Orthodox Icon of St. Mary of Egypt & St. Zosimas

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St. Mary - April 1st and the 5th Sunday of Great Lent
Troparion (Tone 5)
Enlightened by the grace of the Cross, thou wast seen to be a bright light of repentance, dispelling the darkness of passions, O all holy one. Thou didst appear as an angel in the flesh to holy Zosimas in the wilderness. Intercede with Christ for us, O Mary our righteous Mother.

St. Zosima - April 4th
Troparion (Tone 1)
Let us the faithful praise Zosimas the offspring of the wilderness, the angel in the flesh and boast of monks. And with him let us also acclaim holy Mary of Egypt whose life transcended the limits of nature; and let us cry to them: Glory to Him Who strengthened you; glory to Him Who made you holy; glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Mary the Egyptian lived in Alexandria as a harlot. At the age of 29, out of curiosity she joined a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, paying for her passage by offering herself to the sailors. Prevented from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by an invisible force, she saw an icon of the Theotokos who told her to go over the Jordan where she would find rest. There she lived the rest of her life in repentance and was divinely instructed in the Christian faith. A monk named Zosimas met her and heard her story. He brought her Holy Communion on Great and Holy Thursday. She asked him to return the next year. When he returned, he found her dead, with instructions for her burial written in the sand next to her. She reposed about the year 530.

Her entire story may be read at the following link. The Life of St. Mary

This icon is by the hand of Nick Papas of Greensburg, PA. It is from St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.

Order # udn-03