My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE HOLY MYRRH-BEARER AND EQUAL TO THE APOSTLES MARY MAGDALENE (July 22nd)

One of the myrrh-bearing women, and equal to the Apostles, she was born in the city of Magdala by the Lake of Gennesaret, of the tribe of Issachar. She was tormented by seven evil spirits, of which she was freed and healed by the Lord Jesus. She was a faithful follower and servant of the Lord during His earthly life, and also stood beneath the Cross on Golgotha and lamented bitterly with the Most Holy Mother of God. After the Lord's death, she visited His tomb three times; and when He rose again, she saw Him twice, once alone and the other time with the other myrrh-bearing women. She traveled to Rome, went before Tiberias Caesar and presented him with a red egg, greeting him with the words: "Christ is risen!" At the same time, she denounced Pilate to Caesar for his unjust condemnation of the Lord Jesus. Caesar listened to her and moved Pilate from Jerusalem to Gaul, where this unjust judge died under imperial displeasure after a terrible illness. After that, she returned from Rome to Ephesus, to Saint John the Theologian, whom she helped in his task of preaching the Gospel. With great love for the Risen Lord and with great zeal, she proclaimed the holy Gospel as a true Apostle of Christ. She died peacefully in Ephesus and was buried, according to tradition, in the same cave in which the seven young men (see August 4th) had been in a charmed sleep for a hundred years. They came to life and then died. Saint Magdalene's holy relics were then taken to Constantinople. Near the Garden of Gethsemane, there is a beautiful Russian church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. (Source: The Prologue from Ochrid)

Please note: Although it is sometimes said that Saint Mary Magdalene was the "sinful woman" of the Gospel, this is nowhere stated in the Tradition of the Church, in the sacred hymnology, or in the Holy Gospels themselves, which say only that our Lord cast seven demons out of her, not that she was a fallen woman. "Magdaleine" is a form of Magdalene.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. First Tone

When Christ God had been born for our sakes from the Virgin, thou faithfully didst follow Him, keeping His statutes and heeding His sacred laws, O august Mary Magdalene. Hence, as we today observe thy holy remembrance, we receive the loosing of our sins and transgressions through thy holy prayers for us.

Kontakion Hymn. Fourth Tone

When God, the Mighty, the Transcendent, in essence, came in the flesh into the world, He received thee, O Mary, as His true disciple as we meet. For thou hadst thy whole desire and thy love set upon Him; wherefore, thou didst bring to pass many cures for the ailing, and now translated to the Heavens' heights, thou ever fervently prayest for all the world.

THE HOLY MARTYR MARKELLA OF THE ISLAND OF CHIOS, GREECE

Saint Markella was born in the 14th century on the island of Chios, Greece and was the daughter of the mayor of her town. She was raised in the Christian faith by pious parents but lost her mother at a young age. This was especially difficult for her father who fell into depression. The young Markella was devoted to Christ and strove to preserve her virginity, fighting off numerous temptations from the Devil. Seeing he could make no progress with Markella, the Evil One turned his attention to her father and enflamed within him an unnatural lust for his daughter.

One day he declared his desire for her at which she ran away in tears and fear. Arriving at the edge of the water and with nowhere to run, a rock opened up for Markella to enter so that her lower half could be enclosed within the rock. When her father arrived in pursuit of her, he was furious to have been deprived of his desire and beheaded his daughter there. The miraculous rock remains on Chios in the church dedicated to Saint Markella the virgin-Martyr and is said to spring healing waters. (Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America)

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn of Virgin Martyr Markella
First Tone

Submitting to the laws of the Lord's divine teachings, you strove to keep them blamelessly, O Martyr Markella. And fearing the violence of your father, you fled from him and dwelt in the mountains. Pursuing you he found you and slew you, O undefiled bride of Christ. Glory to Him Who strengthened you. Glory to Him Who crowned you. Glory to Him Who works healings for all through you.

In Christ's Service,

+Father George