In the 19th century Europe “rediscovered” the Holy Land, and colonial powers began extensively building throughout the country for their pilgrims, especially in Jerusalem.
One of Russia’s foremost contributions was the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, commissioned by Czar Alexander III. It was dedicated to Mary Magdalene, the patroness saint of his family – the ill-fated Romanov dynasty.
John’s is the only gospel to name Mary as the woman who anointed Jesus in the house of Simon the Leper (page 115), and whether this was in fact Mary Magdalene or not has been the subject for debate throughout the centuries.
*Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. John 12:3
This page is part of the book The Holy Land of Jesus
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