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is a saint of the Christian religion. She happens to be patroness of penitent girls. The first history of the life of Mary was published by Sophronius of Jerusalem, and most of the information from the life of Mary of Egypt was transferred to medieval times. Legends of Mary Magdalene.
In the article you will see the icons of Mary of Egypt, as well as Mary of Egypt photo, you will find out on what day the memory of the saint is honored.
righteous life
Maria fulfilled her vows and began a completely different life. From Jerusalem, she went to the deserted and gloomy desert of Jordan, and there she spent about 50 years in complete solitude, in and in strong prayer.
Thus, by careful and regular deeds, Mary of Egypt was able to remove sins and transgressions and made her heart and soul a real holy temple for the Holy Spirit.
Elder Zosima, who was on the territory of the Jordanian desert at the monastery of St. John the Baptist, doubled his faith in the Lord when he met Saint Mary in the desert. At this time, Mary of Egypt was already at an advanced age. He marveled at her unusual holiness and foresight.
Once he saw her in the process of prayer, as if rising above the surface of the earth, and the next time, when she was heading across the Jordan River, at that time she was walking as if on land.
At the moment of parting with Zosima, St. Mary asked him to come here again in one year to perform before her. The elder complied with the request and exactly after the specified time returned and took communion with St. Mary. Then, returning to the desert one more year later, hoping to meet the saint again, he no longer found her alive. The elder buried the remains of St. Mary of Egypt in the desert. In this he was helped by the lion himself, who with his strong claws dug a hole for the burial of the body of the holy seer. This happened around 521.
So from a girl shrouded in sins, with the help of the Lord, Mary turned into a great saint and left behind a very useful example for repentance to the Lord.
Fulfilled my prayer and right amount bowing to the ground, the elders, having asked for forgiveness from each other, began to ask for blessings from the abbot and, to the general singing of a psalm, opened the gates of the monastery, so that they could then go into the desert.
At the same time, everyone took with them the right amount of food, whoever wanted what. Some did not take anything with them at all and ate only the roots. The monks set off from the Jordan and settled as far as possible from it, so as not to watch someone fast and labor.
During the time when great post was coming to an end, the monks went back to the Jordanian monastery on Palm Sunday, together with the fruit of their work, having tested their souls. With all this, no one asked others how they prayed and did good deeds.
At this time and Abba Zosima according to monastic traditions, he crossed the Jordan. He longed to go as far as possible in the desert in order to find one of the great saints or elders who were being saved there and praying for the unity of soul and body.
He walked in the wilderness for 20 days and one day, when he continued to sing psalms for about six hours and did simple prayers, suddenly to his right he noticed a real shadow of a person. He became frightened, because he decided that he saw a tribe of demons in front of him, but, having crossed himself several times, he put aside all his fears and, having finished one of the prayers to the Lord, turned towards the shadow and saw a naked man walking through the desert. The body was completely black from the heat of the sun, and the burnt short hair became white as a lamb's fleece. Abba Zosima became happy, because during this time he did not meet a single living person or even an animal on his way, and at the same time he went towards the creature.
But the moment the naked man saw Zosima approaching him, he began to run away. Abba Zosima forgot both his old age and complete fatigue, and began to move faster and faster. But soon, completely exhausted, Zosima stopped by a dry stream and began to ask the departing person in tears: “Why are you running away from me, a sinful old man, fleeing in this sultry desert? Wait, wait for me, an unworthy and weak old man, and give me your prayer and blessing, for the sake of Christ, who never shunned anyone.
The unknown person did not even turn around, but shouted back: “Forgive me, Abba Zosima, turning to come to your face: I am a woman, and, as you can see, I don’t have any clothes to cover my nakedness. But if you want to pray to me, the great sinner, then throw your cloak to me for shelter, so that I can come to you for your blessing.
“She would not know my name if holiness and great deeds were not hidden in her, which were given to her from Christ himself,” Zosima decided and hastened to fulfill the demand given to him.
Covering herself under a cloak, the saint turned to Zosima: “What did you decide, Zosima, to talk to me, a woman full of sins and unwise in my word? What do you want to learn from me and, not sparing your efforts and efforts, spend so much of your time on me? He at this time, on his knees, began to forgive her blessings. At the same moment, the saint bowed before him, and for a long time they asked each other: “Bless.” In the end, the saint said: “Abba Zosima, blessing and prayer befits you, since you are honored by the very dignity of the presbyter and for a long time, standing before the altar of Christ, you bring great gifts to the Almighty.”
These words became even more terrible for Zosima. Afterwards, the nun said: “Blessed is God, who wants salvation for all people on earth.” Abba replied to this: . And they simultaneously rose from the surface of the earth. The ascetic again asked Zosima: “Why did you come here, to me, a sinner, in whom there is no virtuous power? Although, apparently, the grace of the Holy Spirit instructed you to perform one church service, which is necessary for my soul. Tell me first, Abba, how do Christians live, how do they grow and achieve prosperity as saints who are in God's Church?
Abba Zosima said to her: “Your strong prayers God gave the Church and all of us a real and righteous world. But listen to the unworthy old man, my mother, pray for the sake of Christ for all nations and for me, a sinner, for only then will this walking bring real fruit.
The saint answered: “You rather need, Abba Zosima, having the rank of a sacred character, to pray to the Lord for me and those around me. That's why you've been given a dignity. Although, everything commanded by you will be willingly done for the sake of obedience to the truth and from my purest heart.
Having said these words, the saint turned towards the east and, raising her hands up, began to pray quietly. The elder noticed how the saint rose into the air for a whole cubit from the surface of the earth. From this strange and unusual event, Zosima fell to his knees, began to pray fervently and did not dare to say anything except, Lord, have mercy!
A doubt came into his soul - is it not a ghost that introduces him into some kind of temptation and instructs him to sin? The holy ascetic, turning around, lifted him from the ground and answered: “Why are you so embarrassed by good intentions, Zosima? I'm not a ghost at all. I am just a woman, unworthy and full of sins, although I have found the holy
This saint is considered the patroness of penitent women. If we talk about what Mary of Egypt helps with, then it is believed that she contributes to obtaining true forgiveness. But, in order for the request to be truly fulfilled, certain rules must be observed.
How does Saint Mary of Egypt help?
As mentioned above, this saint should be asked for true forgiveness for his misdeeds. In order to truly receive forgiveness for your act, you must perform certain actions. Peace of mind, peace, as well as getting rid of guilt for what you have done will not come by themselves. You will have to really work hard, and this saint will give strength to this, this is where the icon of Mary of Egypt helps.
It is believed that if you really want to make amends, you should find this saint and read a special prayer in front of her, of course, after placing a candle. Asking her is worth the effort to do everything possible to reduce the consequences of your act. But that's not all. People believe that only by starting to really do something for the people you offended, you can get the assistance of this saint in obtaining forgiveness. Well, there will be strength for this thanks to miraculous power this saint. This is what really helps the icon of Mary of Egypt.
