Saint Mary of Egypt
Seventeen years of debauchery, then nearly half a century of repentance in the desert. The living icon that no one is too far gone to return.
- Commemoration
- April 1 and on the 5th Sunday of Great Lent
- Repose
- † sec. V
Life
Her life is one of the most striking proofs that no one is too far gone to return. She was from Egypt. She left home at twelve years old, for Alexandria, and lived there for about seventeen years in debauchery — not out of need, but from a passion that completely mastered her.
One day she joined some pilgrims heading to Jerusalem, with no thought of repentance. But when she wanted to enter the church of the Holy Sepulchre, at the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, an unseen power stopped her on the threshold. She tried again and again, and could not pass. Then something broke inside her. She wept before an icon of the Mother of God and promised to fundamentally change her life.
She crossed the Jordan and plunged into the desert beyond, where she lived alone, in the harshest repentance, for almost forty-seven years, without anyone seeing her. She was found, towards the end, by a priest-monk, Zosimas. He saw things he couldn't believe: a woman praying lifted off the ground, crossing the Jordan walking on water, knowing the Scripture by heart although she had never read a book.
She asked Zosimas to bring her Holy Communion, and shortly after that she fell asleep. Her life, written by Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem, is read entirely every year, during Great Lent. She is the living icon of repentance: no matter how low a person may have fallen, God's grace can lift them up to holiness.
Holy Venerable Mary of Egypt, you who rose from the deepest fall to the highest holiness, pray for me, that I may believe no sin is too great for God's mercy. Amen.
Prayer (in simple words)
Holy Venerable Mary of Egypt, you who were stopped at the threshold by an unseen power and there understood the depth of your sins, stop me too from the wrong path before it is too late. You who wept before the icon of the Mother of God and changed your life from its foundations, give me too that resolve, that I may no longer delay my repentance. And you, who found in the desert a freedom you had never known in all the years of enslavement to passion, teach me that true freedom is won by renouncing, not by gathering. Amen.
Akathist
Prayers read before any Akathist
Kontakion 1
To the angel of light and the morning star of the desert let us bring praises, we who marvel at her supernatural ascetic struggles. But you, as one who defeated Beliar by the power of the Cross and obtained the crown of glory from God, pray to the Master Christ, to deliver us from sins, we who sing to you: Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Oikos 1
You were an earthly angel, Most Venerable Mother, and now you are a heavenly human, rejoicing ineffably in the light of the divinity, in which you rejoice forever, and we, who marvel at the beauty of your grace, praise you thus:
- Rejoice, bride of Christ for eternity;
- Rejoice, most wise Mother;
- Rejoice, luminous ray of Egypt;
- Rejoice, most beloved daughter of the Mother of God;
- Rejoice, for in your ascetic struggles you were comforted;
- Rejoice, for you won the Heavenly Kingdom;
- Rejoice, for the power of the Holy Cross helped you;
- Rejoice, for in the choir of the Most Venerable Fathers you shine with heavenly light;
- Rejoice, for together with the Holy Myrrh-bearers and with all the Venerable women you rejoice;
- Rejoice, teacher of continence;
- Rejoice, crown of the Church;
- Rejoice, encouragement of the hermits;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 2
It is good to discover the works of God, hidden in His chosen ones, for the benefit of the soul, thought Saint Sophronius, hearing from the Venerable Zosimas your most luminous acts, Most Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt, and we, the infirm, marveling much at your supernatural harsh ascetic struggles, in great humility cry to God, He who wonderfully glorifies Himself in His saints: Alleluia!
