The Secret Saint: The Incredible True Story of Marina the Monk
The Saint Who Disappeared
Imagine loving God so much that you would give up not just your home, but your very identity.
St. Marina (also known as Marinos) is one of the most fascinating figures in Eastern Christianity. Born in Lebanon in the 5th century, her father wanted to join a monastery in the Qadisha Valley but couldn't bear to leave his daughter behind.
Marina's solution? She cut her hair, dressed as a boy, and entered the monastery as "Brother Marinos."
For years, she lived as a monk, fasting and praying with an intensity that awed the other brothers. But her sanctity was tested by a terrible scandal. A local innkeeper's daughter became pregnant and falsely accused "Brother Marinos" of being the father.
The Silence of Holiness
Marina did not defend herself. She did not reveal she was a woman. She accepted the shame to save the other girl's reputation. She was kicked out of the monastery and forced to live at the gates, begging for scraps and raising the child that wasn't hers.
Only after her death, when the monks prepared her body for burial, did they discover she was a woman. They fell to their knees in weeping, realizing they had been in the presence of a living saint who bore false accusation with total silence.
She is the Patron Saint of:
Those falsely accused
Victims of gossip and slander
Single parents (she raised a child alone!)
Kidney sufferers (due to her sleeping on cold ground)
Prayer to St. Marina the Monk
O St. Marina, purple rose of Lebanon, You who endured false accusation in silence, and bore the cold of winter at the monastery gates, teach us the true meaning of humility.
When we are misunderstood, help us to look to God alone. When we are judged, help us to forgive. When we are weary, lend us your strength.
Intercede for us before the Throne of Grace, that we may possess a heart as pure and courageous as yours.
St. Marina the Monk, pray for us.
Protection Against Gossip
St. Marina is a powerful intercessor for anyone dealing with legal trouble, workplace gossip, or reputation attacks. Keep her icon with you as a shield against the "arrows of words."
We are one of the few places in the US that carries a St. Marina the Monk Prayer Card.
Design: Traditional icon showing Marina with the child she raised.
Quality: Waterproof lamination (5mil).
👉 Order St. Marina Prayer Cards
"Silence is the cross on which we must crucify our ego." — Monastic Saying
