Icon of St. John the Myrrh-Bearer. Myrrh-bearing women - who are they and how to pray to them? A Life of Service to Others

She is mentioned much less often than Mary Magdalene, she is not reproached, like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, for inappropriate maternal intercession for her sons, so that they “sit on the right and left” of Christ coming on the Way of the Cross... In fact, only Luke talks about her, mentioning her twice (Luke 8:3; 24:10). Other evangelists are silent about the wife named Joanna. John, which means the grace of God, or “God took pity”...

In the Orthodox community, for some reason prejudices and prejudices are associated with her name. How many times have I been asked if this is an Orthodox name? How many times have they said that it is precisely because of such a name that such girls get into trouble - because it is inappropriate to call non-nuns by male names. When told that this was the name of the myrrh-bearer, they shook their heads in disbelief and tied the scarf tighter...

And vice versa - there is a persistent lack of recognition of this name in its Belarusian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Czech and other Slavic forms. Yes - Yana, Yanka, Yanya, Yanechka and Yanochka - all these are not “dog names,” as one pious nun once put it, but folk forms of the ancient Hebrew name John. After all, the name “Yuri” is not a dog’s name, although it comes from the name “George”!

Joanna and John are definitely out of luck!

Poor Yanas are sometimes baptized with other names (by the way, they often choose the name “Nina”, as if the second half of the estate of the Polish version of the name Yana - “Yanina”), since they are strictly told that the name “Yana” is “non-Orthodox”.

The myrrh-bearer - the future myrrh-bearer Joanna - was a woman of high social status. She did not communicate with those poor and homeless people who followed Jesus Christ, with wives abandoned by their husbands who were forced to engage in prostitution. She was quite respectable - she was successfully married to Khuzu, a courtier of King Herod. She was a “court lady,” as they would say in the century before last. We have everything - food, clothes, a full house, our only son is growing up... yes, girlfriends, get-togethers, of course, prayer - how could it be otherwise?

But grief came to the house. My son got sick. The fevers in Asia Minor are severe - he was already dying when his father ran in despair to a passing Preacher - all other means of the court doctors were tried. Chuza may not have known that the Forerunner was a close relative and close friend of Jesus of Nazareth, and therefore did not understand why the wandering beggar preacher did not want to go to the palace - after all, this was an honor for Him! Jesus does not go to the palace where His Forerunner was executed...

“Come before my son dies!” - shouts, begging Khuza, seeing that Jesus is in no hurry, and, moreover, as if reproaching, he says to him, the courtier, “you will not believe unless you see signs and wonders” (John 4:48). And the Savior, being above all personal revenge and all human malice, heals the son of a courtier - the son of a man of that well-fed and shameless world, a world that, for the sake of fun, took the life of His only close friend. He is generous, Jesus of Nazareth. He is unforgiving...

In hesitation and excitement, Khuza goes home, feeling ashamed, and not understanding why, - and already the servants sent by Joanna, who was vigilant over the bed of the dying child, brought him the good news - “your son is healthy!”

And only then did they know - both Khuza and Joanna - who they turned to for help. Obviously, it became known to both their entourage and Herod himself. They remembered that Chuza’s wife, Joanna, often listened to the Baptist, that perhaps she secretly buried his head - which was not given to the disciples for burial.

There was a threat hanging over Khuza's house. Herod was quick to anger.

What could happen next? Frightened Khuza hastened to divorce his wife and drive her out of the house - so as not to incur the wrath of the Jewish king Herod? At that time it was easy for a Jewish man to divorce his wife - there could be any reason, even the simplest everyday reason - too much salt in the soup. And the woman, who previously had even a high social status, immediately lost it. It would be good if her parents were alive. And if not?

Did Khuza expel Joanna - fortunately, the example of the ruler Herod in how you can marry young and beautiful after expelling a hateful wife was before your eyes. Or did she herself leave, so as not to bring trouble into the house, did she go to her parents, who had at least some means of livelihood?