Oikos 2
God willing to place you in the eternal happiness of heaven, called you from Egypt to the hermit life and, listening to the call of the Most Holy Mother of God, you spent forty-seven years in the deepest desert of the Jordan, in many and great ascetic struggles, you dedicated your life to Christ, your Bridegroom, for which we, the humble, with the Heavenly Powers, praise you thus:
- Rejoice, for you renounced fornication;
- Rejoice, for, leaving Egypt, you ran to Jerusalem;
- Rejoice, for, praying to the Most Pure Virgin, with hot tears you entered the church very easily;
- Rejoice, for you bowed down to the honorable and life-giving Cross;
- Rejoice, for then the eyes of your soul were illumined;
- Rejoice, for the Mother of God spoke to you from the icon;
- Rejoice, for she ordered you to cross the Jordan;
- Rejoice, Mother Mary, much praised;
- Rejoice, for in the desert you were illumined by the Holy Spirit;
- Rejoice, light-bearing star;
- Rejoice, protector of those who honor you;
- Rejoice, spirit of prayer with sweet relief;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 3
Your body was enslaved by passions, for seventeen years, but through harsh living, through tears of repentance and unceasing prayer to the Most Holy Virgin, you received her help, and in the humility of heart you sing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 3
Leaving sin, you ran into the desert of the Jordan, where with only two and a half loaves of bread you fed yourself for seventeen years, carrying the hardest struggles with hunger, with thirst, with the hauntings of impure thoughts and with the spirit of fornication that consumed you, but after these trials, you were completely relieved and you fed yourself for thirty years with roots and herbs, living like an angel in the flesh, for which we beatify you with humility, singing thus:
- Rejoice, Venerable heavenly mother;
- Rejoice, daughter of Egypt, chosen by the Mother of God;
- Rejoice, for you completely renounced sin;
- Rejoice, for, drying up your body with hunger and thirst, you escaped the ugly passions;
- Rejoice, for you prayed to the Holy Virgin;
- Rejoice, for you obtained her prompt help;
- Rejoice, for through your pure life the desert was sanctified;
- Rejoice, for toiling much, you received the crown of glory;
- Rejoice, most wise guide;
- Rejoice, wonderful inhabitant of the desert;
- Rejoice, spring of spiritual tears;
- Rejoice, terror of evil spirits;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 4
Through the hermit life you illumined your mind, and you cleansed your nature of evil impulses. Help us, Most Venerable Mother, to rise also from sin, through fasting and through prayers, to sanctify our nature, so that together with you, we may sing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 4
You are the hope and the strengthening of the despairing, Most Venerable Mother Mary, for we seeing your choice, from sinful living to high spiritual living, we hope in the salvation of the soul and we sing praising you thus:
- Rejoice, our consolation;
- Rejoice, spiritual relief;
- Rejoice, for you defeated the old man with continence;
- Rejoice, invincible fortress;
- Rejoice, open door to Paradise;
- Rejoice, for you were illumined by the Holy Spirit;
- Rejoice, spiritual house built on rock;
- Rejoice, for you defeated the power of the enemy;
- Rejoice, good fragrance of the desert;
- Rejoice, for you endured the cold of the night and the heat of the sun;
- Rejoice, our guide;
- Rejoice, deliverer from passions of those who pray to you;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 5
The Venerable Zosimas, traversing the desert of the Jordan, spending in harsh fasting and unceasing prayers, finding you, Most Venerable Mother Mary, an angel in the flesh, clothed with divine light, hastened to cry with tears to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 5
When you prayed Most Venerable Mother, you were raised from the ground and with a most luminous face, and the Venerable Zosimas, falling to the ground, asked to be blessed by you and with fear cried to you:
- Rejoice, earthly angel;
- Rejoice, heavenly human;
- Rejoice, fragrance of the divine paradise;
- Rejoice, most glorious wonder;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mary, loved by God;
- Rejoice, my humility;
- Rejoice, I cry to you with faith;
- Rejoice, much honored by the Venerable Zosimas;
- Rejoice, spiritual mother;
- Rejoice, for you teach all to save themselves;
- Rejoice, terror of the enemies;
- Rejoice, luminous star among the peoples;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 6
You cut the temptations of the soul and the passions of the body with the sword of fasting, you drowned the sins of thought with the silence of the hermitage and with the streams of your tears you watered all the desert and you sprouted for us the fruits of repentance. For this we honor your memory and we sing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 6
Truly wonderful was your life, Most Venerable Mother, and we, knowing your holy life, we strengthen ourselves and we praise you, saying:
- Rejoice, chosen example of spiritual living;
- Rejoice, our teaching for Christian living;
- Rejoice, chosen flower of Egypt;
- Rejoice, for you were gathered fruitful from the desert;
- Rejoice, light of the hermits;
- Rejoice, rest of those who toil;
- Rejoice, hope of the Christians;
- Rejoice, praise of the monks;
- Rejoice, consolation of my soul;
- Rejoice, my intercessor to God;
- Rejoice, encouragement of the monks;
- Rejoice, example to follow for sinners;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 7
You showed yourself an image of repentance, Most Venerable Mother Mary, for from a slave of the devils through sin, you showed yourself an angel of the Light and you surpassed the most ascetic hermits, and now with the choirs of the venerables you sing to God: Alleluia!
