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Thursday April 21, 2005

The Life of St. Mary of Egypt

This past Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Great Lent, we celebrated the memory of St. Mary of Egypt (fixed feast April 1), honoring her as the very image of penitence. If you haven't read her life, it's well worth your time; it was composed by St Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and uniquely, is read liturgically as part of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete at Matins on the fifth Thursday of Lent.

Troparion - Tone 8

The image of God was truly preserved in you, O mother,
For you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away;
But to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, O holy Mother Mary, rejoices with the Angels.

Kontakion - Tone 3

Having been a sinful woman,
You became through repentance a Bride of Christ.
Having attained angelic life,
You defeated demons with the weapon of the Cross;
Therefore, O most glorious Mary you are a Bride of the Kingdom!

(2005-04-21 10:17:07.0) Permalink Comments [1]

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