We do not know how she ended up in the crowd of simple, poor, almost destitute, sometimes with dubious past, women who followed Christ. She came to , because He is all that remains for her, He is the unforgiving Preacher who revived her son.

She was grateful to him, and if she was expelled from home and her healed son was taken away, who should she go to if not to his healer? No longer asking for anything, simply listening and heeding the new that was born in her soul - a former maid of honor, and now a poor wanderer, in the new world that was opening up to her, in the world of orphans, and widows, and abandoned women, and beggars - listening Preacher of the Kingdom of God for all the disadvantaged.

If earlier she thought that her husband’s well-being was a sign of God’s favor, now she saw that God in Christ is with the outcast and the unfortunate. Oh joy! She thought that she had lost everything, that God was angry with her, and she would not be a divorced, abandoned wife - but Jesus Christ said that God and His Kingdom do not shine in the luxury of palaces and royal chambers.

She found herself in a strange environment, but she was not accepted with gloating - “here, now you too will be in our shoes, former rich woman! You will find out what our poor peasant’s bread is and how we spend the night on the rocks, with a rock for a pillow!” They shared bread with her and said, “Don’t cry and don’t be afraid!”

And then Joanna sold all the few jewels that she was wearing, which she was saving for a rainy day in order to “serve Jesus” - to feed with simple cakes and fish those poor and hungry women who followed Him. She sold and completely mixed up with the crowd of these women - so much so that none of the evangelists, except Luke, who pitied the women for their hard lot and rejoiced that Jesus Christ brought them joy, noticed her. Was it not she - educated and courageous - who exclaimed from the crowd: “Blessed is the womb that bore You! How happy is Your Mother, the Preacher who speaks by the spirit of God!” And she no longer had a family or a son...

The Savior answered her, knowing the depth of her heart and the depth of her sorrows - just as He knew the depth of the heart and sorrow of everyone who came to Him and comes. Happiness has touched you too, and will touch you, daughter of Abraham - for the Son of Mary is coming to the great tribulation of the Cross. And therefore - an unprecedented, different joy, the joy of the future celebration of the Cross with tears in the eyes, the joy of God’s love is coming. God had mercy, took pity, God “does not tolerate seeing a person in pain,” He came to share them, do not grieve, the wife abandoned by everyone.

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:27-28).

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, found for her the warmth of Her maternal heart, as for a daughter in trouble, and cried with her for her abandoned son, and rejoiced that her son was healed, and cried again that she could no longer see John.

So they will soon cry together for the Son of Mary.

...A century of golden powder
Between the pillars of the sovereign pylon,
John, tricky, funny,
Unbowed by depth and height.

I'm not in a hurry to go there - there's dill there
A long sigh for Tire and Sidon,
Where on the dandelion lines
There was light from the palm of John's hand.

Every step now, it’s worth it...
Bookshelf, daring creature,
You are stuck in existence - like a fragment
The young mirror of expectation:

No matter how you hit it, it is the limit of childhood
Freezes in rain drips, -
Who, in an accidental misfortune, has befallen,
Whose longing for us in its darkness?..

(Tina Arsenyeva)

