Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four <a href="/facts/Canonical_gospel/oC3s2MdL">canonical gospels</a>, traveled with <a href="/facts/Jesus/Hcd9hEzI">Jesus</a> as one of his followers and was a witness to <a href="/facts/Crucifixion_of_Jesus/6BmdyCNg">his crucifixion</a> and <a href="/facts/Resurrection_of_Jesus/6oxjSUry">resurrection</a>. In <a href="/facts/Gnosticism/gVGVzaAN">Gnostic</a> writings, Mary Magdalene is depicted as Jesus's closest disciple who uniquely understood his teachings, causing tension with <a href="/facts/Saint_Peter/50X8naSm">Peter</a>, and is honored as the "apostle to the apostles".
Mary Magdalene was a historical figure, possibly from <a href="/facts/Magdala/BAB9h8QN">Magdala</a>. She was a prominent follower of Jesus who was believed to have been healed by him, supported his ministry financially, and was present at his <a href="/facts/Crucifixion_of_Jesus/6BmdyCNg">crucifixion</a> and <a href="/facts/Burial/Pwz8EyUx">burial</a>. She played a key role among his female disciples. Overall, there is limited information about her life. Speculations about Mary Magdalene range from scholarly theories that she was the "<a href="/facts/Disciple_whom_Jesus_loved/x1jA6hNk">disciple whom Jesus loved</a>" in the <a href="/facts/Gospel_of_John/bW6A5S7Y">Gospel of John</a> to popular but unfounded claims, popularized by <a href="/facts/The_Da_Vinci_Code/K2IXfhs3">The Da Vinci Code</a>, that she was Jesus' wife, though mainstream historians and scholars overwhelmingly reject these ideas due to lack of historical or textual evidence.
<a href="/facts/Apocrypha/WLV1Ba9w">Apocryphal</a> early Christian writings often portray Mary Magdalene as a prominent, spiritually insightful figure favored by Jesus, challenging traditional patriarchal norms. These texts have inspired modern reinterpretations of her role. During the <a href="/facts/Patristics/U7y9RICu">Patristic</a> era, Mary Magdalene was mentioned only briefly by early <a href="/facts/Church_Fathers/U2aPanJQ">Church Fathers</a>, with her image evolving from a minor gospel figure to being conflated with other women in the Bible. Eventually she became viewed in <a href="/facts/Western_Christianity/9YP8vhKs">Western Christianity</a>, largely due to <a href="/facts/Pope_Gregory_I/tXPh1gce">Pope Gregory I</a>'s influential 591 sermon, as a repentant <a href="/facts/Prostitution/LS7VeWB5">prostitute</a> despite no biblical basis for this portrayal.
The <a href="/facts/Eastern_Orthodox_Church/5n20Akh5">Eastern Orthodox Church</a> has always viewed Mary Magdalene as a virtuous <a href="/facts/Myrrhbearers/43Ix56mo">Myrrhbearer</a> and "Equal to the Apostles", distinct from other biblical women. The <a href="/facts/Catholic_Church/rJ4F4gqH">Roman Catholic Church</a> historically conflated her with the repentant sinner in <a href="/facts/Luke_7/T3qgLp7A">Luke 7</a> but later emphasized her role as the first witness to the resurrection and honored her as the "Apostle to the Apostles". Many alleged relics of Mary Magdalene, including her skull, a piece of forehead flesh, a <a href="/facts/Tibia/YXQ0F48L">tibia</a>, and her left hand, are preserved in Catholic sites in <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a> and <a href="/facts/Mount_Athos/hjQ764Lf">Mount Athos</a>, with notable displays and annual processions honoring them.

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Mary Magdalene