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Every Great Lent, the Church remembers the ascetic struggle of St Mary of Egypt. In the scorching heat, thirst, sands, and barren rocks, this remarkable desert flower grew, and her spiritual fragrance comforts us to this day.
The spiritual message of the icon revealed itself with time. It promises eventual forgiveness to the Russian people and the return of the supreme power from the Holy Theotokos after a long period of suffering and repentance.
March 8 poses a unique dilemma for those of us with a devout Orthodox Christian background and a "Soviet" childhood. This date is International Women's Day and often sparks contrasting views among the faithful.