This account of the life of St. Mary is the primary source of what we know about her. Allegedly right before her death she recounted her life to St. Zosimas of Palestine, who went on to have his student, Sophronius compose a this volume about her charity and ascetic lifestyle. She remains a popular figure of Egyptian Christianity in the 4th century. This book also includes the original Latin text of Sophronius, as well as the English translation.