APOSTLES AND THEIR JOURNEY
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10.16). Jesus said these words when He was sending His disciples to different places. A Franciscan church priest Fergus Clarke Gazes spoke at the tomb of Jesus Christ in the church of the Holy sepulchre in Jerusalem. The emptiness of the tomb echoes the message of the Apostles that Jesus Christ raised from the dead.
The coming of Apostle Thomas to India caused a wonderful result. He was responsible for the spreading of Christianity as a founder. The outcome of his effort was beyond comprehension. It is said; today there are about 27 million Christians in India, who converted themselves from Hinduism. Though they knew it was a risky job, they whole heartedly accepted Christ as their saviour. But in 2008, the extremist of the nation, happened to kill at least 60 Christians and misplaced about 60,000 in Orissa state. Still the worshippers used to gather secretly in the house of the priest and continued their worship.
The influence of St. Thomas brought pilgrims from the Northern part of Spain to his greater presumed tomb in Santiago de compostila since medieval times. During the last year itself about 2,00,000 believers track to his tomb. Some pilgrims in their journey collected even stamps provided by the church authorities and also passports issued by the concerned people for the purpose of record, How far the pilgrim’s walked, and other progress is marked by spiritual transfiguration. The apostles often experienced inhuman suffering for speaking some radical views about. Due to the hasty preaching James the greater was brutally beheaded by King Herod Agrippa. Then James the lesser was also likely clubbed to death. They were remembered in the Armenian Cathedral of St. James in Jerusalem. Actually it is a small shrine, which marks the purported beard of St. James the greater head.
There were some gruesome instances where in many faithful Christians happened to be mercilessly tortured by some nationalistic Hindus in India. For example, a 19 year old boy Anil kuldeep received a scar in his thigh. It was the result of eight hour torture upon him by the fanatic Hindus. The reason was the boy refused to renounce Christian faith; when some Hindu extremists attacked him in his village in 2008. Now that boy is at the make shift camp in Odisha. He wanted to continue his studies, but no money even to pay the fees.
In the southern state of Kerala, in India, and in the town of parur, there is a church. It is with the polished stone floor with wonderful brightness. That floor mirrors the a crimson pine green and gold upon gold altar piece like a reflecting floor. Arowned the altar piece, there were painted clouds hover in a blue sky. Then some small statues were kept standing in niches boodst, with the brilliant uequa (Son of God). In addition to that, on a ring near the church wall there was a woman in a blue sary and with a purple veil. It was covering her hair kneeling motionless ebonies at her sides and with raised hands. Adjacent to that there is a larger church, which was built recently. Then there is a shard of pale bone which is no bigger than a thumbnail lies in a golden reliquary.
Along with that a label was kept to identify the relic as the replica of St. Thomas. According to the traditions and authentic information the first Christian church was established by St. Thomas in Kerala state in India during 52 AD. In parur and in some other places in Kerala, erotic animals, wines over mythic figures are woven into that wonderful church in that remote place,which was actually occupied by wild animals. The surroundings of that church represent and demonstrate the rich and non-western flavor of those Christian places.
The other churches in Kerala are full of paintings of the icons like St. Thomas, the virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and St. George. In those places, where churches were built, the Hindus also used to worship and pray to St. George with the belief that St. George would protect their children from the attack of cobra. At the church of DiamperTherepunithura there is a painted white statue of the picta – the Virgin Mary holding the dead Jesus is backed by a pink metal. There, the Sun would radiate the rectangular blades of light.
The Christians of St. Thomas of Kerala, like other Christians in different places of Asia, Africa and Latin America have made their faith very great. And also their own incorporating traditional art, architecture and natural symbolism. In this connection, a statue was installed. It was depicted in such a way where in Mary Magdalene was blanked by two elephants shading her head with a bour. Thomas otherwise known as doubting Thomas was one of the twelve disciples or also called Apostles; who were sent out after the crucifiction of Jesus Christ for the spreading of new born faith. The other apostles that followed St. Thomas were peter, Andrew, James the Greater, James the lesser, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thaddaeus, Simon and Matthias who came in the place of former disciple and traitor Judas Iscariot. The words “apostolos” which means “Messenger”. This word is used to the disciples........ who tried to spread the message of Christ throughout the world. But Paul was not a disciple of Jesus still he claimed the title “apostle” for himself with a belief that he had seen the Lord and received the spiritual commission from God.
Mary Magdalene was also with Jesus in His later part of life. She became very powerful among the disciples and was known as apostle to Apostles because of her role in announcing the resurrection to them. Even though only two of the four Matthew and John were called the original Apostles, Mark and Luke were also considered apostle because of their writings in the New Testament called Gospels In the early stage after the crucifiction of Jesus Christ Christianity was like a seed to grow as a new religion. Because of its inception it needed a developed liturgy a correct method of worship and a name. The earliest followers also called it “the way” to follow. The truth is that this new faith was not even Judaism. But it was Apostle Peter who championed the cause of spreading and making it popular in the public. This we can see in the book of the “acts of apostles”. As readers, we can find his mass conversations, his miracle makings his healing the lame raising the dead and his calling down a supernatural death upon one couple, held back as a part of their devotion to the community.
This movement in its earliest days became very significant to attract people in a large scale because of the persecution; and at the same time, the so called Christians had some differences with neighbouring Jews. It really became a threat for the growth of Christian faith among people. In such situation, according to Bible, the first person (Christian) who became a martyr for his faith was St. Stephen.
