Editing Mary of Bethany (section)

==Eastern Orthodox tradition==
In Orthodox Church tradition, Mary of Bethany is honored as a separate individual from Mary Magdalene. Though they are not specifically named as such in the gospels, the Orthodox Church counts Mary and Martha among the [[Myrrh-bearers|Myrrh-bearing Women]]. These faithful followers of Jesus stood at [[Golgotha]] during the [[Crucifixion of Jesus]] and later came to his tomb early on the morning following the [[Biblical Sabbath|Sabbath]] with [[myrrh]] (expensive oil), according to the Jewish tradition, to anoint their Lord's body. The Myrrhbearers became the first witnesses to the [[Resurrection of Jesus]], finding the empty tomb and hearing the joyful news from an angel.<ref>[http://womenschoir.com/holymbw.shtml About the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women], Holy Myrrhbearers Women's Choir, Blauvelt, N.Y.</ref>

Orthodox tradition also relates that Mary's brother Lazarus was cast out of Jerusalem in the persecution against the Jerusalem Church following the martyrdom of [[St. Stephen]]. His sisters Mary and Martha fled Judea with him, assisting him in the proclaiming of the Gospel in various lands.<ref>[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=103798 Righteous Mary the sister of Lazarus], Orthodox Church in America.</ref> According to Cyprian tradition, the three later moved to [[Cyprus]], where Lazarus became the first Bishop of Kition (modern [[Larnaca]]).<ref>[http://goarch.org/chapel/saints/556 Mary & Martha, the sisters of Lazarus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026182320/http://goarch.org/chapel/saints/556 |date=2009-10-26 }}, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.</ref>