On August 4, Orthodox Christians celebrate the Day of Remembrance of St. Mary Magdalene, the Myrrh-Bearing Equal-to-the-Apostles. She, one of the myrrh-bearing women, was honored to be the first of people to see the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Saint Mary Magdalene followed Christ together with other wives healed by the Lord, showing a touching concern for Him. She did not leave the Lord after the capture of Him by the Jews, when the faith in Him of the closest disciples began to waver. The fear that prompted the apostle Peter to renounce was defeated in the soul of Mary Magdalene by love. She stood at the Cross with the Most Holy Theotokos and the Apostle John, experiencing the suffering of the Divine Teacher and partaking of the great grief of the Mother of God. Saint Mary Magdalene accompanied the Most Pure Body of the Lord Jesus Christ during His transfer to the tomb in the garden of the righteous Joseph of Arimathea, was at His burial. Serving the Lord during His earthly life, she wanted to serve Him after death, having paid the last honors to His Body, anointing it, according to the custom of the Jews, with peace and fragrances. 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 - 'Christ is risen!' As the first evangelist of Christ's resurrection, St. Mary Magdalene is recognized by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Church. This evangelism is the main event of her life, the beginning of her apostolic ministry.
According to legend, she preached the gospel not only in Jerusalem. Saint Mary Magdalene went to Rome and saw the emperor Tiberius. The emperor, known for his hard-heartedness, listened to Saint Mary, who told him about the life, miracles and teachings of Christ, about His unrighteous condemnation by the Jews, about Pilate's cowardice. Then she offered him a red egg with the words 'Christ is risen!' With this act of St. Mary Magdalene they associate the Easter custom of giving each other red eggs.
Prayer to Mary Magdalene protects from the bad attachments of alcoholism, drug addiction and dissolute life, mental illness; forgives sins for women committing abortion; protects from witchcraft and magical effects of damage, curses, evil people and enemies; forgives seven deadly sins.
