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Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers
The Myrrh-bearing women are those women who followed the Lord, along with his
Mother. They remained with her during the time of the saving Passion, and
anointed the Lord’s body with myrrh. Joseph and Nikodemos asked for
and received the Lord’s body from Pilate. They took it down from the cross, wrapped in in linen cloths and spices. Then
they laid it in a tomb, and then they placed a great stone over th entrance of the tomb.
According to Matthew [27;57-61], Mary Magdalene and
Mary, the mother of James and Joses [Mark 15.40] were there sitting opposite the sepulcher, and they saw where he had been
laid. The other Mary was the Mother of God.
Not only were these women present, but also many other women, as Saint
Luke says [24.10].
The Epistle for this Sunday taken from the Book of Acts, is the account of the
appointing of the first seven deacons. The Gospel read today is Mark’s
account of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women going to the tomb at dawn and to whom the Resurrection is first announced.
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The readings below are Sunday, April 19, 2026
Today's Epistle reading: [Acts 6.1-7]
Now in these days when
the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in
the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give
up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full
of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry
of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the
Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These
they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands upon them.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,
and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
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Today's Gospel reading: [Mark 15.43-16.8]
Joseph
of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went
to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked
him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. And
he bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn
out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where
he was laid.
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week
they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for
us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; it was very large. And entering
the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them,
"Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they
laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told
you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing
to any one, for they were afraid.
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