She at first lived a life of harlotry. Two monks travelling through Tarsus stayed at the inn where Maria plied her trade. When she approached the monks, they rebuked her and pushed her away as unclean. She suddenly repented and vowed to sin no more from that moment. The monks took her with them to a women"s monastery, where Maria lived in asceticism till old age. She had the gift of wonderworking during her lifetime and after her death. 
