The story of St. Mary of Egypt first circulated among the monastic communities of the Eastern Church in the early sixth century. Her story spread very quickly to the West, and by the end of the century she was well known throughout all Christendom. The story of this fifth century Egyptian Saint has become a model of repentance for all Christians.

This talk was given at Vespers on the commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt, April 16, 1989, at Dormition of the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Cumberland, Rhode Island, by Professor Susan Ashbrook Harvey, of the Religious Studies Department at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.