In the Orthodox tradition, there is a special women's day on which believers congratulate their grandmothers, mothers, wives, daughters, and all close women. This holiday is called the Day of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women.
Many Orthodox Christians do not regard the date of March 8 as International Women's Day, which is determined by the history of the holiday, which became widespread during the years of Soviet power in Russia. Yes, and the very naming of the holiday as "International Women's Day" is a mistake, because not all countries in Europe honor women on March 8th.
For Orthodox believers, there is a special calendar day, which implies the congratulation of all the fair sex. This celebration was named in honor of the holy women named in the Christian tradition and culture as myrrh bearers.
The names of myrrh-bearing women are as follows: Martha and Mary (sisters of the righteous Lazarus), Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene, Susanna, Salomia, John and Maria Kleopova. The church calls these women Myrrh-bearing beacons because it was they who wanted to fulfill the ritual duty to the body of the deceased Savior. The holy wives were to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus Christ after burial with special fragrant fragrances called the world. To do this, early on Saturday morning, women went to the tomb of Christ.
Evangelicals call the following names of women who came to the Tomb of the Savior. Matthew’s is Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”; Mark has Maria Magdalene, Maria Iakovleva (mother of the Apostle James of 70), Salomia (mother of the Apostles James and John of 12); Luke has Mary Magdalene, John, Mary (Jacob's mother), as well as "others with them"; John has Mary Magdalene.
According to the Holy Scriptures and Christian tradition, these women were especially close to the Lord, they were the disciples of the Savior. After the death of Christ, some of the myrrh-bearing women preached the gospel to the world. These include St. Mary Magdalene, for her hard work to spread the faith of Christ called the Church of Equal Apostles. Among the other myrrh-bearing women were the mothers of the holy apostles. For example, the mother of the apostle Jacob (the first bishop of Jerusalem), Maria and the mother of John the Theologian and the apostle James Zavedeev Salome. The holy myrrh-bearers John and Susanna believed in Christ after the Savior preached and followed him. Maria Kleopova was the daughter of the righteous old man Joseph the betrothed from his first marriage.
All these holy women have exemplified in their lives great love for the Lord, both during the earthly life of the Savior and after His death. Myrrh bearers can also be exemplified as outstanding mothers who raised great people, in particular the apostles. Therefore, the Church sees the symbol of motherhood in myrrh-bearing women.
Thus, all the necessary qualities embodied in the holy myrrh-bearing women, which, according to the recommendations of the Orthodox Church, should be inherent in all women (love, self-sacrifice, feat of motherhood). That is why, on the Day of the Holy Myrrh-bearing women, Orthodox believers congratulate all relatives and friends of women, wishing that the faithful of the fair sex warm up in themselves, like myrrh-bearing women, outstanding moral qualities.
The memory of the holy myrrh-bearing women was established by the Church on the third Sunday after Easter. Celebrations dedicated to women last a week.
