Why is Mary of Magdala not counted among the apostles in the traditional, mainstream Christian sects?
It is not the Christian “sects” that chose the apostles, but Jesus himself. The twelve that were chosen as the inner sanctum corresponded with the twelve sons of Jacob, the ancestors of the tribes of Israel, because Jesus was symbolically creating a new Israel from all the people of the earth. Outside the twelve, there were the seventy, who were also important theologically as they corresponded with the seventy elders who served with Moses. Mary could have been in this group, which went out healing and preaching, but it is not known for sure, because they are not named. However, since she is often named, it is possible, although, as a woman of the first century it was not as easy to wander round the country (not impossible but less common, unless you had a husband or brother with you). But she was not an apostle, never claimed to be, never played a named part in the gospels AFTER the resurrection. That doesn’t mean she did nothing. She must have, but it is not recorded. However, even m
