Mary Magdalene ⓘ was a follower of Jesus active in Galilee and one of the most prominent women in the Gospel narratives. She is described as having been healed by Jesus of “seven demons” and appears repeatedly at decisive moments of the Passion and Resurrection.

In the Canonical Gospels

Mary Magdalene is named among the women who accompanied Jesus and supported his ministry. All four canonical Gospels place her at the Crucifixion, and she is listed among the women who went to Jesus’ tomb after his burial.

She is the first to discover that the tomb was empty and, according to the Gospel of John, the first person to whom the risen Christ appeared. She is then entrusted with announcing the Resurrection to the disciples, giving her a unique role as the primary witness of Easter.

Identity and Later Interpretation

The New Testament does not identify Mary Magdalene as a sinner, nor does it equate her with other women named Mary. However, in a sermon preached in 591, Pope Gregory I ⓘ conflated:

• Mary Magdalene

• the unnamed “sinful woman” of Luke 7

• Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus

This interpretation became dominant in the medieval Western Church and shaped art, preaching, and devotion for centuries. Modern biblical scholarship generally rejects this identification, treating these figures as distinct individuals.

The Gospel of Mary

Mary Magdalene is also associated with a non-canonical early Christian text known as the Gospel of Mary. Surviving only in fragmentary form in Coptic and Greek manuscripts, the text is usually dated to the 2nd century.

The Gospel of Mary presents Mary as a recipient of post-Resurrection teaching and depicts tensions among the disciples concerning her authority and insight. While not part of the biblical canon, the text provides important evidence for the diversity of early Christian belief and the prominent role attributed to Mary Magdalene in some early traditions.

Her prominence as a witness and teacher has made her central to modern discussions of female authority in the early Church.

Historical Significance

Across both canonical and non-canonical sources, Mary Magdalene emerges as a central witness to the Resurrection and a figure of enduring theological and cultural importance. Her portrayal has shifted markedly over time, from apostolic witness in the early Church to penitent sinner in medieval Western tradition, and back toward her original Gospel role in modern historical interpretation.