Stephen was a Christian and one of the leaders of his church. He enraged Jewish community by suggesting that Jesus would return and destroy the Temple of Jerusalem. For that he was tried for blasphemy around the year 35 AD. His accusers dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death. But before his death, he humbly prayed to God forgive her trespassers. The young soul which would become paul later in his celebrated conversion on the road to Damascus simply observed the execution of Stephen and mending the cloaks of those who stoned him to death. In the year 44 king Herod Agrippa 1 imprisoned and beheaded James the greater. He was the first Apostle to die like that. In the year 64 a great fire in Rome destroyed about 10 of the city’s 14 quarters. Emperor Nero was responsible for that fire in Rome, but he diverted the fact and blamed the Christians for that. It erected catastrophe on the growth of Christian movement and committed scores of believers to death in the arena of the emperor. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote, “An immense multitude was convicted not so much of the crime of firing the city as of hatred against mankind”. He covered Christian’s bodies with the skins of beasts and their bodies were torn to pieces by the dogs and perished. Some were nailed to the crosses and some were doomed to death with flames and burnt to serve as a night illumination when the day light had gone.
Then in the year 110 Ignatius the Bishop of Antioch was arrested by the Romans under Trajan. After that, he was shipped to Rome and condemned to death. The emperor killed Christians at the public games even by beasts. Bloody events like this continued in their region for two centuries more Biblical history clearly said the 11 apostles out of twelve were martyred. Peter, Andrew and Philip were crucified. James and Thaddaeus fill to the sword. James the lesser was beaten to death while he was sincerely praying for his attackers. Bartholomews was flaged alive and then crucified Thomas and Matthew were speared and died Metheias was stoned to death. Simon was either crucified or sawed into two half’s. Among all the disciples, the last survival was John who seemed to have died peacefully probably in Ephesus crowned the year 100.
In the early days, Columba Start a benediction monk and historian at St. John’s Abbi in Minnisota said, the organizational structure in the great institution of church signified for Roman authorities to-day by the Vatican and its complex hierarchy. There was an apostolic band of followers. There were missionary efforts in major centres first in Jerusalem, then in Antioch and then in Rome. The Apostles were like movements cutting edges only with the aim of spreading the message of Jesus along vast trade network of the ancient world and leaving small Christian communities in their own paths for their development and to study the lives of the Apostles. This was really a big bang moment for Christianity with the Apostles blasting out of Jerusalem and scattering across the known world. St. Thomas went toward East, which is called at present as Syria and Iran.
Some historians gave authentic proof that Apostle Thomas had gone to Southern India also. He travelled a long distance even more than Apostle paul. Of all the disciples Thomas represented most profoundly the missionary Zeal that is associated with the rise of Christianity. The readers must notice the untiring desire of Apostle Thomas to travel to the ends of the known world to preach a new creed. The Evangelist Mark also contributed his might for the spreading of the message of Jesus to Egypt and found the captive faith. But for Catholics, Mark represented the saint most emphatically as political symbol. The Catholics also made Mark more powerfully linked with the identity of Venice. Even though, he was a figure from ancient people, he retained a strong grip on the consciousness of modern day Venetians than George Washington or Abraham Lincoln in America.
If we take it for granted that St. Thomas was an iconic missionary and Mark as a political cornerstone, then Mary Magdalene was described as a mystical saint who was closely associated with grace and divine intercession Other saints like Theorise of Lerelex and Teresa of Avila. These three saints play very important role in Roman Catholicism. Among these three, Mary Magdalene created more controversy. She was once maligned as reformed courtesan, but today she was venerated by millions of people all over the world. She was the most important person in the inner circle of Jesus Christ. Again the place of her death became another controversy. Some scholars were under the impression that she died in Ephasus. Others believed she travelled all the way from the Middle East, to Southern France; If her death is established with the scientific proof. She came to the hills of “province” and must have died there as Thomas died in India.
St. Thomas was called a great missionary by many scholars and historians. He entered the farm land, coast of Kerala, eraemgamore. It is said, he had established seven churches in Kerala, and after twenty years of his hectic missionary work at various places. He was martyred at a place called Myla pure Now it became a neighbourhood to Chennai. At Palayurechurch in Zurubazure St. Thomas raised the first cross in India and there he performed one of his miracles. One day, he encountered a group of Brahmans. They were throwing waters into the air as part of their ritual. Then he asked them why the water was falling to earth, back if it pleased the diety such offering.
Then Thomas fleeing a great spring into the air and the droplets hung there in the form of glistening blosoms. The result of that wonderful miracle was that most of the onlookers at that spot embraced Christianity and others fled from that place. In India people thought about Thomas as a bold and active missionary. In this context, ColomboStewart, said “The classic portrayal of St. Thomas as a doubting Thomas, because he doubted about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also true that Thomas wanted direct confrontation against Jesus for the conformation of His resurrection.
This point might give an idea that Thomas must have been a practical minded man. So, he said in a strange way to put his fingers into the wounds of Jesus. So that he would believe. His principle was “seeing is believing”. This incident prompted him to remain more in God’s service. The movement of Thomas and his disciples proved a two edged sword in the history of Christian through some theologians are very smart to point out his doubt only natural which would echo the uncertainty. It is also called Scepticism felt by millions of people. The challenge made by Thomas regarding the wounds of Christ. His faith became stronger after he looked into the wounds by himself. Another point in this connection is that no other Apostle shared the crises of doubt of Thomas about the wounds of Jesus. So, in the Gospel of John 20.29 Jesus Himself chastises Thomas saying. “Thomas because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” St. Thomas inspite of his scepticism stood as the direct link between his converts in Kerala, and the following Christian story in the shores of Mediterranean, across the known world of the first century. The later Christian groups in Asia were not like converted Christians by missionaries whereas the Christians of Thomas believed. Their church was founded by one of the followers of Jesus Christ and that was the central point for their spiritual identity. Suvrat said, “There are an apostolic churches and that is the ultimate seal of approval for a Christian group. THE SOUL OF VENICE:
The Evangelist Mark indelibly associated with pride in the place. There is no other historical figure,who is more clearly linked with prince. His Basilica is the center of its ancient faith. Marks symbol is the winged lion and its paw. This symbol is upon the open Gospel. For the Venetians of the ninth century and after viva San Marco was the battlery and legends of St. Mark interwined with the earliest roots of the Venetians Republic. Even then, as the tradition reveals us that Mark died a Martyr in Alexandria Egypt. Then how could he secure such an importance in the modern city state?
