St. Mary of Egypt

[Akathist]

This wonderful Saint's day has just passed. I try to read her life story each year during this part of Lent (as my SF has recommended this for everyone in our church.)

Sometimes the Priest reads the story to all of us in the fellowship hall after a Vesper's service or a Presanctified during Lent. This year he is sick with a flu that won't fully go away so he has just recommended we read it.

I thought I would post a link to it for others to look at:
http://www.monachos.net/library/Mary_of_Egypt,_Complete_Life_by_Patriarch_Sophronius_of_Jerusalem

[Tsarina]

Thank you so much for putting that up! She's my Patron Saint and i never ever get tired of reading about her life.

God Bless!

[gentlestorm]

This is one of, if not my very most, favorite saint story.
It always brings tears.
Thanks for reminding me.

[copticorthodoxy]

She is a great saint in all the Apostolic churches OO , EO and RC

[Michael the Iconographer]

She is a great saint in all the Apostolic churches OO , EO and RC
There are those of us who do not regard the RC as being Apostolic.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Both icons are by me.

[gentlestorm]

There are those of us who do not regard the RC as being Apostolic.
wiseacre comment omitted by rare moment of conscience.

[Michael the Iconographer]

wiseacre comment omitted by rare moment of conscience.
This is an Orthodox forum. You must expect us to take the Orthodox stand on the Great Schism, and many Orthodox do not regard Rome as being Apostolic but rather schismatic from Holy Orthodoxy. Now, back to the OP.

[Michael the Iconographer]

http://www.oca.org/CHRIST-thoughts-article.asp?SID=6&ID=270

March 25, 2007 - Bulletin 21, Volume XLIV
St. Mary of Egypt, Marilyn and Anna Nicole
Written by the Very Rev. Vladimir Berzonsky

Printer Friendly Format


“Having been a sinful woman you became a Bride of Christ O most glorious Mary, you are a Bride of the Kingdom” (From Kondakion of Mary of Egypt Feast)
Three women, the first separated by centuries from the other two, the latter two a generation apart. They share promiscuity, the primeval manner of selling their bodies to get what they want from a world controlled by men. Each became notorious for her beauty and fame: St. Mary in Alexandria, the Las Vegas of her era; our two contemporaries in America’s hot spots and tabloids.

What marks them as different is the way their lives ended. The first died in the desert, the others appropriately in their beds. St. Mary is honored as the role model for all whose lives were radically transformed through faith in Jesus Christ. Not by accident is her life recalled on the Sunday of Great Lent before Palm Sunday. She proved how radically one’s life can be transfigured through the grace of the Holy Spirit for one who abandons herself to Christ. She related her tale to St. Zosimas, a monk of Palestine. The Lord must have sent an angel who told her to join the pilgrims from Egypt going to Jerusalem for the Cross Exaltation Feast. She paid her fare the only way she knew how – to offer her body. Some force (was it the same angel?) prevented her from entering the temple with the crowd, and she realized how sinful was her way of life. She didn’t belong with true believers. And what she related to St. Zosimas explained how he found her – alone, shriveled, burnt by the sun, and yet full of spiritual fire.

The other two, Marilyn Monroe and Anna Nicole Smith recently departed this life, were not as fortunate as St. Mary. Nothing as life-shattering happened to either of them. Both ended this lifetime prematurely, both addicted to sedatives of some sort to help them fall asleep – and no wonder. Neither ever learned what St. Mary discovered – only Jesus Christ can fulfill the yearning of the soul. Christ alone is the greatest Lover, who satisfies the longings of our bodies, souls and minds. To accept men in a woman’s life without having him grow together with her beyond the bedroom and forward through a lifetime of experiences is to be left unfulfilled and alone. Such women must go to bed alone just for sleep, yet when sleep won’t come, they look to the pharmacist to provide something that will free the soul of guilt and offer them peace of mind.

To live in these times is to have the lives of such “celebrities” thrust upon us whether we want to know about them or not. I don’t recall any formal religion mentioned in Marilyn’s case, but Anna Nicole wore a huge cross pendant at various times. Did it have some spiritual meaning, or was it just bling? In any case, there appears to have been nobody who would explain to her the outcome of rampant promiscuity. No pastor told her that she would never discover true love in the arms of one man after another. That she was the object of night time comedians. That even now those who claim her infant do so in order to manage the money that comes with the baby.

Anna Nicole made Marilyn her role model, and she ended up just as her prototype. Dreaming of fortune and fame, they offered their bodies to men who would make it happen. They used their bodies but abused their souls. Americans prefer to have our stories come to a happy end, but it wasn’t to be for those symbols of the “good life.” Yet I wonder how many of our nation’s women would consider St. Mary of Egypt a success?

[gentlestorm]

Both icons are by me.

Quite beautiful and spiritually provoking.