HOLY JOHN THE MYRRHBEARER. MEMORY July 10 (June 27, old style). John. Such a little-known myrrh-bearer! She is mentioned much less often than Mary Magdalene, she is not reproached, like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, for inappropriate maternal intercession for her sons, so that they “sit on the right and left” of Christ coming on the Way of the Cross... In fact, only Luke talks about her, mentioning her twice (Luke 8:3; 24:10). Other evangelists are silent about the wife named Joanna. John, which means the grace of God, or “God took pity”... In the Orthodox community, for some reason prejudices and prejudices are associated with her name. How many times have I been asked if this is an Orthodox name? How many times have they said that it is precisely because of such a name that such girls get into trouble - because it is inappropriate to call non-nuns by male names. When they said that this was the name of the myrrh-bearer, they shook their heads in disbelief and tied the scarf tighter... And vice versa - there is a persistent lack of recognition of this name in its Belarusian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Czech and other Slavic forms. Yes - Yana, Yanka, Yanya, Yanechka and Yanochka - all these are not “dog names,” as one pious nun once put it, but folk forms of the ancient Hebrew name John. After all, the name “Yuri” is not a dog’s name, although it comes from the name “George”! Joanna and John are definitely out of luck! Poor Yanas are sometimes baptized with other names (by the way, they often choose the name “Nina”, as if the second half of the estate of the Polish version of the name Yana - “Yanina”), since they are strictly told that the name “Yana” is “non-Orthodox”. *** The myrrh-bearer - the future myrrh-bearer Joanna - was a woman of high social status. She did not communicate with those poor and homeless people who followed Jesus Christ, with wives abandoned by their husbands who were forced to engage in prostitution. She was quite respectable - she was successfully married to Khuzu, a courtier of King Herod. She was a “court lady,” as they would say in the century before last. We have everything - food, clothes, a full house, our only son is growing up... yes, girlfriends, get-togethers, of course, prayer - how could it be otherwise? But grief came to the house. My son got sick. The fevers in Asia Minor are severe - he was already dying when his father ran in despair to a passing Preacher - all other means of the court doctors were tried. Chuza may not have known that the Forerunner was a close relative and close friend of Jesus of Nazareth, and therefore did not understand why the wandering beggar preacher did not want to go to the palace - after all, this was an honor for Him! Jesus does not go to the palace where His Forerunner was executed... “Come before my son dies!” - shouts, begging Khuza, seeing that Jesus is in no hurry, and, moreover, as if reproaching, he says to him, the courtier, “you will not believe unless you see signs and wonders” (John 4:48). And the Savior, being above all personal revenge and all human malice, heals the son of a courtier - the son of a man of that well-fed and shameless world, a world that, for the sake of fun, took the life of His only close friend. He is generous, Jesus of Nazareth. He is not vindictive... Khuza goes home in hesitation and excitement, feeling ashamed, and not understanding why, - and already the servants sent by Joanna, who was watching over the bed of the dying child, brought him the good news - “your son is healthy!” And only then did they know - both Khuza and Joanna - who they turned to for help. Obviously, it became known to both their entourage and Herod himself. They remembered that Chuza’s wife, Joanna, often listened to the Baptist, that perhaps she secretly buried his head - which was not given to the disciples for burial. There was a threat hanging over Khuza's house. Herod was quick to anger. What could happen next? Frightened Khuza hastened to divorce his wife and drive her out of the house - so as not to incur the wrath of the Jewish king Herod? At that time it was easy for a Jewish man to divorce his wife - there could be any reason, even the simplest everyday reason - too much salt in the soup. And the woman, who previously had even a high social status, immediately lost it. It would be good if her parents were alive. And if not? Did Khuza expel Joanna - fortunately, the example of the ruler Herod in how you can marry young and beautiful after expelling a hateful wife was before your eyes. Or did she herself leave, so as not to bring trouble into the house, did she go to her parents, who had at least some means of livelihood? We do not know how she ended up in the crowd of simple, poor, almost destitute, sometimes with dubious past, women who followed Christ. She came to Christ because He is all that remains for her, He is the unforgiving Preacher who revived her son. She was grateful to him, and if she was expelled from home and her healed son was taken away, who should she go to if not to his healer? No longer asking for anything, simply listening and heeding the new that was born in her soul - a former maid of honor, and now a poor wanderer, in the new world that was opening up to her, in the world of orphans, and widows, and abandoned women, and beggars - listening Preacher of the Kingdom of God for all the disadvantaged. If earlier she thought that her husband’s well-being was a sign of God’s favor, now she saw that God in Christ is with the outcast and the unfortunate. Oh joy! She thought that she had lost everything, that God was angry with her, and she would not be in the Kingdom of the Messiah, a divorced, abandoned wife - but Jesus Christ said that God and His Kingdom do not shine in the luxury of palaces and royal palaces. She found herself in a strange environment, but she was not accepted with gloating - “here, now you too will be in our shoes, former rich woman! You will find out what our poor peasant’s bread is and how we spend the night on the rocks, with a rock for a pillow!” They shared bread with her and said, “Don’t cry and don’t be afraid!” And then Joanna sold all the few jewels that she was wearing, which she was saving for a rainy day in order to “serve Jesus” - to feed with simple cakes and fish those poor and hungry women who followed Him. She sold and completely mixed up with the crowd of these women - so much so that none of the evangelists, except Luke, who pitied the women for their hard lot and rejoiced that Jesus Christ brought them joy, noticed her. Was it not she - educated and courageous - who exclaimed from the crowd: “Blessed is the womb that bore You! How happy is Your Mother, the Preacher who speaks by the spirit of God!” And she no longer had either a family or a son... The Savior answered her, knowing the depth of her heart and the depth of her sorrows - just as He knew the depth of the heart and sorrow of everyone who came to Him and comes. Happiness has touched you too, and will touch you, daughter of Abraham - for the Son of Mary is coming to the great tribulation of the Cross. And therefore - an unprecedented, different joy, the joy of the future celebration of the Cross with tears in the eyes, the joy of God’s love is coming. God had mercy, took pity, God “does not tolerate seeing a person in pain,” He came to share them, do not grieve, the wife abandoned by everyone. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:27-28). Mary, the Mother of Jesus, found for her the warmth of Her maternal heart, as for a daughter in trouble, and cried with her for her abandoned son, and rejoiced that her son was healed, and cried again that she could no longer see John. So they will soon cry together for the Son of Mary.

