Desert Life and Wonders

Years into her desert life, Mary met a monk named Zosimas, and something amazing happened. As she prayed, she was lifted off the ground, radiant in prayer! Zosimas was astonished, wondering if it was real. He fell to his knees, amazed—she had gone from sinner to saint, and this proved it. Her desert years had made her so holy, she rose like an angel during prayer.

This wasn’t just a wonderful sign—it showed how much Mary loved praying. In the Coptic Church, we say she spent 47 years praying devotedly to God, and He lifted her as a sign of His grace. Ethiopian monks share this story during Lent, picturing her holy and free. Zosimas couldn’t believe an untaught woman knew so much about heaven, but Mary’s prayer said it all: God taught her everything. Kids love this because it shows how her love for Christ brought great blessings!