The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, one of the myrrh-bearing women, was the first person to see the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. She was born in the town of Magdala in Galilee. Since her youth, she suffered from a serious illness — demonic possession. Through her illness, Mary Magdalene gained unwavering devotion to the Lord. When Jesus cast out the seven demons from her, she left everything and followed Him. She did not leave the Lord after His capture by the Jews, when the faith of His closest disciples began to waver. Mary Magdalene stood at the Cross with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Apostle John. She accompanied the Most Pure Body of the Son of God during His transfer to the tomb and was at His burial. Having served the Lord during His earthly life, she wanted to serve Him after death, giving His Body Its last honors.

The risen Christ sent Saint Mary with a message from Him to the disciples, and the blessed wife, rejoicing, announced to the apostles what she had seen. As the first evangelist of the Resurrection of Christ, St. Mary Magdalene is recognized by the Church as equal-to-the-Apostles. In this gospel, the main event of her life, the beginning of her apostolic ministry. According to legend, Saint Mary Magdalene preached the gospel in the same way in Rome, where she presented Emperor Tiberius with a red egg as a symbol of the mysterious life, expressing faith in the coming common Resurrection.

In Ephesus, she assisted the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in his preaching. Here, according to the tradition of the Church, she reposed and was buried. Parts of the holy relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene are kept in various monasteries of Mount Athos and in Jerusalem. And today, while in heaven, Saint Mary Magdalene teaches us to always and in everything be true disciples of the Savior. She is especially helpful to preachers and converts.