Saint John the Myrrh-Bearer (icon, prayer, interesting facts from life will be presented in this article) is a unique person who is not mentioned as often as, for example, Saint Mary Magdalene. However, this holy woman left everything to be closer to Jesus Christ and follow Him. After the Savior died on the Cross, Joanna was among those who could personally anoint the Body of Christ with chrism. The Angels themselves informed her that her Savior would soon resurrect.

Unknown saint

Only Luke mentions Saint John the Myrrh-Bearer. For some unknown reason, the evangelists no longer mention John. The Myrrh-Bearer has a wonderful name, which means “The Grace of God” or “God has shed mercy.” This selfless woman is not too glorified, but she is not reproached either, like, for example, the mother of the Zebedees, who only wanted her sons to always be near Jesus Christ as he performed the Way of the Cross.

Prejudices and prejudices

The Orthodox world talks about some prejudices associated with Joanna the Righteous, or more precisely with her name. Many believe that girls have problems in life precisely because of it, since it is believed that this name is purely masculine. Some Christians are deeply convinced that the name John is not Orthodox at all. Many simply ask in disbelief when they find out that this name belongs to the Myrrh-Bearer.

From this ancient Hebrew name come the famous Slavic Yanechka, Yanka. Unfortunately, many Jans have to choose a different name at baptism, since almost no one associates this name with the name John, from which it comes.

Life of Joan the Myrrh-Bearer

Joanna was not immediately the Myrrh-Bearer. She was once part of a respectable society and had a fairly high social status. She had virtually no contact with the poor, beggarly people who were near Jesus Christ and followed Him. She also did not communicate with women who were abandoned by their husbands and who were forced to go to the porch.

Joanna successfully married Khuzu, who served at the king's court. Joanna was considered real. She had everything - clothes, food, and a roof over her head. She had communication with her friends and prayer. Joanna's only son grew up happily to the delight of his parents.

But, unfortunately, grief did not escape Joanna’s house. Her son became seriously ill. It was in Asia, where a particularly serious illness was raging. The young man was near death. The parents tried all available healing methods, but nothing helped. Then the father decided to turn to the passing Preacher. Huza could not have known that the man was Jesus Christ himself. The courtier did not understand why the Forerunner did not want to go with him to the palace. It is a special honor to be invited to the palace, Khuza thought.