Only after sincere repentance and actions to minimize the consequences of one's misconduct or thoughtless words, one can expect that a person will receive true forgiveness, that is, God's. Otherwise, nothing will work.
Is this really so, everyone must decide for himself. But in any case, both religion and they say that you can get rid of guilt only by sincerely repenting and trying to do everything to reduce the harmful consequences.
In a Palestinian monastery in the vicinity of Caesarea lived the monk Zosima. Sent to a monastery from childhood, he labored in it until the age of 53, when he was embarrassed by the thought: “Will there be a holy man in the farthest wilderness who surpassed me in sobriety and deeds?”
As soon as he thought this way, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “You, Zosima, have labored well in human terms, but there is not a single righteous person among people (Rom. 3, 10). So that you understand how many other and higher images there are salvation, come out of this monastery, as Abraham from his father's house (Gen. 12, 1), and go to the monastery located near the Jordan.
Abba Zosima immediately left the monastery and, following the Angel, came to the Jordan Monastery and settled there.
Here he saw the elders, truly shining in exploits. Abba Zosima began to imitate the holy monks in spiritual work.
So a lot of time passed, and the Holy Forty Day approached. There was a custom in the monastery, for the sake of which God brought St. Zosima here. On the first Sunday of Great Lent, hegumen served Divine Liturgy, everyone took communion of the Most Pure Body and Blood of Christ, then ate a small meal and again gathered in church.
Having made a prayer and the prescribed number of prostrations, the elders, asking each other for forgiveness, took a blessing from the abbot and under the general singing of the psalm "The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior: whom shall I fear? The Lord Protector of my life: from whom shall I fear?" (Ps. 26:1) they opened the monastery gates and went into the wilderness.
Each of them took with him a moderate amount of food, who needed what, while some took nothing at all into the desert and ate roots. The monks crossed the Jordan and dispersed as far as possible so as not to see how someone was fasting and ascetic.
When Great Lent ended, the monks returned to the monastery on Palm Sunday with the fruit of their work (Rom. 6:21-22), having tested their conscience (1 Pet. 3:16). At the same time, no one asked anyone how he worked and accomplished his feat.
In that year, Abba Zosima, according to monastic custom, crossed the Jordan. He wanted to go deeper into the desert to meet one of the saints and great elders who are being saved there and praying for peace.
He walked in the desert for 20 days, and one day, when he was singing the psalms of the 6th hour and doing the usual prayers, suddenly a shadow of a human body appeared to his right. He was horrified, thinking that he was seeing a demonic ghost, but, having crossed himself, put aside his fear and, having finished the prayer, turned towards the shadow and saw a naked man walking through the desert, whose body was black from the heat of the sun, and his burnt short hair turned white, like a lamb's fleece. . Abba Zosima was overjoyed, because he had not seen a single living creature during those days, and immediately headed towards him.
But as soon as the naked hermit saw Zosima coming towards him, he immediately started to run away from him. Abba Zosima, forgetting his senility and fatigue, quickened his pace. But soon, exhausted, he stopped by a dried-up stream and began to tearfully beg the retreating ascetic: “Why are you running from me, a sinful old man, fleeing in this desert? Wait for me, weak and unworthy, and give me your holy prayer and blessing, for the sake of the Lord, who never disdained anyone."
The stranger, without turning around, shouted to him: “Forgive me, Abba Zosima, I can’t, having turned, appear to your face: I’m a woman, and, as you see, I don’t have any clothes to cover my bodily nakedness. But if you want to pray for me, the great and cursed sinner, throw me your cloak to cover yourself, then I can come to you for blessing.
“She would not have known me by name if she had not acquired the gift of clairvoyance from the Lord through holiness and unknown deeds,” thought Abba Zosima and hastened to fulfill what was said to him.
Covering herself with a cloak, the ascetic turned to Zosima: “What did you think, Abba Zosima, to talk to me, a sinful and unwise woman? What do you want to learn from me and, sparing no effort, spent so much labor?” He knelt down and asked for her blessing. In the same way, she bowed before him, and for a long time both asked one another: "Bless." Finally the ascetic said: "Abba Zosima, it is fitting for you to bless and make a prayer, since you have been honored with the dignity of a presbyter and for many years, standing before Christ's altar, you bring the Holy Gifts to the Lord."
These words frightened St. Zosima even more. With a deep sigh, he answered her: “O spiritual mother! It is clear that of the two of us you have come closer to God and died to the world. You recognized me by name and called me a presbyter, never having seen me before. Your measure is due to bless me. For the Lord's sake."
Finally yielding to Zosima's stubbornness, the nun said: "Blessed be God, who desires the salvation of all men." Abba Zosima answered "Amen", and they got up from the ground. The ascetic again said to the elder: “Why did you come, Father, to me, a sinner, devoid of all virtue? However, it is clear that the grace of the Holy Spirit has instructed you to perform one service that my soul needs. Tell me first, abba, how Christians live today, how do the saints of God's Church grow and prosper?"
Abba Zosima answered her: “Through your holy prayers, God granted the Church and us all a perfect world. But heed the prayer of an unworthy old man, my mother, pray, for God’s sake, for the whole world and for me, a sinner, that this deserted place will not be fruitless for me. walking".
The holy ascetic said: “It is more fitting for you, Abba Zosima, having a sacred rank, to pray for me and for everyone. That’s why you have been given the rank.
Having said this, the saint turned to the east and, raising her eyes and raising her hands to heaven, began to pray in a whisper. The elder saw her rise in the air to a cubit from the ground. From this wonderful vision, Zosima fell on his face, fervently praying and not daring to utter anything but "Lord, have mercy!"
A thought came into his soul - is it not a ghost that introduces him into temptation? The venerable ascetic, turning around, lifted him from the ground and said: “Why are you so confused by thoughts, Abba Zosima? I am not a ghost. I am a sinful and unworthy woman, although I am protected by holy Baptism.”
Having said this, she made the sign of the cross over herself. Seeing and hearing this, the elder fell with tears at the feet of the ascetic: “I beseech you by Christ, our God, do not hide your ascetic life from me, but tell it all in order to make clear to all the greatness of God. For I believe in the Lord my God, in Him and you live because I was sent into this wilderness for this, so that God would make all your fasting deeds manifest to the world.
And the holy ascetic said: “I am embarrassed, father, to tell you about my shameless deeds. For then you will have to flee from me, closing your eyes and ears, as one flees from a poisonous snake. my sins, but you, I conjure you, do not stop praying for me, a sinner, that I may gain boldness on the Day of Judgment.
I was born in Egypt, and while my parents were still alive, at the age of twelve, I left them and went to Alexandria. There I lost my chastity and indulged in unrestrained and insatiable fornication. For more than seventeen years, I indulged in sin without restraint and did everything free of charge. I did not take money not because I was rich. I lived in poverty and made money with yarn. I thought that the whole meaning of life is to satisfy carnal lust.
