Church of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem

In a small town of Magdala, which is located near Jerusalem, a woman lived. She was alone: no parents, no husband, no children. Her name was Mary Magdalene. She worked in the fish market. Men used her loneliness and dementia, indulging her with love joys. Local residents did not like Maria, threw stones and rotten vegetables into it. There was no one to protect her, she herself was not able to do it. The girl's life changed when Jesus and his apostles came to the city.

Mary is a follower of Christ

The teacher drove out of her seven demons, the thoughts of the Magdalene became bright, and she followed him, loving her whole soul. In the New Testament, it is written that Jesus also loved Mary, their love was high, spiritual. Mary Magdalene became the first and only disciple of Christ, she carried people his teachings after his death and resurrection.

Maria was present at the execution of her teacher, holding his hand when Jesus was dying, bleeding on the cross. She washed his body and smeared his feet with essential oil. To survive his death, Mary could only deeply believe that Christ will rise. She first came on the appointed day to his tomb and, noticing that the coffin was empty, burst into tears. Hearing the question: "Why are you crying?" - Maria answered that her lover was buried, but where, she does not know. Seeing through her tears that she was talking with Jesus, she was glad and took the good news to the apostles, the people and the ruler.

Gethsemane Convent

One of the places where the church of St. Mary Magdalene rises is Gethsemane. This Russian Orthodox shrine is the nunnery of the Bethany community of Christ's Resurrection. Alexander Alexander the Third, the Russian emperor, took part in its construction. The Church of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem was built in the eighteenth century in memory of the mother of Alexander, Maria Alexandrovna. She was a German, but became a Russian empress and adopted Orthodoxy. The heavenly patroness of the queen was Mary Magdalene, therefore the church was sanctified by this name.

Home church of Mary Magdalene

Mary was a follower of Jesus Christ and was his disciple. Therefore, the main church of Mary Magdalene is in Jerusalem, although it was built in honor of the Russian tsarina. One of the largest canvases depicts Mary, who came to Tibet with a sermon. The legends tell us that it was impossible to get to the importer without gifts. Magdalene was poor, so she brought only a chicken egg to Tibere. She said that Jesus was resurrected. To which the governor laughed, saying that it was impossible to return from the dead, the white egg could turn red. At the same time, the egg in the hands of the king became bright red.

The construction of the temple

Alexander justly chose this place for the temple. The land where the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Gethsemane, or the Garden of Gethsemane now stands , is holy. Buy it advised archimandrite Antonin Kapustin. David Grimm - Russian architect, designed the church. For the construction, the stones of Jerusalem were used, and metal and wood were brought from Russia. Icons and paintings of all the buildings of the temple were made by Russian masters and artists. All the costs were borne by the royal family. The Church of Mary Magdalene was consecrated in the year 1888. " The convent here appeared much later. It was founded by Orthodox Englishwomen Maria and Martha in 1934, the first to find peace here and pacification.

The Last Haven of the Empress

Elizabeth Feodorovna, for the first time entering the church, was amazed at her beauty so that she bequeathed to bury herself here on this earth. And they did, but not immediately. Elizabeth along with other royal people was taken by the Bolsheviks to Alapaevsk, where she was destined to die, being thrown into the mine. It happened in 1918. Only two years later, in 1921, the Empress's holy relics were transported to the church of Mary Magdalene.

Sights of the monastery and its land

The Church of Mary Magdalene from afar attracts its gaze with its white walls and golden domes. There is a monastery at the foot of the Mount of Olives and is surrounded by a garden of Gethsemane. Nearby is the tomb of the Mother of God. You can get to the temple through a large golden gate, located to the south of the mountain. Go inside, you will see a ladder. This ladder leads to the Gethsemane Grotto, where during the prayers of Christ fell asleep the apostles James, Peter and John. It was in this place that Jesus uttered to all the well-known words: "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." The spirit is alert, the flesh is weak. " The building of the church of Mary is very beautiful and richly decorated, but at the same time captivates with its simplicity. Around there is peace of mind, sublimity and harmony. Cleanliness is maintained here. The garden is well-groomed, there are many trees and flowers in it. Inside everything is quite simple and modest, without excess polish. Above the altar is an image of the Magdalene holding an egg in her hands, brought to the ruler of Tibet. From this story, when the emperor dropped the reddened egg from his hands with the words "Truly Risen!", And the tradition began to paint eggs for Easter.

Where else is the church of Mary Magdalene?

Throughout the world, Christians erected churches in honor of St. Mary Magdalene. Great temples and small chapels were built. People who need the help of the Holy One, are ready to pray for hours in her face. There is the Church of Mary Magdalene in Paris, it is really a beautiful place, thousands of pilgrims yearly seek to visit there, along with the Jerusalem temple. Especially many churches of Magdalene are located in Russia: Perm, Moscow, Saratov, Kazan, St. Petersburg.

Temple of Mary Magdalene in St. Petersburg

Where is the church of Mary Magdalene in St. Petersburg? Near the Pavlovsk park. Here passes the basic pilgrimage of the townspeople.

The Church of Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene in the cultural capital of our country was erected many times in the same place. This building is the first building in the city made of stone. In 1871 there was a hospital in this place, therefore the church was decided to build here. The architect Quarenghi began construction in the presence of Prince Pavel Petrovich - the son of the founder of St. Petersburg Peter. Finished and consecrated the temple of Gabriel - Metropolitan Petrov. Icons were painted by a Roman painter Kadesh, and Russian painter Fyodor Danilov was engaged in wall painting. The Empress Maria Fyodorovna herself was crooning that the interior decoration be distinguished by its splendor and simplicity.

Outside, the church remained strict and unassailable. Nearby buried soldiers who died in the hospital after fighting with the French troops, under the temple itself placed a crypt for foreign ambassadors and ministers.

After the revolution, the hospital became a shoe factory, and the temple was closed in 1931. Church decoration and icons stolen, relics, formerly sacred, defiled, burned a lot. The largest damage to the interior paintings of the church was inflicted by the toy factory, which was located in the building of the church after the Great Patriotic War. Chemical liquids, the vibration of sewing machines used in production, put a fatty point on the original beauty that survived for almost two centuries. Later, the room, once a beautiful church, was empty for a long time. The community achieved its return to itself only in the year nineteen ninety-five. At that time, from the building, there was practically nothing left: the floor was completely absent, the walls were covered with cracks. Since in Russia in the nineties there was a terrible financial situation, there was no question of funding for the restoration of the temple. Until 1998, the Church of Mary Magdalene continued to collapse. Finally, all the wooden partitions rotted, and inside the frescoes appeared fashionable graffiti.

Only by the year 2000 the building was completely restored, the services were resumed. Also found parts of ancient frescoes and murals on the walls, by today they are practically restored. The relics and icons that belonged to her began to return to the church of Mary Magdalene, which were in all countries of the world from collectors and museums. Now the church has a gilded cross and new domes of the main belfry.