Description

Mary of Egypt lived a truly incredible life. Running away from home at age 12, she spent 17 years living as a prostitute until one day, she followed a group of men traveling to Jerusalem to visit a church and see the True Cross. However, when she tried to enter the church, Mary found that she was inexplicably unable to enter. Outside the church after three failed attempts to enter, Mary saw an icon of Theotokos and prayed to be allowed to see the True Cross, and that she would follow wherever Theotokos led her for the rest of her life. She was finally allowed to enter the church, and afterwards spent the following 17 years living in the desert as an ascetic. Mary’s story serves as an inspiration: no matter how lost we have been in our lives, we can always find ourselves and find salvation in the arms of Christ.