left of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: I'm off to see a movie, Lucky Miles, this afternoon so I should finish Harry tonight.]
A blessed Feast Day to all Marys named after Mary Magdalene! As that page states, like many Saints, among whom St Mary of Egypt is also well-known in the Eastern Churches:
"Formerly immersed in sin and having received healing, she sincerely and irrevocably began a new life and never wavered from that path. Mary loved the Lord Who called her to a new life."According to Church Tradition, Mary preached in Italy and in the city of Rome itself. She is also the one who from whom the custom of giving each other painted red eggs on the day of the Resurrection of Christ spread among Christians over all the world and continues to this day in the Eastern Churches. This comes from the Tradition that when it Italy Mary Magdalene visited Emperor Tiberias and by taking to him a red egg -- a symbol of the Resurrection and a symbol of new life -- with the words "Christ is Risen!", proclaimed Christ's Resurrection to him
Troparion - Tone 1:
By keeping His commandments and laws, holy Mary Magdalene,
you followed Christ, Who for our sake was born of the Virgin,
and in celebrating your most holy memory today,
we receive forgiveness of sins by your prayers.
Kontakion - Tone 3:
Standing before the Cross of the Saviuor,
Suffering with the Mother of the Lord,
The most glorious Mary Magdalene offered praise with tears.
She cried out: "What is this strange wonder?
He who holds the whole creation in His hand chooses to suffer:
Glory, O Lord to Your power!"