Commemoration
Holy Virgin Mastridia
November 24 Old CalendarDecember 7 New Calendar
Life
Mastridia lived in Alexandria and spent her solitary life entirely in prayer and manual labor. A certain young man was inflamed with bodily lust toward her and constantly troubled her. Not wishing to sin against God but seeing that she could not easily rid herself of the dissolute young man, Saint Mastridia asked him once what most attracted him to her. He answered: Thy eyes! Mastridia then took the needle with which she was sewing and pierced out her eyes. Thus she saved peace for herself and the young man's soul. The young man bitterly repented and went off to become a monk.
From the Prologue from Ochrid by St. Nikolai Velimirovich, November 24. Translated by Marcian Sakarya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Also commemorated on November 24
The full reading for November 24 includes the hymn of praise, a reflection, a contemplation and a homily.
Open November 24 in the reader