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Holy Mother Theodora of Alexandria 1/25/2013
She lived in Alexandria, a wife of a young husband. Led by certain fortune-teller, she committed adultery. Instantly she was afflicted by pangs of conscience. She cut her hair off and dressed as a man, and went to the male monastery Enata under the male name Theodore. All the brothers were amazed at her labour, fast, vigil, her humility and tearful repentance. Slandered by a lecherous maiden who claimed that she had been disgraced and conceived by her, Theodora would not justify herself, considering this to be punishment of God for her previous sin. Cast out from the monastery, she spent seven years wandering in forests and wilderness, while taking care of the child of the harlot. She overcome all temptations of the devil: she refused to bow before Satan, she refused to accept food from the hands of a soldier, she refused to obey her husband's advice to return to him - for all this was solely demonic deception and as soon as Theodora would make the sign of the cross, all would vanish in the air. After seven years the Abbot received her back in the monastery, where she had lived for two years before she fell asleep in the Lord. It was then that the monks found out that she was a woman, while an angel appeared to the Abbot and explained him all. Her husband came then to her funeral and remained in the cell of his former wife until his death. Saint Theodora was blessed by a great grace: she tamed wild animals, healed sicknesses, drew water out from a dry well. Thus God glorified the true pennant that patiently repented nine years for only one sin of hers. She gave up her spirit in the year 490.