During the nineth century Italy required an efficient single political leader. He must be a young and most powerful man Himself not be a weak person like St. Theodore but a strong and powerful person like Titan among saints was required. In such expectations, a great unrivalled saint was born in medieval history. In 828 probably on the orders of the doge two Venitian merchants named Bono do Mala – Mocco and Rustio da Torcula, stole the remains of St. Mark from his tomb in Alexandria or some said they were taken from the priests. The conspirators after returning to their ship put their remains of St. Mark in a basket and covered that with pork in order to discourage official involvement.
After they reached Muslim port, the officials stopped their ship for interrogation and then pierced into the basket. The thieves recoiled in distress crying and said it was “Kanzer, Kanzer” which means “pig” in Arabic language. Then the officials commanded the Venitians to hurry along. According to some reliable information a tempest blew up off the Greek coast on their Voyage home. So the storm totally disturbed the relics of St. Mark, except the vessel. However, the legend said the theft of Mark’s relics gave the fledgingrepublica spiritual comfort matched in all of Latin Christendom.
This extraordinary cup brought forth brilliant success to Vinitian super power. From the earliest days of the Republic St. Mark was the flag of Venice, GlerardoOralli was a medievalist at the University of Venice and a popular expert on St. Mark. He said there was no other saint as far as he knew, who was more important them St. Mark politically wherever Venice left her imprint, people would final Mark’s lion – in Greece Crete, Cyprus, Alexandria etc,. On the old venetian gold coin the ducate, St. Mark offered the flag of Venice to the doge.
The believers and readers wished to know what really happened to the relics of St. Mark some were under the impression that those relics were put in other tombs in Sarcophagus in St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. It is said, the Coptic church in Alexandria claimed the skull of the saint. For scientists and non-believers, believers and for the forensic the fingers of Thomas as the fingers of some saint has become a problem. The catholic church called some pathologists for the purpose of examining the dates, and then only, they wanted to preserve the relics in churches.
EzioFulchere was a devoted Catholic and a well travelled pathologist, who sincerely worked on church relics for decades. He studied and preserved the remains of many saints. He was a close friend of St. Frances also. Fulchere said that whenever a relic was found, that was to be clearly estimated not authentic. The congregation might accept it without test, but the church would not venerate false relics like St. Mark which have not yet been tested. Most of the scholars, scientists and clergy could not call themselves successful. Even catholic churches were not successful in testing the relics of St. Mark.
But one thing is clear, The catholic church gained importance by testing the bones of the Saint. At the same time, majority of the scientists were not interested to spare their precious time for testing the Holy relics. GeorgioFilippi was an archealogist employed by the Vatican authorities. He said, he had vehemently opposed the receipt of analysis and dating of paul’s relics in Rome, and those results happened to be announced by the pope in 2009. According to him, any research work done out of curiosity would not give correct judgment. Georgeo Filippi also said that any research work on the relics of St. Mark was more complicated and advised the readers either to pray to virgin Mary or to Jesus Christ instead of St. Mark relics. Except in Basilica but on his name, the believers could not find a place to light their candle in memory of St. Mark.
He was the embodiment of many things as a saint. But one cannot go to St. Mark particularly with a candle. In catholic and orthodox churches, believers often light their candles to follow prayers to the saints mourning for them before their favorite icons or statues St. Mark described as part of Venetian identity Ortalli continued saying “you have two feet and bones like St. Mark. The old people also, when they were in drunken stage during late night they used to sing some song about St. Mark Venice city was constructed with a soul and the center of it was St. Mark. When the Venetian Republic was dissolved finally under Nepolean the cry of people the mourners in the start was not “Venice la liberta or viva la Republica”, but viva san Marco which means “Venice without Mark”.
There lies in the face of a broad forested massif, overlooking a high plain is called East of Aixen province and the cave of Sainte Baume. According to Roman Catholic tradition, Mary Magdalene spent her last 30 years in that place. From the parking lot, a steep hike through the forest would bring any visitor to the cave and a smell adjoining monstry was to be found. Generally during the month of June especially in the morning the cave used to be cooler than outside. In the light of the candle, the stone altar would shine in the center of the grotto and some statues of Mary Magdalene were to be seen irregularly in the cave. In addition to that, two relics of the saint, a lock of hair and the presumed end of a tibia which became dark due to age, lay in a glided reliquary.
Professor candida moss was a specialist in the New Testament and Christian origins of the University of Notre Dame. She found more interest in the early Marty’s. She was enquired about her impression regarding the psychology of relics why people used to look at them with grieving mind. She replied, “When my mother cried, people offered her children a piece of hair to keep it as a remembrance to keep it and we all did so. I think anyone who has ever mourned would understand why you meditate on things associated with someone you lone. We can have this kind of examples in small Christian communities. The appeal was of a person in your mind with whom you could have direct contact after his or her death.
On one occasion candida moss happened to be in the cave of Sainte Baume and she was joined by a handful of pilgrims and a large group of cheerful French Middle School children cross against cold. Then a modern Shaman was down to Sainte Baume. He came over there not because of Catholic influence, but for its reputation among Shamans and New Age practioners. According to local traditions, the cave had served as shrine long ago for pagans for fertility rites and it must have been remained as a pilgrimage site for those who were seeking feminine spiritually. There is a kind of free everywhere in that forest, but not just in the cave. Practically speaking it has nothing to do with the presentation of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel. The cave has been taken care off by the Dominican order since 1295. The monastry is made at a great height upon a cliff facing the forest and the palm below could be seen for miles together during the break in the fog.