He tried in every possible way to lure Jesus into the palace so that he would heal his son. But in response I heard the following words: “Your faith will never awaken if you do not see a miracle or sign.” The Savior still healed the son of Khuza, despite the fact that it was in this palace that Christ’s only close friend, John the Baptist, was killed. According to legend, it was Joanna who hid the severed head of the Baptist in a secret place in the palace in order to save the body of the Prophet from abuse. It is said that at night she placed the head in a vessel and took it to

Khuza felt ashamed, but he could not understand why these feelings overwhelmed him. He walked home, experiencing great excitement. Joanna sent servants to tell Chuza the good news that his son had fully recovered.

After some time, the boy’s parents realized that they had turned to Jesus Christ himself for help. This news also reached King Herod. The courtiers remembered that Joanna often asked the Baptist.

Evil fate or God's blessing

King Herod was angry. Khuza feared for his position and for his life. Therefore, he decided to immediately divorce his wife and send her home so that the king’s anger would not harm him. In those days, divorce was commonplace. Any reason, even the most insignificant, could lead to divorce. It was difficult for the woman. Even with a high status, she instantly lost everything after the divorce. If her parents were still alive, she could return to them.

Khuza had a good example of how you can throw out your wife and marry someone younger and more beautiful. Before his eyes, King Herod himself did this. There are rumors that Joanna left on her own to avoid trouble.

From maid of honor to saints

But, one way or another, the woman found herself among poor women who had a dubious past, but strictly followed Christ. She came to the Savior because He healed her son. This is the only refuge she has left. Joanna was immensely grateful to Christ. She had no one else to go to. She no longer asked the Savior for anything. She simply listened to him humbly and listened to everything that awoke in her soul from his words. Now Joanna was among the orphans, the poor and the abandoned, who questioned the Preacher with genuine attention.

In her previous life, she accepted her family's luxury and prosperity as God's blessing. Now Joanna saw that in fact the Lord is with the poor and unfortunate. From this rethinking, she became joyful, as she realized that she had not lost anything, but, on the contrary, had gained a lot. All this time, the woman was sure that the Lord did not need her, abandoned and divorced, that He was angry with her and would never let her into His Kingdom. But Jesus constantly repeated that God does not care about luxurious palaces.

Joanna was immediately accepted into the new environment. No one gloated at her or was happy that she had lost everything. No one looked at her with malice or envy, or reproached her for her past wealth. They immediately offered her bread and took care of her peace of mind.

A Life of Service to Others

Then Joanna decided to sell all her valuables, which she had been saving for a rainy day. Now her dream had come true, she could serve Jesus, feed the hungry beggars who followed the Savior.

Having given everything, Joanna mingled with the crowd of poor women and no one except Luke even noticed her. Luke always felt sorry for unfortunate women for their difficult fate.

Jesus always answered Joan, because he knew the depths of her heart and understood her sadness, as he understood the sorrow of everyone who turned to Him.

Luke told John that unexpected joy and great salvation would soon await her, because the Lord is very merciful and does not tolerate when someone suffers. Luke often consoled Joanna so that she would not grieve.

The mother of Jesus, Mary, also took care of the future Myrrh-Bearer. She treated her like a daughter who was in trouble, grieved with Joanna for her abandoned son and was glad that he was still able to be healed, and again grieved that he could no longer be with his mother.

How does St. John the Myrrh-Bearer help?

Undoubtedly, Righteous Joanna was and is a close companion of the Lord. As you know, now we can turn to the Creator through His companions. God may not always hear our prayers, but His faithful servants will certainly convey all our requests to Him. John the Myrrh-Bearer can help in many troubles. The icon of this saint is the main refuge of all who need maternal care, warmth and protection from injustice. Righteous Joanna shows special favor to single mothers, since she herself lost a child and was abandoned by her husband.

Day of Remembrance

It is believed that a strong connection with the associates of the Lord can be felt on the days of their worship. John the Myrrh-Bearer, whose name day falls on the Resurrection of all Myrrh-Bearing Wives (April 17) and on June 27, favors everyone who sincerely turns to her asking for help in any difficulties.