Leading such a life, I once saw a multitude of people from Libya and Egypt going to the sea to sail to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. I also wanted to sail with them. But not for the sake of Jerusalem and not for the sake of the holiday, but - forgive me, father - so that there would be more with whom to indulge in debauchery. So I got on the ship.
Now, Father, believe me, I myself am surprised how the sea endured my debauchery and fornication, how the earth did not open its mouth and bring me alive to hell, which deceived and destroyed so many souls ... But, apparently, God desired my repentance, not even though the death of the sinner, and longsufferingly waiting for conversion.
So I arrived in Jerusalem and all the days before the holiday, as on the ship, I was engaged in bad deeds.
When the holy feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Lord arrived, I still walked, catching the souls of the young in sin. Seeing that everyone went to the church very early, where the Life-Giving Tree was located, I went along with everyone and entered the church vestibule. When the hour of the Holy Exaltation came, I wanted to enter the church with all the people. With great difficulty, making my way to the door, I, accursed, tried to squeeze in. But as soon as I stepped on the threshold, a certain power of God stopped me, preventing me from entering, and threw me far from the doors, while all the people were walking freely. I thought that, perhaps, due to female weakness, I could not squeeze through the crowd, and again I tried to push the people aside with my elbows and make my way to the door. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get in. As soon as my foot touched the church threshold, I stopped. The church accepted everyone, did not forbid anyone to enter, but they did not let me, the accursed one. This happened three or four times. My strength is gone. I moved away and stood in the corner of the church porch.
Then I felt that it was my sins that forbade me to see the Life-Giving Tree, the grace of the Lord touched my heart, I sobbed and began to beat my chest in repentance. Lifting sighs to the Lord from the depths of my heart, I saw an icon in front of me Holy Mother of God and turned to her with a prayer: “O Virgin, Lady, who gave birth to the flesh of God - the Word! I know that I am not worthy to look at Your icon. that for this God became a man in order to call sinners to repentance. Help me, Most Pure One, let me be allowed to enter the church. Do not forbid me to see the Tree on which the Lord was crucified in the flesh, shedding His innocent Blood for me, a sinner for my deliverance from sin. Command, Mistress, that the doors of the holy worship of the Cross be opened to me. Be a valiant Guarantor to me for the One who was born of You. I promise You from now on I will no longer defile myself with any fleshly filth, but as soon as I see the Tree of the Cross Your Son, I will renounce the world and immediately go to where You, as a Guarantor, guide me.
And when I prayed like that, I suddenly felt that my prayer had been heard. In tenderness of faith, hoping for the Merciful Mother of God, I again joined those entering the temple, and no one pushed me back and did not forbid me to enter. I walked in fear and trembling until I reached the door and was able to see the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.
Thus I came to know the mysteries of God and that God is ready to receive those who repent. I fell to the ground, prayed, kissed the shrines and left the temple, hastening to appear again before my Guarantor, where I had given a promise. Kneeling before the icon, I prayed before it:
"O our Benevolent Lady, the Theotokos! You did not disdain my unworthy prayer. Glory to God, who accepts the repentance of sinners by You. The time has come for me to fulfill the promise in which You were the Guarantor. Now, Lady, guide me on the path of repentance."
And now, before I had finished my prayer, I heard a voice, as if speaking from afar: "If you cross the Jordan, you will find blissful peace."
I immediately believed that this voice was for my sake, and, crying, exclaimed to the Mother of God: “Lady Lady, do not leave me, a sinner, but help me,” and immediately left the church porch and went away. One person gave me three copper coins. With them I bought myself three loaves and learned from the seller the way to the Jordan.
At sunset, I reached the church of St. John the Baptist near the Jordan. Having bowed first of all in the church, I immediately went down to the Jordan and washed his face and hands with holy water. Then I took communion in the church of St. John the Baptist of the Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ, ate half of one of my loaves, washed it down with holy Jordanian water, and slept that night on the ground near the church. The next morning, having found a small boat not far away, I crossed the river in it to the other side and again fervently prayed to my Instructor to guide me as She herself pleased. Immediately after that, I came to this desert."
Abba Zosima asked the monk: "How many years, my mother, have passed since you settled in this desert?" - "I think," she answered, "47 years have passed since I left the Holy City."
Abba Zosima again asked: "What do you have or what do you find for your food here, my mother?" And she answered: “I had two and a half loaves with me when I crossed the Jordan, they slowly withered and turned to stone, and, eating little by little, for many years I ate from them.”
Abba Zosima asked again: “Have you really been without illness for so many years? And did you not accept any temptations from sudden applications and temptations?” - "Believe me, Abba Zosima," answered the venerable one, "I spent 17 years in this desert, fighting my thoughts as if with fierce beasts... in Egypt. I also wanted wine, because I drank a lot of it when I was in the world. Here, having often no simple water and food, I suffered fiercely from thirst and hunger. I also suffered more severe disasters: I was seized by the desire of fornicators songs, they seemed to be heard to me, confusing my heart and hearing. Weeping and beating my chest, I then recalled the vows that I had made, going into the desert, before the icon of the Holy Mother of God, my Guarantor, and wept, praying to drive away the thoughts that tormented my soul. the measure of prayer and weeping, repentance was made, I saw the Light shining to me from everywhere, and then instead of a storm, great silence surrounded me.
Forgive thoughts, Abba, how do I confess to you? A passionate fire flared up inside my heart and scorched me all over, arousing lust. At the appearance of accursed thoughts, I fell to the ground and seemed to see that the Most Holy Guarantor Herself was standing before me and was judging me, who had violated this promise. So I did not get up, lying prostrate day and night on the ground, until repentance was performed again and I was surrounded by the same blessed Light, driving away evil embarrassments and thoughts.
So I lived in this desert for the first seventeen years. Darkness after darkness, misfortune after misfortune befell me, a sinner. But from that time until now, the Mother of God, my Helper, guides me in everything.
Abba Zosima again asked: "Didn't you really need food or clothing here?"
She answered: “My bread ran out, as I said, in these seventeen years. After that, I began to eat roots and what I could find in the wilderness. I then had to endure and live in misery a lot, both from the heat, when the heat burned me, and from the winter, when I was shaking from the cold. But from that time to this day, the power of God unknownly and in many ways kept my sinful soul and humble body, I was nourished and covered by the word of God, which contains everything (Deut. 8:3), for man shall not live on bread alone, but on the word of God (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4), and those who are not covered with stone will be clothed (Job. 24:8), if they put off their sinful garments (Col. 3:9). The Lord delivered me from sins, in that I found inexhaustible food.
When Abba Zosima heard that from Holy Scripture the holy ascetic speaks from memory - from the books of Moses and Job and from the psalms of David, - then he asked the reverend: "Where, my mother, did you learn psalms and other Books?"
She smiled after listening to this question, and answered this way: “Believe me, man of God, I have not seen a single person but you since I crossed the Jordan. (Col. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21; 1 Thess. 2:13). but with what I began, I end with this: I conjure you with the incarnation of God the Word - pray, holy abba, for me, a great sinner.
