Mary of Egypt. Icon and a brief history of earthly life. Egyptian icon of the mother of God

Memory to her April 14
(April 1, old style)
and on the Week (Sunday) of the 5th Great Lent.

Saint Mary was born in Egypt. In the twelfth year of her life, she fled from her parental home to the city of Alexandria, where she indulged in unrestrained and insatiable fornication and earned shameful fame for the extreme debauchery of her life. This went on for 17 years, and it seemed that all hope for the salvation of the sinner was lost. But the Lord did not turn His mercy away from her.

One day, Mary saw a crowd of people on the seashore who were going to sail on ships to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Not at all out of pious motives, but simply wanting to have fun, she begged to take her too, and behaved defiantly shamelessly on the way. Upon arrival in Jerusalem, Mary followed the people to the church, but she could not enter it: some unknown force repelled her and did not let her inside. After a few unsuccessful attempts Maria moved to the corner of the church porch and thought. Her gaze accidentally stopped on the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos - and suddenly, shocked, she realized all the abomination and shame of her life. The light of God touched her heart - she realized that her sins were not allowed into the church.

Mary prayed long and hard to the Most Holy Theotokos, begging for a long time to let her enter the church and see the Cross on which Jesus Christ suffered. At last it seemed to her that her prayer had been heard. Trembling with excitement and fear, Maria approached the church doors - and this time she entered without hindrance. There she saw Life-Giving Cross Lord and realized that God is ready to forgive the repentant. She returned to the Icon again. Holy Mother of God and turned to Her with a plea to show her the way to repentance.

And then she heard, as it were, a distant voice: "Go beyond the Jordan, there you will find peace for your soul." Mary immediately set off, reached the Jordan River, crossed to the other side, and withdrew into the depths of the Jordanian desert. Here in the desert she lived in all alone 47 years old, eating only roots. For the first 17 years, she was overwhelmed by lustful thoughts, and she fought them like fierce beasts. Enduring hunger and cold, she remembered the food and wine she was used to in Egypt, the merry songs she once sang; but most of all she was overcome by lustful thoughts and tempting images... Mary begged the Most Holy Theotokos to deliver her from them, fell prostrate on the ground and did not get up until repentance was accomplished in her soul—then Heavenly light penetrated into her, and she was at peace again. After 17 years, her temptations left her - the years of concentrated and detached peace came. Finally, it became pleasing to God to reveal to the world the unusual feat of a repentant sinner, and by allowing Mary of God met in the desert the elder Zosima, a monk of a neighboring monastery, who retired here for ascetic exploits.

By this time, all the clothes on Mary had decayed, but the elder covered her with his cloak. The ascetic told him her whole life, asking him not to tell anyone about her and to come to her a year later on Maundy Thursday with the Holy Gifts so that she could take communion. The next year, fulfilling the request of Mary, the elder Zosima took the Holy Gifts and went to the Jordan. On the other side, he saw Mary, who, going up to the river, made the sign of the cross over the water and calmly walked along it. With reverent awe, the elder looked at the saint walking on the water. Coming ashore, Mary bowed before the elder and asked for his blessing. Then she listened to “I believe” and “Our Father”, partook of the Mysteries of Christ and said: “Now you let your servant go according to your word in peace!” Then she asked Zosima to fulfill her last request: to come a year later to the place where he met her for the first time. A year later, the elder again went to the place where Mary was saved, but found her already dead there. She lay on the ground with her hands clasped as if in prayer and her face turned to the East. Next to her, the sand was inscribed: “Father Zosima, bury the body of the humble Mary, who died on April 1st. Return dust to dust." With tears and prayers, the elder betrayed the great ascetic to the earth and returned to the monastery, where he told the monks and the abbot everything that he had heard from St. Mary.

Rev. Mary of Egypt died in 522. On the first and fifth weeks of Great Lent, one reads penitential canon St. Andrew of Crete with the addition of prayer verses about Mary of Egypt.

From the book
"About life Orthodox saints,
icons and holidays
(according to Church tradition).
Compiled by O.A. Popov.

Saint's prayers Reverend Mary Egyptian

Prayer one

O great saint of Christ, reverend mother Mary! Hear the unworthy prayer of us sinners (names), deliver us, reverend mother, from the passions that are fighting on our souls, from all sorrow and finding misfortune, from sudden death and from all evil, at the hour of separation of the soul from the body, otzheniya, holy saint , every crafty thought and crafty demons, as if our souls would receive in peace in a place of light Christ the Lord our God, as if from Him the cleansing of sins, and He is the salvation of our souls, He deserves all glory, honor and worship, with the Father and Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever.

