Copyright © 2021 by John Craton
Scene 1 — A bazaar in Alexandria, EgyptMary:
Shopkeeper, shopkeeper,
sell me red lips,
lips to entice the boys;
lips dripping honey,
sweetness and wine,
scarlet ribbons to bind my suitors
in throes of passion.
Who knows, handsome shopkeeper?
Mayhap I’ll wear it for you
in lieu of coin.
Shopkeeper, shopkeeper,
sell me perfumes,
that I, like a blossom,
may welcome the bee to my flower.
Make me alluring,
my youth long-enduring,
may no man defy my enchantments.
[She encounters a handsome young man]
Come, young man,
come dance with me!
Pipers, pipe!
[The two dance a lustful dance until she espies a bedraggled young man]
You, handsome gamin,
who left you alone
to wander the streets sad and lone?
Come to my breast, lad.
Find here your pleasure,
rest from your wand’rings and toil.
Come, lad, come dance with me!
Pipers, pipe!
[The two dance until she sees yet another young man, a soldier]
Ah, worthy soldier,
home from the wars?
So tired and weary, no doubt.
Rest here with me.
There now, come to my side.
Leave cares and worries behind.
Lower your shield,
come thrust your sword
and show me how to surrender!
[She leads him to a pallet and the two lie down the young men in the bazaar sing “O, what a gift is Mary!”]Male chorus:
O what a gift is Mary!
Delight to the eyes,
joy to the heart,
fulfilling our wildest desires!
No pleasure sparing,
wanton and daring,
our fantasies all come to life.
O what a gift is Mary!
[Mary’s attention is drawn to a group of young men who enter.]Pilgrims:
We are pilgrims come from afar
to sail to the holy city.
Our way is long,
devotion strong.
We seek the holy Cross of Christ.
Before the Cross to kneel and pray,
and worship the King of kings.
We are pilgrims.Mary:
Who are these handsome men?
Foreigners I’ve not seen before.
What strange new delights might they know?
[to the lead pilgrim:]
Come, kind sirs.
Join us and taste the pleasures
our city can offer the weary trav’ler.
Come lie with me.
Take rest from your journey.
Lie with me!
Come drink my wine!Pilgrim:
We haven’t time for you, my lady!
We are pilgrims, pilgrims to the Holy Cross.
We go to the City of David
to venerate the Cross of Christ.
Mary:
A worthy task.
But you needn’t journey so far.
Venerate me, my good fellows!
Receive my blessings and taste my wine!
I will make your journey worthwhile.Pilgrim:
No, temptress! We have not time
to busy with your charms!
We are pilgrims who journey to Jerusalem
to venerate the Cross of Christ.Mary:
Then I will go with you.
I tire of this place:
familiar places, familiar faces...
I yearn for more adventure!
I shall come too,
be with you all the way.Pilgrim:
If you’ve money for the passage,
we sail today.Mary:
I have no money.
But I will offer myself to the sailors.
Perhaps they will find me useful![Mary and the pilgrims exit.]
= = = = =
Scene 2 — Jerusalem
Crowd (full chorus):
We are pilgrims who’ve journeyed to Jerusalem
to kneel before the Cross of Christ.
Come, all ye nations,
let us adore the wondrous Cross
through which righteousness eternal
hath come to pass. [Repeat]
O Lord, save Thy people,
and bless Thine inheritance,
granting to Thy people
victory over all adversaries,
and by the power of Thy Cross
preserving Thine estate. [Repeat]Crowd:
[From within the church — offstage]
Before Thy Cross,
we bow down in worship, Master,
and Thy holy Resurrection we magnify. [Repeat]Mary:
[Mary makes three attempts to enter the church
along with the others, but each time she is held back
by an unseen force.]
What is this pow’r?
What witchcraft?
What sorcery?
What hinders me?
Why can I not enter?
What hinders me?
Why I alone am left to wander
and not glorify?
[Coming before the icon of the Theotokos]
Holy Mother, I see now:
It was not witchcraft;
it was not sorcery
that bound me here without.
