The Sunday of Myrrh-bearing Women falls on the second Sunday following Pascha. The myrrh-bearers had brought funeral spices and ointments to finish commiting Christ's body to the grave. They were the first to see the empty tomb and were instructed by the risen Lord to bring the joyful news to the apostles. Ss. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are also commemorated on this day.
There are eight women who are generally identified as the myrrh-bearers. Each of the four Gospels gives a different aspect of the roles of these eight women at the cross and at the tomb on Easter morning, perhaps since the eight women arrived in different groups and at different times. The eight are:
Mary Magdalene / Mary, the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary) /Joanna / Salome / Mary the wife of Cleopas (or Alphaeus) / Susanna / Mary of Bethany / Martha of Bethany
Of the eight, the first five are the more prominent and outspoken. The last three are included according to tradition. Five of these women were also very wealthy; the women of means were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and Mary and Martha of Bethany.
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