About the book: 2007 / The author explores the origins and formation of the cult of Mary Magdalene, considering both medieval sermons and the reaction of those who listened to them from the lips of monks of the mendicant orders . In a broader sense, the book is a study of medieval religious culture, where the example of a famous saint reveals the rich symbolic world of the late Middle Ages. The author tries to explain why during this period Mary Magdalene became - after the Virgin Mary - the most revered saint, and also reveals the whole palette of social meanings of the image of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint Mary Magdalene. Published with the permission of the Synopsis Literary Agency © Veche Publishing House LLC», 2007