St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church: Myrrh Bearers (Myraforas)

The Myrrh Bearers have been involved in several activities: collecting food for food banks in the area, collecting money to feed the hungry, helping distribute Forgiveness Service booklets, and participating in the service.

Myrrh Bearers are young ladies eight to eighteen who are service oriented: supporting the church and charitable works. The goal is to provide hands-on experiences related to church and to perpetuate the teachings of the Orthodox faith, opportunities to participate in the liturgical life of the church by means of devotional services, sacraments, church calendar year and Divine Liturgy.

A lot is known about the Twelve Apostles of Christ, but very little about the MyrrhBearing Women who were devoted to Christ equally as much the Apostles. They were with Jesus as he preached the message of salvation. They were with Him when He was taken down from the Cross. It was these women who came to anoint His Sacred Body and prepare It for burial. This is why the church refers to them as the “Myrrh-Bearing Women.” The second Sunday after Easter is dedicated to the memory of seven of the most devoted and courageous women. The “Seven Myrrh-Bearing Women” are Mary Magdalene, Salome, Mary the mother of James and Joses, the wife of Cleophas, Joanna, Susanna, Mary and Martha, sisters of Lazarus. These glorious ladies of the church remained steadfast in their faith. The Fathers of the Church consider them “equal to the Apostles.”

St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 South Rosemead Boulevard, Pasadena, (626) 449-6943 or visit www.saint-anthonys.org.