Mastridia

Venerable Mastridia lived in Alexandria in Egypt. She took a vow of virginity, fasted strictly and prayed unceasingly. Once her pure life was put to the test: a young man felt impure desires toward her and pressed her so hard that Mastridia was forced to shut herself in her house and no longer went even to church. She grieved that she had unwillingly tempted the young man and, seized by divine zeal for his salvation, she called him to her. Learning that it was especially her beautiful eyes that attracted him, Mastridia mercilessly dug them out with the shuttle with which she wove linen. So she freed herself from the temptation, and the young man was freed too: he repented, became a monk and began a strict ascetic life. The saint spent her life in struggle pleasing to God. The Church of Georgia commemorates her on 24 November (old style; 7 December new style).