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Saint Venerable Mary of Egypt
Saint Mary of Egipt, called the Egyptian, lived in the middle of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th century. Her youth did not bode well. Mary was only twelve years old when she left her home in the city of Alexandria. Being free from parental supervision, young and inexperienced, Mary was carried away by a vicious life. There was no one to stop her on the path to destruction, and there were many seducers and temptations. So Mary lived in sin for 17 years, until the merciful Lord turned her to repentance.
It happened like this. By coincidence, Mary joined a group of pilgrims heading to the Holy Land. Sailing with the pilgrims on a ship, Mary did not stop seducing people and sinning. Having arrived in Jerusalem, she joined the pilgrims heading to the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.
A large crowd of people entered the temple, but Mary was stopped at the entrance by an invisible hand and could not enter it with any effort. Here she realized that the Lord did not allow her to enter the holy place because of her impurity.
Seized with horror and a feeling of deep repentance, she began to pray to God to forgive her sins, promising to radically correct her life. Seeing the icon of the Mother of God at the entrance to the temple, Mary began to ask the Mother of God to intercede for her before God. After this, she immediately felt enlightenment in her soul and entered the temple without hindrance. Shedding abundant tears at the tomb of the Lord, she left the temple a completely different person.
Mary fulfilled her promise to change her life. From Jerusalem, she withdrew to the harsh and deserted Jordan desert and there spent almost half a century in complete solitude, fasting and prayer. Thus, through severe exploits, Mary of Egypt completely eradicated all sinful desires in herself and made her heart a pure temple of the Holy Spirit.
Elder Zosima, who lived in the Jordan Monastery of St. John the Baptist, by God's providence, was honored to meet the Venerable Mary in the desert when she was already a very old woman. He was amazed by her holiness and gift of clairvoyance. Once he saw her during prayer as if she had risen above the earth, and another time - walking across the Jordan River, as if on dry land.
Parting with Zosima, the Venerable Mary asked him to come to the desert again in a year to give her communion. The elder returned at the appointed time and gave the Venerable Mary the Holy Mysteries. Then, coming to the desert another year later in the hope of seeing the saint, he no longer found her alive. The elder buried the remains of St. Mary there in the desert, in which he was helped by a lion, who dug a hole with his claws for the burial of the body of the righteous woman. This was approximately in the year 521.
Thus, from a great sinner, Saint Mary became, with God’s help, the greatest saint and left such a striking example of repentance.
In the fields are the saints: John the Baptist and Paraskeva Friday
🖼 Product Features
Each icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.
- Crafted on a premium wood panel — 1.6 cm (0.6") thick, sturdy yet lightweight
- Fade-resistant pigment print — rich, true-to-life colors that last for generations
- Natural beeswax finish — hand-applied for depth, protection, and a traditional feel
- Ready to hang — metal hook pre-attached on the reverse
- Hand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal
📏 Available Sizes
• Small – 12 x 15 cm (5” x 6”)
• Medium – 23 x 30 cm (9” x 12”)
• Large – 30 x 39 cm (12” x 15”)
🎁 Perfect For
• Meaningful Orthodox Christian gifts
• Housewarming and family blessings
• Prayer corners and devotional spaces
• Baptisms, name days, weddings, and feast days
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Securely packed and shipped worldwide from Portugal with tracking.
✨ Crafted with Tradition
Each icon is carefully made by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal — created to become a lasting blessing for your home or a treasured gift for someone you love.
