Martha of Bethany | Disciple of Jesus

● Orthodox Remembrance Day: April 12, third Sunday of Easter, June 4
● Name means: the mistress or: the bitter (Hebrew)
● Disciple of Jesus
● Patroness: domestic; housewives, domestic servants, maids, cooks, laundresses and
workers, innkeepers, hoteliers and hotel employees, sculptors and painters; the dying
● Attributes: simple dress, wooden spoon, holy frond or holy water kettle, dragon on a
rope
● Born around 1 in Bethany, today al-Eizariya, Palestine
● Died 84 near Marseille or in Tarascon, France
Martha was the elder sister of Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38) and Lazarus (Gospel of John 11:20)
2. She belonged to the closer circle of friends of Jesus; only these three, apart from John, are
reported to have loved them (Gospel of John 11:5). Martha entertained Jesus (Gospel of Luke
10:38-42) when he was a guest of her and her sister; In doing so, Jesus rejects her rebuke for
her sister and emphasizes the importance of listening to His Word. According to the Gospel of
John (12:1-3), she also entertained Jesus when he was anointed by the unknown woman.
Martha then took the initiative to ask Jesus for help after the death of her brother (Gospel of
John 11:20) and thus has the more significant role here compared to the Luke narrative; She
made the confession: Yes, Lord, I have gained the faith that you are the Christ, the Son of God
(Gospel of John 11:27).