Holy Marys
The New Testament presents to us the names of some holy women named Mary. Among them are:
1- Saint Mary the Virgin:
The Mother of God, the Mother of the Savior, the Mother of the Light, the purest woman in existence, the Queen standing at the right hand of the King, the intercessor for humanity, with all her virtues and all her miracles, whom all generations call blessed, and to whom Elizabeth said, “But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” As soon as her greeting reached Elizabeth’s ears, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the babe leaped with joy in her womb.
2- Mary the wife of Clopas (Alphaeus):
The mother of James, Joses, and Jude. She was the sister of the Virgin, therefore her children were regarded as the “brothers of the Lord.” Her son James the Apostle became the first Bishop of Jerusalem. She followed Christ and went with the other women to the tomb.
3- Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha:
She is the example of the life of contemplation. She used to sit at the feet of the Lord Christ, listening to His words. The Lord Christ loved the household of Lazarus and his sisters and visited them. She is the one who anointed Christ’s feet with fragrant oil.
4- Mary, the mother of Mark the Apostle:
The mother of John, who was called Mark. Her house became the first church in the world (Acts 12:13), as she offered her house to the believers to gather there for prayer and the breaking of bread. In her house Christ washed the feet of His disciples, instituted the Lord’s Supper for the first time, celebrated the Passover, and in her house the Holy Spirit descended on the Day of Pentecost.
5- Saint Mary Magdalene:
She is the saint whom the Lord Christ sent to His disciples to proclaim to them the Resurrection and to carry His message to them.
At Christ’s Resurrection, “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene” (Mark 16:9). She saw Him more than once and was one of the Marys who stood by the cross of Christ at His crucifixion.
6- Mary, the disciple of the Apostle Paul:
The one whom he greeted in his Epistle to the Romans, saying, “Greet Mary, who labored much for us” (Rom. 16:6).
7- In the Old Testament, Miriam the prophetess:
The sister of Moses the prophet and Aaron the High Priest…
She was the one who took the tambourine in her hand and led the people in praise at the crossing of the Red Sea.
These holy women named Mary are some of the famous women in the Holy Bible.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – El-Keraza Magazine – Eighth Year (Issue No. 26) – July 1, 1977.
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