It was my own sins.
O Holy Mother of God,
I am unworthy,
unworthy to venerate the Holy Cross.
My filthy acts prevent me:
not witchcraft,
nor sorcery,
but my own defilement.
I pray thee, O blessed One:
Bring aid to one so impure.
For I have none other
save you and your Son.
I beg of you, I beg of you, Holy One,
open the sacred doors for me,
Mistress of Heaven,
that I may look upon the Cross
on which my Savior died,
suffered and died for even me!
How I have corrupted the image God hath made!
Sullied the glory of God!
I beg to be cleansed
from my lust and fleshly desires,
and be let to repentance.
Command, O Lady, that the doors
be opened for me
that I may venerate the Holy Cross.
And when once I see the blessed Treasure
I will go wherever you shall lead me,
O Blessed One!
[She approaches the door cautiously and then enters.
Later all emerge from the church joyfully.]All (full chorus):
Grant mercy on us, grant mercy on us
who are called by Thy name, O Christ God.
Make us glad by Thy pow’r.
Grant us victory over adversaries
by bestowing on us Thy invisible Trophy,
Thy weapon of Peace.Mary:
[Approaching the icon]
O my Lady! You have answered my prayer.
You have granted that I may glorify the Holy Cross of Christ.
Glory to God who accepts through thee my penance.
Guide me now, O holy Mother,
Guide me wherever thou shalt command.
Be thou my helper
and lead the way to my path to repentance!Voice:
[Offstage]
If you cross the Jordan
You will find repose.Mary:
O Lady, Lady!
Holy Mother!
Do not abandon me!
[Exit]= = = = =
Scene 3 – A monastery in Palestine, 47 years later
Monks:
Out of the depths I cried to Thee, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord,
Who could stand? Who could stand?
But with Thee there is forgiveness,
so that we, with reverence, may serve Thee.Abbot:
Brothers, the time has come
to commence our Lenten journey.
As is our custom,
we wander from our place of refuge
and seek to purify our souls
in solitude with the Lord.
Find refuge in the desert,
and as Christ’s companion
seek peace in His Word.
And after forty days return hence
and celebrate the divine Passion
and Resurrection of Christ.
May God be with you all
as you walk with Him in solitude.
[The Abbot blesses the monks. They sing as they depart:]Monks:
The Lord is my light and my Savior.
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defender of my life,
Of whom shall I be afraid?
He is my Light in the day of darkness,
and in His light shall we see Light.
My Savior, and my Defender!= = = = =
Scene 4 – The desert
Zosimas:
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel,
and take me to Thyself in glory.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee?
And I desire none on earth beside Thee.
Twenty days have I been alone with Thee, my Lord;
neither man nor beast have I seen.
[Seeing Mary at a distance]
Lo, what is this?
A creature fleeting ... a demon perhaps?
[Crossing himself]
Be with me, Lord, and protect me from the evil one!
[Calming]
Though perchance it is a hermit,
one from whom I might gain insight.
[Shouting to Mary]
The Lord be with thee!
[Mary runs away] No! Why flee from this sinful old man?
Wait! Give this sinful old man your blessing!
[Mary stops but with her back to Zosimas]Mary:
Father Zosimas, forgive me,
but I cannot turn towards you,
for I am a woman and naked.
Throw me, I pray, your cloak
that I may cover myself and turn towards you
and receive your blessing.Zosimas:
She knows my name?
[He throws her his cloak with which she covers herself and turns towards him]Mary:
Father Zosimas, what did you wish to learn
from a sinful woman?
Why did you put yourself to such trouble?
Zosimas:
[Kneeling]
Bless me, O righteous one!
Bless me, O righteous one!Mary:
Nay, Father, bless me,
a sinful woman.Together:
I am unworthy,
but give me your blessing.
It is I who am unworthy.
Give me your blessing.
I am a sinful woman/man.
Bless me, holy one,
for I need your prayers.Mary:
But you, Father Zosimas, you are a priest
and have served at the holy altar
communing the Body and Blood of our Lord.
