Little is known of the early life of St. Mary. She was called 
		"Magdalene" because she lived in the town of Magdala on the 
		shore of the sea of Galilee, In the Bible we read that she was 
		afflicted with an incurable disease: she was possessed by seven
		devils (Lk. 8:2). This was allowed by God's Providence so that 
		in curing her the Lord Jesus Christ could show forth the power 
		and glory of God.
		
		Helpless in her sufferings and hearing about the miracle-working
		power of Christ, Mary hastened to Him and asked to be delivered
		from her infirmity. Through her faith in, His almighty power, 
		Christ cast the seven devils out from her. Her heart became 
		filled with thanksgiving and pure love for her Divine Healer. 
		From that time-forth She dedicated her whole life to her 
		Saviour Jesus Christ and became one of his most devoted 
		disciples. She took every opportunity to listen to His 
		teachings and to serve Him. Her example encouraged other women 
		to do likewise.
		
		Particularly remarkable was the determination and unusual 
		courage which Mary Magdalene showed toward her Saviour. At the 
		time of His greatest suffering, while He hung on the Cross and
		when even His apostles had abandoned Him, Mary, Magdalene stood
		at the foot of the Cross together with the Mother of God and 
		the-Lord's beloved disciple, John. They mourned and wept,, but 
		even in their weeping they comforted the Saviour with their 
		undying love and the knowledge that He had not been utterly 
		forsaken. That night, Mary Magdalene came with Joseph of 
		Arimathea and Nikodemos when they took the Body of her beloved 
		Lord down from the Cross and laid It in a tomb. Together with 
		the other women disciples, she returned to prepare myrrh and 
		other ointments with which to anoint the precious Body of 
		Christ, according to the Jewish custom. Very early in the 
		morning on the first day of the week, While it was still dark, 
		Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre (tomb) carrying the 
		ointments. (For this reason the Church calls her "Myrrh-bearer".) 
		Coming close she saw that the large stone that had been placed 
		at the entrance of the tomb had been rolled away. She thought 
		that perhaps someone had already come and taken the Body to 
		another rplace. Hurrying back to Jerusalem she told the 
		apostles Peter and John: "They have taken away the Lord out of 
		the sepulchre, 'and we know not where they have laid Him." 
		Together with them she went again to the tomb and. stood there
		weeping. When they had left she stooped down and looked into 
		the sepulchre. There she saw two angels who asked why she was 
		crying. She told them and then,. turning around, she saw Jesus,
		but in her grief she did not recognize Him, and thinking -He 
		was the gardener, told Him also the reason for her weeping. It 
		was only Then He said her name: "Mary!" that she recognized Him
		as her beloved Lord. Not believing her ; own ears, she cried 
		out with joy, "Master ! Then quickly following his His 
		instructions, she ran quickly to announce the good news to the 
		disciples: "Christ is risen!"
		 (Because she was the first, sent by the Lord Himself, to 
		proclaim the Resurrection, the Church also calls her 
		"Equal-to-the--Apostles".
		
		Even after Christ's Ascension into heaven, Mary Magdalen 
		continued to preach the good news of Christ's glorious 
		Resurrection, not only in Jerusalem, but also in other 
		countries. She spent her last years in Ephesus helping St. John 
		the Evangelist in missionary labors. There she died peacefully.
		
		In the 9th century her incorrupt relics were taken to 
		Constantinople and placed in the church of St. Lazarus' 
		Monastery.
		
		St. Mary Magdalen zealously fulfilled the first and greatest 
		commandment: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with 
		all thy mind and with all thy strength. Her life is an example 
		for us tolove and serve God above all, not fearing what others
		may say or do to us. Let us too, be apostles of the faith and 
		tell everyone the good news which St. Mary Magdalene was first 
		to proclaim: "Christ is Risen! In Truth He is Risen!"