Fr. Daniel☦️@Fragbaza
This is the holy harlot. Her sins were so terrible that demons wouldn't let her into the temple. And now one of the main services of Lent is celebrated in her honour. This is Mary of Egypt.
She didn't earn a living through fornication—for her, it was the meaning of life. At 17, she found herself on a ship carrying pilgrims to Jerusalem. There, she entertained herself with young sailors. She arrived in the Holy City, but Jerusalem, too, became a place of debauchery for her.
And then comes the great feast. Everyone goes to the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, but Mary can't enter. Every time she touches the threshold, she's thrown back against the wall. Everyone else enters, but she can't. And then Mary realizes: her debauchery has separated her from God. She becomes afraid, she weeps, sees the icon of the Mother of God, turns to the Mother of God, and vows to change her life.
After this, she was released—she entered the temple and venerated the holy relics. Then she went to the Jordan, where she received the Body and Blood of Christ, and the next day she went into the desert.
There begins the real battle with the devil. She was consumed by lustful desires, memories of wine and men. When her strength failed her, she remembered her promise to the Mother of God to change. She slept on the bare ground and ate desert grass. Only after 17 years was she able to free herself from this lustful passion.
Then the monk Zosima saw her in the desert, gave her communion, buried her, and recorded her story. Think about it: he saw the repentant harlot hovering above the ground while praying.
And now, in memory of Mary of Egypt, the longest service of the year is celebrated. It includes readings of the Great Canon of Andrew of Crete in its entirety and the life of Mary of Egypt. And this service puts our understanding of fasting into perspective.
Lent isn't about swapping out regular foods for Lenten ones. You need to change. When you feel like you're too dirty, like there's no forgiveness, like your addiction is stronger than you, remember Mary of Egypt. When you think there's no God and you have no sins, remember how the demons kept her from entering the temple.
Cry for your sins, ask God for help, because without God you will not change, but only perish.