It is you who must bless me.Zosimas:
Thou knowest my name and station,
though we have never met before.
It is clear, O spiritual mother, from your foresight
and from your appearance
that you have long striven toward God
and have died to the world.
You, O mother, should bless me
for the sake of our Lord and for my own need.Mary:
[Stands and blesses Zosimas]
Blessed by God,
Who care for the salvation of all.Zosimas:
Amen.
[Zosimas rises.]
SPOKEN:
Mary:
Why have you come to see a sinful woman,
one deprived of every virtue?
Why has the Spirit led you to one so bereft of goodness?Zosimas:
That you may pray for the world
and for me, a sinner,
in order that my sojourn in the desert
may not prove fruitless.Mary:
It is you, Father Zosimas, who holds the priesthood,
who ought to pray for the world and for me,
for this is your calling.
But since we are called to obedience,
as you command so shall I do.
[Mary turns and lifts up her hands in prayer, praying silently.
As she prays, she is elevated about a cubit above ground, hanging in the air.]MUSIC RESUMES
Zosimas:
[Astonished and not a little frightened]
Lord, have mercy!
I stand in the presence of a spirit of demon!
[Zosimas falls prostrate.]Mary:
[Returning to earth and turning toward Zosimas]
Let not these thoughts disturb you, Father Zosimas.
I am no demon nor spirit.
I am but a sinful woman —
one protected by holy baptism.
[Crosses herself]
May God lead us away from the devil and his snares,
for his power against us is great.Zosimas:
[Crossing himself]
Amen.
Tell me, my lady, who you are
and where you come from
and why you have renounced the world
and abide here in this desert place.Mary:
I am ashamed, Father.
Dare I tell you my shameful life?Zosimas:
Hide nothing from me, my daughter,
for God’s might is revealed in our weakness
and His mercy declared on our repentance.Mary:
Before I tell you, Father,
swear to me that you’ll not cease to pray for me,
that I may find mercy in the hour of judgment.
For I have been an instrument of Satan,
worshiping the flesh and despoiling God&rsquoy;s image.Zosimas:
I will never cease praying for you, dear mother.
Mary:
My homeland was Egypt.
At twelve years I rejected the love of my parents
and fled to Alexandria.
There are destroyed my virginity
and henceforth devoted myself entirely
to the lust of sensual pleasure.
I could not be satisfied,
but readily slept with all who were willing,
young and old, married and virginal.
It was my task, my life’s goal for seventeen years.
Nor did I seek payment,
but turned my lust into a free gift.
Then one day some foreigners came through
on their way to Jerusalem
to venerate the Holy Cross.
They were handsome men,
not like the scores I’d known before.
I chose to go with them,
pretending, like them, to become a pilgrim.
But, holy father, I only satisfied my lusts,
for on this journey I seduced even those
whose only desire was to kneel before the Cross.
I sullied even these, father.
Once arrived in Jerusalem,
I sought to enter the church along with the others,
but I could not:
I was constrained by an unseen hand,
so that I alone was left outside.
There I stood before an icon of the Theotokos.
And there I saw my grievous sinfulness.
I pled with the Holy Mother to allow me
to enter the church and honor the Cross of Christ.
I vowed to her that thereafter I’d leave my sinful ways
and go wherever she’d lead me.
She led me here.
Forty-seven years have passed
battling temptation and repenting of my sins,
witing for God to deliver me
from distress and tempest.
Zosimas:
[Making obeisance]
Blessed be God Who showed me these wonders
which He grants to those who fear Him.
Mary:
[Lifting up Zosimas]
Swear to me, in the name of Christ,
tell no one of these things
until God releases me from this world.
Now go in peace.
Next year, on the night of the Last Supper,
bring to me the Body and Blood of our Savior
and meet me on the banks of the Jordan River.
Now pray for me.
[She exits.]= = = = =
Interlude 1
= = = = =
Scene 5 — The bank of the Jordan River, one year later
[Zosimas enters alone on one side of the river, carrying the chalice].