Oikos 7
Knowing nothing of the world for forty-seven years, Most Venerable Mother, and seeing neither human face nor wild beasts in this time, you asked the Venerable Zosimas: How do Christians live today? How is the Church guarded? And you rejoiced in spirit hearing that they are in peace, with the prayers of the holy hermits and of those who toil in monasteries. Of your living only in God, although you were on earth and lived in a human body, rejoicing, we the unworthy, with humility praise you:
- Rejoice, bearer of the Holy Spirit;
- Rejoice, sweet-smelling myrrh;
- Rejoice, for you completely separated yourself from the world;
- Rejoice, for you much loved the stillness of the desert;
- Rejoice, for you toiled forty-seven years in the desert;
- Rejoice, living offspring of the Holy Spirit;
- Rejoice, for you ran to the protection of the Mother of God;
- Rejoice, for in evil temptations, she helped you;
- Rejoice, for on the evening of the Lord's Supper, you were deemed worthy of Holy Communion;
- Rejoice, for the lion prepared the burial place for you;
- Rejoice, protector of the Church;
- Rejoice, comforter of those who run to you;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 8
Powerless is the word, and the mind cannot understand the divine work that was done with you, Most Venerable Mother Mary, for from the abyss of sins you came out immediately and from the spring of life you were watered, singing with joy in the Holy Spirit: Alleluia!
Oikos 8
Truly wonderful is the mystery of your return from the paths of perdition to a holy and pure life, through supernatural ascetic struggles. God, with His great mercy, clothed you in heavenly light, for which we, with tears, in the humility of heart, praise you saying:
- Rejoice, hope of the salvation of sinners;
- Rejoice, endless joy of the Christians;
- Rejoice, awakening of the virgins;
- Rejoice, our fervent pray-er to God;
- Rejoice, joy of the pious parents;
- Rejoice, wisdom of the young;
- Rejoice, honoring of the widows;
- Rejoice, deliverance of those in danger;
- Rejoice, protector of those who live in virginity;
- Rejoice, heavenly dispassion;
- Rejoice, patience of the tempted;
- Rejoice, our fervent pray-er to the Lord;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 9
You give me a luminous gift from above, Most Venerable Mother, from your divine fervor, that I may escape the darkness of passions and praise from the heart your most beautiful deeds, singing to the Lord in joy: Alleluia!
Oikos 9
With fervor and with love you ran to Christ, following the path of the sinner's return, toiling much in the untrodden deserts and fulfilling the divine commandments, for which we with humility and with tears praise you:
- Rejoice, most wonderful crown of the ascetics;
- Rejoice, you who give counsels of mystery;
- Rejoice, spiritual offspring of the desert;
- Rejoice, divine fire of zeal;
- Rejoice, mysterious work of salvation;
- Rejoice, for you urge to repentance;
- Rejoice, banishment of worldly vanity;
- Rejoice, unquenchable torch of the desert;
- Rejoice, chaser of human passions;
- Rejoice, illumination of Christian souls;
- Rejoice, lightning that burns the spirits of Satan;
- Rejoice, unplundered fortress of faith;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 10
Who will be able to interpret the joy of the angels for your return, for you had your body sunk in fornication and your mind enslaved by deceit, but afterwards, through repentance and burning tears, you made yourself the bride of Christ and the most chosen dwelling of the Holy Spirit, and we, having you as intercessor, we glorify God and with humility sing to Him: Alleluia!
