Our Holy Mother Isidora the Fool for Christ.

Commemorated May 10 in the Orthodox Christian Menaion

From the Prologue

She lived in the fourth century, and was a nun in a women's monastery in Tabennisi. She pretended to be mad in order to conceal her virtues and asceticism. She did the dirtiest jobs, fed herself from left-over scraps from the plates, was the servant of each and all and was despised by everyone. At that time, an angel of God appeared secretly to the great ascetic Pitirim, and told him about Isidora. Pitirim came to the monastery and, when he saw Isidora, bowed down to the ground, and she did the same before him. The sisters told him that she was mad. 'it is you that are mad,' replied Pitirim; 'she is greater before God than either you or me. I only beg God to give me also that which is destined for her at the Dreadful judgement!' Then the sisters were ashamed, and begged Pitirim and Isidora to forgive them. From that time, they all began to show honour to Isidora. But she, to escape this honour, fled from the monastery and died - it is not known where - in about 365.

From The Prologue From Ochrid by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich
©1985 Lazarica Press, Birmingham UK