Michelit another scholar said about Mary Magdalene that she was the most important person in the New Testament. Yet some Bible readers speak very little about her, knowing the fact how much importance Christ gave her among the disciples. She was very intelligent and that was listed by many. Though she was a sinner, she was chosen by Christ as the first witness of his resurrection. He did not choose anyone of the Apostles or Virgin Mary being His own mother but He chose Mary Magdalene what must be the reason. Perhaps, she must be first one who asked for His forgiveness and perhaps it was not the time for peter even though he became more popular as a miracle maker and founder of Catholic Church. So, Jesus said, it was the time of Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene’s witnessing about the rising of Jesus was noteworthy. She was the first woman to see with her naked eyes. It was really a great movement in the New Testament. This wonderful event was debated and discussed by various scholars for centuries. In the Gospel John it is clearly said that three days after Christ’s burial Mary Magdalene went first to the sepulchre, though it was still dark. To her surprize she found the door of the tomb was moved. She at once ran to disciples. Some of them came, found the tomb empty, and they again returned home miserably. But Mary Magdalene remained there alone wiping. She stayed at the foot of the cross, and looked at the tomb again. Surprisingly she saw two angels standing at the place where the body of Jesus was rested.
The cave and other things crowned have a particular female representative in origin and shape. This led some people to believe that they were fertility cult, sites in prehistoric times. These fertility activities were in progress before the arrival of Mary Magdalene. The state had protected the forest, which become rich with biological adversity and it remained scared for a long time. Women used to go to that place even today for millennia to pray for children and then rub their abdomens to the statue of Mary Magdalene while praying. But this physical activity was not encouraged by the churches still it could not be prevented. It was written on the walls of the cave some notes and plagues of gratitude in many languages. “Thank you Mary Magdalene for healing my daughter” in French.
The Dominicans built a hostle at the massif plains and received all kinds of people. The priest used to tell the visitors that Mary Magdalene was the saint, of love a courageous woman, who stayed boldly at the crucifiction, when most of the others including His disciples ran for their lives. She stayed at the foot of the cross even ready to die for Christ. So, to say she remained as a model for righteous life. Chapter : 9
MARY MAGDALENE
According to the Gospel of Luke (8.2-3) Mary Magdalene seemed to have appeared for the first time in the chronology of Jesus Christ. She walked all the way from her native village Magdala to Capernaum, Which was about 10 miles. At that time, she possessed 7 demons, and walked on the rough road to meet Jesus. She wished to see Him, when He became a noted person in and around Galilee as a rabbi (teacher). By virtue of His merciful heart, He extended His arms to the people, who considered themselves “sinners”, and who were battling with demons and other diseases. Mary Magdalene must have met Jesus prior to His visit to Capernaum. Jesus also paid a visit to Magdala before 25 CE. But there is no authentic information about His visit to that place.
Mary Magdalene was not introduced by Luke as a wealthy woman; while giving her bio-data. As per the historical background, she was a rich woman and had regular contact with rich business magnets. She was even invited by the emperor of Rome, Tiberious Caesar to his royal palace; after the death of Jesus Christ. On that occasion, she seized the opportunity and preached the gathering about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the emperor was not happy at the speech of Mary, and said God would no more raise than changing the egg in Mary’s hand from white into red. Immediately the egg turned into red as spoken by the emperor. This wonderful incident would certainly remain forever in the mind of some orthodox Christian believers, and many on the Easter day.
Some modern scholars have been trying to give the full details of Mary Magdalene with a business woman by name Joanna. According to Luke’s Gospel, Joanna was married into the rich house of Herod Anti pass the ruler of Galilee. Some modern scholars are of the opinion that Mary had good friendship with Joanna regarding business activities. Mary exploited Joanna’s contracts and spent her own money for dinners and used Jesus for her talk. Luke did not say anything regarding her sharing of status with Joanna; but he said both were women and good friends. Anyway, Joanna was married to a member of aristocratic family. Mary was not as rich as Joanna, but instead of riches she had demons. Historians had different opinions about the riches of Mary or whether she gave all her property to Jesus for the distribution among the poor.
Luke did not say how old Mary must have been when she met Jesus for the first time with demons. But she was undoubtedly a few years older than Him. And also nothing was said about her marriage or her family back-ground. She must have crossed that age already, because women in those days were betrothed at the age of 12 years, and married at 13 years. As she possessed seven demons she was considered “unclean” and not pure enough to beget children. The Jews in Galilee defended themselves regarding their purity, by following the Law of Moses; which was written in Hebrew language and passed on in oral form in Aramaic language. As a matter of fact the Law of Moses contained many things including the family life of Jews. The Jewish people used to think of their purity as their identification and more precious than anything on earth.
Jesus and His followers often called demons as “unclean spirits” that inhabited Mary. Those demons were treated as contagious as they moved from place to place and from person to person. In the Hellenistic world, an invisible contagion of this trend was called daemon Judaism. This time was also referred to the same force distinguishing between good spirits (such as of angels, and the Holy Spirit that has God breathed over the world) and the bad spirits that Jesus called those spiritual influences as “unclean or evil spirits”. The word “demon” has been used in this sense/ within both Judaism and Christianity. In the ancient world, whether Jews or non-Jews agreed that demoniac would be harmful. They would be invading people, animals and other objects to inhabit and possess them. In Anti-quity women without families, were considered vulnerable. The gospels also identified woman would remain in her father’s house hardly for a year or so and after the settlement of marriage, She must go to her in laws house. Then taking somebody’s wife was punishable as per the Torah (levities 20.10). Then maintaining relationship with a married woman was considered adultery. And seducing a virgin would be punishable very lightly and sometimes only by fine. All these principles were followed by Israelites to maintain the purity of their women; so that the husbands would know that they married virgins. Modern scholars portrayed Mary Magdalene, as a prostitute, when she met Jesus Christ, but encouraging any woman to become a prostitute was prohibited even though she was in troubles financially. And also the punishment for encouraging any woman for prostitution was not said anywhere.
It is amazing to note that prostitution was rampant during some period in Israel. It is said women of 12 or 13 years age, were imported from different countries for that purpose. It became their business for some people at that time. There were two answerable questions in this connection. The questions were concerned to the character of Mary Magdalene, whether she became a prostitute before she met Jesus Christ, whether she was raped or exploited in her journey from Magdala. Something is clear, that is in her time victims of “sin” were stamped as “sinners”. Luke’s reference to Mary’s seven demons gave scope for western people to depict her as a prostitute. In spite of contradictory statements of various people, in connection with her social status Mary became very popular as patron saint of flagellants in the fourteenth century and devotion to her and to the practice of self-inflicted pain, which spread. In one of the stories of her life, she clawed at her skin until she was bleeding. She beat her breast with stones and tore out her hair. She did all those things as an act of penance for her self-indulgence.
