Venerable Mastridia

The Venerable Mastridia lived in Alexandria in Egypt. She made a vow of virginity, fasted strictly and prayed unceasingly. Once a time of trial came upon the maiden’s holy life: a young man conceived impure desires for her and pressed her so hard that Mastridia was forced to shut herself up at home, and did not even go to church. She grieved that she had unwittingly tempted the young man; divine zeal to set him on the path of salvation was stirred in her, and she called him to her house. When she learned that the young man was drawn above all by her beautiful eyes, Saint Mastridia mercilessly put them out with the shuttle with which she wove linen. So she delivered both herself and the young man from temptation; he fell into repentance, was tonsured a monk and took up a strict, ascetic labour. And the holy maiden herself spent her life in God-pleasing labour.