Sunday of The Myrrh-Bearing Women

In the Byzantine Church, this past Sunday, the second Sunday after Easter, is the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women. The Myrrh-bearing women served our Lord and his disiciples as they preached. These women helped with sick, the suffering, as well as the poor. As Christ suffered on the Cross, although the apostles scattered away in fear, the Myrrh-bearers stay with him along side the Blessed Virgin Mary. These women were the first to go to go to our Lord's tomb, to anoint him with myrrh. Their devotion was rewarded greatly, as they were the very first witnesses of the Resurrection when they found an empty tomb and the glorious news from the Angel.

Who were these myrrh-bearing woman? There were seven in all, the most famous woman we know today is Mary Magdalene. She was the woman our Lord cured from being "possessed by seven demons." The second myrrh-bearing woman Salome, who was the Mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Holy tradition tells us that she enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the family of Our Lady. The third woman is Mary, the Mother of James and Joses, the wife of Cleophas. Although she devoted many years in service to Christ, little is recorded about her. The fourth myrrh-bearing woman is Joanna, was the wife Chuza, Herod Antipas' steward. She greatly assisted the Apostle's during their first years of ministry. She was known to be a woman of courage. Our fifth lady was Susanna, a close friend of Mary Magdalene. She aided in the spreading the message of Salvation, as well as aiding in the serving of the "Communion Suppers", and ministering to the aged and the sick. Numbers 6 & 7, are the sisters of Lazarus, Mary & Martha. They dedicated their lives to spreading the new Faith.


Let us try to imitate the Holy Myrrh-bearers even today, with faithful and true love for our Lord, selfless service to Him, our families, and to the poor and suffering. So in the end, we to can be rewarded with the ultimate joy of the Resurrection!