In 1375 an Italian fraternity of flagellants carried a banner which depicted a giant enthroned Mary Magdalene. As per the painted picture, her head was turned towards heaven, and angels were around her, At her feet, there were four headed figures, kneeling, where robes left a gap at the back for ritual scouring, when the Medieval people procured that wonderful image, nobody knew what happened to that. The woman whom the flagellants venerated was a combination of two different women of Mary’s one was Mary Magdalene and the other was Mary of Egypt, a classic figure of Christian folklore. She was a whore, who turned as celiac. The Mary of Egypt gave up her practice of prostitution for the sake of Christ during fourth century and then lived in a cave till the end of her life.
According to the prolonged story which became more popular, in thirteenth century and appeared on “The Golden Legend” of “Jacobins de or a gine”. Mary travelled to France after fourteen years of the resurrection of Jesus. She spent her life there in founding churches, and removing the idols. In the legend Mary was confused with completely different in the Gospels. Mary often depicted as nude in the crazy rocks of la, Sainte- Baum and some parts of her body were covered with her long and lustrous hair. Mary met Jesus when He moved from Nazareth to Capernaum due to some problems. His prediction of a new age completely caused a transformation in the world. People themselves felt, they were transformed by many of His parables, and understood what they should do for achieving divine kingdom. Mary joined with Jesus and took part in His meetings. She also participated in the festive dinners at home and around Capernaum, so the name of Mary reverberated with devotion, for two millennia. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists thronged to the Vezelay hill top and the church of Vezelay in Burgundy and saint Maximin in the province.
The huge building at saint Maximin in the south of France has grand appearance and more recent. This thirteenth century Gothic complex was comprised of both Basilica and the cloister. It was wonderfully designed and vezelay appeared far interior to that Gothic complex. The Dominican friars of saint Maximin said that the bones they had unearthed in their ancient cemetery were true relics of Mary Magdalene. The Dominican friars used to go on towns in pilgrimages even today to focus a complete glass enclosed skull of Mary Magdalene.During middle ages, vezelay and Saint Maximin became prominent. There was rapid progress in the pilgrimage every year. They even claimed Mary’s earthly remains, and worshipped her. They claimed the holy relics of flesh, transformed by Jesus. He said to Mary “Do not touch me” (John 20.17) legends added to that Jesus touched her forehead to ward her off. The solemn ceremony of Mary was attended by Bishops, Arch-bishops, Priests, Popes, Civil authorities, Kings, Peagentes etc. They took a procession in her honour Vezelay and Saint maximum and continued this parade or gathering as a traditionnrl every year on July 22 , people of high level collected themselves in Basilica churches and display the relics with the purpose of encouraging people to go on pilgrimage to her sacred places.
Mary Magdalene became part of the inner circle of Jesus. She was accepted as His disciple and showed more interest to learn His wisdom. Men and women became His disciples in Capernaum between the years 24 and 27 C.E. By sending away demons and by preaching about the advantages of God’s kingdom Jesus became very popular in a very short time. He protested against Herod Anti-pass in connection with the cruel murder of John the Baptist and also the “Forces of Rome”. Herod Anti-pass ruled Galilee and Persia under Roman authority. So, with the power the emperor ordered for the arrest of Jesus and His execution. Therefore Galilee became a place of mortal danger to Jesus.
Magdalene was the nick name of Mary used by the disciples the inner circle of Jesus. He gave such nick names to some of His disciples, whom He liked more. For example Simon peter was a fisherman and Jesus called him “Rock” (“kepha” in Aramaic and “Petras” in Greek). Jesus called him with that name because he was sluggish in understanding whatever was said by Him on certain occasions. That is to say he must have been most dull headed. He called James and John “Boa merges” which means sons of thunder. They were considered as noisy pair among the disciples.
The designation Magdalene separates Mary from other Mary’s, who were actually associated with Jesus. Many women were named “Miriam” which was translated into English as Mary, was closed to Jesus as His own mother Mary; mother of His two disciples James and Josses, sister of Prophet Moses (Miriam,) Mary etc. The people of Galilee were very fond of that name and used to give it to their daughters when they were born. So the name Mary Magdalene was most important for Jesus and His disciples. In the same way the people of Galilee felt proud in putting that name Mary to their daughters. This name Mary was derived from “Migdal” of low stone tower used to keep fish. The Galilean sprat was one of the favourite foods to Jesus. He liked dry fish also. It is a fact that fish became a symbol of Christians during the second century.
Luke said in his Gospel 8.2 that Jesus exorcised seven demons from Mary Magdalene. This event became more prominent in the Middle Ages They thought that she must have been afflicted by “seven deadly sins”. It is believed, when Mary met Jesus first time, she was rich enough and owned the towns of “Magdala” and “Bethany” near Jerusalem. But her wealth, beauty and youth made her imbrace worldly temptations and finally led to her downfall. She lost all her property, and forced to live the life of a common prostitute for her living. Her moral degradation caused to the teachers of the Middle Ages, to fear more about women regarding their character.
In ancient Hebrew, Babylonian and Persian numerology, this number seven played pivotal role and also from the beginning of creation, Number seven is the symbolic of totality and fullness. The Catholicism also conceived of seven cardinal virtues to balance the seven deadly sins. Jesus believed in the vital force of God’s spirit than the unclean spirits that would disturb humanity. Rabbi Jesus spoke as an exorcist, as if He had regular practice regarding demons. He knew the unclean spirits once they were out of one person, would try to enter another. The teaching of Jesus involved with installation of Devine spirit; in the place of demons or where the demons were. Mary herself must have felt, how desperate she was with demons once, and she got great relief after Jesus sent out the demons from her body through His miracle.
