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Mary Magdalene's life is the foundation upon which grand epics arise: The bringing of the Holy Grail to France; the rule of the legendary Merovingians, who united France, sustained government, literature and art during the Dark Ages; the genesis of the Knights Templar who rivaled the Catholic Church in power; the Courts of Love, under the auspices of great women such as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Escarlmonde of Cabaret, who encouraged troubadours and knights to seek recognition through skill and learning as opposed to force of arms; the courage, defiance, and martyrdom of a young woman, Joan of Arc. Even so, the Magdalene has been marginalized for more than two thousand years by the patriarchal authority which gained prominence with the rise of the Roman Empire and was solidified by the Church of Rome. Yet the Magdalene endures. Her role in events that reshaped the western world are preserved through minimal references in the Christian New Testament, through what are considered her own writings in the Gnostic Gospel of Mary Magdalene, and legends of the Holy Grail. It is Mary Magdalene's relevance to modern times that has lead me to write the story not only of her life, but of her dynasty. The Magdalene is a touchstone for those who look to the past for assurance that honesty and integrity will triumph over tyranny and repression. Her life is more than a story about a woman who followed Jesus, a woman who might, or might not, have been his wife and heir to his ministry. The Magdalene's story is about integrity, determination, independence, and the eternal quest for the Holy Grail—that pure vessel through which balance, harmony and peace may be realized. I invite you to enjoy the history and legends of the Magdalene contained within this site. -- Donna Conrad |
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