Among the holy icons, staring at us from the walls of the Orthodox churches, there is one on which involuntarily stops glance.It depicts the figure of a woman.Her thin, Haggard body wrapped old cloak.The dark, almost black skin from sunburn woman scorched desert sun.In her hands a cross made of dried cane stalks.This is the greatest Christian saint, has become a symbol of repentance - the nun Mary of Egypt.Icon sends us its strict ascetic features.
sinful life of a young Mary
On the life and exploits of the nun told the world the Holy Father Zosima.By the will of God, he met her in the depths of the desert, and where he went, away from the world to carry out the Great Lent in fasting and prayer.There, on the sun-baked earth, it was revealed to St. Mary of Egypt.Icon Nun often portrays the meeting.She confessed to him, telling the amazing story of his life.
She was born in the end of V century in Egypt.But it so happened that in her youth, Mary was far from unquestioning obedience to the commandments of God.Moreover, unbridled passion and lack of wise and godly mentors young girl turned into a vessel of sin.She was only twelve years old when she left her parents' house in Alexandria, was left to itself in a world full of vice and temptation.And the dire consequences were immediate.
Soon Mary indulged unrestrained debauchery.The purpose of her life has been reduced to that to entice and engage in harmful sin as many men.According to her own admission, she never took money from them.On the contrary, Maria earned a living by honest labor.Debauchery was her source of income - it was a sense of her life.This went on for 17 years.
turning point in the life of Mary
But once the event occurred, which completely changed the whole way of life the young sinner.The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and from Egypt to Jerusalem to send a large number of pilgrims.The way they lay on the sea.Maria, among others climbed on the ship, but not in order to pay homage to the holy land of the Tree of Life-giving, and that during the long sea route thoroughly indulge in debauchery with weary men.So she found herself in the holy city.
In the temple Mary and mingled with the crowd, along with other pilgrims to the shrine started to move, when suddenly an unknown force blocked her way and pushed back.Sinner tried to repeat the attempt, but each time the same thing happened.Finally realizing that this divine power for sin would not let her in the temple, Mary was filled with the deepest regret, I beat her hands on his chest and tears begged forgiveness before the icon of the Mother of God, which saw in front of him.I am praying it was heard, and the Holy Virgin Shown girl the way to rescue her: Mary had to go to the other side of the Jordan, and off into the wilderness to repentance and knowledge of God.
Life in the desert
Since that time, Mary died for peace.Went into the desert, she was the hardest ascetic life.So, from the former whore born nun Mary of Egypt.Icon usually it was in the years of deprivation and hardship solitary life.Taken with a negligible margin of bread will soon be over, and the holy ate roots and the fact that managed to find in the desert sun issushёnnoy.Her clothes rotted with time on her, and she remained naked.Maria suffered torments from the heat and cold.So it took forty-seven years.
Once in the desert, she met an old monk at the time to remove from the world of prayer and fasting.It was a monk, that is, a minister, a priest has.Covering nudity, Mary confessed to him, telling the story of his fall and repentance.This monk was thus Zosima, tell the world about her life.Through the years and he will be numbered among the saints.
Zosima told his brother of the monastery of St. Mary's insight about her ability to see the future.Years spent in the penitential prayer, transformed not only the soul but also the body.Mary of Egypt, which is an icon of her walking on the water, acquired properties similar to those that had the flesh of the risen Christ.She really could walk on water, and in prayer on his elbow raised above the ground.
Communion Blessed Sacrament
Zosima at the request of Mary met her a year later, bringing prezhdeosvyaschёnnye Sacraments and her communion.This is the only time when the taste of the Body and Blood of the Lord St. Mary of Egypt.The icon, which is in front of you photo depicts just this moment.In parting, she asked to come to her in the desert in five years.
St. Zosima fulfilled her request, but, having come, it has found a lifeless body.He wanted to bury her remains, but the hard and rocky ground of the desert did not give his old man's hands.Then God showed a miracle - came to the aid of the holy lion.Wild animal paws dug grave where the relics of the righteous and lowered.Another icon of Mary of Egypt (photo made it to her) completes article.This is the scene of mourning and burial of a saint.
Infinity Divine Mercy Mercy Lord
comprehensive.There is no sin that would have exceeded his love for people.No wonder the Lord styled Good Shepherd.No one lost sheep would not abandoned to destruction.
heavenly Father will do everything for her treatment on the right path.What is important is the desire to purify and deep repentance.Christianity is a lot of such examples.The most striking among them - Mary Magdalene, prudent robber and, of course, Mary of Egypt, the icon, the prayer and the life of many who pointed the way out of the darkness of sin to the light of righteousness.
