St. Mary Magdalene

motherofjames · #1 Apr 11, '10, 5:53 pm

Could you please tell me if the Eastern Orthodox Church views Mary Magdalene's role as the same as the Western Church views it?

Blessings!
MOJ

mardukm · #2 Apr 11, '10, 6:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by motherofjames

Could you please tell me if the Eastern Orthodox Church views Mary Magdalene's role as the same as the Western Church views it?

How does the Western Church view it?

Blessings

motherofjames · #3 Apr 11, '10, 6:28 pm

I am not a theologian, but I am very interesting in learning all I can about Jesus and his followers. My understanding of Mary Magdalene is that she was a redeemed adulteress who after her conversion committed her life to Christ and was one of his closest friends.

Is this how the Easter Church views her?

Thank you!

rowlands · #4 Apr 11, '10, 6:35 pm

She is called "Equal of the Apostles".

ciero · #5 Apr 12, '10, 5:37 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by motherofjames

I am not a theologian, but I am very interesting in learning all I can about Jesus and his followers. My understanding of Mary Magdalene is that she was a redeemed adulteress who after her conversion committed her life to Christ and was one of his closest friends.

Is this how the Easter Church views her?

Thank you!

NO The Eastern church (Byzantine at least) does NOT see Mary Magdalene as the harlot, but as the woman who had 7 demons cast out of her.

Joe Kelley · #6 Apr 12, '10, 5:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by motherofjames

I am not a theologian, but I am very interesting in learning all I can about Jesus and his followers. My understanding of Mary Magdalene is that she was a redeemed adulteress who after her conversion committed her life to Christ and was one of his closest friends.

Is this how the Easter Church views her?

Thank you!

While there are many stories of her life, these are not the official Western Church position.

Saint Mary Magdalene was with the Blessed Virgin and the other Mary at foot of cross [Matthew 27:36] and observed the burial [Matt 27:61]; She went to the Tomb on Sunday to prepare the Body [Matt 28:1] and was the first to whom Jesus appeared [Mark 16:9] Jesus had cast seven devils out of her which has caused her to be sometimes identified with prostitute who washed Jesus feet with tears; She has also sometimes been identified with Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus; The current Church Calendar stipulates her to be only the woman at the cross.

5Loaves · #7 Apr 12, '10, 7:52 pm

This Sunday will be the Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women, when she and the other Women are commemorated. Her Holy Icon shows her holding a vessel for anointing Jesus, and often holding an egg.

She is connected to the tradition of red eggs at Pascha by the story, in various forms:

Quote:

...Mary Magdalene...went ... to spread the happy news [that Jesus was risen from the dead] . She reached Rome and Emperor Tiberius’s palace... Mary Magdalene took an egg to Tiberius’s palace and handed it to the Emperor with the following greeting: ”Christ has risen from the dead!” The Emperor could not believe what he heard and responded: “How could anyone ever rise from the dead?! It is as impossible as that white egg to turn red right now!”

While Tiberius was talking, the egg in Mary Magdalene’s hands started changing its color until it finally became bright red...