My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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THE LIFE OF SAINT MARY OF EGYPT (Part III)
When another year had passed, he (elder Zosimas) again went into the desert. He reached the same spot but could see no sign of anyone. So, raising his eyes to heaven as before, he prayed: "Show me, O Lord, Thy pure treasure, which Thou hast concealed in the desert. Show me, I pray Thee, Thine angel in the flesh, of which the world is not worthy." Then on the opposite bank of the river, her face turned toward the rising sun, he saw the Saint lying dead. Her hands were crossed according to custom and her face was turned to the East. Running up, he shed tears over the Saint's feet and kissed them, not daring to touch anything else. For a long time, he wept. Then, reciting the appointed psalms, he said the burial prayers and thought to himself: "Must I bury the body of a Saint? Or will this be contrary to her wishes?" And then he saw words traced on the ground by her head: "Abba (Father) Zosimas, bury on this spot the body of humble Mary. Return to dust what is dust and pray to the Lord for me, who departed in the month of Fermoutin of Egypt, called April by the Romans, on the first day, on the very night of our Lord's Passion, after having partaken of the Divine Mysteries" (Sacraments) (522 A.D.).
Reading this, the elder was glad to know the Saint's name. He understood, too, that as soon as she had partaken of the Divine Mysteries on the shore of the Jordan she was at once transported to the place where she died. The distance that Zosimas had taken twenty days to cover Mary had evidently traversed in an hour and had at once surrendered her soul to God.
Then Zosimas thought: "It is time to do as she wished. But how am I to dig a grave with nothing in my hands?" And then he saw a small piece of wood left by some traveler in the desert. Picking it up, he began to dig the ground. But the earth was hard and dry and did not yield to the efforts of the elder. He grew tired and covered with sweat. He sighed from the depths of his soul, and, lifting up his eyes, he saw a big lion standing close to the Saint's body and licking her feet. At the sight of the lion, he trembled with fear, especially when he called to mind Mary's words that she had never seen wild beasts in the desert. But guarding himself with the sign of the Cross, the thought came to him that the power of the one lying there would protect him and keep him unharmed. Meanwhile, the lion drew nearer to him, expressing affection by every movement. Zosimas said to the lion: "The great one ordered that her body was to be buried. But I am old and have not the strength to dig the grave, so can you carry out the work with your claws? Then we can commit to the earth the mortal temple of the Saint." While he was still speaking, the lion, with its front paws, began to dig a hole deep enough to bury the body.
Again, the elder washed her feet with tears and, calling on her to pray for all, covered the body with earth in the presence of the lion. Then both departed: The lion went off into the depths of the desert like a lamb, while elder Zosimas returned to the monastery glorifying and blessing our Lord. On reaching the monastery, he told the brethren everything; and all marveled on hearing of God's miracles. With fear and love, they kept the memory of the Saint.
Abbot (Egoumenos) John, as Saint Mary had previously told Abba (Father) Zosimas, found a number of things wrong in the monastery and remedied them with God's help. Saint Zosimas died in the same monastery, almost attaining the age of a hundred, and passed to eternal life. Though the monks did not record this narration, they passed it on by word of mouth to one another.
But I, (adds Saint Sophronius), as soon as I heard it, wrote it down. Perhaps someone else better informed has already written the life of the Saint; but as far as I could, I have recorded everything, putting truth above all else. May God, Who works amazing miracles and generously bestows gifts on those who turn to Him with faith, reward them that seek light for themselves in this story. And may those who hear, read and are zealous to write it, may He grant them the lot of blessed Mary, together with all that at different times have pleased God by their pious thoughts and labors.
Let us also give glory to God, the Eternal King, that He may grant us, too, His mercy on the day of judgment, for the honor, dominion, and adoration, with the Eternal Father and the Most Holy and Life-Giving Spirit, now and always and throughout all ages. Amen.
"Beholding in thee a new wonder, O mother, divine Zosimas was truly amazed; for he saw an Angel in a body and, filled with utter astonishment, he praises Christ forever. (Great Canon
of Saint Andrew, Ode 8)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" - Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George