Saint Sarah of the Desert | |
|---|---|
| Nun, Desert Mother[1] | |
| Died | 5th century Egypt |
| Venerated in | Oriental Orthodox Churches Eastern Orthodox Church Catholic Church Episcopal Church |
| Feast | 15 Paremhat (Coptic Christianity) 13 July (Chalcedonian) 5 January (Episcopal Church) |
| Patronage | Nun |
Amma (Mother) Sarah of the Desert (5th century) was one of the early Desert Mothers who is known to us today through the collected Sayings of the Desert Fathers and of the Holy Women Ascetics (the Matericon).[2] She was a hermit and followed a life dedicated to strict asceticism for some sixty years.
Sarah is said to have dwelt in a monastic cell near a large river, likely the Nile, at which she would never look. Her sayings attest that this saint spent her life battling a demon that tempted her to fornication. Records indicate that Sarah lived near Skete in the early to mid-5th century.[3] She lived a life of severe asceticism, refusing wine, laughter, or to leave her cell except to attend church.[2]
She was not completely isolated and received visitors during her time as a hermit. On one occasion, monks of Scetis came to visit her. She gave them a fruit basket and they honored her by eating the bad fruit and leaving her the good fruit to eat.[4]
Among her sayings recorded in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are:[4]
Among her saying recorded in the Mataericon are:[2]
Sarah is commemorated on 13 July in the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches.
Sarah is honored (with Theodora and Syncletica) on the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America[5] on January 5.[6]