[gentlestorm]

This is an Orthodox forum. You must expect us to take the Orthodox stand on the Great Schism, and many Orthodox do not regard Rome as being Apostolic but rather schismatic from Holy Orthodoxy. Now, back to the OP.
The usual thoughtless reply.
If you perhaps would have refrained from offending me I would have come to the same conclusion by my own investigation as my interest grew and i experienced the love of Christ in your midst. What i almost always experience is this fear that Catholics will think they are okay, when they aren't. That won't help. That is fear of one's own position being threatened.
Most folks know how Orthodox view RC.
There is always a ring of arrogance and fear in it.

[choirfiend]

from the masters

http://www.thehtm.org/images/a-196.jpg

this is maybe my favorite

http://ocafs.oca.org/Icons/greatlent/maryegypt.jpg

[choirfiend]

Not always, GS. You're welcome here, even if you are one of those devilish Papists!!!;)*

[gentlestorm]

Not always, GS. You're welcome here, even if you are one of those devilish Papists!!!;)*
lol. Thanks for pulling me out of my self-pity-pit.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Troparion - Tone 8

The image of God was truly preserved in you, mother,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away,
but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, holy mother Mary, Rejoices with the angels!

Kontakion - Tone 3

Having been a sinful woman,
you became through repentance a Bride of Christ.
Having attained angelic life,
you defeated demons with the weapon of the Cross.
Therefore, most glorious Mary, you are a Bride of the Kingdom!

[copticorthodoxy]

Here are two coptic icons for St. Mary of Egypt ..the first one is Ancient Coptic art

http://st-takla.org/Pix/Saints/08-Coptic-Orthodox-Saints_Meem-Noun/St-Takla-org_Coptic-Saints_Saint-Mary-of-Egypt-02.jpg

http://st-takla.org/Pix/Saints/08-Coptic-Orthodox-Saints_Meem-Noun/St-Takla-org_Coptic-Saints_Saint-Mary-of-Egypt-01.jpg

[Michael the Iconographer]

Here are two coptic icons for St. Mary of Egypt ..the first one is Ancient Coptic art

http://st-takla.org/Pix/Saints/08-Coptic-Orthodox-Saints_Meem-Noun/St-Takla-org_Coptic-Saints_Saint-Mary-of-Egypt-02.jpg

http://st-takla.org/Pix/Saints/08-Coptic-Orthodox-Saints_Meem-Noun/St-Takla-org_Coptic-Saints_Saint-Mary-of-Egypt-01.jpg

I like the neo-Coptic icon of St. Mary of Egypt (#2). I do like her icon better when St. Zosima is in the icon as well, as is the case with #1 and the icons I have written of her.

[copticorthodoxy]

I like the neo-Coptic icon of St. Mary of Egypt (#2). I do like her icon better when St. Zosima is in the icon as well, as is the case with #1 and the icons I have written of her.

The ancient coptic icons are simple more than the modern art... did you write any coptic icon before ?

[Michael the Iconographer]

The ancient coptic icons are simple more than the modern art... did you write any coptic icon before ?
I have not written any coptic icons, but there are a few saints I would like to write coptic style icons of. Abba Moses the Ethiopian, St. Mary of Egypt, St. John the Dwarf, etc.

[EmperorConstantine]

There are those of us who do not regard the RC as being Apostolic.
I've got it!

Since some call Lutheranism "Catholic lite", how about if we called Catholicism "Orthodox lite"? :D^_^

[copticorthodoxy]

I've got it!

Since some call Lutheranism "Catholic lite", how about if we called Catholicism "Orthodox lite"? :D^_^

what lite means ?

[Michael the Iconographer]

I've got it!

Since some call Lutheranism "Catholic lite", how about if we called Catholicism "Orthodox lite"? :D^_^
But it isnt. This thread is not about Catholicism, it is about St. Mary of Egypt.

[EmperorConstantine]

Having less substance or weight or fewer calories than something else

[EmperorConstantine]

But it isnt. This thread is not about Catholicism, it is about St. Mary of Egypt.
Sorry, some things just come to you like that.


I really do have respect for her. I know for a fact that I could not survive in the wilderness.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Sorry, some things just come to you like that.


I really do have respect for her. I know for a fact that I could not survive in the wilderness.
Her living in the wilderness was the grace of God to do penance for the life she lived before that.

[Tsarina]

Both icons are by me.

Very beautiful!

[Michael the Iconographer]

Very beautiful!
Thank you.

[EmperorConstantine]

Her living in the wilderness was the grace of God to do penance for the life she lived before that.
Really?

I've now been inspired to learn more about her. Thank you.

[Akathist]

Reading about Saints always inspires me and fills me with greater love for my Church.

[Michael the Iconographer]

Reading about Saints always inspires me and fills me with greater love for my Church.
That is the point of the saints, they inspire us to a greater love of Christ!