And I also conjure you by the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ - everything that you heard from me, do not tell a single one until God takes me from the earth. And do what I am about to tell you. Next year, in Great Lent, do not go beyond the Jordan, as your monastic custom commands."
Again Abba Zosima was surprised that their monastic rank was also known to the holy ascetic, although he did not say a single word about it before her.
"Stay, abba," continued the reverend, "in the monastery. However, even if you want to leave the monastery, you won't be able to... And when Holy Great Thursday of the Last Supper of the Lord comes, put the Life-giving Body and Blood of Christ, God, into the holy vessel ours, and bring it to me. Wait for me on the other side of the Jordan, at the edge of the wilderness, so that when I come, I may partake of the Holy Mysteries. And to Abba John, hegumen of your monastery, say this: Take care of yourself and your flock (Acts 20, 23; 1 Timothy 4:16. However, I don't want you to tell him this now, but when the Lord directs."
Having said this and having once again asked for prayers, the nun turned and went into the depths of the desert.
For the whole year, Elder Zosima remained in silence, not daring to reveal to anyone what the Lord had revealed to him, and diligently prayed that the Lord would vouchsafe him to see the holy ascetic again.
When the first week of the holy Great Lent came again, the Monk Zosima, due to illness, had to remain in the monastery. Then he remembered the prophetic words of the saint that he would not be able to leave the monastery. After a few days, the Monk Zosima was healed of his illness, but nevertheless remained until Holy Week in the monastery.
The day of the Last Supper is approaching. Then Abba Zosima fulfilled what he had been ordered to do - late in the evening he left the monastery to the Jordan and sat down on the bank in anticipation. The saint hesitated, and Abba Zosima prayed to God that He would not deprive him of a meeting with the ascetic.
Finally, the nun came and stood on the other side of the river. Rejoicing, the Monk Zosima rose and praised God. The thought came to him: how can she cross the Jordan without a boat? But the nun, having crossed Jordan with the sign of the cross, quickly walked on the water. When the elder wanted to bow to her, she forbade him, shouting from the middle of the river: "What are you doing, abba? After all, you are a priest, the bearer of the great Mysteries of God."
Having crossed the river, the nun said to Abba Zosima: "Bless, father." He answered her with trepidation, horrified by the wondrous vision: "Truly, God is not false, who promised to liken to Himself all who are cleansed, as far as possible, to mortals. Glory to Thee, Christ our God, Who has shown me through His holy servant how far I am from the measure of perfection."
After that, the nun asked him to read "I believe" and "Our Father". At the end of the prayer, having communed the Holy Terrible Mysteries of Christ, she stretched out her hands to heaven and, with tears and trembling, said the prayer of St. Simeon the God-Receiver: "Now release Thy servant, Master, according to Thy word in peace, as if my eyes have seen Thy salvation."
Then the nun again turned to the elder and said: “Forgive me, abba, also fulfill my other desire. Now go to your monastery, and next year come to that dry stream where we first spoke with you.” “If it were possible for me,” replied Abba Zosima, “to follow you incessantly in order to contemplate your holiness!” The saint again asked the elder: "Pray, for the Lord's sake, pray for me and remember my wretchedness." And, having overshadowed the Jordan with the sign of the cross, she, as before, passed through the waters and hid in the darkness of the desert. And the elder Zosima returned to the monastery in spiritual exultation and trembling, and in one thing he reproached himself for not asking the name of the saint. But he hoped next year to finally know her name.
A year passed, and Abba Zosima again went to the desert. Praying, he reached a dry stream, on the eastern side of which he saw the holy ascetic. She lay dead, with her arms folded as it should be on her chest, her face turned to the East. Abba Zosima washed her feet with tears, not daring to touch her body, wept for a long time over the deceased ascetic and began to sing psalms, befitting sorrow for the death of the righteous, and read funeral prayers. But he doubted whether it would be pleasing to the reverend if he buried her. As soon as he thought about it, he saw that her head was inscribed: “Buriate, Abba Zosima, in this place the body of the humble Mary. after Communion of the Divine Last Supper".
Having read this inscription, Abba Zosima was surprised at first who could have made it, for the ascetic herself did not know how to read and write. But he was glad to finally know her name. Abba Zosima understood that the Monk Mary, having communed the Holy Mysteries on the Jordan from his hands, in an instant passed her long desert path, along which he, Zosima, marched for twenty days, and immediately departed to the Lord.
Glorifying God and wetting the earth and body with tears Reverend Mary, Abba Zosima said to himself: “It’s time for you, Elder Zosima, to do what you have done. But how can you, accursed one, dig a grave without having anything in your hands?” Having said this, he saw a fallen tree lying not far in the desert, took it and began to dig. But the earth was too dry, no matter how much he dug, sweating, he could not do anything. Straightening up, Abba Zosima saw a huge lion near the body of the Monk Mary, which was licking her feet. The elder was seized with fear, but he signed himself with the sign of the cross, believing that he would remain unharmed by the prayers of the holy ascetic. Then the lion began to caress the elder, and Abba Zosima, kindled in spirit, ordered the lion to dig a grave in order to bury the body of St. Mary. At his word, the lion dug a ditch with its paws, in which the body of the reverend was buried. Having fulfilled what they had bequeathed, each went his own way: the lion to the desert, and Abba Zosima to the monastery, blessing and praising Christ our God.
Arriving at the monastery, Abba Zosima told the monks and the abbot what he had seen and heard from St. Mary. Everyone marveled, hearing about the greatness of God, and with fear, faith and love they established to create the memory of the Monk Mary and honor the day of her repose. Abba John, hegumen of the monastery, according to the word of the venerable one, with God's help corrected what was necessary in the monastery. Abba Zosima, having lived pleasing to God in the same monastery and a little before reaching a hundred years old, ended his temporal life here, passing into eternal life.
Thus, the ancient ascetics of the glorious monastery of the holy and all-praised Forerunner of the Lord John, located on the Jordan, handed down to us the wondrous tale of the life of St. Mary of Egypt. This story was not originally written down by them, but was reverently passed on by the holy elders from mentors to disciples.
But I, - says St. Sophronius, Archbishop of Jerusalem (Comm. 11 March), the first descriptor of the Life, - that I received in my turn from the holy fathers, betrayed everything to a written story.
God, who works great miracles and rewards with great gifts all those who turn to Him with faith, may He reward those who read, and listen, and who transmitted this story to us, and vouchsafe us a good part with Blessed Mary of Egypt and with all the saints, God-thought and labors that pleased God from the century. Let us also give glory to God the Eternal King, and let us also be vouchsafed to find mercy on the Day of Judgment in Christ Jesus, our Lord, to whom all glory, honor, and power, and worship with the Father, and the Most Holy and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever, amen.
Less than an hour remained before the ship's departure. The cargo had already been stowed, the holds were battened down, and now the captain was giving the last instructions to the crew. People stood on the pier - the owners of the goods, accompanying and just passengers, ready for a long and dangerous journey.
