PHOTOGRAPHIC SERIES
Photographs of Eastern Orthodox Christian women holding the icons of their patron saints.

Susan Shermock (St. Susanna the Holy Myrhh-bearer)
"Little is known about St. Susanna the Holy Myrrhbearer. Susanna, Mary Magdalene and others (Luke 8:3) are described as providing for Jesus out of their possessions (that is, acting as deaconesses). These same women had faithfully followed Him from Galilee and had come up with Him to Jerusalem (Matthew 27:55, Mark 15:40-41, and Luke 23:55). Most importantly, she was one of the women who first witnessed our Lord's resurrection.

At the time I converted to Orthodox Christianity, my father confessor recommended that I select a saint that shared my name. Additionally, my sister-in-law converted to Orthodox Christianity earlier that year and selected Mary Magdalene as her patron saint. As a pharmacist, it appeals to me that Susanna helped care for Mary Magdalene when she was ill. Lastly, I see my patron Saint as a person who had strong and lasting friendships and liked to volunteer her resources to help others, inspiring me to do both in my own life."
--Susan, pharmacist, wife and mother of two