The Biden regime’s declaration of Easter Sunday as the Transgender Day of Visibility has outraged a multitude of people.  It is rather long and florid in contrast to the short and perfunctory edict written in honor of Easter.  In the former, the regime encourages the perpetuation of the trans epidemic in the United States:

Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our Nation.  Whether serving their communities or in the military, raising families or running businesses, they help America thrive.  They deserve, and are entitled to, the same rights and freedoms as every other American, including the most fundamental freedom to be their true selves.  . . .  Today, we send a message to all transgender Americans:  You are loved.  You are heard.  You are understood.  You belong.  You are America, and my entire Administration and I have your back.

If the people in the Biden regime really cared about trans-inclined people, they would not be telling them to embrace this disordered passion of theirs, but to quell it, to overcome it, to conquer it.  There is a wonderful saint of the Orthodox Church to whom they (the LGBT folks) can turn for inspiration and help in that effort:  St. Mary of Egypt (+6th century, celebrated 1 April and on the Fifth Sunday of Lent).

St. Mary of Egypt

The story begins when a monk advanced in the spiritual life, Elder Zosimas, because of his prideful thoughts over his progress, was told by an angel to go to the Jordan River in order to learn humility:

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Zosimas, you have struggled valiantly, as far as this is in the power of man. However, there is no one who is righteous (Rom 3:10). So that you may know how many other ways lead to salvation, leave your native land, like Abraham from the house of his father (Gen 12:1), and go to the monastery by the Jordan.”

One year, as he went into the Jordanian wilderness along with the rest of the monks for their Lenten endeavors, he encountered St. Mary:

He walked into the wilderness for twenty days and then, when he sang the Psalms of the Sixth Hour and made the usual prayers. Suddenly, to the right of the hill where he stood, he saw a human form. He was afraid, thinking that it might be a demonic apparition. Then he guarded himself with the Sign of the Cross, which removed his fear. He turned to the right and saw a form walking southward. The body was black from the blazing sunlight, and the faded short hair was white like a sheep’s fleece.

Her clairvoyance revealed to St. Zosimas that she was greatly blessed by God:  ‘“O Mother! It is clear that you live with God and are dead to this world. You have called me by name and recognized me as a priest, though you have never seen me before.  . . .”’

Likewise, her miraculous manner of praying:

“ . . . fulfill my unworthy request, Mother, and pray for the whole world and for me a sinner, that my wanderings in the desert may not be useless.”

The holy ascetic replied, “You, Abba Zosimas, as a priest, ought to pray for me and for all, for you are called to do this. However, since we must be obedient, I will do as you ask.”

The saint turned toward the East, and raising her eyes to heaven and stretching out her hands, she began to pray in a whisper. She prayed so softly that Abba Zosimas could not hear her words. After a long time, the Elder looked up and saw her standing in the air more than a foot above the ground. Seeing this, Zosimas threw himself down on the ground, weeping and repeating, “Lord, have mercy!” 

He begged her to tell him about her life. Despite her hesitation, St. Mary obeyed his request.  It is here that LGBT people should pay special heed, for St. Mary reveals how those with passions that mercilessly control them can be conquered, how their lives can be transformed into something entirely beautiful and pleasing to God:

She replied, “It distresses me, Father, to speak to you about my shameless life. When you hear my story, you might flee from me, as if from a poisonous snake. But I shall tell you everything, Father, concealing nothing. However, I exhort you, cease not to pray for me a sinner, that I may find mercy on the Day of Judgment. 

“I was born in Egypt and when I was twelve years old, I left my parents and went to Alexandria. There I lost my chastity and gave myself to unrestrained and insatiable sensuality. For more than seventeen years I lived like that and I did it all for free. Do not think that I refused the money because I was rich. I lived in poverty and worked at spinning flax. To me, life consisted in the satisfaction of my fleshly lust. 

“One summer I saw a crowd of people from Libya and Egypt heading toward the sea. They were on their way to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. I also wanted to sail with them. Since I had no food or money, I offered my body in payment for my passage. And so I embarked on the ship. 

“Now, Father, believe me, I am very amazed, that the sea tolerated my wantonness and fornication, that the earth did not open up its mouth and take me down alive into hell, because I had ensnared so many souls. I think that God was seeking my repentance. He did not desire the death of a sinner, but awaited my conversion. 

“So I arrived in Jerusalem and spent all the days before the Feast living the same sort of life, and maybe even worse. 