Zosimas:
Sad am I!
In vain have I made my journey,
Sad am I, for she is not here.
Perhaps she forgot this old man,
or else has been hindered;
or perhaps she came earlier
and has departed.
Sad am I! Sad am I!
[Mary enters and stand on the opposite bank].
Praised be God,
Who has granted me to see once more
this angel of light!
The Lord be with thee, dear woman!
But how am I to come to thee?
There is no boat or ferryman.[Mary crosses herself and walks across on the water.
Zosimas begins to kneel to her, but Mary raises him up.]Mary:
No, father!
You are a priest
and hold the divine gifts.
Bless me, father, bless me!Zosimas:
Indeed, God spake truly
when He promised
that those who purify themselves
liken themselves to God.
Glory to Thee, Christ our God,
who hast shown me through this Thy servant
how very far I am from perfection.
Glory to Thee, O God, glory to Thee!Mary:
Come, father, let us pray together:
Mary & Zosimas:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day
our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[Zosimas administers the Holy Gifts.]
Mary:
Now lettest Thy servant depart in peace,
for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.
[To Zosimas:]
One more wish I ask of you,
Father Zosimas:
that you return next year
to the place where we first met,
then you shall see me again,
as God wishes.
Now pray for me
and remember my wretchedness.
[Crosses herself and walks across the Jordan.]Zosimas:
And pray for us.
Pray for us poor sinners.
Pray for us.
Have mercy, holy mother.
[Turns to leave.]
How blessed am I!
Yet I did not ask her name.
[Exit]= = = = =
Interlude 2
= = = = =
Scene 6 — The desert, one year later
[Zosimas enters and searches for Mary].
Zosimas:
Where is my lady?
Where is she?
She foretold
that I would see her again...
“as God wills.”
Show me, my Lord,
the inviolate treasure
You have hidden in this desert;
show me the angel incarnate
of whom this world is unworthy.
Show me, my Lord, show me!
[A spotlight shines on the corpse of Mary]
O, my lady! O my lady!
O blessed woman!
You have preceded me,
preceded me to see the face of God.
you have left this deserted place
for the castle above,
to shine more brightly than the stars.
Pray for me, my lady,
pray for the sinner Zosimas
and for the whole world.
Blessed angel.
[Zosimas finds the inscription next to Mary’s body]
What is this beside you?
An inscription in the clay:
“Father Zosimas, bury the body of humble Mary in this place.”
O my lady! At last I know your name!
And now, humble Zosimas,
you must fulfill her bidding.
But how am I to dig a proper grave,
since I have no tool at hand?
[Zosimas picks up a large stick and tries to dig.]
It is not possible.
The earth is too hard and dry.
[As Zosimas digs a lion enters and rubs his head against Mary’s feet.
Zosimas see the beast and is terrified. Crossing himself he cries:]
What evil is this
the demons have devised
to send a wild beast
to devour both Mary and me?
[As he sees the lion gently caressing Mary’s feet, he calms.
The lion then rubs his head against Zosimas.]
Not from demons,
you have been sent in Christ’s name
to honor this hallowed woman.
Aid me, kind beast,
for I am an old man
and cannot dig a grave.
Honor her wish on my behalf,
and kindly dig a pit for her revered body.
[The lion digs a grave with his claws.
The two place Mary’s body in the tomb and cover her with a blanket
on which she has been lying, signifying covering her with earth.
Crossing himself and Mary’s grave, Zosimas says the following
as the lion quietly exits:]
Blessed are the undefiled
who walk in the way of the Lord.
With the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
give rest, O Lord, to the soul of Thy servant Mary,
for Thou art the lover of mankind.Women’s Chorus:
[Offstage]
The image of God was preserved in thee, O mother,
As you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
So doing, you taught us to overlook the flesh,
which passes away,
but to care instead for the soul that is immortal.
Hence thou has found pardon for thy sins
and rejoice with the angels forevermore.
END
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