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- Myrrh‑bearing Women's Day has arrived: an Orthodox women's holiday that can change the fate of every family.
Myrrh‑bearing Women's Day has arrived: an Orthodox women's holiday that can change the fate of every family.
Myrrh-bearing Women's Day is a transitional Orthodox holiday that is celebrated annually on the second Sunday after Easter. In 2026, it falls on April 26. The myrrh-bearing wives were followers of Christ, silent witnesses of his execution, who stayed with their Teacher until the very end and were the first to receive the news of His Resurrection. For more information about what kind of holiday it is, who and how they celebrate in the church on this day, see the Izvestia article.
Who are myrrh-bearing wives?
Myrrh-bearing wives were disciples of Jesus Christ. They accompanied Him and the apostles on their missionary journeys, hosted them, and helped with cooking and household chores. Unlike the apostles and the seventy disciples, Christ did not call these women to follow him. They voluntarily left their homes and families to follow the Lord and serve Him.
When Christ went to Golgotha, it was the myrrh-bearing wives who accompanied him, while the disciples fled in fear, and even the apostle Peter disowned Him. They witnessed His execution and saw that their Teacher was buried hastily, like a robber, without observing the necessary ritual. According to Jewish tradition, the body of the deceased should be washed, anointed with incense, wrapped in a shroud and placed in a cave, closing the entrance with a stone. Although Jesus was buried in this way, the anointing ceremony was not performed over Him.
Wives — from Church Slavonic "women" — were the first to come to the burial cave to complete the ceremony — to anoint the body of Christ with myrrh, an incense mixture that temporarily slowed down the decomposition process. Hence the name "myrrh-bearing wives," that is, "myrrh-bearing women."
— When they went to the coffin, they thought about how to move the huge stone at the entrance, because they couldn't do it. That is, they did not have a clear plan, but there was a sincere desire to pay Jesus Christ the last respects related to the manifestation of love for Him," the priest, head of the Youth Department of the Stavropol Diocese, Alvian Tkhelidze, told Izvestia.
For their devotion, faith, and courage, the myrrh-bearing wives were the first to receive the news of Christ's Resurrection from the angel who was in the cave.
How many myrrh-bearing wives were there
The Gospel does not say much about myrrh-bearing women: they remain in the shadow of Christ and His disciples. The names of four of them are known from the Gospel texts: Mary Magdalene, who was healed of possession by Jesus Christ; Salome, the wife of the fisherman Zebedee and the mother of the apostles James and John the Theologian; Joanna— the wife of Chuza, the steward of King Herod Antipas; Mary Cleopas— the mother of James and Josiah.
The icon of the Myrrh-bearing Wives at the Holy Sepulchre. XVI century.
The holy Tradition of the church also refers to the myrrh-bearing wives Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, a close friend of Christ, whom He raised from the dead shortly before His solemn entry into Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke also mentions Susanna, who served Christ "from her possessions." She was probably well-off and financially supported Him and His students.
The Evangelists mention "many other" women from Galilee who served Jesus, but their names have not reached our days.
At the same time, the composition of myrrh-bearing wives varies somewhat, only the name of Mary Magdalene is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. She came from the Palestinian city of Magdala. According to the Scriptures, Christ cast out seven demons from her, after which she became one of His most devoted followers. The Gospel of John emphasizes that it was Mary Magdalene who was the first of the myrrh-bearing wives to come to the burial place of Christ and see that the cave was empty. The resurrected Jesus appeared to her first.
Alexander Ivanov's painting "The Appearance of Christ to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection" from the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery
The synoptic Gospels tell us that the myrrh-bearing wives, coming to the tomb, saw an angel (or angels) who announced to them the Resurrection of Christ, commanding them to convey this message to the apostles.
Myrrh-bearing wives are glorified by the church as saints. On the second Sunday after Easter, their icon is usually placed in the center of the church, and believers turn to them with prayer. On this day, services are held in Orthodox churches in their honor, during which their lives and exploits are remembered.
Is Myrrh-bearing Women's Day an Orthodox Women's Day?
Myrrh-bearing wives are an example of sincere love and selfless service to the Lord. On this day, it is customary to congratulate close women — spouses, mothers, sisters, and daughters. The holiday is often called Orthodox Women's Day.
— It can really be perceived as a day dedicated to the heroic deeds of holy women. But this is not a feat of some radical feminism or revolutionary character. This is a feat of love," notes Priest Tkhelidze.
A woman, in his words, is capable of loving deeply and sacrificially: children, loved ones, everyone who is nearby. It was this quality that the myrrh-bearing wives showed when the disciples of Christ were at a loss. They didn't have a clear plan—they went to Christ because they loved Him and wanted to show that love. Such an example of feminine virtue is celebrated on this day.
Some believers suggest considering Myrrh-bearing Women's Day as an alternative to the secular International Women's Day celebrated on March 8. However, it is hardly possible to completely replace it. On this day, the church remembers not only the myrrh-bearing wives, but also the righteous Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, the secret disciples of Christ, who asked Pontius Pilate for permission to bury the crucified Savior. Therefore, this day cannot be considered exclusively dedicated to women.
Prohibitions on Myrrh-bearing Wives' Day
Since Myrrh-bearing Women's Day always falls on Sunday, the second Sunday after Easter, the general principles adopted in the Christian tradition apply to it. Sunday is considered a time of rest and prayer. This does not mean that any work on this day is strictly prohibited. This order has developed because after six days of work, a person needs rest to restore strength and spiritual life. The main thing on this day is participation in worship and prayer.
"If you didn't go to church that day and didn't do anything around the house, there is no benefit from such idleness," Priest Tkhelidze emphasizes.
At the same time, necessary or urgent matters are acceptable. For example, if a person works shifts and his shift falls on a Sunday. Small household chores are also not considered a violation: washing clothes, cooking food, or doing other minor housework.
It is important not to overload yourself on this day and not turn it into another working day. The meaning of Sunday is in prayer, rest and inner recovery, and not in strict observance of formal prohibitions.
Folk tradition
In popular culture, this day was perceived as a common holiday for all women. It was called babi bratchina or Babi week and was dedicated to mothers, wives and daughters. The day before, girls and married women chose a place for festivities, walked around the yards, collecting food for a common table.
On the holiday itself, they tried to free women from heavy household chores. The rite of "nepotism" was also widespread — women and girls hung crosses on a tree, exchanged them, kissed each other's cross, becoming "godmothers" until the Spirit of the Day. After that, the festive festivities began: the women sang, cooked scrambled eggs and treated themselves to kvass.
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