October 4, 1998
St.
Mary of Alexandria --
A 'Desert Father' in Disguise
BEGIN: Upon the death of Mary’s mother, her father,
Evgenios, resolved to dedicate his life completely to God; therefore, he became a monk.
Mary also desired to betroth herself to Christ. However, she did not wish to be separated
from her father. Hence, our venerable mother discarded her feminine apparel and donned
men’s clothing. She then cropped her hair in a manly fashion and assumed the name of
Marinos. Under this disguise, she entered the very same monastery as her father near
Alexandria of Egypt. Soon after, however, her father reposed in the Lord.
Mary was then tonsured and kept the name of Marinos. Though her tasks (obediences)
involved laboring with the younger monks, no one ever thought that the young Fr. Marinos
might be a woman.
Nearby the monastery, there was an inn. Once, it became necessary, during a monastic
obedience outside the monastery, that Fr. Marinos lodge at the inn. The innkeeper’s
wayward daughter, believing that Fr. Marinos was a man, burned with desire for the young
monk. After pursuing the monk and humiliating herself when repulsed by Mary, the wanton
innkeeper’s daughter sought revenge. She accused the righteous Fr. Marinos of
seducing her. She did this because she already had illicit relations with a soldier and
had conceived by him.
Mary gladly accepted this false accusation and the reproach that went with it. She even
went so far as to admit that she committed sin with the innkeeper’s daughter. In
time, the innkeeper’s daughter brought forth a son. At this point, Mary was expelled
from the monastery when the newborn was entrusted to her. Henceforth, she was expected to
support and bring up the lad.
The responsibility, anxiety, and care of rearing and feeding another’s infant was
something that the ever-memorable one voluntarily endured with much hardship and public
scorn. During this time, the innkeeper’s daughter went mad when she became possessed
by an evil demon. After three years of enduring deprivation, Mary, inspired by God,
re-entered the same monastery again, together with her foster son.
It was there that she dwelt until her blessed repose in 508. When preparations were being
made for the burial, it was only then discovered that Monk Marinos was actually a woman.
When the innkeeper’s daughter touched the precious relics of Mary, she was
immediately healed from demonic possession, and admitted that the actual father was some
soldier.
At this unexpected turn of events, the abbot of the monastery and all the brotherhood, who
formerly accused the holy one of being wretched and depraved, now called Mary blessed and
worthy of great honor. END.
from "The Lives of the Spiritual Mothers," (Buena Vista, California:
Holy Apostles Convent, 1991), pp. 70-72.
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