Prayer two

O great saint of Christ, Reverend Mary! In Heaven, the Throne of God is coming, but on earth in spirit of love with us, having boldness to the Lord, pray to save His servants, flowing to you with love. Ask us from the Greatly Merciful Lord and Lord of the Faith the immaculate observance, our cities and towns affirmation, deliverance from prosperity and destruction, consolation for the grieving, healing for the sick, resurrection for the fallen, strengthening for the erring, prosperity and blessing in good deeds, intercession for orphans and widows and those who have departed from this life - eternal rest, but for all of us, on the day of the Last Judgment, on the right hand of the country, the partners of being and the blessed voice of My Judge hear: come, bless my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, and receive your stay there forever. Amen.

Prayer three

O great saint of Christ, reverend mother Mary! Hear the unworthy prayer of us sinners. The image of repentance has been given to us, Mary, with your warm tenderness, return the victory, Having acquired the Mother of God Mary as an intercessor, pray for us from Neyuzha.
Oh, Reverend Mother Mary, calling on you with a warm prayer book, strengthening those who are exhausted in battle, soon encouraging those who are discouraged. In troubles and sorrows, a grace-filled helper to us, a suffering healer, an ambulance and wonderful, as if with your help the intrigues of the enemy are crushed. Reverend Mother Mary, a miracle of God's mercy, from the Lord of all the good to us, giver, pray to Him for a servant of God, a seriously ill baby (the name of the baby). Amen.

Troparion, tone 8

In you, mother, it is known that you have saved yourself according to the image: having accepted the cross, you followed Christ, and giving it taught you to despise the flesh, it passes away: diligently about the soul, things are immortal: the same and from the Angels will rejoice, Reverend Mary, your spirit.

Kontakion, tone 3

First of all, the bride of Christ is filled with all sorts of fornications, today appearing in repentance, angelic residence, imitating the demons of the Cross, destroys with weapons. For this sake of the Kingdom, the bride appeared to you, glorious Mary.

Prayer texts found on the Internet.

Holy Venerable Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church is considered the standard of perfect and sincere repentance. It is not for nothing that many icons of St. Mary of Egypt are painted in such a way that it is possible to reconstruct the events of the life of the saint from them. A whole week of Great Lent is dedicated to this saint.

On the All-night vigil On the fifth week of Lent, the life of the saint is read and troparia, kontakions (hymns) dedicated to her are sung. The people call this service "Marino's Standing". Memorial Day of Mary of Egypt is celebrated on April 1/14.

Biography of a saint

The future reverend was born in the middle of the fifth century from the Nativity of Christ in Egypt, and at the age of twelve she ran away from home to the huge city of that time, Alexandria. The girl plunged headlong into the vicious world of the port city. She liked debauchery, she sincerely believed that everyone was spending their time like that and did not know another life.

For seventeen years, Mary lived this life until she accidentally got on a ship bound for Jerusalem. Most of the passengers were pilgrims. All of them dreamed of getting to the Holy Land and bowing to the shrine. However, the young woman had other plans in this regard. On the ship, Maria behaved provocatively and continued to seduce the male half.

Change in life

Together with everyone in the Holy Land, the nun wanted to enter the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, but extraordinary strength did not let her inside. Several attempts did not lead to luck, and this event amazed her so much that she sat down near the church and thought about her life. By chance, my gaze fell on the face of the Most Holy Theotokos and Mary's heart melted. In an instant she realized all the horror and depravity of her life. The saint bitterly regretted what she had done and wept, praying to the Theotokos to let her into the church. Finally, the threshold of the temple opened before her and going inside, Mary of Egypt fell down before the Cross of the Lord.

After this incident, with a small piece of bread, Mary went across the Jordan River and spent 47 years in solitude and prayer. The saint devoted 17 years to repenting and struggling with fornication; she spent the rest of her time in prayer and repentance. Two years before her holy death, Mary of Egypt met with the elder Zosima, asked him to take communion with her the next year, and when she received the Holy Gifts, she soon departed into another world in blissful dormition.

Icons of the venerable hermit

On the icon, Mary of Egypt is depicted in different ways. On some, she is painted half-naked, since from a long stay in the desert, all the clothes of the saint decayed and only the himation (cloak) of the elder Zosima covers her. Often on such icons the saint is painted with crossed arms.

On another icon, Mary of Egypt holds a cross in her hand, and the other one points to it. Often they write a saint with already loose gray hair with arms folded across the chest, palms open. This gesture means that the saint belongs to Christ and at the same time it is a symbol of the Cross.

The position of the hands on the icon of Mary of Egypt may be different. For example, if the middle and index fingers is a speaking gesture. In other words, prayer of repentance.

The saint helps everyone who resorts to her help. People who are confused in life, at a crossroads, can sincerely pray to the reverend and will no doubt accept help. The open palms on the chest, written on the icon of Mary of Egypt, mean that she received grace.

How does a saint help?

