| ST. JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH |
| St. James - 195 North Main Street, Milpitas, Ca 95035 (408) 509 - 8802 |
| More about the Saint |
| Midnight Prayers 7:00am Matins Prayers 8:00am Divine Liturgy 10:30am |
St. Mary of Egypt
She was born in Alexandria in the 5th century,
and from the time she was twelve years old, lived
as a prostitute. One day, she saw a crowd of
people heading for the docks and inquired of them
their destination and purpose. Someone explained
that they were sailing to Jerusalem to the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher to venerate the true Cross.
Mary decided to accompany them and offered her
body in exchange for passage. When she arrived
at Jerusalem, she tried to enter the Church but
something prevented her from entering. She tried
several times without success.
She was born in Alexandria in the 5th century,
and from the time she was twelve years old, lived
as a prostitute. One day, she saw a crowd of
people heading for the docks and inquired of them
their destination and purpose. Someone explained
that they were sailing to Jerusalem to the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher to venerate the true Cross.
Mary decided to accompany them and offered her
body in exchange for passage. When she arrived
at Jerusalem, she tried to enter the Church but
something prevented her from entering. She tried
several times without success.
| Zosima asked St. Mary: "But what food do you find?" The woman said: "I had two and a half loaves when I crossed the Jordan. Soon they dried up and became hard as rock. Eating a little I gradually finished them after a few years. |
| Zosima asked: "Can it be that you did not need food and clothing?" She answered: "After finishing the loaves I had, of which I spoke, for seventeen years I have fed on herbs and all that can be found in the desert |
Soon she realized that it was because of her sinful life that she was denied
entrance. Weeping, she came to her true repentance and promised God that if she
were allowed to venerate the Holy Cross, she would leave her old ways behind
and do as He willed. Mary was then able to enter the church. Afterwards, the
Holy Spirit led her across the Jordan and into the desert, where she spent forty-
seven years struggling against her passions and repenting of her former life. St.
Mary told Abba Zosima, a priest from Palestine, "Believe me, Abba, seventeen
years I passed in this desert fighting wild beasts—mad desires and passions.
entrance. Weeping, she came to her true repentance and promised God that if she
were allowed to venerate the Holy Cross, she would leave her old ways behind
and do as He willed. Mary was then able to enter the church. Afterwards, the
Holy Spirit led her across the Jordan and into the desert, where she spent forty-
seven years struggling against her passions and repenting of her former life. St.
Mary told Abba Zosima, a priest from Palestine, "Believe me, Abba, seventeen
years I passed in this desert fighting wild beasts—mad desires and passions.
| There was a certain elder in one of the monasteries of Palestine, a priest of the holy life named Zosima. He went into Jordan to find one who can satisfy his thirst for more monastic wisdom. Eventually he found St. Mary |
| St. Mary fell asleep in the Lord on April 1, 522 |
A Jerusalem Parish of the Greek Archdiocese