Saint Mary Magdalene Silk Screen Icon – Gold & Engraved Wood

Description

Saint Mary Magdalene, the Holy Myrrh-bearer, also referred to as Equal to the Apostles and Apostle to the Apostles, was a disciple of Jesus Christ. According to tradition, Saint Mary Magdalene played a role in assisting Saint John the Theologian in his efforts to supplement the writings of Apostles Luke, Matthew, and Mark.

Saint Mary Magdalene is referred to as the Apostle to the Apostles because it was she who told the eleven Apostles about the resurrection of Christ. Following the crucifixion and death of Christ, Saint Mary Magdalene bought myrrh and spices in order to anoint the body of Jesus according to Jewish tradition; for this reason she is also known as the Holy Myrrh-bearer. Saint Mary Magdalene is also linked to the Eastern Orthodox tradition of dyeing Easter eggs red. According to tradition, following the resurrection of Christ, Mary Magdalene was invited to visit Emperor Tiberius in Rome. During her visit she held an egg in her hand and informed the emperor that Christ had risen. He laughed, exclaiming that His resurrection was as likely as the egg in her hand turning red. Before his eyes, the egg she held turned red. Mary Magdalene is sometimes shown in icons holding a red egg.

In this icon, Saint Mary Magdalene is depicted holding a cross in her right hand and a jar in her right, signifying the myrrh she brought to anoint Jesus with. Saint Mary Magdalene is commemorated on July 22 in both the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, as well on the Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women, which occurs two Sundays after Easter Sunday.