The Penitents of Mary Magdalene The association of penitent women founded in the early 14th century in the vicinity of the St. Bridget’s Church, near the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. This particular location was chosen because of the presence of a nearby spring known as the Well of the Virgin Mary, believed to have miraculous properties and associated with the cult of the Virgin Mary. The penitents were poor and often sick women of low social status. They were mistakenly called ‘Magdalenki’, like members of the Order of St Mary Magdalene, which they were definitely not.