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These nine stories about fasting, humility and prayer are not a literal retelling of Scripture and lives, but our attempt to travel to another time and place, reconstruct events, conditions, atmosphere, in order to see what is happening with our own eyes.
Where are you heading? - from the crowd scurrying along the shore, the voice of a young woman was heard. Clothes, shoes, hair and tasteless cheap jewelry betrayed in her a cheap harlot, of which there were a great many in the Alexandrian port. She behaved too relaxedly even for representatives of her profession.
To Palestine, - the owner of the ship hung from the side, an old sea dog who was not used to making long conversations. - Do you have money?
No. I have goods, - the woman coquettishly straightened her black curls and akimbo.
- We will pay for it, - behind the back of the harlot, to the friendly laughter of onlookers who were watching the dialogue, one of the passengers took out several coins from his belt and threw them to the owner of the ship. - Let's go to! - the young man stepped onto the ladder, and a woman followed him with a victorious look on board.
The woman paid the money for her in full - the men on the ship were pleased with her. True, no one even asked her name, although she could tell a lot about herself. How, at the age of twelve, she left her loving parents in search of a beautiful life, how she immediately lost her virginity and began to serve first the slaves, then the masters themselves. How very soon I fell in love with my occupation so much that I saw only one goal - to change as many clients as possible in a day. How often she starved and did not even have a drachma in her pocket, but she was ready to give herself to the first comer for free. How, in seventeen years of her craft, she had known many men of half a million Alexandria and now sailed to Palestine in search of new meetings and sensations.
She aspired to Jerusalem - a small city in terms of population, but very significant and attracting huge flows of pilgrims. Pilgrims, who did not consider it shameful to combine the worship of shrines with intimate adventures, became her main clients. She appeared in the most crowded places, not embarrassed to go even to temples. And once it was in the Basilica of the Resurrection that something happened to her that turned her whole life upside down.
On the day of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the harlot followed to the church and, together with those praying, entered the narthex. All the people went further into the temple. However, as soon as she approached the doorway, some invisible force threw her back. At first she thought that the crowd squeezed her. The unfortunate woman squeezed herself into the ranks of those entering the temple four times, but her efforts were in vain, and she realized that what was happening was of a supernatural nature.
The harlot stood in despair in the corner of the porch, people pushed her from behind, it was impossible to step forward even a step. Horror seized the woman, her heart boiled with indignation, resentment and impotence. In the crowd passing by her, the faces of those who had shared a bed with her this morning flickered. But they safely moved on, and she stood rooted to the spot. And then the woman's darting gaze stopped at an old mosaic icon. From the golden background, the Mother of God looked at her with inexpressible sadness.
In an instant, her meaningless life to the smallest detail flashed before her, and with every cell she felt the depth of her sins. Tears welled up from my eyes. So she never cried. Sobbing and promising the Mother of God to improve, the woman again tried to enter the temple - this time successfully. On the same day, she decided to leave the city. Had there been another harlot in her place, she would have asked to go to one of the shelters of mercy, where such repentant sinners were received, given shelter, food and helped to start an honest life. But her case was special: at the sight of only a man's face, she was ready to give herself entirely. Inside, the fire of lust burned unbearably, and this was not a physiological need or some kind of feature - she was well aware that some kind of diabolical power possessed her. It was necessary to break with the past without delay.
The former harlot spent forty-seven years in the desert beyond the Jordan, avoiding meeting people and being exposed to incredible dangers and trials that could not make the hermit change her goal - repentance. With God's help and great personal efforts, she squeezed out a shameless, insatiable harlot drop by drop and became one of the greatest Christian ascetics. A year after her death, her body was discovered by a monk, the elder Zosima, the only Christian who had the opportunity to speak with her during her lifetime. Next to her, he found a message: “Burial, Abba Zosima, in this place is the body of the humble Mary. Give back the dust of the dust. Pray to the Lord for me, who reposed on the first day of the month of April, on the very night of the saving sufferings of Christ, after communion with the Divine Mystery Supper. So the one who was not even known by name to thousands of people who communicated with her during her life in the closest way, became known and really close to the entire Christian world, which had never even seen her alive.
Mary of Egypt- Christian saint, considered the patroness of penitent women.
The first life of Saint Mary was written Sophronius of Jerusalem, and many of the motives of the life of Mary of Egypt were transferred in medieval legends to Mary Magdalene.
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Saint Mary, nicknamed the Egyptian, lived in the middle of the 5th and at the beginning of the 6th century. Her youth did not bode well. Mary was only twelve years old when she left her home in the city of Alexandria. Being free from parental supervision, young and inexperienced, Maria was carried away by a vicious life. There was no one to stop her on the way to death, and there were many seducers and temptations. So for 17 years Mary lived in sins, until the merciful Lord turned her to repentance.
It happened like this. By coincidence, Mary joined a group of pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. Sailing with pilgrims on a ship, Mary did not stop seducing people and sinning. Once in Jerusalem, she joined the pilgrims on their way to the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.
People entered the temple in a large crowd, and Mary at the entrance was stopped by an invisible hand and could not enter it with any effort. Then she realized that the Lord did not allow her to enter into Holy place for her impurity.
Seized with horror and a feeling of deep repentance, she began to pray to God to forgive her sins, promising to radically change her life. Seeing an icon at the entrance to the temple Mother of God, Mary began to ask the Mother of God to intercede for her before God. After that, she immediately felt enlightenment in her soul and freely entered the temple. Shedding abundant tears at the tomb of the Lord, she left the temple a completely different person.
Mary fulfilled her promise to change her life. From Jerusalem, she retired to the harsh and deserted Jordanian desert and spent almost half a century there in complete solitude, in fasting and prayer. Thus, by severe deeds, Mary of Egypt completely uprooted all sinful desires in herself and made her heart a pure temple of the Holy Spirit.
Elder Zosima, who lived in the Jordanian monastery of St. John the Baptist, by the providence of God, he was honored to meet in the desert with the Monk Mary, when she was already a deep old woman. He was struck by her holiness and gift of insight. Once he saw her during prayer, as if rising above the ground, and another time, walking across the Jordan River, as if on dry land.
Parting with Zosima, the Monk Mary asked him to come back to the wilderness in a year to give her communion. The elder returned at the appointed time and communed the Monk Mary with the Holy Mysteries. Then, having come to the desert a year later in the hope of seeing the saint, he no longer found her alive. The elder buried the remains of St. Mary there in the desert, in which he was helped by a lion who dug a hole with his claws to bury the body of the righteous. This was around 521.
Thus, from a great sinner, the Monk Mary became, with God's help, the greatest saint and left such a vivid example of repentance.
Complete Life of Saint Mary of Egypt
In a Palestinian monastery in the vicinity of Caesarea lived the monk Zosima. Sent to a monastery from childhood, he labored in it until the age of 53, when he was embarrassed by the thought: “Will there be a holy man in the farthest wilderness who surpassed me in sobriety and deed?”