There in Jerusalem St. Mary’s life made a dramatic turn, thanks to another Holy Saint Whose life has been getting attention from The Spectacle podcast lately – the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

“When the holy Feast of the Exaltation of the Venerable Cross of the Lord arrived, I went about as before, looking for young men. At daybreak I saw that everyone was heading to the church, so I went along with the rest. When the hour of the Holy Elevation drew nigh, I was trying to enter into the church with all the people. With great effort I came almost to the doors, and attempted to squeeze inside. Although I stepped up to the threshold, it was as though some force held me back, preventing me from entering. I was brushed aside by the crowd, and found myself standing alone on the porch. I thought that perhaps this happened because of my womanly weakness. I worked my way into the crowd, and again I attempted to elbow people aside. However hard I tried, I could not enter. Just as my feet touched the church threshold, I was stopped. Others entered the church without difficulty, while I alone was not allowed in. This happened three or four times. Finally my strength was exhausted. I went off and stood in a corner of the church portico. 

“Then I realized that it was my sins that prevented me from seeing the Life-Creating Wood. The grace of the Lord then touched my heart. I wept and lamented, and I began to beat my breast. Sighing from the depths of my heart, I saw above me an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Turning to Her, I prayed: ‘O Lady Virgin, who gave birth in the flesh to God the Word! I know that I am unworthy to look upon your icon. I rightly inspire hatred and disgust before your purity, but I know also that God became Man in order to call sinners to repentance. Help me, O All-Pure One. Let me enter the church. Allow me to behold the Wood upon which the Lord was crucified in the flesh, shedding His Blood for the redemption of sinners, and also for me. Be my witness before Your Son that I will never defile my body again with the impurity of fornication. As soon as I have seen the Cross of your Son, I will renounce the world, and go wherever you lead me.’ 

“After I had spoken, I felt confidence in the compassion of the Mother of God, and left the spot where I had been praying. I joined those entering the church, and no one pushed me back or prevented me from entering. I went on in fear and trembling, and entered the holy place. 

“Thus I also saw the Mysteries of God, and how God accepts the penitent. I fell to the holy ground and kissed it. Then I hastened again to stand before the icon of the Mother of God, where I had given my vow. Bending my knees before the Virgin Theotokos, I prayed: 

‘O Lady, you have not rejected my prayer as unworthy. Glory be to God, Who accepts the repentance of sinners. It is time for me to fulfill my vow, which you witnessed. Therefore, O Lady, guide me on the path of repentance.’

“Then I heard a voice from on high: ‘If you cross the Jordan, you will find glorious rest.’ 

“I immediately believed that this voice was meant for me, and I cried out to the Mother of God: ‘O Lady, do not forsake me!’ 

“Then I left the church portico and started on my journey.  . . .”

In the desert, her struggles with her passions were excruciating, but she was victorious with the help of God and the Ever-Virgin:

Again Abba Zosimas asked, “Is it possible you have survived for so many years without sickness, and without suffering in any way from such a complete change?” 

“Believe me, Abba Zosimas,” the woman said, “I spent seventeen years in this wilderness [after she had spent seventeen years in immorality], fighting wild beasts: mad desires and passions. When I began to eat bread, I thought of the meat and fish which I had in abundance in Egypt. I also missed the wine that I loved so much when I was in the world, while here I did not even have water. I suffered from thirst and hunger. I also had a mad desire for lewd songs. I seemed to hear them, disturbing my heart and my hearing. Weeping and striking myself on the breast, I remembered the vow I had made. At last I beheld a radiant Light shining on me from everywhere. After a violent tempest, a lasting calm ensued. 

“Abba, how shall I tell you of the thoughts that urged me on to fornication? A fire seemed to burn within me, awakening in me the desire for embraces. Then I would throw myself to the ground and water it with my tears. I seemed to see the Most Holy Virgin before me, and She seemed to threaten me for not keeping my vow. I lay face downward day and night upon the ground, and would not get up until that blessed Light encircled me, dispelling the evil thoughts that troubled me. 

“Thus I lived in this wilderness for the first seventeen years. Darkness after darkness, misery after misery stood about me, a sinner. But from that time until now the Mother of God helps me in everything.” 

Abba Zosimas again inquired, “How is it that you require neither food, nor clothing?” 

She answered, “After finishing my bread, I lived on herbs and the things one finds in the desert. The clothes I had when I crossed over the Jordan became torn and fell apart. I suffered both from the summer heat, when the blazing heat fell upon me, and from the winter cold, when I shivered from the frost. Many times I fell down upon the earth, as though dead. I struggled with various afflictions and temptations. But from that time until the present day, the power of God has guarded my sinful soul and humble body. I was fed and clothed by the all-powerful word of God, since man does not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God (Dt 8:3, Mt.4:4, Luke 4:4), and those who have put off the old man (Col 3:9) have no refuge, hiding themselves in the clefts of the rocks (Job 24:8, Heb 11:38). When I remember from what evil and from what sins the Lord delivered me, I have imperishable food for salvation.”

