Righteous Martha was the sister of Saints Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem.
This family was greatly loved by Jesus Christ. Holy Scripture recounts (Luke 10:38–42) how the Savior once came to their home. Evidently, Martha was the elder sister, and she busied herself with the duties of hospitality and preparing a meal. Meanwhile, her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His word. When Martha asked her sister to help with the household tasks, the Lord replied that Mary had chosen the “good portion” by listening to the word of God. Based on this Gospel passage, a certain contrast is often drawn between Martha and Mary. However, it is incorrect to think that забота о household duties makes a person less faithful. Later, the Gospel tells us (John 11:1–46) that Martha believed in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, and it was on the basis of this faith that the Savior raised her brother Lazarus, His friend.
In Orthodox tradition, Martha and Mary are numbered among the Myrrh-bearing Women. These faithful followers of Christ stood at Golgotha during His crucifixion and later came to His tomb early in the morning, becoming the first witnesses of the Resurrection, finding the empty tomb and hearing the joyful news from the angel.
After the Ascension of the Lord and Pentecost, Lazarus was expelled from Jerusalem and went on to preach the Gospel in various lands. Martha and Mary assisted their brother in his labors. Eventually, they came to Cyprus, where Lazarus became the first bishop of Kition (modern Larnaca).
According to Eastern tradition, Saints Lazarus, Martha, and Mary ended their lives in Cyprus, suffering a martyr’s death, although the exact time and place are unknown. The veneration of Righteous Martha began in the 5th century.
Western tradition says that Lazarus and his sisters arrived in the south of present-day France, where he became bishop of Marseille. After her death, Martha was buried in the city of Tarascon, where her relics remain to this day.
A small portion of the saint’s relics is kept in the Monastery of Saint Nicholas in Fort Myers, Florida.
