St. Mary of Egypt lived in 6th century Palestine. Born in Egypt, from age 12 to 29 she lived a life of prostitution. She sailed by ship to Jerusalem and went to venerate the Precious Cross, but some unseen power prevented her from entering the Church. In great fear, she turned to an icon of the Mother of God and begged her to let her go in and venerate the Cross, confessing her sin and impurity. She was then allowed to enter the church. The Holy Virgin instructed her to go to the Palestinian desert where St. Mary of Egypt spent 47 years living on herbs. One time when she was standing in prayer in the desert, the monk Zossima saw her body lifted up in the air. She begged him to bring her Communion the next year. He did and in amazement saw her cross the river toward him as if it were dry land. After receiving communion, she instructed him to return the following year. He did and found her dead body there, together with a note with burial instructions, indicating she had entered eternal life a year earlier after receiving the communion, in 530 A.D. St. Mary of Egypt is commemorated on April 1 and on the Fifth Sunday of Lent.
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