Who Was St. Mary of Egypt?

Around the late 4th century, 29-year-old Mary was restless in Alexandria when she saw a crowd heading to Jerusalem. They were pilgrims going to a feast honoring the Holy Cross, and Mary, wanting new adventures, decided to tag along. She had no money for the ship, so she made a bad choice, trading her body to sailors and pilgrims for a spot on board. The boat rocked across the sea, and Mary continued her sinful ways, tempting others who didn’t want trouble. It was a messy journey, but God was guiding her to something great.

That boat ride wasn’t just about waves and wind—it was Mary’s last big tumble before finding solid ground. She didn’t care about the holy feast; she just wanted fun and a new place to cause trouble. We can imagine her looking over the ship’s edge, laughing and testing her limits. The pilgrims grumbled—some fell for her ways, others prayed she’d stop. For Mary, it was all a game, but God saw it as a path to bring her close. In the Coptic Church, we tell kids this story honest and true—it shows how God can use even our worst moments.

When the ship docked, Mary walked boldly into Jerusalem, still wild and free—or so she thought. She didn’t know it yet, but this trip was her ticket out of sin. The Ethiopian Church honors her as “Maryam Gäbäṣäwit,” remembering her crossing the sea as the first challenging and true step toward a church door that would change everything. It wasn’t a holy pilgrimage for her yet; it was a wild ride with a surprise ending only God could plan.