Venerable Taisia the Elder

Blessed Taisia lived in Egypt in the 5th century. Orphaned after the death of her wealthy, devout parents, she initially devoted herself to charity — distributing her wealth to the poor and sheltering monks, effectively running a hospice for ascetics. When her inheritance was exhausted and those she had once helped failed to return the kindness, Taisia, overcome by despair and bad company, fell into a sinful life. The monks she had once hosted, learning of her fall, sent the elder John Kolov (Colobus) to call her back. Coming to her, Abba John wept, telling her he could see Satan enthroned on her face where the grace of Christ once dwelt. His tears and words moved Taisia so deeply that she resolved that very night to follow him into the desert for repentance. Before reaching their destination, she died that same night, without formal confession or communion. It was revealed to John in a vision that her brief but sincere repentance had been accepted by God as fully as a lifetime of ascetic labor. Blessed Taisia's feast is kept on 10 May (Old Style) / 23 May (New Style).