She understood Jesus correctly with her own intelligence and insight’ she followed Him and had long treatment for successful completion. Mary was finally cured of her demons and stood as a person at victory over evil. She sometimes appeared as the mirror image of Jesus Christ. “The Golden Legend” which is mentioned previously said that Jesus embraced Mary all His life, which gave the impression that she became His intimate friend, a constant companion and source of help in this life journey. A spokes man, by name Petrarch called her the sweet friend of God. “Jesus was the embodiment of Devine spirit that dissolved unclean spirits. Since the time of the book of proverbs that is, the sixth century B.C.E the spirit had a prominent place in the theology of Israelites as Yahweh’s female partner. The face of the spirit that rushed out of the beginning of the cosmos and filled the whole universe with feminine both in the nouns and genders. In Hebrew it is called “ruach”. This Devine feminine was closely identified with wisdom and eternal consort of Yahweh. Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his way.
Before the works of his old pleasuring the experience of the earth and my delight was with the sons of man”. (Proverbs 8.23 - 31)
This intimacy between wisdom and Yahweh was so strong and enjoyable, that could be described only in erotic terms. Jesus said that He had spoken on behalf wisdom (Sophia in the Greek text of Luke). For one year or so Jesus exorcised and Mary could know the technique of it better than all disciples. As a result she became one of the key persons, who could deal with the unclean spirits. She said “If I throw out demons by God’s spirit then the kingdom of God has arrived upon us”. Because of the true faith of Mary, she had enjoyed the privilege of eternity of the kingdom of God. She emerged as generation after the death of Jesus Christ, in the major centres of Christian population.
The Christians were involved in a complex and potentially dangerous position in the Greek-Roman world. And during the first century the worship of Jesus was not mush encouraging. And Christianity was treated as a strange form of Judaism. Then to make this religion more popular peter took the responsibility in encouraging more people in the public. He brought many for baptism and conversion. Among all the disciples it seemed peter topped the list in that matter. It was proved he had profound privilege in the formation of the Gospel.
If we apply the logic to the contribution of Mary Magdalene, she emerged as the source of stream that bears the oral signature. She was the main source, for the collection of many incidents connected to exorcism of Jesus. Mary simply by following Jesus, evidenced the purifying presence of spirit for good experience. With all that experience, she was able to give detailed exorcism stories. Whenever, we read the Bible, we are suggested to read those stories from the Gospel and learn how to tackle the unclean spirits (Mark 1.21-28; 5.1-17; 9.4-20) by identifying them, confronting them with Devine spirit, and proclaiming their utter defeat. The outcome is that it would reflect the progressive development of the craft of Jesus Christ that dealt with the increasing different cases of possessions.
The first story in the Magdalene source came from the beginning of Jesus time in Capernaum after 24 C.E . The second story would
(Mark 21.28) reflect the period started with His flight from Herod Anti-pass in 27 C.E (Mark
5.1-17). The time of the third story was after the transfiguration of Jesus in 30 C.E once we locate these three stories of exorcism can be found
(Mark 9.14-29) easily as tributaries of the main stories. Whenever Jesus attacked the demons they used to speak with Him, and He understood their language; but the members of the synagogue could see only the movements of the demons, and not what they talked. The demons identify themselves as the most unclean demons of the spirit. In their own fascination they would say we have nothing for you Nazarene “Jesus! Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are-the Holy One of God” Mary Magdalene described in her source the matter of unclean spirits. The demon “cried out” (Mark 1.23). Jesus cried out (shouted back at the demon in a rough language of the street shut up and out from him” (1.25). The obedience of the demon came under protest, the person who was with demon until then got healed. And the demon went from him with grumbling and screaming. Jesus Christ appeared more clearly in the second of demons as mentioned by Mary. This story occurred in Decapolis just on the other side of the Sea of Galilee from Magdalena. At that place, Jesus had confrontation with a good member of demons. Jesus asked then their names, but they simply answered “legion”. They took shelter in a man, who inhabited a cemetery.
The word “legion” is used in connection with military soldiers. This word was more commonly used by the roman rulers. A legion means, about six thousand soldiers were considered one legion. So the man who was living in the cemetery possessed thousands of demons, we can imagine how much suffering he has faced in his life. This is also the same as the first one, which was simple, but with more vigour and abrupt noise. The regular habit of the man, who possessed thousands of demons, was to wound himself in the woozing of blood’Jesus addressed in all His exorcism and the possessed victim embodied everything unholy and his name was legion. Magdalene narrated the story of legion with sympathetic out took because she had her own pathetic story about the demons and how much she suffered. So, the story of that unfortunate man who possessed legion of demons was the replica of Mary herself. A legion as already explained consisted of six thousand soldiers in the military and some auxiliary troops would be also co-opted by the legion. Even though, the seven demons of Mary were no way equal to the legion, she had her own suffering experience through the demons. She knew the real depth of the cosmic antagonism involved in the exorcism of Jesus Christ.
Mary explained why the demons shouted at Jesus and Jesus also shouted at them even with bigger voice. The third story of exorcism of Jesus came from the source of Mary at the time of His transfiguration. He was transformed in Devine glory and talking with Elijah and Moses (Mark 9.2-8) and appeared to Peter, James and John. So, the story of Mary Magdalene source expressed the vehement insistence of Jesus on the power of spirit in contrast to the tentative Quality of the efforts of His disciples, who have been unable to deal with the demons. Then Jesus explained to His disciples “This sort can go out by nothing except by prayer”. (Mark 9.29)
Scholars and historians not yet examined the influence of Mary Magdalene, on the Gospels as they did in the case of peter, Paul, James and Barnabas. The history of Mary through her source, we can understand not only about her thoroughly, but also deeply charismatic and prophetic information of Christianity. Mary perfectly knew that the most fearsome weapon the demons used to resist the exorcism of Jesus was their unique knowledge His identity. The first exorcism in Mark clearly identified Jesus as “the holy man of God”. In the same manner, any demon was identified as unclean spirit in any Gospel. According to the analysis of Jesus, uncleanness resides within a human being rather than in inferior objects. The unclean spirit in synagogue was a source of inequity and designated Jesus as source of piety “the holy one of God”. So, the very presence of Jesus with His purity was a threat to the demons and demonic world on the whole; the opening demonic scream, “we have nothing for you” is echoed in the pathetic story of man with a legion of demons.
