Myrrh Bearer Information for Good Friday
Story of the Holy Myrrhbearers
Commemorated on the Third Sunday of Pascha
On the second Sunday after the Resurrection, the Church celebrates the first witnesses of the Lord’s Resurrection — the women who came to anoint His body with fragrant oils, the “Myrrhbearers” — and the men who buried Him, St. Joseph of Arimathea & St. Nicodemus.
Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday — the day before the Sabbath (Saturday) and the day before the Old Testament Passover feast. When He died, it was imperative that He be buried before the Sabbath, because it was against the Law to work on the Sabbath. SS. Joseph & Nicodemus took His Body down from the cross, hastily anointed the Lord with aloe and myrrh, and wrapped Him is a sheer strip of linen. They placed Him the newly-completed tomb — dug out of solid rock! — that was intended for the wealthy St. Joseph when he died, and sealed the tomb with a massive stone.
While St. Peter and the other male disciples slept, the women disciples of the Lord bought more expensive, fragrant oils and myrrh. They went to the tomb as soon as the Sabbath-day ended — in the middle of the night — to anoint His body properly. As they walked, they discussed how they could even get into the tomb, sealed by the huge stone that was too big for them to move.
When they arrived, the tomb was open, and He was gone! They made several trips back and forth to Jerusalem, telling the disciples the good news, leading them back to the tomb, and searching for His Body to confirm the Resurrection the angels proclaimed.
The faithful women who visited the tomb of Jesus Christ on the morning of the Resurrection included:
Mary Magdalene, from whom the Lord cast out seven devils — she was the first witness to the Resurrection the Theotokos, referred to as “Mary the mother of Joses” (Joses was one of the sons of St. Joseph the Bethrothed by his first wife; Mary was his step-mother) Joanna, the wife of Chouza, the steward/administrator of King Herod Antipas Salome, a daughter of St. Joseph the Betrothed by his first wife, who was also the wife of Zebedee and the mother of the Apostles James and John
After the Resurrection, St. Mary Magdalene went to Rome. Tradition teaches that when Mary first met the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar, she held a plain egg in her hand and greeted him with the words, “Christ is risen!” Tiberius exclaimed: “How can someone rise from the dead? This is hard to believe. It is just as likely that Christ rose from the dead as it is that the egg you are holding will turn red.” Even as he spoke, the egg turned a brilliant red! She then preached the good news of Jesus Christ to the emperor and the imperial household.
Mary Magdalene told Tiberius all that Pontius Pilate and the leaders of the Jews had done to the Savior. Her testimony was enough to condemn them to death.
St. Mary Magdalene left Rome for the city of Ephesus, where she died and was buried by the Bishop there, the Apostle John (the Theologian)! Emperor Leo the Wise later moved her relics to Constantinople.
Paraphrased from the Synaxarion of the Lenten Triodion and Penetcostarion, pp. 184-187.
The feast of the Holy Myrrhbearer and Equal-to-the-Apostles, Mary Magdalene, is July 22nd (August 3rd).
With others standing before the Savior's Cross, weeping and suffering with the Mother of God, glorious Mary Magdalene offered praises saying: What is this strange wonder? He chooses to suffer Who upholds the whole creation! Glory to Your Power, O Lord!
Your daughter is invited to participate in one of the most beautiful traditions of our Church, that of a Myrrh Bearer. The Myrrh Bearers represent all that is good and holy in our Christian faith. They were there, “early in the morning”, to find the empty tomb and to receive the word from the Angel that He is Risen and to announce that message. They faithfully ministered to Him and followed Him throughout His ministry on earth.
This year Father and I have decided to include as many young women, in grades 3 through 6, that would like to participate. There are two separate services that the girls may take part in, or if they choose, they may take part in both. We would like to have as many girls involved as possible and will not limit the amount that can participate.
There will be two scheduled practices this year which students must attend. The first practice is scheduled for the Saturday of Lazarus, April 19, 2003 immediately following the morning Divine Liturgy. After practice is over, the girls are invited to go into the Educational Center and take part in the palm-making session for Palm Sunday. The second practice will take place following the afternoon service (which is the first service they are invited to participate in) on Friday, April 25, 2003. The evening service is the most important and the one Fr. Christ would like all the young ladies to participate in. It requires the girls to stand around the Kouvouklion/Epitaphion (Tomb of Christ adorned with flowers) and to participate in the procession of the Epitaphion as it is carried outside the Church.
If your daughter is taking part in the Friday afternoon service, she will need to arrive at Church no later than 2:30 PM to prepare for the Vespers of the Apokathelosis. I understand that because it is a school day that this can cause a problem. Father in the past has written notes addressed to principals asking that students be excused early from school so that they may take part our Holy Week services.
Father is more than willing to do this again this year and in fact encourages you to do so. If your daughter is going to take part in the evening service, she will need to arrive at Church no later than 6:30 PM on Friday evening. Finally, girls are asked to wear light clothes, preferably something white, so that their clothing will not stand out underneath their white robes.
Child’s Name: ___________________________________________
Parent’s Names: __________________________________________
Home Phone #: ___________________________________________
Grade in Sunday School: _____________________________________
YES! r We would like our daughter to be a myrrh bearer for the Friday afternoon service.
YES! r We would like our daughter to be a myrrh bearer for the Friday evening service.
YES! r We would like our daughter to be a myrrh bearer for the Friday afternoon and Friday evening service.
*****ALL FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY FRIDAY APRIL 11th, 2003*****
Forms may be returned by mail, to the attention of Saint Luke’s Sunday School. There will also be an envelope to drop off forms outside the Church office. You may also hand in forms directly to either Elaine Christie or Panayota Kevgas.