At the first meeting, the venerable woman told her story. She was born in Egypt and left her home for Alexandria at the age of 12. There, she indulged in fornication for almost two decades. Once, Mary wanted to go with pilgrims to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Mary did not think about holiness, she only looked for those with whom she could indulge in debauchery. In the Holy City, she attempted to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but an invisible force did not let her in. At that moment, Mary realized her downfall. She stayed in the vestibule of the temple to pray in front of the icon of the Virgin, and then went back to the Temple. The power receded, and Mary was able to bow to the Life-giving Cross.

 
Mary lived in the desert alone for 47 years. For the first 17, according to the number of years spent in fornication, she was tormented by memories of sins and passions. Upon meeting the naked Mary, Zosima handed her the half of his monastic robes, himation, and heard her request to return a year later to give communion to her. By the second meeting, Mary of Egypt became a saint: the elder Zosima saw her cross the Jordan by water, and when she prayed, she rose into the air. A year later, Zosima returned to their first meeting place, but no longer found the sainted alive.