On the Aegean Sea, on the island of Paros, there was a temple in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, which had fallen into disrepair. One day, a hunter, having separated from his companions, entered the temple and saw a naked woman who introduced herself as Theoktista. She told him that she was born in the city of Mephimna and had been a nun, but was captured by Arabs and escaped into the desert, where she lived for thirty-six years, feeding on seeds and the Word of God.
Theoktista asked the hunter to bring her a part of the Most Pure Christ's Mysteries, as she could not partake of them. The hunter fulfilled her request, but upon returning to the island, he did not find her. He saw her dead and, not knowing what to do, buried her, but separated a hand from the body as a blessing. Because of this, the ship on which he was sailing could not move until he returned and placed the hand back in its place.
The hunters, learning of the miracles that had occurred with Theoktista, were filled with awe and glorified God, wondrous in His saints.
