Join St Shenouda Podcast for a profound journey into the life of Saint Mary of Egypt, a revered figure known for her extraordinary transformation from sin to sainthood.

Born in Egypt, Mary fled to Alexandria at the age of twelve and lived an extremely dissolute life for seventeen years, driven by an insatiable and irrepressible passion rather than for money. Her life took a pivotal turn when she travelled to Jerusalem, seeking more opportunities for pleasure during the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, an invisible force barred her entry, despite the doors being wide open to others. This profound rebuff led to a deep shame and realization of her impurity. Overcome with remorse, she prostrated herself before an icon of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, begging for forgiveness and vowing to live in complete obedience to God, renouncing the world and its temptations. Upon this sincere repentance, she was instantly granted entry to venerate the Holy Cross.

Guided by the Theotokos, Mary then crossed the River Jordan and embarked on a solitary life of asceticism in the desert. For forty-seven years, she wrestled painfully with temptations and past desires, suffering from harsh conditions, yet sustained by divine providence and the grace of God. She received spiritual knowledge directly from the Mother of God, never having read holy texts or attended church for decades.

Her sanctity was revealed when the wise monk, Father Zosimas, seeking spiritual guidance, encountered her in the desolate Trans-Jordan desert. Astonished by her spiritual insight, Mary knew his name, his priestly rank, and even his monastery's customs, despite never having met him before. Their encounters highlight a powerful reversal: the venerable priest becoming a disciple to the penitent sinner. She famously walked on water to receive Holy Communion from him on Holy Thursday, declaring, "Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace".

St. Mary of Egypt died shortly after receiving communion, her body later found by Zosimas and miraculously buried with the assistance of a lion. Her story, initially preserved through oral tradition, was later written down by Sophronius of Jerusalem and continues to be a powerful testament to the transformative power of repentance and divine grace.

The Church commemorates Saint Mary of Egypt on April 1st and the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, holding her up as an enduring example of radical change possible through God's love and forgiveness. Her life reminds us that God "receives those who repent" and offers a path to reconnection with our Creator.

Tune in to learn how her life serves as a model of deep humility, total honesty, and courageous surrender to God's will, inspiring us all to draw closer to Him, especially during the Lenten season.