The little-known icon of the Myrrh-Bearer is mentioned quite rarely. The woman depicted here, Joan, whose name translates as “God's grace,” is described in the Gospel of Luke.

Joanna was one of the women who first learned about the Ascension of the Lord. Along with other wives, she approached the Holy Sepulcher to anoint his body with oil, but the voice of an angel told them the good news that he had risen.

Joanna was a respectable woman given in marriage to Chuzu, a courtier of King Herod. However, her life changed radically when her only son fell ill with a fatal fever, not uncommon in those days. His miraculous healing by Jesus was not accidental, because it was Joanna who secretly buried the head of the executed Baptist, violating the ban.

Joanna received her sight and saw that all the riches she possessed cannot be compared with true values, and the main grace is the Word of God, healing and guiding on the true path.

Description of the icon

John the Myrrh-Bearer is depicted facing the righteous, dressed in bright red clothes. In her left hand she holds a vessel with holy myrrh, and with her right hand she points to it, as if calling to the end to believe in the power of the Lord. Her face is soft and sincere, the saint seems to feel all the secrets of every restless soul and calls every Orthodox Christian to confession before himself and the Lord, the all-forgiving and merciful.

How does a miraculous image help?

The icon of St. John the Myrrh-Bearer has the power of healing. There are many known cases when she healed people from fatal illnesses and brought cripples back to their feet. They ask the image of Joanna for help in getting rid of evil and evil spirits, negative influences from the outside, love spells and black magic. They ask the Myrrh-Bearer for forgiveness of all sins, intercession and protection, guidance on the righteous path, comprehension of the true faith and resistance to demons that tempt the flesh and spirit.

Prayer before the icon

“Holy servant of God, Joanna the Myrrh-Bearer! Pray to the Lord God for me, the sinful servant (name). Helper, heal my sinful soul, direct my thoughts to the right and true path, and drive away from me unclean thoughts and tempting demons. Do not leave me in sin and do not allow the wicked to do their evil, directed at me and my family. Amen".

Date of veneration of the icon

Remembrance Day was established by the Orthodox Church on June 27 (July 10, new style) and on the third Sunday after Easter, on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women. This holiday is moving, so it does not have an exact date.

Every Orthodox Christian can ask St. Joan for help. She is also the patroness of those who receive the sacrament of baptism under the names of Zhanna and Yana. Before the holy image, the most hidden corners of the soul open up, and even the hardest hearts receive God’s grace. Live in peace and don't forget to press the buttons and

10.07.2017 04:09

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John. Such a little-known myrrh-bearer! She is mentioned much less often than Mary Magdalene, she is not reproached, like the mother of the sons of Zebedee, for inappropriate maternal intercession for her sons, so that they “sit on the right and left” of Christ coming on the Way of the Cross... In fact, only Luke talks about her, mentioning her twice (Luke 8:3; 24:10). Other evangelists are silent about the wife named Joanna. John, which means the grace of God, or “God took pity”...

The myrrh-bearer - the future myrrh-bearer Joanna - was a woman of high social status. She did not communicate with those poor and homeless people who followed Jesus Christ, with wives abandoned by their husbands who were forced to engage in prostitution. She was quite respectable - she was successfully married to Khuzu, a courtier of King Herod. She was a “court lady,” as they would say in the century before last. We have everything - food, clothes, a full house, our only son is growing up... yes, girlfriends, get-togethers, of course, prayer - how could it be otherwise?

But grief came to the house. My son got sick. The fevers in Asia Minor are severe - he was already dying when his father ran in despair to a passing Preacher - all other means of the court doctors were tried. Chuza may not have known that the Forerunner was a close relative and close friend of Jesus of Nazareth, and therefore did not understand why the wandering beggar preacher did not want to go to the palace - after all, this was an honor for Him! Jesus does not go to the palace where His Forerunner was executed...

