Righteous Mary of Diveyevo

Blessed Mary, born Maria Zakharovna Fedina, was born in 1870 in the village of Goletkovo, Yelatma district, Tambov province, to a peasant family. She was orphaned at 14: her father died when she was 13, and a year later her mother Pelageya died as well. Left an orphan, she wandered hungry and half-clothed between Diveyevo and Sarov, and then settled at the Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent. She later began calling herself "Ivanovna," explaining: "We blessed ones are all Ivanovnas, after John the Baptist." She received spiritual succession from Blessed Parasceva (Pasha) of Sarov. She died in 1931. She was glorified as a locally-venerated saint in July 2004, during the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the birth of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Her memory is kept on September 8 (day of repose), and also on June 14/27 within the Synaxis of Diveyevo Saints.