The role of Mary in the development of the Gospels was passed over. It is quite clear that she was the main person responsible for our understanding of the legacy of Jesus. It was the wisdom and hard work, through which Mary’s experience made her feel proud of herself to bear the nick name “the Magdalene”. By virtue of her good activities and intelligent dealing of affairs about Jesus, She emerged as the most influenced woman in the movement of Rabbi Jesus. In 25 C.E, Jesus was forced to flee from Capernaum with the threat of death from Herod Anti-pass. He started His wanderings first in the Gentile region of Galilee and later in the western region. During that time Mary also travelled with Him. So, Jesus with Mary and other disciples, lived in towns and villages around Galilee, by healing the sick, as all the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit.
They cast away demons, “They taught people about the kingdom of God; and meditated on the presence of God’s spirit: Jesus believed that true sacrifice would bring peace, to both for the end oppression and the opening of the temple of humanity; by which the Jews and Gentiles would feel happy. Mary was with Jesus when they came to Jerusalem to attend a feast as it was the time of the feast of “sukkot” or Tabernacle. Through her wisdom and experience, Mary became well versed in exorcism. Jesus, Mary and the disciples practiced anointing, which was associated with exorcism, and healing of the diseased.
Olive oil was universally accepted antiquity and of valuable commodity throughout the Mediterranean basin. The soap was used for washing clothes one had to buy this olive oil for cleaning and dressing the skin, for dressing the wounds, for applying to the head and for cooking. So to say this oil is used for multipurpose, in olden days, apart from using it for anointing, and in the Temple menorah. The king from Davidic dynasty was anointed with that oil in a special function in order to designate him as the sole monarch of Israel kingdom. They used to appoint women also for anointing people in those days.
Luke said that Mary Magdalene and some other woman served or ministered to Jesus and His disciples (Luke 8.3). Peter also quoted the book of Acts , which has similar identification as the one whom God anointed with Holy Spirit and power that proceeded to do good and heal those who were oppressed by the devil because God was with him always. Mary Magdalene and her companions took up this programme and other activities which were done by a popular apostle. It is said; Mary played a crucial role among the disciples of Jesus. Legends, developed and at the time of the New Testament they have produced her as a prostitute, but there is no official evidence of such allegations.
But one thing is certain. She called herself a “sinful” woman without explanation. To explain it further there are many sins committed by people who have nothing to do with sex. For example Peter called himself a “sinful” once a Pharisee was offended by the words of Christ, when he said that if someone touched a woman, it might appear sinful but he would be forgiven. And those who consciously accept divine forgiveness are alive to the bounty comes from God alone and are willing to extend their power of forgiving others with that forgiving spirit one can perform generous and spontaneous acts like hairdressers.
Mary Magdalene’s whole hearted embracing of Jesus was itself an extention of divine compassion. As a proof, she had taken up and purified by the perfect love of Almighty God. After printing of the New Testament, some countries and Christian teachers like Pope Gregory the Great identified that woman as Mary Magdalene and stamped her as the woman of no reputation. Mary “who had been a sinner in the city” (Luke 7.37) loved truth and so washed away, the stains of her wickedness and immorality with her tears. This had fulfilled the voice of the Truth who said “Her many sins had been forgiven because she loved much”. She had abandoned her wicked ways the stains of her heart and body with her tears and touched feet of the redeemer.
The identification of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute and even preaching of the sermons by preachers in certain places was really unfortunate. At the same time, the anointing of Jesus by her in His last days made other disciples angry. But Jesus explained to the disciples the importance of what she had done for Him. Generally, anointing the dead person was a traditional part of Judaism. He said that Mary by anointing Him connected what is recollected in memory of her was the essential part of Jesus complete Gospel. So, the outcome of the Gospel is that suffering would become the medicine of divine presence.
Jesus asked His disciples that they had to learn something from Mary which was not surprising because He Himself learned that in Bathany. When He crossed back the Sea of Galilee, from Decapolis, a woman came up behind Him and touched His garments; so that a flow of blood that made her unclean was cured (Mark 5.25-34). The woman, who suffered for twelve years, from the issue of blood, happened to touch Jesus. Then He enquired who that touched Him. He finally told her, “Daughter your faith had saved you” depart in peace and be healthy from your plague.
This story too must have come from the sources of Magdalene. Undoubtedly, she was speaking about a woman, who seemed to have lived close to Magdalene and knew the story of blood flow. Indeed the touching of the garments of Jesus by that woman, exemplified Mary’s own experience Jesus used His own spit on certain occasions, to heal the affected parts. The Talmud of Jerusalem also speaks much about the anointing of the diseased for the purpose of healing. Women were typical practitioners of this for healing. Mary brought the wisdom of faithful touching into the teaching of primitive church. By anointing Jesus prior to His burial, Mary prepared and prefigured His death and the suffering He was going to experience.
Anointing was the principal method during the time of Jesus conveying spirit and removing inequity. Jesus confirmed the practice ot touching as a sign of faith and He praised the active contact, which was initiated by Mary Magdalene and the other woman of the issue of blood. The transfiguration of Jesus at the Tomb was witnessed by three women, led by Mary. They saw a vision and voice of the angel talking something. They became spellbound at the situation before the grave. They went to anoint Him, with spies and looking for somebody, to open the stone door of the Tomb. But they found a man in white robes, who told them that Jesus was raisen from the dead and He was not there. Mary was the first woman to find Jesus and wished to anoint the corpse of Him with the help of Mary of James and Salome.