“Come before my son dies!” - shouts, begging Khuza, seeing that Jesus is in no hurry, and, moreover, as if reproaching, he says to him, the courtier, “you will not believe unless you see signs and wonders” (John 4:48). And the Savior, being above all personal revenge and all human malice, heals the son of a courtier - the son of a man of that well-fed and shameless world, a world that, for the sake of fun, took the life of His only close friend. He is generous, Jesus of Nazareth. He is unforgiving...

In hesitation and excitement, Khuza goes home, feeling ashamed, and not understanding why, - and already the servants sent by Joanna, who was vigilant over the bed of the dying child, brought him the good news - “your son is healthy!”

And only then did they know - both Khuza and Joanna - who they turned to for help. Obviously, it became known to both their entourage and Herod himself. They remembered that Chuza’s wife, Joanna, often listened to the Baptist, that perhaps she secretly buried his head - which was not given to the disciples for burial.

There was a threat hanging over Khuza's house. Herod was quick to anger.

What could happen next? Frightened Khuza hastened to divorce his wife and drive her out of the house - so as not to incur the wrath of the Jewish king Herod? At that time it was easy for a Jewish man to divorce his wife - there could be any reason, even the simplest everyday reason - too much salt in the soup. And the woman, who previously had even a high social status, immediately lost it. It would be good if her parents were alive. And if not?

Did Khuza expel Joanna - fortunately, the example of the ruler Herod in how you can marry young and beautiful after expelling a hateful wife was before your eyes. Or did she herself leave, so as not to bring trouble into the house, did she go to her parents, who had at least some means of livelihood?

We do not know how she ended up in the crowd of simple, poor, almost destitute, sometimes with dubious past, women who followed Christ. She came to Christ because He is all that remains for her, He is the unforgiving Preacher who revived her son.

She was grateful to him, and if she was expelled from home and her healed son was taken away, who should she go to if not to his healer? No longer asking for anything, simply listening and heeding the new that was born in her soul - a former maid of honor, and now a poor wanderer, in the new world that was opening up to her, in the world of orphans, and widows, and abandoned women, and beggars - listening Preacher of the Kingdom of God for all the disadvantaged.

If earlier she thought that her husband’s well-being was a sign of God’s favor, now she saw that God in Christ is with the outcast and the unfortunate. Oh joy! She thought that she had lost everything, that God was angry with her, and she would not be in the Kingdom of the Messiah, a divorced, abandoned wife - but Jesus Christ said that God and His Kingdom do not shine in the luxury of palaces and royal palaces.

She found herself in a strange environment, but she was not accepted with gloating - “here, now you too will be in our shoes, former rich woman! You will find out what our poor peasant’s bread is and how we spend the night on the rocks, with a rock for a pillow!” They shared bread with her and said, “Don’t cry and don’t be afraid!”

And then Joanna sold all the few jewels that she was wearing, which she was saving for a rainy day in order to “serve Jesus” - to feed with simple cakes and fish those poor and hungry women who followed Him. She sold and completely mixed up with the crowd of these women - so much so that none of the evangelists, except Luke, who pitied the women for their hard lot and rejoiced that Jesus Christ brought them joy, noticed her. Was it not she - educated and courageous - who exclaimed from the crowd: “Blessed is the womb that bore You! How happy is Your Mother, the Preacher who speaks by the spirit of God!” And she no longer had a family or a son...

The Savior answered her, knowing the depth of her heart and the depth of her sorrows - just as He knew the depth of the heart and sorrow of everyone who came to Him and comes. Happiness has touched you too, and will touch you, daughter of Abraham - for the Son of Mary is coming to the great tribulation of the Cross. And therefore - an unprecedented, different joy, the joy of the future celebration of the Cross with tears in the eyes, the joy of God’s love is coming. God had mercy, took pity, God “does not tolerate seeing a person in pain,” He came to share them, do not grieve, the wife abandoned by everyone.

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:27-28).

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, found for her the warmth of Her maternal heart, as for a daughter in trouble, and cried with her for her abandoned son, and rejoiced that her son was healed, and cried again that she could no longer see John.

So they will soon cry together for the Son of Mary.