Is This the Face of Mary Magdalene?

As most of you living in and around Aix will know, the region has long been associated with Mary Magdalene, the companion of Jesus who, according to legend, was driven out of Palestine during early Christian persecutions. She was expelled together with other saints in a boat without sails, which pitched up at Stes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue.

Learn about how French scientists have used technology and over 500 photographs to create an image of Mary Magdalene.

More on Mary Magdalene in Provence

Sainte Baume Grotto and Mary Magdalene in Provence – Nutmeg got a little lost on her way to this hike. Given the religious significance of the location, maybe she was not the first lost soul during the long history of the Sainte Baume grotto. The grotto is inside a natural cave high on the sheer cliff face of the Massif de la Ste-Baume. The word baoumo is Provençal for grotto. Stories from Christian religious history and associated legends of Mary Magdalene support the theory of her living a hermetic existence in this cave for over 30 years.

Sacred site of Sainte-Baume – Between the busy urban centres of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, at the heart of the Parc naturel régional de la Sainte-Baume, is a mountain that stretches 12km and a famous religious site. The Sainte Baume Grotto is a prominent destination for Christian pilgrimages and anyone interested in discovering the place where (it is believed) Mary Magdalene spent years in isolation.

Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer Who Knew? – Who knew, for example, that Lazarus and Mary Magdalene ended up in France? According to Provencal tales, I learned upon my recent trip to Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer, Lazarus; his sister, Martha; Mary Magdalene; and Mary James, sister of the Virgin.

Did Mary Magdalene Live in Provence? – A crippled ship bobs helplessly on a storm-tossed sea, and those on board face certain death…but then a miracle occurs. Guided by the hand of God, the ship arrives safely on the shores of Provence, out steps Mary Magdalene, ready to spread The Word throughout France.

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