As soon as he thought this way, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “You, Zosima, have labored well in human terms, but there is not a single righteous person among people (Rom. 3 :ten). In order for you to understand how many other and higher images of salvation there are, leave this monastery, like Abraham from his father's house (Gen. 12 :1), and go to the monastery by the Jordan."
Abba Zosima immediately left the monastery and, following the Angel, came to the Jordan Monastery and settled there.
Here he saw the elders, truly shining in exploits. Abba Zosima began to imitate the holy monks in spiritual work.
So a lot of time passed, and the Holy Forty Day approached. There was a custom in the monastery, for the sake of which God brought St. Zosima here. On the first Sunday of Great Lent, the abbot served the Divine Liturgy, everyone took communion of the Most Pure Body and Blood of Christ, then ate a small meal and again gathered in church.
Having made a prayer and the prescribed number of prostrations, the elders, asking each other for forgiveness, took a blessing from the abbot and under the general singing of the psalm “The Lord is my enlightenment and my Savior: whom shall I fear? The Lord Protector of my life: from whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 26 :1) opened the monastery gates and went into the desert.
Each of them took with him a moderate amount of food, who needed what, while some took nothing at all into the desert and ate roots. The monks crossed the Jordan and dispersed as far as possible so as not to see how someone was fasting and ascetic.
When Great Lent ended, the monks returned to the monastery on Palm Sunday with the fruit of their labor (Rom. 6 :21-22), by examining his conscience (1 Pet. 3 :sixteen). At the same time, no one asked anyone how he worked and accomplished his feat.
In that year, Abba Zosima, according to monastic custom, crossed the Jordan. He wanted to go deeper into the desert to meet one of the saints and great elders who are being saved there and praying for peace.
He walked in the desert for 20 days, and one day, when he was singing the psalms of the 6th hour and doing the usual prayers, suddenly a shadow of a human body appeared to his right. He was horrified, thinking that he was seeing a demonic ghost, but, having crossed himself, put aside his fear and, having finished the prayer, turned towards the shadow and saw a naked man walking through the desert, whose body was black from the heat of the sun, and his burnt short hair turned white, like a lamb's fleece. . Abba Zosima was overjoyed, because he had not seen a single living creature during those days, and immediately headed towards him.
But as soon as the naked hermit saw Zosima coming towards him, he immediately started to run away from him. Abba Zosima, forgetting his senility and fatigue, quickened his pace. But soon, exhausted, he stopped by a dried-up stream and began to tearfully beg the retreating ascetic: “Why are you running from me, a sinful old man, fleeing in this desert? Wait for me, weak and unworthy, and give me your holy prayer and blessing, for the sake of the Lord, who never abhorred anyone.
The stranger, without turning around, shouted to him: “Forgive me, Abba Zosima, I can’t turn around and appear to your face: I’m a woman, and, as you see, I don’t have any clothes to cover my bodily nakedness. But if you want to pray for me, a great and accursed sinner, throw your cloak over me, then I can come to you for a blessing.
“She would not have known me by name if she had not acquired the gift of clairvoyance from the Lord through holiness and unknown deeds,” thought Abba Zosima and hurried to fulfill what was said to him.
Covering herself with a cloak, the ascetic turned to Zosima: “What did you think, Abba Zosima, to talk to me, a sinful and unwise woman? What do you want to learn from me and, sparing no effort, spent so much work? He knelt down and asked for her blessing. In the same way, she bowed before him, and for a long time both asked one another: "Bless." Finally the ascetic said: “Abba Zosima, it is fitting for you to bless and make a prayer, since you have been honored with the dignity of a presbyter and for many years, standing at the altar of Christ, you bring the Holy Gifts to the Lord.”
These words frightened St. Zosima even more. With a deep sigh, he answered her: “O spiritual mother! It is clear that you, of the two of us, have come closer to God and died to the world. You recognized me by name and called me a presbyter, having never seen me before. Your measure should also bless me for the Lord's sake."
Finally yielding to the stubbornness of Zosima, the nun said: "Blessed be God, who desires the salvation of all men." Abba Zosima answered "Amen", and they got up from the ground. The ascetic again said to the elder: “Why have you come, Father, to me, a sinner, devoid of all virtue? However, it is clear that the grace of the Holy Spirit has instructed you to perform one service that my soul needs. Tell me first, Abba, how do Christians live today, how do the saints of God's Church grow and prosper?
Abba Zosima answered her: “Through your holy prayers, God has given the Church and us all perfect peace. But listen to the prayer of an unworthy old man, my mother, pray, for God's sake, for the whole world and for me, a sinner, that this desert walk will not be fruitless for me.
The holy ascetic said: “It is more fitting for you, Abba Zosima, having a sacred rank, to pray for me and for everyone. That's why you are given dignity. However, I will willingly fulfill everything commanded by you for the sake of obedience to the Truth and from a pure heart.
Having said this, the saint turned to the east and, raising her eyes and raising her hands to heaven, began to pray in a whisper. The elder saw her rise in the air to a cubit from the ground. From this wonderful vision, Zosima fell on his face, fervently praying and not daring to utter anything but “Lord, have mercy!”
A thought came into his soul - is it not a ghost that introduces him into temptation? The venerable ascetic, turning around, lifted him up from the ground and said: “Why are you so confused by thoughts, Abba Zosima? I'm not a ghost. I am a sinful and unworthy woman, although I am protected by holy baptism.”
Having said this, she made the sign of the cross over herself. Seeing and hearing this, the elder fell with tears at the feet of the ascetic: “I implore you by Christ, our God, do not hide your ascetic life from me, but tell it all in order to make the majesty of God clear to all. For I believe in the Lord my God, by whom you also live, that for this I was sent into this wilderness, so that all your fasting deeds would be made clear to the world by God.
And the holy ascetic said: “I am embarrassed, father, to tell you about my shameless deeds. For then you will have to flee from me, closing your eyes and ears, as one flees from a poisonous snake. But still, I’ll tell you, father, without keeping silent about any of my sins, you, I conjure you, do not stop praying for me, a sinner, so that I will gain boldness on the Day of Judgment.
I was born in Egypt, and while my parents were still alive, at the age of twelve, I left them and went to Alexandria. There I lost my chastity and indulged in unrestrained and insatiable fornication. For more than seventeen years, I indulged in sin without restraint and did everything free of charge. I did not take money not because I was rich. I lived in poverty and made money with yarn. I thought that the whole meaning of life is to satisfy carnal lust.
Leading such a life, I once saw a multitude of people from Libya and Egypt going to the sea to sail to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. I also wanted to sail with them. But not for the sake of Jerusalem and not for the sake of the holiday, but - forgive me, father - so that there would be more with whom to indulge in debauchery. So I got on the ship.
Now, Father, believe me, I myself am surprised how the sea endured my debauchery and fornication, how the earth did not open its mouth and bring me alive to hell, which deceived and destroyed so many souls ... But, apparently, God desired my repentance, not even though the death of the sinner, and longsufferingly waiting for conversion.
