Women, especially today’s Christian mothers, can see in the myrrh-bearing women true models that inspire them to lead a life of holiness and self-giving, says the Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church (BOR) in a message dedicated to the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women.

„The Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women calls all women to become disciples of Jesus, by seeking and finding the crucified Jesus and by proclaiming the great joy of His Resurrection. Women, especially today’s Christian mothers, can see in the myrrh-bearing women true models who inspire them to lead a life of holiness and self-giving. Thus, through faith and piety, through diligence and generosity, harmony and good understanding in the family can be preserved and cultivated, the values of the Christian family can be defended and promoted, and children can be educated in love for God and for others,” said Daniel.

He added that on March 27, the BOR Holy Synod approved the beginning of the canonisation of some Romanian holy women in the year 2026, declared the Solemn Year of Pastoral Care for the Christian Family and the Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the Calendar (myrrh-bearers, martyrs, pious, wives and mothers).

On the occasion of the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers and the feasts dedicated to Christian women and the family, Daniel is extending „congratulations, thanks and blessings to all women who cultivate and confess, through prayer, word and deed, faith in Christ the Lord, the Crucified and Risen One, offering much light and joy in the life of the church, the family and the society.”

„We wish you all health and salvation, peace and holy joy, for many and blessed years!” the Patriarch said.

On the third Sunday after Easter, the Orthodox Church honours the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women who, „on the first day of the week (Sunday), while the sun was rising” (Mark 16:2), came to the tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ with perfumes of great price. These myrrh-bearing women received from the angels the news that Christ was risen, becoming courageous witnesses of the Lord’s Resurrection and being worthy of the great joy of meeting Christ Himself, risen from the dead.

AGERPRES