[[Image:Myrrhbearing Women.jpg|right|frame|Myrrh-bearing Women]]The '''Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women''' falls on the second Sunday following [[Pascha]]. The [[myrrh-bearer]]s had brought funeral spices and ointments to finish commiting [[Christ]]'s body to the grave. They were the first to see the empty tomb and were instructed by the risen [[Jesus Christ|Lord]] to bring the joyful news to the [[apostles]]. Ss. [[Joseph of Arimathea]] and [[Nicodemus the Righteous|Nicodemus]] are also commemorated on this day.==Myrrh-bearing women==There are eight women that who are generally identified as the [[myrrh-bearers]]. Each of the four [[Gospels ]] gives a different aspects aspect of the roles of these eight women at the Cross cross and at the tomb on [[Easter ]] morning, perhaps since the eight women arrived in different groups and at different times. The eight are:

 * Mary , the [[Theotokos]] (The the Virgin Mary) 

 * [[Susanna the Myrrh-Bearer|Susanna]] 

Of the eight, the first five are the more prominent and outspoken. The last three, are included according to tradition, were also included. Five of these women were also very wealthy. The ; the women of means were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna , and Mary and Martha of Bethany. A confusing aspect in Gospel references to these women is that two of the Marys had a son named James. Mary, the wife of Alphaeus, was the mother of James, one of the Twelve Apostles; the Virgin Mary was the step mother of James, the Lord’s brother (Matthew 13:55, Galatians 1:19).

In Western church traditionA confusing aspect in Gospel references to these women is that two of the Marys had a son named James. Mary, Jamesthe wife of [[Apostle Alphaeus|Alphaeus]], was the mother of [[Apostle James (son of Alphaeus, and )|James]], one of the Lord’s brother have sometimes been identified as Twelve [[Apostles]]; the same person. From Eastern tradition, James, Virgin Mary was the Lord’s brother was Bishop of Jerusalem from 30step-62 AD and never left the vicinity mother of Jerusalem. He is [[Apostle James the Just|James who rendered ]], the decision Lord's brother ([[Gospel of the council of Jerusalem in 48 AD (Acts 15Matthew|Matthew]] 13:55, [[Galatians]] 1:13-19). Eastern Tradition links James the son of Alphaeus with evangelism abroad, especially in Egypt where he was martyred.

One helpful tip that can clear up In Western tradition, James, the confusion between these two Marys is son of Alphaeus, and James, the passage that refers to Lord's brother, have sometimes been identified as the Virgin Mary as same person. In Eastern tradition, James, the mother Lord's brother was [[Bishop]] of James Jerusalem from 30-62 AD and Joseph (Matthew 13:55)never left the vicinity of Jerusalem. This Joseph He is also called Barsabas, Justus and Judas the James who rendered the decision of the council of Jerusalem in 48 AD (Acts 1:23, Acts 15:2213-19). Therefore, in Matthew 27:56Eastern Tradition links James, the women looking on from afar at the cross were Mary Magdaleneson of Alphaeus, the Virgin Mary (that iswith [[evangelism]] abroad, Mary the mother of James and Joseph) and Salome (the wife of Zebedee and the Virgin Mary’s step daughter)especially in Egypt where he was [[martyr]]ed.

Matthew One helpful tip that can clear up the confusion between these two Marys is the passage that refers to Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary", which is probably the Virgin Mary also from as the context mother of James and Joseph (Matthew 27:61 and 2813:155). Such church Fathers as Gregory This Joseph is also called ''Barsabas'', ''Justus'', and ''Judas'' ([[Acts of Nyssa the Apostles|Acts]] 1:23 and Gregory Palamas support this interpretation15:22). SimilarlyTherefore, in Matthew 27:56, Gregory of Nyssa identifies "the women looking on from afar at the cross were MaryMagdalene, the Virgin Mary (that is, Mary the mother of James" and Joseph), and [[Salome]] (Mark 16:1 the wife of [[Zebedee]] and Luke 24:10) as the Virgin Mary also's step-daughter).

These eight women had been together a lot during Jesus’ three year public ministry. Matthew refers to Mary Magdaleneand "the other Mary, Joanna, Susanna " who is probably the Virgin Mary also from the context (Matthew 27:61 and others (Luke 828:31) are described . Such [[Church Fathers]] as providing for Jesus out St. [[Gregory of their possessions (that isNyssa]] and St. [[Gregory Palamas]] support this interpretation. Similarly, acting as deaconesses)St. These same women had faithfully followed Him from Galilee and had come up with Him to Jerusalem Gregory of Nyssa identifies "Mary, the mother of James" (Matthew 27:55, [[Gospel of Mark|Mark 15]] 16:40-41 1 and [[Gospel of Luke 23|Luke]] 24:5510)as the Virgin Mary also.

These eight women had been together a lot during Jesus' three-year public ministry. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and others (Luke 8:3) are described as providing for Jesus out of their possessions (that is, acting as [[deaconess]]es). These same women had faithfully followed him from Galilee and had come up with him to Jerusalem (Matthew 27:55, Mark 15:40-41, and Luke 23:55).== [[Holy Scriptures|Scripture ]] ==*[[Matins]] Gospel: Mark 16:9-20*[[Epistle]]: Acts 6:1-7*Gospel: Mark 15:43–16:8

Matins Gospel== Hymn ==[[image:JosephArimathea.jpg|right|thumb|St Joseph of Arimathea]][[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 2):The noble Joseph, taking down thy most pure Body from the Tree,: Mark 16Wrapped it in clean linen and sweet spices and laid it in a new tomb.:9-20But on the third day thou didst rise, :O Lord, granting the world great mercy.

EpistleTroparion (Tone 2) : Acts 6Verily, the [[angel]] came to the tomb and said to the ointment-bearing women, :1-7"the ointment is meet for the dead, :but [[Christ]] is shown to be remote from corruption. :But cry ye, 'The Lord is risen, granting the world the Great Mercy.'"

Gospel[[Kontakion]] - Tone 2: Mark 15You did command the myrrh-bearers to rejoice, O Christ!:43–16By Your Resurrection, You did stop the lamentation of Eve, O God!:8You did command Your apostles to preach: The Savior is Risen! ==See also==*[[Pentecostarion]]==External links==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=36 Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearing Women with the Noble Joseph] ([[OCA]])*[http://goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=1067 Holy Myrrhbearers Sunday] ([[GOARCH]])