Saint Joanna
Learning more about the Saints: Saint Joanna Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers, 3rd Sunday of PaschaKontakion (Tone 4)When thou didst speak to the myrrh-bearing women with joy, thou didst end the wailing of Eve the first mother, by thy Resurrection, commanding thy Disciples to proclaim that the Savior is risen from the tomb. St. Joanna is listed in Luke 8:3 as one of the women who followed Christ from Galilee and supported the Disciples, along with Susanna , Mary Magdalene and others . In Luke 23:55 - 24:11, we have the story of how these same women went to the tomb to finish the job of embalming Jesus' body, which was hastily begun by Joseph and Nicodemus. They were perplexed when they found the tomb empty except for the grave clothes. The angel appeared unto them and proclaimed the Resurrection. They believed and became the first evangelists of the Risen Christ! This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas . This icon is at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Oakland, PA.