April 26 - the day of the holy myrrh-bearing women

      Text by Daria Petrova

      This year, April 26 marks the day of the Holy Myrrhbearers. The Russian Orthodox Church has established a special day to honor the holy women who were the first to learn the Good News of the Risen Christ. The holiday is celebrated two weeks after the Bright Resurrection of Christ.

      As the Gospel tradition states, the women among the first Christian followers who followed the Savior during His earthly life went to the Lord's Tomb on the third day after His crucifixion to anoint His body with fragrant oil – myrrh, as the ancient custom required. When they arrived at the place, they saw that the huge stone blocking the entrance to the cave had been rolled away, and the body of the Savior was not there. At that moment, two Angels appeared to them, proclaiming the miracle: "And as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them: Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen; remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words; and returning from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest" (Luke 24:5-9). Further, the evangelist Luke recounts how Christ appeared to two women on this day while they were on the road to the village of Emmaus: "Then He said to them: O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" (Luke 24:25-26).

      The apostolic heritage has preserved for posterity the names of some of the myrrhbearers: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and Joseph, Salome, Joanna, Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, Susanna. The Gospel states that there were also "others with them."

      Having a fervent faith and love for the Savior, the myrrhbearers remained devoted to Him, even when Christ was subjected to humiliation and crucifixion. As St. John Chrysostom said: "And it is not so surprising that they clung to their hearts to the Lord Savior in those days when through the veil of His humility and humiliation, Divine glory shone forth in His miracles, when an unheard-of preaching was proclaimed on earth. But for our thoughts, it is astonishing to see them unwavering in their love for the Lord when He, torn and spat upon, was delivered to death."

      The myrrhbearers became a model of Christian virtues for many generations of Christian women. On the day of the holiday, it is customary to pay tribute to the best qualities of women – mothers and grandmothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and all who keep the home fire burning and work for the good of others.

      Traditionally, on the day of the memory of the myrrhbearers, a festive Divine Liturgy is served, and flowers are presented to the female parishioners of the churches. In the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, many events are held in connection with the festive date, the main one being the concert "Warming Hearts," where awards are traditionally presented to women whose work benefits others.

      In Nizhny Novgorod, there is an ancient church in honor of the Holy Myrrhbearers, located on Dobrolyubov Street. Saints Euthymius of Suzdal and Macarius of Yellow Water were born and baptized in the parish of this church.

      When quoting, a link (hyperlink) to the website of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis is mandatory.

      More news about the event:

      In the Resurrection Cathedral, the patronal feast was celebrated

      On April 26, the cathedral in honor of the Resurrection of Christ celebrated the patronal feast, the left side chapel of the upper church of the cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Holy Myrrhbearers. 18:10 26.04.2026 Resurrection Deanery - Dzerzhinsk

      Metropolitan Georgy met with the widows of deceased clergy of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese

      Text by Svetlana Medvedeva.

      On April 26, the third Sunday after Pascha, of the Holy Myrrhbearers, 15:51 26.04.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      Live broadcast of the concert in honor of the Day of the Holy Myrrhbearers at the Nizhny Novgorod Young Spectator Theater

      A concert in honor of the Day of the Holy Myrrhbearers has begun at the Nizhny Novgorod State Theater for Young Spectators. 15:51 26.04.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      The manager of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese met with the relatives of participants in the special military operation

      Text by Svetlana Medvedeva.

      On April 26, the third Sunday after Pascha, of the Holy Myrrhbearers, 14:41 26.04.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      Parishioners were congratulated on Orthodox Women's Day

      On the second Sunday after Pascha, the Orthodox Church celebrates the Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers. 14:30 26.04.2026 Arzamas District Deanery - Arzamas

      On the day of the feast of the Holy Myrrhbearers, Metropolitan Georgy led the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Nizhny Novgorod

      Text by Andrei Rukavishnikov. Photo by Dmitry Smirnov

      On April 26, the third Sunday after Pascha, of the Holy Myrrhbearers, the day of the memory of the Holy Martyr Martha Testova (1941), 13:31 26.04.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      April 26 – the day of the Holy Myrrhbearers

      Text by Daria Petrova

      This year, April 26 marks the day of the Holy Myrrhbearers. 10:02 26.04.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      April 26 - the 3rd Sunday after Pascha. The Holy Myrrhbearers

      April 26 - the 3rd Sunday after Pascha. The Holy Myrrhbearers: Mary Magdalene, Mary Cleopas, Salome, Joanna, Martha and Mary, Susanna, and others; 21:05 25.04.2026 Women's Monastery Diveevo - Arzamas

      A festive concert dedicated to the Day of the Holy Myrrhbearers on the "Nizhny Novgorod 24" TV channel

      The event is annual, organized by the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis. The holiday of the Holy Myrrhbearers is called Orthodox Women's Day. 16:39 25.04.2026 GTRK Nizhny Novgorod - Nizhny Novgorod

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      26.04.2026 Sunday service in the Trinity-Ascension Cathedral of Kinshma

      On Sunday, April 26, the 3rd Sunday after Pascha, of the Holy Myrrhbearers, the Divine Liturgy in the Trinity-Ascension Cathedral of the city of Kinshma was led by Bishop Ilarion of Kinshma and Palech. 22:17 26.04.2026 Ivanovo Metropolis - Ivanovo

      A special "children's" Liturgy was held in Kola

      On April 26, 2026, the 3rd Sunday after Pascha, of the Holy Myrrhbearers, in the church of St. Varlaam of Keret, the director of the Sunday school of the Annunciation Cathedral, Priest Valery Fandera, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, 23:15 26.04.2026 Murmansk Diocese - Murmansk

      The day of the memory of the Holy Myrrhbearers in the Spaso-Transfiguration Cathedral of Glazov

      On April 26, 2026, the 3rd Sunday after Pascha, of the Holy Myrrhbearers, in the Spaso-Transfiguration Cathedral of Glazov, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Priest Mikhail Poskrebyshev. 22:14 26.04.2026 Glazov Diocese - Glazov

      With the holiday of the Myrrhbearers, with Orthodox Women's Day!

      On April 26, 2026, the third Sunday after Pascha, the Holy Church remembers the feat of the Holy Myrrhbearers – those who steadfastly followed the Lord, cared for Him and His disciples, 22:01 26.04.2026 Izhevsk and Udmurt Diocese - Izhevsk

      Kizner. Congratulations to Orthodox women on the day of the Holy Myrrhbearers

      On the 3rd Sunday after Pascha, the Holy Church remembers the feat of the Holy Myrrhbearers. 22:01 26