You need to ask Mary of Egypt for forgiveness for your sins. She especially helps penitent women. But for sincere repentance, you need to work hard, reconsider your life, pray earnestly, do not miss church services, lead a righteous, if possible, life, and so on.

How else does the icon of Mary of Egypt help? It is believed that in order to make amends with someone, one should pray in front of the saint's icon, first light a candle or lamp and sincerely ask for forgiveness before God, asking Mary of Egypt to be the mediator between the penitent and the Lord.

Icon with the life of Mary of Egypt

It is known that the saint shared the story of her life with the holy elder Zosima. He personally saw her walking on water as if on dry land and saw the saint standing in the air during prayer.

On many icons, Mary of Egypt is depicted in the middle with her hands raised in prayer, and the elder Zosima is kneeling in front of her, fragments of individual events of her life are written around. For example, how she crossed the Jordan as if by land, how she took communion of the Holy Gifts, the death of the venerable one, and other events. Elder Zosima is also depicted several times.

One legend is known: when Mary of Egypt died, the elder could not bury her, since he had nothing to dig a grave in the desert. Suddenly, a meek lion appears and digs a hole with his paws, into which the elder put the incorruptible remains of St. Mary of Egypt. This event is also depicted on the icon of the venerable hermit.

There are many icons where only one event from the life of the saint is written. For example, where she receives the Holy Gifts from the hands of the elder Zosima or where Mary of Egypt crosses the Jordan. There is an icon depicting how the saint prays to the Mother of God and the Baby sitting on Her lap.

Any believer, knowing the life story of St. Mary of Egypt, loving and admiring the feat of this unusual woman, will never confuse the icon of St. Mary of Egypt with the icon of another saint.

The Life of the Reverend Mary of Egypt- one of the greatest saints in the history of Christianity. Mary of Egypt- saint, is considered the patroness of the penitent.

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 like this, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “You, Zosima, as a human being, labored well, but not a single one of the people is righteous ( Rome. 3, 10). So that you 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 located near the Jordan.

Abba Zosima immediately left the monastery, and after the Angel came the Jordanian monastery and settled in it.

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 forgiveness from each other, took a blessing from the abbot and under the general singing of a psalm The Lord is my light 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 did it end great post, the monks returned to the monastery for Palm Sunday with the fruit of your work Rome. 6, 21-22), having tested his 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 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.

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 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 down 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. You also live by it, because for this I was sent to this desert, so that God would make all your fasting deeds obvious 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. 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 though the death of the sinner, and patiently awaiting 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, Holy 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 answered. 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, I exclaimed to the Mother of God: “Lady Mistress, do not leave me. wicked sinners, but help me, ”and immediately she left the church narthex 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 wilderness?” “I think,” she replied, 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, slowly they 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 not accept any temptations from sudden applications and temptations? “Believe me, Abba Zosima,” answered the venerable one, “I spent 17 years in this desert, as if fighting with fierce beasts with my thoughts… When I began to eat food, the thought immediately came to me about meat and fish, which I got used 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 fornication 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 wilderness. The dress that I was wearing 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 fed and covered myself with the word of God, containing everything ( Deut. 8, 3), because Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (Matt. 4, 4 ; OK. 4, 4), and those who are not covered with stones will be clothed with stones (Job. 24, 8), if they put off the sinful garment (Qty. 3, 9). 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 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 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. Is it the Word of God Itself, living and all-creative, teaches a man every reason (Qty. 3, 16 ; 2 Pet. 1, 21 ; 1 Thess. 2, 13). However, enough, I have already confessed my whole life to you, but where 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 won’t be able to… And when the holy Maundy Thursday the Last Supper of the Lord, put into the holy vessel the Life-Giving Body and Blood of Christ our God, 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 heed to yourself and your flock ( Acts. 20, 23 ; 1 Tim. 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 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 has shown 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 came to a dry stream, on east side whom 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 ground was too dry. No matter how much he dug, drenched in sweat, 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 was amazed, 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 marvelous story about the life of the Monk 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 convey 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 please 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.

Akathist to Mary of Egypt

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 the icon of the Mother of God at the entrance to the temple, 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 prime example repentance.

Complete Life of Saint Mary of Egypt

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). 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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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, Holy 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.

“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.

Abba Zosima asked the nun: “How many years, my mother, have passed since you settled in this wilderness?” “I think,” she answered, “47 years have passed since I left the Holy City.”

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 fornication 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.

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. The dress that I was wearing 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 :9). 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.

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 Lord's Last Supper arrives, 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.

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 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 was amazed, 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.

“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.

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.

Related material

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, hairstyle 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 beautiful life, as she immediately lost her virginity and began to serve first the slaves, then the owners 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 the 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. If there had been another harlot in her place, she would have asked for 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. The fire of lust burned unbearably inside, and it was not physiological need or some feature - she was well aware that she was possessed by some kind of diabolical power. 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.