Wednesday, September 23, 7 pm in the Chapel

Mary Magdalene is the second-most mentioned woman in the New Testament after Mary, the mother of Jesus. In the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, Mary Magdalene is fondly remembered as “the apostle to the apostles” due to her witness of the risen Christ at the tomb, and her commission to spread the news of the resurrection to the other followers. Her presence at this moment, whether alone or with a group of other women, is unanimously accounted by all four gospel writers–an incredible feat of consistency in a time of oral tradition.

Despite the strength of her memory in the gospels, Mary Magdalene is not mentioned in any of the other books that now make up the New Testament. Her absence is particularly notable in the Acts of the Apostles. Before the New Testament was canonized sometime in the 4th century, early Christians read and learned from a wide variety of texts. Some texts still survive today, including one named for Mary Magdalene that remembers her as a teacher.

On Wednesday Sepetmber 23, join Anthy & friends in the Chapel at 7 pm as they perform a staged, meditative reading of this text. Following the reading, we will explore its major themes and interpretations, its history, and what an apostolic tradition in Mary’s name might look like. We’ll also explore The Magdalene in the canonical gospels, as well as the ways she has been remembered (and mis-remembered) throughout church history, and ways we can keep her memory moving forward.

If you’re interested in reading for a part, please reach out to Anthy.