She asked that Elder Zosimas return at another time and commune her with the Holy Mysteries of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Having received them, she departed peacefully to her Lord.

View from an Orthodox

It is my hope that anyone struggling with disordered passions of one kind or another (not just those of the LGBT persuasion) will turn to St. Mary for healing.  But we must go further.  We must understand what it is that has led to the outbreak and rapid spread of this malady.  Undoubtedly, certain kinds of technology – smart phones and social media – have played a large role, but these, apart from some underlying spiritual/ideological current, would be unable to produce these horrific results.  What, then, is the spiritual source of the malady?

The Orthodox priest Fr. Stephen Freeman has an answer for us in a powerful essay that he recently published, ‘The Madness of Democracy – A Spiritual Disease’.  It is closely connected with the ideas of equality and autonomy, the same ideas annunciated in the Biden regime’s trans proclamation:

On Transgender Day of Visibility, we honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans and reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to forming a more perfect Union — where all people are created equal and treated equally throughout their lives.  . . .  They deserve, and are entitled to, the same rights and freedoms as every other American, including the most fundamental freedom to be their true selves.

Fr. Stephen says of this,

People of the modern world have a sense of inherent equality, and often resent any assertion of authority. Of course, equality is true in a certain manner, and utterly false in another. It is true that all people have equal worth – no one life is more valuable than another. But by almost any other measure, we are not equal, because we are not commensurate. I am of equal worth, but I am not as smart as another. I am of equal worth but I am not as talented, or handsome, or wealthy, skilled, or wise, etc. Apparently, intelligence, talent, beauty, skill, wealth and the like are not the proper standards of comparison when we speak of equality. But our interior sense of equality often makes us assert equality where none exists.

Then he takes a step further:

A spiritual life without canon, without custom, without tradition, without rules, is the ultimate democratic freedom. But it unleashes the tyranny of the individual imagination. For with no mediating tradition, the modern believer is subject only to his own whim. The effect is to have no Lord but the God of his own imagination. Even his appeal to Scripture is without effect – for it is his own interpretation that has mastery over the word of God. If we will have no hierarchy, we will not have Christ as Lord. We cannot invent our own model of the universe and demand that God conform.

And then we arrive we are today, with the demons for our masters:

I should add, parenthetically, that, despite our democratic sentiments, the universe is inherently hierarchical. We can imagine ourselves as utterly individualized and autonomous, without the need for others, but this is make-believe. If we throw off the true structures and hierarchies of God’s creation, we will only discover other masters who are demonic in character. The “gods” of our own making are never less than madness itself.

Rebellion against the established patterns and hierarchies ordained by God, then, is the main driver of the dramatic rise of the LGBT phenomenon.  But this rebellion has antecedents that must also be brought into the light.  It didn’t simply arise ex nihilo.

As one may discern from Fr. Stephen’s essay, one antecedent was the Protestant assertion of the individual mind/reason/conscience as the final arbiter of truth–which of course was paramount in the rejection of European Catholicism and the founding of America.  This is Martin Luther’s most unfortunate ‘gift’ to the West.  During his heresy trial at Worms, called by Roman Catholics, he made his famous statement that has propelled forward the disastrous ideology of equality-autonomy:  “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason – I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other – my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.”

Traditional, faithful Catholics of course view some of this history, which includes the Great Schism of 1054, in a different way. Orthodox Christians view papalism and Protestantism as two similar harbingers of this rebellion we are witnessing in the LGBT phenomenon today. Traditional Catholics do not conflate or parallel the two.

Still, the Orthodox Church will be, in the long run, our only shield, our only deliverer, from the tearing, piercing thorns of the LGBT ideology.  Although one will of course find opponents of it amongst Roman Catholics and Protestants, as well as some treacherous Orthodox who embrace it, the key difference is that the former run against the revolutionary grain that is an ineradicable part of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, while the Orthodox traitors are trying to subvert the edifice Christ founded upon the Apostles and the Prophets.  This is why country after country in the West has succumbed to the Revolution over the years – to divorce, abortion, assisted suicide, the destruction of borders and inherited cultural identity, to Darwinism, homosexual marriage, and now LGBT ‘rights’; and it is why Orthodox countries by and large are still resisting it.

If America and the West choose Orthodoxy, she will see things change for the better.  Particularly for conservatives/revivalists in the US, who place a lot of emphasis on knowing and adhering to the original meaning of the words of laws and constitutions, they will feel very much at home in the Orthodox Church, which likewise places a great deal of stress upon knowing and applying the true meaning of the Christian revelation, which has been kept and guarded by the Holy Fathers and Mothers of the Orthodox Church, from St. Ignatius of Antioch (+107 A.D.) to St. Paisios of Mt. Athos (+1994).

The fate of the West hangs in the balance.  May the Good Lord help us to act wisely.