Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women of the sons of Zebedee; Mary and Martha, the sisters of
Lazarus; and Susanna. As for the names of the rest of them,
Introduction the evangelists have kept silence (Matthew 217:55-56; 28:1-
The third Sunday of Holy Pascha is observed by the 10. Mark 15:40-41.
Orthodox Church as the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers. Luke 8:1-3; 23:55-24:11, 22-24. John 19:25; 20:11-
The day commemorates when the women disciples of our 18. Acts 1:14.) Together with them we celebrate also the
Lord came to the tomb to anoint his body with myrrh-oils secret disciples of the Savior, Joseph and Nicodemus. Of
but found the tomb empty. As the woman wondered what these, Nicodemus was probably a Jerusalemite, a prominent
this meant, angels appeared proclaiming that Christ had leader among the Jews and of the order of the Pharisees,
risen from the dead. learned in the Law and instructed in the Holy Scriptures.
He had believed in Christ when, at the beginning of
Biblical Story our Savior's preaching of salvation, he came to Him by
About the beginning of His thirty-second year, when the night. Furthermore, he brought some one hundred pounds of
Lord Jesus was going throughout Galilee, preaching and myrrh-oils and an aromatic mixture of aloes and spices out
working miracles, many women who had received of His of reverence for the divine Teacher (John 19:39). Joseph,
beneficence left their own homeland and from then on who was from the city of Arimathea, was a wealthy and
followed after Him. They ministered unto Him out of their noble man, and one of the counselors who were in
own possessions, even until His crucifixion and Jerusalem.
entombment; and afterwards, neither losing faith in Him
after His death, nor fearing the wrath of the Jewish rulers, He went boldly unto Pilate and asked for the body of
they came to His sepulcher, bearing the myrrh-oils they had Jesus, and together with Nicodemus he gave Him burial.
prepared to anoint His body. It is because of the myrrh-oils Since time did not permit the preparation of another tomb,
that these God-loving women brought to the tomb of Jesus he placed the Lord's body in his own tomb which was hewn
that they are called Myrrh-bearers. out of rock, as the Evangelist says (Matthew 27:60).
Of those whose names are known are the following:
first of all, the most holy Virgin Mary, who in Matthew Icon of the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers
27:56 and Mark 15:40 is called "the mother of James and The icon of the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers depicts the
Joses" (these are the sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, biblical story of the women arriving at the tomb to anoint the
and she was therefore their step-mother); Mary Magdalene body of Christ. The angel is seated upon the stone that
(celebrated July 22); Mary, the wife of Clopas; Joanna, wife covered the tomb, and he is pointing to the empty garments
of Chouza, a steward of Herod Antipas; Salome, the mother showing that Christ has risen from the dead.
and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,
and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
(Acts 6:1-7)
The Alleluia: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
v: Lord Thou was favorable to Thy Land, Thou didst restore the
fortunes of Jacob.
v. Mercy and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed
The Prokeimenon is in the 6th Tone: each other.
O Lord save Thy people // and bless Thine inheritance The Holy Gospel according to St. John
At that time: Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council
v: To Thee, O Lord, will I call. O my God, be not silent to member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God,
me! coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for
the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead;
The Acts of the Holy Apostles and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been
In those days: dead for some time. So when he found out from the
when the number of the disciples was multiplying, centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped
because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and
hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of
said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God
the tomb.
and serve tables.
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses
seven men of good reputation, observed where He was laid.
full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary
whom we may appoint over this business; the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they
but we will give ourselves continually might come and anoint Him.
to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they
And the saying pleased the whole multitude. came to the tomb when the sun had risen.
And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the
and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
a proselyte from Antioch, But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been
whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, rolled away – for it was very large.
they laid hands on them.
Then the word of God spread,
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a
long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were
alarmed.
But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See
the place where they laid Him.
But go, tell His disciples – and Peter – that He is going
before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said
to you.”
So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they
trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to
anyone, for they were afraid.
