Blessed Thaisia (V)

Blessed Thaisia (V) lived in Egypt. After the death of her rich parents she led a pious life. She gave away her property to the poor and turned her house into a shelter for monks. Later Thaisia was carried away by worldly temptations and sank into sin. The monks asked the Venerable John the Dwarf to go to Thaisia and turn her to repentance. The venerable father went to Thaisia, while the monks stood in prayer. The elder John’s tearful entreaty and fatherly counsel renewed the Christian spirit in Thaisia; she renounced everything that bound her to her past sinful life and followed the monk into the desert. Night fell; the monk prepared a place for Thaisia to spend the night, while he himself went some distance off, prayed and fell asleep. At midnight the Venerable John was woken by a light that came down from heaven to the place where Thaisia was sleeping. In the pillar of light angels could be seen carrying Thaisia’s soul up to heaven. When John went to Thaisia, he saw that she had died. With prayer the venerable father committed the blessed woman’s body to the earth, returned to the monastery, and told the brethren everything. The monks gave thanks to the Lord for the goodness shown to Thaisia, who, like the wise thief, was taken up into the Kingdom of Heaven as soon as she fell into repentance.