So I arrived in Jerusalem and all the days before the holiday, as on the ship, I was engaged in bad deeds.
When the holy feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Lord arrived, I still walked, catching the souls of the young in sin. Seeing that everyone went to the church very early, where the Life-Giving Tree was located, I went along with everyone and entered the church vestibule. When the hour of the Holy Exaltation came, I wanted to enter the church with all the people. With great difficulty, making my way to the door, I, accursed, tried to squeeze in. But as soon as I stepped on the threshold, a certain power of God stopped me, preventing me from entering, and threw me far from the doors, while all the people were walking freely. I thought that, perhaps, due to female weakness, I could not squeeze through the crowd, and again I tried to push the people aside with my elbows and make my way to the door. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get in. As soon as my foot touched the church threshold, I stopped. The church accepted everyone, did not forbid anyone to enter, but they did not let me, the accursed one. This happened three or four times. My strength is gone. I moved away and stood in the corner of the church porch.
Then I felt that it was my sins that forbade me to see the Life-Giving Tree, the grace of the Lord touched my heart, I sobbed and began to beat my chest in repentance. Lifting sighs to the Lord from the depths of my heart, I saw before me an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and turned to her with a prayer: “O Virgin, Mistress, who gave birth to the flesh of God the Word! I know that I am not worthy to look at Your icon. It is righteous for me, a hated harlot, to be rejected from Your purity and be an abomination to You, but I also know that for this God became a man in order to call sinners to repentance. Help me, Most Pure One, so that I may be allowed to enter the church. Do not forbid me to see the Tree on which the Lord was crucified in flesh, shedding His innocent Blood for me, a sinner, for my deliverance from sin. Command, O Lady, that the doors of the holy worship of the Cross be opened to me too. You be to me a valiant Guarantor to the One Born of You. From this time on, I promise you not to defile myself with any more fleshly filth, but as soon as I see the Tree of the Cross of Your Son, I will renounce the world and immediately go where You, as a Guarantor, will guide me.
And when I prayed like that, I suddenly felt that my prayer had been heard. In tenderness of faith, hoping for the Merciful Mother of God, I again joined those entering the temple, and no one pushed me back and did not forbid me to enter. I walked in fear and trembling until I reached the door and was able to see the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.
Thus I came to know the mysteries of God and that God is ready to receive those who repent. I fell to the ground, prayed, kissed the shrines and left the temple, hastening to appear again before my Guarantor, where I had given a promise. Kneeling before the icon, I prayed before it:
“O Our Blessed Lady Mother of God! You did not disdain my unworthy prayer. Glory to God, who accepts the repentance of sinners. The time has come for me to fulfill the promise in which You were the Guarantor. Now, Lady, guide me to the path of repentance.”
And now, before I had finished my prayer, I heard a voice, as if speaking from afar: “If you cross the Jordan, you will find blissful peace.”
I immediately believed that this voice was for my sake, and, crying, exclaimed to the Mother of God: “Lady Lady, do not leave me, a sinner, but help me,” and immediately left the church vestibule and went away. One person gave me three copper coins. With them I bought myself three loaves and learned from the seller the way to the Jordan.
At sunset, I reached the church of St. John the Baptist near the Jordan. Having bowed first of all in the church, I immediately went down to the Jordan and washed his face and hands with holy water. Then I took communion in the church of St. John the Baptist of the Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ, ate half of one of my loaves, washed it down with holy Jordanian water, and slept that night on the ground near the church. The next morning, having found a small boat not far away, I crossed the river in it to the other side and again fervently prayed to my Instructor to guide me as She herself pleased. Immediately after that, I came to this desert.”
Abba Zosima asked the nun: “How many years, my mother, have passed since you settled in this desert?” “I think,” she answered, “47 years have passed since I left the Holy City.”
Abba Zosima again asked: “What do you have or what do you find for your food here, my mother?” And she answered: “I had two and a half loaves with me when I crossed the Jordan, they slowly dried up and turned to stone, and, eating little by little, for many years I ate from them.”
Abba Zosima asked again: “Have you really been without illness for so many years? And did not accept any temptations from sudden applications and temptations? “Believe me, Abba Zosima,” answered the venerable one, “I spent 17 years in this wilderness, as if with fierce beasts, struggling with my thoughts... accustomed to in Egypt. I also wanted wine, because I drank a lot of it when I was in the world. Here, having often no simple water and food, I suffered fiercely from thirst and hunger. I suffered even more severe disasters: I was seized by the desire for adulterous songs, they seemed to be heard to me, confusing my heart and hearing. Weeping and beating my chest, I then remembered the vows that I had made, going into the desert, in front of the icon of the Holy Mother of God, my Guarantor, and wept, praying to drive away the thoughts that tormented my soul. When, to the extent of prayer and weeping, repentance was performed, I saw the Light shining to me from everywhere, and then instead of a storm, great silence surrounded me.
Forgive thoughts, Abba, how do I confess to you? A passionate fire flared up inside my heart and scorched me all over, arousing lust. At the appearance of accursed thoughts, I fell to the ground and seemed to see that the Most Holy Guarantor Herself was standing before me and was judging me, who had violated this promise. So I did not get up, lying prostrate day and night on the ground, until repentance was performed again and I was surrounded by the same blessed Light, driving away evil embarrassments and thoughts.
So I lived in this desert for the first seventeen years. Darkness after darkness, misfortune after misfortune befell me, a sinner. But from that time until now, the Mother of God, my Helper, guides me in everything.
Abba Zosima again asked: “Didn’t you really need food or clothing here?”
She answered: “My bread ran out, as I said, in these seventeen years. After that, I began to eat roots and what I could find in the desert. The dress that was on me when I crossed the Jordan was long ago torn and decayed, and then I had to endure and suffer a lot from the heat, when the heat burned me, and from the winter, when I was shaking from the cold. How many times have I fallen to the ground as if dead. How many times have I been in endless struggle with various misfortunes, troubles and temptations. But from that time to this day, the power of God, unknown and in many ways, has kept my sinful soul and humble body. I was nourished and covered by the word of God, which contains everything (Deut. 8 :3), for man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Matt. 4 :4 ; OK. 4 :4), and those who have no cover will be clothed with stones (Job. 24 :8), if they put off their sinful garments (Col. 3 :nine). As I recalled how much evil and what sins the Lord had delivered me, I found inexhaustible food in that.
When Abba Zosima heard that the holy ascetic also spoke from the Holy Scriptures, from the books of Moses and Job and from the psalms of David, he then asked the nun: “Where, my mother, did you learn psalms and other Books?”
She smiled when she heard this question, and answered this way: “Believe me, man of God, I have not seen a single person but you since I crossed the Jordan. I had never studied books before, I had never heard church singing, or Divine reading. Unless the Word of God Itself, living and all-creative, teaches man every kind of understanding (Col. 3 :sixteen ; 2 Pet. 1 :21 ; 1 Thess. 2 :thirteen). However, enough, I have already confessed my whole life to you, but with what I began, I end with this: I conjure you as the incarnation of God the Word - pray, holy abba, for me, a great sinner.
And I also conjure you by the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ - everything that you heard from me, do not tell a single one until God takes me from the earth. And do what I am about to tell you. Next year, in Great Lent, do not go beyond the Jordan, as your monastic custom commands.
Again Abba Zosima was surprised that their monastic rank was also known to the holy ascetic, although he did not say a single word about it before her.
“Stay, abba,” continued the reverend, “in the monastery. However, even if you want to leave the monastery, you will not be able to... And when the Holy Great Thursday of the Last Supper of the Lord comes, put the Life-giving Body and Blood of Christ our God into the holy vessel and bring it to me. Wait for me on the other side of the Jordan, at the edge of the desert, so that when I come, I can partake of the Holy Mysteries. And to Abba John, hegumen of your monastery, say this: Take care of yourself and your flock (1 Tim. 4 :sixteen). However, I don’t want you to tell him this now, but when the Lord directs.”
Having said this and having once again asked for prayers, the nun turned and went into the depths of the desert.
For the whole year, Elder Zosima remained in silence, not daring to reveal to anyone what the Lord had revealed to him, and diligently prayed that the Lord would vouchsafe him to see the holy ascetic again.
When the first week of the holy Great Lent came again, the Monk Zosima, due to illness, had to remain in the monastery. Then he remembered the prophetic words of the saint that he would not be able to leave the monastery. After a few days, the Monk Zosima was healed of his illness, but nevertheless remained until Holy Week in the monastery.
The day of the Last Supper is approaching. Then Abba Zosima fulfilled what he was commanded to do - late in the evening he left the monastery to the Jordan and sat down on the shore in anticipation. The saint hesitated, and Abba Zosima prayed to God that He would not deprive him of a meeting with the ascetic.
Finally, the nun came and stood on the other side of the river. Rejoicing, the Monk Zosima rose and praised God. The thought came to him: how can she cross the Jordan without a boat? But the nun, having crossed Jordan with the sign of the cross, quickly walked on the water. When the elder wanted to bow to her, she forbade him, shouting from the middle of the river: “What are you doing, abba? After all, you are a priest, the bearer of the great Mysteries of God.”
Having crossed the river, the nun said to Abba Zosima: “Bless, father.” He answered her with trepidation, horrified by the wondrous vision: “Truly, God is not false, who promised to liken all those who are cleansed, as far as possible to mortals. Glory to Thee, Christ our God, Who showed me through His holy servant how far I am from the measure of perfection.
After that, the reverend asked him to read “I believe” and “Our Father”. At the end of the prayer, she, having communed the Holy Terrible Mysteries of Christ, stretched out her hands to heaven and, with tears and trembling, said the prayer of St. Simeon the God-Receiver: “Now let Thy servant go, Master, according to Thy word in peace, as if my eyes have seen Thy salvation.”
Then the nun again turned to the elder and said: “Forgive me, abba, fulfill my other desire too. Go now to your monastery, and next year come to that dried-up stream where we first spoke with you.” “If it were possible for me,” answered Abba Zosima, “to follow you incessantly in order to contemplate your holiness!” The saint again asked the elder: "Pray, for the Lord's sake, pray for me and remember my wretchedness." And, having overshadowed the Jordan with the sign of the cross, she, as before, passed through the waters and hid in the darkness of the desert. And the elder Zosima returned to the monastery in spiritual exultation and trembling, and in one thing he reproached himself for not asking the name of the saint. But he hoped next year to finally know her name.
A year passed, and Abba Zosima again went to the desert. Praying, he reached a dry stream, on the eastern side of which he saw the holy ascetic. She lay dead, with her arms folded as it should be on her chest, her face turned to the East. Abba Zosima washed her feet with tears, not daring to touch her body, wept for a long time over the deceased ascetic and began to sing psalms, befitting sorrow for the death of the righteous, and read funeral prayers. But he doubted whether it would be pleasing to the reverend if he buried her. As soon as he thought about it, he saw that her head was inscribed: “Burial, Abba Zosima, in this place is the body of the humble Mary. Give back the dust of the dust. Pray to the Lord for me, who reposed on the first day of the month of April, on the very night of the saving sufferings of Christ, after communion with the Divine Mystery Supper.
Having read this inscription, Abba Zosima was surprised at first who could have made it, for the ascetic herself did not know how to read and write. But he was glad to finally know her name. Abba Zosima understood that the Monk Mary, having communed the Holy Mysteries on the Jordan from his hands, in an instant passed her long desert path, along which he, Zosima, marched for twenty days, and immediately departed to the Lord.
Having glorified God and wetting the earth and the body of St. Mary with tears, Abba Zosima said to himself: “It is time for you, Elder Zosima, to do what you were commanded to do. But how can you, you accursed one, dig a grave with nothing in your hands? Having said this, he saw a fallen tree lying not far in the desert, took it and began to dig. But the earth was too dry, no matter how much he dug, sweating, he could not do anything. Straightening up, Abba Zosima saw a huge lion near the body of the Monk Mary, which was licking her feet. The elder was seized with fear, but he signed himself with the sign of the cross, believing that he would remain unharmed by the prayers of the holy ascetic. Then the lion began to caress the elder, and Abba Zosima, kindled in spirit, ordered the lion to dig a grave in order to bury the body of St. Mary. At his word, the lion dug a ditch with its paws, in which the body of the reverend was buried. Having fulfilled what they had bequeathed, each went his own way: the lion to the desert, and Abba Zosima to the monastery, blessing and praising Christ our God.
Arriving at the monastery, Abba Zosima told the monks and the abbot what he had seen and heard from St. Mary. Everyone marveled, hearing about the greatness of God, and with fear, faith and love they established to create the memory of the Monk Mary and honor the day of her repose. Abba John, hegumen of the monastery, according to the word of the monk with God's help, corrected what was necessary in the monastery. Abba Zosima, having still lived pleasingly in the same monastery and a little before reaching a hundred years old, ended his temporal life here, passing into eternal life.
Thus, the ancient ascetics of the glorious monastery of the holy and all-praised Forerunner of the Lord John, located on the Jordan, handed down to us the wondrous tale of the life of St. Mary of Egypt. This story was not originally written down by them, but was reverently passed on by the holy elders from mentors to disciples.
“But I,” says St. Sophronius, Archbishop of Jerusalem (Comm. 11 March), the first descriptor of the Life, “what I received in my turn from the holy fathers, betrayed everything to a written story.
God, who works great miracles and rewards with great gifts all those who turn to Him with faith, may He reward those who read, and listen, and who transmitted this story to us, and vouchsafe us a good part with Blessed Mary of Egypt and with all the saints, God-thought and labors that pleased God from the century. Let us also give glory to God the Eternal King, and let us also be vouchsafed to find mercy on the Day of Judgment in Christ Jesus, our Lord, to whom all glory, honor, and power, and worship with the Father, and the Most Holy and Life-giving Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever, amen.
