Know that you have sinned, and you will expiate your sins.
St. Nilus of Sinai
Elder Zosima brings Holy Communion to St. Mary of Egypt. Sretensky Monastery, side altar of St. May of Egypt. Photo: A. Pospelov/Pravoslavie.ru The Life of St. Mary of Egypt
St. Mary of Egypt was an ascetic of Egypt. Here is how she revealed her life to St. Zosimas, who met her in the desert not long before her death:1
“At age twelve I left my parents’ house in Alexandria, where I began to live a sinful life. One day I left with a crowd headed to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. During the sea passing I seduced many of the travellers. Having arrived in Jerusalem, I wanted to go with the crowd to the church, but some invisible force prevented me. I began to think about why I couldn’t enter the church while others passed through freely. Then the light of God illumined my heart, and I understood that my sins would not allow me into the church of God. I wept for a long time and suddenly, lifting my gaze upward, I saw on the wall an icon of the Most Holy Mother of God. I began to beg the Most Holy Theotokos to forgive me and allow me into the church, so that I could venerate the Holy Cross. And what happened? After praying I freely entered the church, bowed down before the Holy Cross, and then returning to the icon I begged the Theotokos to set me upon the path of salvation. Then I heard a voice saying, “Cross the Jordan, and there you will find peace for you soul!” I obeyed this voice, and after three days I arrived at the monastery of St. John the Baptist, by the River Jordan. After bathing in the holy river I entered the church and received the Holy Mysteries; and after crossing the river I began living in this desert. I have lived here for forty years, eating desert plants, and have endured terrible hunger. At times I suffered when recalling the tasty foods that I had in Egypt. At times there was not even any water, but I wanted those costly wines that I had formerly drunk without measure. Against my own will my tongue would ready itself to sing those mad songs that used to give me pleasure. I fought fiercely with my own evil habits. At times I would fall down to the earth with exhaustion. My dress rotted away with time, and my body suffered from cold, or burn from the heat. But after seventeen years came peace.”
Having told the story of her life, St. Mary asked Zosimas to next year on Great Thursday bring the Holy Gifts from the monastery and commune her on the same day that the Lord communed His disciples. After coming to the desert as instructed on that day, St. Zosimas prayed for a long time and waited for the holy ascetic. Finally he saw her approaching the river, and after making the sign of the cross over it, walking on the water. The elder was amazed and wanted to bow to Mary’s feet, but she said, “What are you doing? You are a priest, and have the Holy Gifts in your hands!”
After receiving Communion, the holy ascetic once more asked Zosimas to come again to her in the desert. Zosimas did so, and found her dead. Next to her in the sand were the words, “Fr. Zosimas! Bury her the body of humble Mary, who died on April 1.” This was April 1, 524, the very day she had received Holy Communion. Besides April 1/14, the memory of St. Mary is celebrated on the Sunday of the Fifth Week of Great Lent. It is honored during this time in order to show repenting sinners in her a very lofty example of repentance. Particles of the relics of St. Mary are preserved in various cities of Europe.
Troparia to St. Mary of Egypt from the Great Canon
I am held fast, O Mother, by the tempest and billows of sin: but do thou keep me safe and lead me to the haven of divine repentance.
Bowing before the divine laws of Christ, thou hast drawn near to Him, forsaking the unbridled longings of sensual pleasure; and in the fear of God thou hast gained all the virtues as if they were one.
Sunk in the abyss of wickedness, O Mary, thou hast lifted up thine hands to the merciful God. And, as to Peter, in His loving-kindness He stretched out His hand to thee in help, seeking in every way thy conversion.
With all eagerness and love hast thou run to Christ, turning from thy former path of sin, finding thy food in the trackless wilderness, and fulfilling in purity the commandments of God.
I am held fast, O Mother, by the tempest and billows of sin: but do thou keep me safe and lead me to the haven of divine repentance.
O holy Mary, offer thy prayer of supplication to the compassionate Theotokos, and through thine intercessions open unto me the door that leads to God.
Thou hast lived a bodiless life in the body, O holy Mary, and thou hast received great grace from God. Protect us who honor thee with faith and, we entreat thee, deliver us by thy prayers from every trial.
Thou wast brought down into an abyss of great iniquity, yet not held fast within it: but with better intent thou hast mounted through action to the height of virtue, past all expectation: and the angels, O Mary, were amazed at thee.
O blessed saint, with a love beyond compare thou hast longed to venerate the wood of the Cross, and thy desire was granted. Make me also worthy to attain the glory on high.
Crossing the stream of the Jordan, thou hast found peace, escaping from the deadening pleasures of the flesh. Deliver us also from them, holy Mary, by thine intercessions.
Thy soul on fire, O Mary, thou hast ever shed streams of tears, to quench the burning of the passions. Grant the grace of these thy tears to me also, thy servant.
Through the perfection of thine earthly life, O Mother, thou hast gained a heavenly freedom from the sinfulness of passion. In thine intercessions pray that this same freedom may be given to those who sing thy praises.
Raising thy cry to the pure Mother of God, thou hast driven back the fury of the passions that violently assailed thee, and put to shame the enemy who sought to make thee stumble. But give thy help in trouble now to me also, thy servant.
He Whom thou hast loved, O mother, whom thou hast desired, in Whose footsteps thou hast followed; He it was Who found thee and gave thee repentance, for He is God compassionate. Pray, O Mary, to Him without ceasing, that we may be delivered from passions and distress.
The Mother of the Light that never sets illumined thee and freed thee from the darkness of the passions. O Mary, who hast received the grace of the Spirit, give light to those who praise thee with faith.
The holy Zosimas was struck with amazement, O Mother, beholding in thee a wonder truly strange and new. For he saw an angel in the body and was filled with astonishment, praising Christ unto all ages.
By thy strange way of life thou hast struck all with wonder, both the hosts of angels and the gatherings of mortal men; for thou hast surpassed nature and lived as though no longer in the body. Like a bodiless angel thou hast walked upon the Jordan with thy feet, O Mary, and crossed over it.
O holy Mother, call down the gracious mercy of the Creator upon us who sing thy praises, that we may be set free from the sufferings and afflictions that assail us; so without ceasing, delivered from temptations, we shall magnify the Lord who has glorified thee.
Grant me the light of grace, from God’s providence on high, so that I may flee from the darkness of the passions and sing fervently the joyful tale of thy life, O Mary.
