Saint Marinos the Monk: Crossing the Gender Binary in Early Christian Lebanon

Marinos lived in the fifth century in what is now Lebanon. Marinos was a monk who was assigned female at birth, the daughter of a wealthy Christian family. Originally named Marina, Marinos changed his name and adopted a masculine identity when he became a monk and entered the monastery alongside his father. Despite his well-known reputation for piety and devotion, Marinos was falsely accused of adultery and raised a son in the monastery while also remaining steadfast in his duties as a monk. At his death, Marinos was discovered to have been born female and his innocence as an adulterer was proven beyond any doubt. He soon became revered as a saint in the local community and his tomb emerged as a site for pilgrimage and devotion. Today, Marinos is recognized as a saint by the Maronite Catholic Church in Lebanon, the Coptic Church in Egypt, and – as of 2022 – the Episcopal Church in the United States. He is considered by many contemporary trans and queer Christians to be an early example of transgender acceptance within church history.

Episode art: Saint Marina the Monk presented to the monastery (Sainte Marine présentée au monastère). Cote : Français 241 , Fol. 139v. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_the_Monk#/media/File:Marina_the_monk.jpg

References:

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• Cherry, Kittredge. “Marinos / Marina the Monk: Transgender Parenting Role Model and Patron Saint.” Q Spirit, 18 June 2023, qspirit.net/marinos-marina-monk-transgender/.
• Friendly Fire Collective. “Saint Saturday: Saint Marinos– Trans Monk, Beggar, and Adoptive Father.” Friendly Fire Collective, 18 Nov. 2018, friendlyfirecollective.wordpress.com/2018/11/18/saint-saturday-saint-marinos-trans-monk-beggar-and-adoptive-father/.
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