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I'm involved in a conversation with a Roman Rite Catholic who insists that no one ever taught or wrote that

* the "sinner" of Luke 7:36-50;
* the sister of Martha and Lazarus, Luke 10:38-42 and John 11; and
* Mary Magdalen.

were distinct persons.

Yet I find several references in Roman Catholic articles to the "Greek Fathers" who held that the three were distinct persons both prior to and following the Easter homily by Pope Gregory in 591 where in the Pope declared that the three women were one and the same.

Can anyone point me to any actual writings by these Greek Fathers (or even just identify one or two) who wrote the opinion that the three persons were distinct and not the same?

Thanks,

Carole

The most ready reference would be the Synaxarion which states:

St. Mary Magdalene was one of the myrrh-bearing women and "equal to the apostles". She was born in the town of Magdala along the shore of Lake Gennesaret and was from the tribe of Issachar. She was tormented by seven evil spirits from which the Lord Jesus freed her and made her whole. She was a faithful follower and servant of the Lord during His earthly life. Mary Magdalene stood beneath the Cross on Golgotha and grieved bitterly and mourned with the All-Holy Birth-giver of God. After the death of the Lord she visited His sepulchre three times. When the Lord resurrected she saw Him on two occasions: once alone and the other time with the other myrrh-bearing women. She traveled to Rome and appeared before Tiberias Caesar and presenting him with a red colored egg, greeted him with the words: "Christ is Risen!" At the same time, she accused Pilate before Caesar for his unjust condemnation of the Lord Jesus. Caesar accepted her accusation and transferred Pilate from Jerusalem to Gaul where, this unjust judge, in disfavor with the emperor, died of a dread disease. After that, Mary Magdalene returned from Rome to Ephesus to St. John the Theologian whom she assisted in the work of preaching the Gospel. With great love toward the resurrected Lord, and with great zeal, she proclaimed the Holy Gospel to the world as a true apostle of Christ. She died peacefully in Ephesus and, according to tradition, was buried in the same cave in which seven youths were miraculously put to sleep for hundreds of years and, after that, were brought to life and then died (August 4). The relics of St. Mary Magdalene were later transferred to Constantinople. There is a Russian Orthodox convent dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene near the Garden of Gethsemane.

Daer Father Deacon,

The above quote is influenced by the later Latin tradition that epicts Pilate dying as a punishment etc.

The earlier, Eastern tradition, especially in the Coptic tradition, shows Pilate indeed being summoned to Rome - but then dying in union with Christ as a Christian - at which sight his wife, St Procla, died of joy. Pilate is a saint in Ethiopia.

Holy Saint Pontius Pilate and Saint Claudia Procla, pray unto God for us!

Alex