Память блаженной Taиcии

In Egypt there lived a Christian youth named Taisiya. When her parents died and she was left an orphan, then, wanting to preserve herself in virginal purity, Taisiya distributed all her property to the poor, and made her house a hostel for the monks of the monastery. She labored in this way for a long time, receiving ascetics into her home and giving them rest from their journey. After quite a long time, Taisiya completely spent all her property, so that she fell into great poverty. Through the cunning of the devil, some sin-loving people became close to her, who seduced her into sin and distracted her from the path of salvation; from that time Taisiya began to lead a sinful life, indulging in fornication and debauchery. When the monastery ascetics learned about such a change in Taisiya’s life, they were very saddened. After consulting with each other, they went to Abba John Kolov and told him: “We heard about that sister that she leads a sinful life. But since she showed us great love, giving us shelter in her home, we too will show her our spiritual love and take care of the salvation of her soul. Work hard, too, honest father, go to her and exhort her to repentance, you will be able to do this, since you are endowed with wisdom from God. We will fast and offer fervent prayers to God, so that the Lord will help you. Abba John Kolov, fulfilling the request of the honest fathers, went to the city to that woman, praying on the way to God, his Helper, Who is pleased that everyone should be saved. Approaching Taisiya’s house, the elder knocked on the door and then said to the woman guarding the entrance to the house: “Tell your mistress that I have come to talk to her.” The gatekeeper answered him with anger: “You monks have wasted all her property!” “Tell her about me, that I brought her something very valuable.” The gatekeeper went and told her mistress what the elder had said. - Those monks, walking near the Black Sea, sometimes find beads. Bring that old man to me. Entering the house, the elder sat down near Taisiya; then, looking at her face and taking a deep breath, he bowed his head and began to cry. Then Taisiya asked the elder: - Honest father! What are you crying about? “I see how Satan plays on your face; How can I not cry? Why didn’t you want to have our Lord Jesus Christ, the Most Honest and Immortal Bridegroom, as your groom? Why did you despise His palace and give yourself to Satan? Why do you act according to his bad deeds? Hearing such words, Taisiya was touched in her soul, since the words of the elder were for her like a fiery arrow that pierced her heart. Immediately, disgust for her sinful life appeared in her; she began to be ashamed of herself and her sinful deeds. Then she told the elder. - Honest father! Is there repentance for sinners? – Truly there is, and the Savior is waiting for your conversion, being ready to receive you into His fatherly arms; for He does not want the sinner to perish, but He wants the sinner to turn to the path of salvation. And so I will be your guarantee that if you repent sincerely and turn to the Lord with all your heart, He will again love you as His bride and, having cleansed you from all sinful impurity, will lead you into His imperishable heavenly palace. Then all the ranks of Angels will rejoice over you, because they also rejoice over one sinner who repents. - May God's will be done, honest father! Take me from here and lead me where you know, where I could find a place convenient for repentance. Then, getting up, he headed towards the exit of her house. Taisiya also got up and followed the elder, without arranging anything in her house, without telling anyone anything about the house, but immediately leaving everything for the sake of Christ. Seeing that Taisiya did not take care of her home at all and did not say anything to anyone, Father John was very surprised at such a sudden change and such zeal for Taisiya for God. Having thanked God for this, he set off on his way. Taisiya walked behind him at a considerable distance from him. When the travelers reached the desert, it was already too late; night was coming. Having built a small head of sand on the ground, the elder said to Taisiya: – Sleep here under the cover of God’s grace. Then, having protected her with the sign of the cross, he walked away from her a short distance. Having said his usual prayers, the elder lay down on the ground and fell asleep. When midnight came, the old man woke up because he saw light in the sky. Raising his eyes upward, the elder saw a streak of fire coming from the sky towards Taisiya. John was horrified by this vision. Looking more closely at Taisiya, he noticed that the Angels of God were lifting Taisiya’s soul to heaven along the way. John looked at this wondrous vision until it disappeared from his eyes. Then, getting up, John went to Taisiya; approaching her, he pushed her with his hand, but saw that she had died 3073. Then the elder fell prostrate to the ground in fear and trembling. And a voice came to him from heaven, saying: “Her repentance, brought in one hour, is so much more pleasant than repentance lasting a long time; because in the latter case the penitents do not have such warmth in their hearts.” The elder remained in prayer until the morning. Then, having buried the honest body of blessed Taisiya, he came to the monastery, where he told the fathers about everything that had happened. Having learned about everything that had happened, the monks glorified and thanked Christ God for His great mercy. To Him - the true God - glory is given forever. Amen. Death of St. Taisiya followed in the 5th century. You might be interested in: