Photo: center-elisaveta.ru
During these days of Holy Pascha, while recalling the Resurrection of Christ, the Church also often remembers the Myrrh-bearing Women. We hear in the hymns: “The godly wise women came to Thee with myrrh… The myrrh-bearing maidens anticipated the dawn and sought, as those who seek the day” (Paschal Canon Ode 7 and Ikos). Therefore, it would be appropriate to say something to you on one of these holy Paschal days about the holy Myrrh-bearing Women.
We’re particularly struck by their fiery devotion to Christ and their unashamed, fearless open display of their love for the Lord. Despite the dangers from their enemies who mocked and crucified their Master, they hastened to Christ’s Tomb early in the morning; they remained faithful to the One Who had died—Who had, it would seem, taken all their hopes with Him into the grave—just as fervently as they had been devoted to Him during His life. Some of them had probably confessed their sins before the Lord publicly, anointed His feet with oil, and dried them with their hair.
A woman was the first to be seduced by fleshly pleasure, tasting of the fruit of the forbidden tree in Paradise, but she was also the first to hasten and liberate the spirit from enslavement to the passions of the flesh. So she was the first to hear the news of the Resurrection of the Lord, Who told the Myrrh-bearing Woman after His Resurrection: Rejoice! (Mt. 28:9). And just as heedlessly as she was seduced by the fruit of the tree, so deeply did the joy of the appearance of the risen Lord penetrate her being, completely transforming her and making her capable of those great victories of the spirit, such as were accomplished especially through the endurance and self-sacrifice of the martyrs of Christ.
Meanwhile, people today are often ashamed not only to openly show their faith and love for Christ, but even try to hide the name of “Christian” that they bear. And they’re the ones who so often sing with the holy Church on these days: “We know none other than Thee, we call on Thy name!” The first Christians, who during the time of persecution considered it a great honor and happiness to declare their Christianity to the persecutors, weren’t like this. People often aren’t afraid to display their love for a sinful and passionate person before everyone (in the streets); they’re ready to call, and do openly call, their fervent love for someone holy, even when it’s impure and passionate—yet they’re ashamed of their love for Christ. Doesn’t that mean that such people loved men more than God, loved the praise of men more than the praise of God, that they don’t sincerely accept Christ, but if another shall come in his own name, him [they] will receive (Jn. 12:43, 5:43)?
May you remember and hold dear the image of the holy Myrrh-bearing Women, fervently devoted to Christ, and may it arouse you to acquire the same measure of love for Christ that they acquired!