Oikos 10
Daughter of the unapproachable Light, the Light of the world illuminating you, called you to Itself and you found the gift of the Holy Spirit, Most Venerable Mother, for which we, beatifying you, praise you saying:
- Rejoice, for you were taught the Holy Scriptures by the angels;
- Rejoice, for you were praised by the Venerable Zosimas;
- Rejoice, for you were welcomed by the angels;
- Rejoice, divine wisdom;
- Rejoice, our spiritual light;
- Rejoice, spring of prayer;
- Rejoice, increase of spiritual asceticism;
- Rejoice, light of the desert;
- Rejoice, garden of monastic virtues;
- Rejoice, mind illumined by the Holy Spirit;
- Rejoice, for at prayer you were raised from the ground;
- Rejoice, guide of the monks;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 11
You gladdened all the angelic hosts and the human assemblies with your luminous life, for you surpassing nature and living like the bodiless ones, you showed yourself an angel of the desert and a light to humanity, singing to God unceasingly: Alleluia!
Oikos 11
Most Venerable Mother, you who live with the angels and the saints in the heavens, pray the Merciful God to deliver us from the afflictions that surround us, so that full of gratitude we may sing to you:
- Rejoice, our consolation;
- Rejoice, sweet relief of those who suffer spiritually;
- Rejoice, for you live with the angelic powers;
- Rejoice, for you rejoice with the Holy Women;
- Rejoice, most glorious crown of the Venerables;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mary, praise of Egypt;
- Rejoice, for, making the sign of the Holy Cross, you walked on the waters of the Jordan;
- Rejoice, hidden life in the desert;
- Rejoice, for through this, you acquired the Heavenly Kingdom;
- Rejoice, for us you pray with much ardor;
- Rejoice, raising of the sinners;
- Rejoice, chaser of the demons;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 12
Bringing with fervor a prayer even now, Most Venerable Mother Mary, to the Most Pure Mother of God, open to us also the divine compassions, to sing, in the joy of the heart, to the Most Merciful God: Alleluia!
Oikos 12
Praising your ascetic struggles, we glorify God, He who deemed you worthy to be an intercessor for us, who sing to you:
- Rejoice, spiritual wisdom;
- Rejoice, divine ambrosia;
- Rejoice, seraphic flame;
- Rejoice, winged prayer;
- Rejoice, deep humility;
- Rejoice, angel with human nature;
- Rejoice, our heavenly gift;
- Rejoice, perfect faith through action;
- Rejoice, mother blessed by God;
- Rejoice, Venerable Mary, much loved by the Mother of God;
- Rejoice, our intercessor;
- Rejoice, comforter of hearts;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 13
O, Most Venerable Mother Mary of Egypt, you who shine in the light of the divinity, pray the Merciful God to give us forgiveness of sins, so that in the Heavenly Kingdom, together with the saints and the angels we may forever sing to Him: Alleluia! (three times)
Then Oikos 1 is said again: You were an earthly angel... and Kontakion 1: To the angel of light and the morning star of the desert ...
Oikos 1
You were an earthly angel, Most Venerable Mother, and now you are a heavenly human, rejoicing ineffably in the light of the divinity, in which you rejoice forever, and we, who marvel at the beauty of your grace, praise you thus:
- Rejoice, bride of Christ for eternity;
- Rejoice, most wise Mother;
- Rejoice, luminous ray of Egypt;
- Rejoice, most beloved daughter of the Mother of God;
- Rejoice, for in your ascetic struggles you were comforted;
- Rejoice, for you won the Heavenly Kingdom;
- Rejoice, for the power of the Holy Cross helped you;
- Rejoice, for in the choir of the Most Venerable Fathers you shine with heavenly light;
- Rejoice, for together with the Holy Myrrh-bearers and with all the Venerable women you rejoice;
- Rejoice, teacher of continence;
- Rejoice, crown of the Church;
- Rejoice, encouragement of the hermits;
- Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Kontakion 1
To the angel of light and the morning star of the desert let us bring praises, we who marvel at her supernatural ascetic struggles. But you, as one who defeated Beliar by the power of the Cross and obtained the crown of glory from God, pray to the Master Christ, to deliver us from sins, we who sing to you: Rejoice, Most Venerable Mother Mary, much helpful!
Source: Doxologia.ro. Prayer text taken from public Orthodox sources; rights remain with their authors and translators. Devotional, non-commercial use. May be removed on request.