The actions and responses of Mary were difficult to understand, because she realized that God raised Jesus from His death. It was customary and also commandment of the Torah to the Israelites to attend the corpse of relatives, and even the sacrificed one’s. The Talmud also described the custom of claiming, anointing and wrapping the dead, but also visiting the tomb for three days, after the burial, to make sure that the diseased was really dead. Transfiguration and resurrection provoked astonishment among many devotees.
Visionary prophets like Ezekiel and mystical practitioners of Judaism considered this divine power as “the chariot” and divine chariot is nothing but the throne of God which was witnessed by Moses and his friends, Haron Nadab, Abihu and seventy leaders of Israel saw in its sapphire glory (Exodus 24.9-11).
Jesus Christ trained His disciples along with Mary from the time she met Him in Galilee till the time of His pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The disciples were covered by a shining cloud, of glory, also heard a voice. “This is, my son, the beloved in whom I take pleasure, hear Him”. When the cloud passed from the place Moses and Elijah the greatest prophets of Israel, also disappeared and Jesus stood alone there as the son of God, the Devine son. At the mouth of the tomb, Mary and her companions were taught by Jesus that God was the only ultimate truth the omnipotent, and the creator of the universe.
The transfiguration of Jesus and the vision of Mary Magdalene had a link with the throne of God. In that transfiguration Jesus appeared completely in a different form, shining with brilliance, Moses and Elijah the prophets were also there at that time. During the thirteenth century, Christians and Gnostics devoted Mary Magdalene, by virtue of her visions and meditations. Sometimes, through her meditations, she used to go to heaven and return. At the time of her death, she came out from her cave in the cliff of La Saint-Baum to take communion in the church of saint Maximin.
Mary Magdalene was portrayed in the legend before her death as the protector of a noble woman, and her new born child from ship wreck and starvation’,’ she appeared to that woman in her vision and miraculously transported her to Jerusalem, and returned. She protected many pregnant women also with all such activities; Mary became the patron saint of fertility and child birth. The Golden Legend did the maximum in expressing her connection with the spirit rather than flesh and anointing, she practised in Galilee and also preached. The compassion of Mary, to Sophia (wisdom) lay of the heart of both Gnosticism and catholic Christianity, because her divine wisdom and faith followed a process of restoration in the teaching of Mary. Therefore, what was described as her compulsion, to have sexual inter course was cured. She was finally able to accept the Father as the whole divine redeemer without expressing her former weakness. Faith and wisdom again took her place in the divine order. Her image as a redeemed prostitute took very deep root in the western Catholicism. Mary as readymade sinner gave scope to legends which described her as a prostitute and that in famous information remained for centuries.
The Catholic Church never questioned the chastity of Jesus Christ, but in one aspect the Cathars continued to influence Catholic theology. The Cathars somehow utilized the image of Mary, influencing Catholics and the protestants, who came after them and also the modern devotees. Devotion to Mary became diverse, at the same time it expressed deep conviction that made catholic theology coherent. Mary Magdalene the converted sinner Mary the sister of Lazarus of Bathany, and the Samaritan leper were an ideal representatives of that conviction, she symbolized like any other faithful believer and became “the sweet friend of God” The legends, the pilgrimages people made shrines that were built on her name and ritual practices, all were done within the reach of common man. In the year 1279 the crown prince of the house of “Anjore” ordered for the excavation of the church crypt at saint- Maximin in the province. Anjore was a very small kingdom, which was formed with some parts of France and Italy. It was said by one commentator as the prince himself took part in that excavation and dug a lot, until he got sweating. The prince was totally convinced that he would certainly find the remains of Mary. It is a fact that nobody can put a value of any precious relies.
The prince Anjore and the Medieval Europe had strong impression on the teachings of Saint Augustine. Once he said the relies of a saint did miracles of healing that made the people of Middle Ages have had strong belief in such incidents. According to the interpretation of Augustine during the fifth century of Common Era (C.E) the Millenarian prediction of revelation had truly begun on earth. The power and influence of Catholic Church, which Augustine called “Christiana Tempora” convinced him, and the prophecies of the revelation were unfolding that had been predicted. It is legally understood that God must be transforming the flesh of human beings into the flesh of eternity.
Augustine was a strong materialist with regard to Anti-Gnostic traditions of catholic Christianity. His firm belief was that all people would be resurrected with physical flesh, after the thousand year reign of the saints.
It is said, even emperor Constantine ordered for an excavation of the church called the “holy sepulchre” which was built by himself in the Christian colony in Jerusalem. As mentioned in the fifth century legend people found some nails in the excavation. It was also prompted by Helena the mother of Constantine. She too got a vision about the original cross of Jesus. She visited Jerusalem to find out the exact location of that cross. For many years the controversy went on about Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bathany, whether both Mary’s were the same or different persons. But only in 1909 the revised calendar of the saints authorized by the second “Vatican counciTof the roman catholic church acknowledged that, Mary of Bathany and Mary Magdalene of Hegdal, both were different persons. Several pilgrimage centres claimed various parts of Mary’s skeleton when Charles of Saiemno made his “discovery”. Mary’s bones had been venerated for a long time in Vizelay, in Burgundy, which is in the North of province.
The Dominican friars who confidently kept the skeleton of Mary Magdalene produced their book called “The book of the miracle saint Mary Magdalene”. It revealed how the bones of Mary healed people in saint Maximin. In this context a franscision member established a story of a butcher who went to venerate Mary in saint-Maximin involved in a fight. The reason for the fighting seems that a man of doubt about the healing of people by the bones of Mary. The butcher killed the other man. Then Mary assured him in a vision that he would not be taken by gallows. It is really amazing as she sent a Dove to dissolve the chain by which he was going to be hanged.
Sometimes the chronology turns itself stumbled over recording the wonders done by saints like Mary Magdalene of saint Maximin. The inheritance of Mary is not for Christianity alone or for Judaism. She lived before the separation of those two religions. And her native place Magdala was influenced by the exchange of products, and ideas that came from India, China and Nabatia. Mary’s sacraments were used by those who followed the centuries old practice by women in Galilean Judaism. So to say her life itself was a sacramental biography. Chapter : 10