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Mother Maria Skobtsova – Orthodox nun
Thanks to Eric Simpson over at The Huffington Post for introducing me to Mother Maria Skobtsova, an Orthodox nun and martyr. In his article Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness Will be Filled 
(The Huffington Post, January 24, 2011), Simpson discusses the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. In doing so he gives examples of real life people who have had a great passion for God and compassion for the world. One such person, Simpson notes, is Mother Maria Skobtsova, “an aristocrat who became an intellectual, an intellectual who became a nun, a nun who became a subversive force for love.”
She sought to make straight that which had been made crooked among the poor, in prisons, in insane asylums because she saw every human being as intrinsically valuable, as an “icon of God.” In 1942, when Jews were being rounded up in German-occupied Paris, Maria managed to organize the rescue of children who she smuggled out of the sports stadium in garbage bins with the help of garbage collectors. She did not relent in her work on behalf of the oppressed even though she was aware she was under Nazi surveillance.
Finally, she was sent to the concentration camp at Ravensbruck, where, still burning with the holy passion and hunger for righteousness, a desire that had become a flame of love, she continued to assist and care for those who were suffering with her. She nearly made it to the end, and even as Russian troops were advancing on the camp, she put herself in the place of another woman condemned to die, and died in her place. Her hunger and thirst for righteousness was satisfied as she herself became righteous, and, like Christ, she become one who helped others in the cause for justice.
Mother Maria, also known as Saint Mary of Paris, is one of the few examples I know of an Orthodox nun. Her life as a monastic was unusual in that she was a contemplative who was allowed to live outside of the monastery. Her rented house became her convent, a place of hospitality for those in need and a place of spiritual conversation.
See OrthodoxWiki for more info on Maria Skobtsova and also check out Ask Sister podcast episode AS056 for an interesting discussion about monastics working outside the monastery from a Benedictine perspective.
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Sr. Julie, how often our experiences seem to converge. Recently read two books in which Maria Skobtsova (now a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church) appears. The first is an inspirational new take on the nature and expression of holiness in human live. The title is “Hidden Holiness” by Michael Plekon. Univ. Notre Dame Press, 2009. In addition it contains a lovely icon of Mother Maria. The second is a biography of another women mentioned in “Hidden Holiness”, Elisabeth Behr-Sigel, Russian Orthodoox theologian, and inspriation in her own right. She knew Mother Maria as well as many other great figures of 20th century Orthodoxy. Her biography is “Toward the Endless Day” by Olga Lossky, Univ. Notre Dame Press, 2010. I was impressed at how Behr-Sigel’s experience with the Russian Orthodox Church paralleled what was going on in the Roman Catholic Church – the mid-century push to examine the place of the Church in the world, the controversies arising as the signs of the times were read and interpreted, movement toward renewal, and then, at the end of the century signs of regression.
Thank you, Sister Hildegard, for the book suggestions. I am fascinated by Mother Maria and wanting to learn more.
psssst. book club opportunity!
Excellent idea! Sister Hildegard, would you be interested? Others?
I’d be interested!
I work at a church and someone just asked me what the difference between a nun and a sister is. Looking for an answer, came online and found your blog. Do you have an answer for me to that I can pass it on? Also any website recommendations? Thanks!
Yes, Sequin74! You’ve come to the right place. Here’s our post on Nun or Sister?. If you have any other questions, feel free to call our convent voicemail hotline at 888-703-4732 and leave a voicemail!
I’d like to read both biographies and have a discussion on the two together . . . anyone else up for this?
Looked for the books at Amazon. They are rather expensive ( $22.28 and $31.69) and not readily available. Probably would be better to request through a library – and perhaps not, therefore, a good fit for an online book club.
Thanks for linking to my article! I’m glad I could ignite some interest in St. Maria of Paris. I thought you might be interested in another article from James Forest, who introduced me to her life and testimony.
http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/2006/08/30/mothermaria/
Eric Simpson