St Mary Magdalene Icons

Icons of Saint Mary Magdalene, the first person who met the resurrected Jesus

In Orthodox icons, Saint Mary Magdalene is known in the Bible as Christ's sincere and committed disciple. Mary symbolises steadfast loyalty to Jesus: she stood by Him at the Cross when the other Apostles abandoned Him.

In one of her most famous depictions, she wears a scarlet robe and holds a vase of myrrh. Mary Magdalene travelled to Jesus’ tomb first to anoint His body despite the hazards and difficulties she encountered. The Crucifix, a common martyrdom symbol, represents her willingness to proclaim her faith in spite of adversity and danger. Another icon depicts her holding a crimson egg, alluding to Mary Magdalene’s devoted and passionate teaching of the Christian religion across Rome on a par with the other apostles. She had the opportunity to go to the Roman Emperor Tiberias and to bring him the news about Jesus' rising from the dead. "How could somebody ever come from the dead?" cried the emperor, stunned. "It's as difficult as turning a white egg crimson." The egg in Mary's palm became bright red the minute he pronounced these words. As a result of Mary Magdalene’s preaching, we still celebrate Pascha at church today with the crimson egg as its symbol.

The icon "Touch me not" depicts her first meeting with the resurrected Jesus after His death. According to the Bible, the Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene on Easter morning, but she mistook Him for the gardener. She only knew who He was because He addressed her by name. In some icon versions, St. Mary Magdalene appears without a head covering. That is rare for Orthodox iconography and thought to be influenced by Western art. Christ is shown in His ordinary blue and red clothing or, more frequently, in His beautiful white or golden attire, as He appears in icons after the Resurrection.

A meaningful present

The Icon of St. Mary Magdalene is a thoughtful gift for various reasons. In our prayers, we turn to Saint Mary Magdalene for God's assistance in achieving the gift of love for our neighbours and acquiring His virtues. She is the patron saint of many women called Mary, making the icon a suitable gift for the patron saint's day, baptism, or birthday. Mary Magdalene is a saint of pharmacists and several other service professions, and a friend or colleague will certainly appreciate her icon as a gift.

The image of Saint Mary Magdalene is a heartfelt and spiritual present from the committed iconographers of Saint Elisabeth Convent. They work from the belief that the icon elevates the faithful to the realm of the spirit. They paint to inspire and enlighten, and they live a life of prayer in order to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. "The iconographers painted while they prayed," one well-known icon painter observed.

As a gift of our spirit and prayer, we are pleased to welcome you on your visit to our icon collection. Browse our collection of Saint Mary Magdalene icons off the shelf and to order. Select from a range of sizes and variations, or have a custom-painted icon created. We also invite you to peruse our extensive collection of wedding, family, and religious icons.