In this sacred writing, a bishop’s deacon named Jacob recounts the occurrences. Pelagia was a well known prostitute that was adorned for her beauty and wealth. She was noticed by bishops that were meeting to discuss church business. The bishops were in awe of her beauty, perfumes and garments but were ashamed of being filled with wonder when they laid eyes on her. One of the bishops, St. Nonnus, was especially struck with guilt because he had personal conviction involving his relationship with The Lord. He discussed the importance of discipline and Jacob explains that even a bishop like Nonnus is still a sinner and considered unworthy, which in turn leads to more discipline to be seen as admirable in the eyes of God.
After this event, the bishops met again on the Holy Sunday and St. Nonnus began to speak the word of God. While preaching, Pelagia entered the church out of curiosity. She was amazed by the wisdom that came from the bishop and became aware of her sins and need for penitence. After addressing her sin and repenting, she renounced her devotion to Satan and asked God for forgiveness. St. Nonnus assisted her in her spiritual restoration and supported her in her transition. Pelagia decided to leave her fortune and possessions behind to become a monk, while dressed like a man. This change in appearance and lifestyle was only known by her and Nonnus and it enabled her to pursue God with all her heart. She had died to her flesh and devoted herself to fasting and honoring the Lord to the point when she lost all her beauty and nobody was able to recognize her. She had served as a worthy monk known as Pelagios and died after blessing others for many years. It wasn’t until after her death that the truth came out about her gender. She was still buried with great honor and praise went to God for the life she lived.
In this time period, asceticism was a main practice that strengthening one’s personal relationship and devotion to God. This practice was known to replace martyrdom when the Roman Empire accepted Christians and their religion. In this story, St. Nonnus was overwhelmed when he laid eyes on Pelagia because he felt that he didn’t cherish or worship God in the same magnitude that the prostitute worshipped her own body and possessions. He didn’t approve of her adorning but compared her appreciation and devotion for her flesh to his devotion to praising and honoring the Holy and Worthy God. This section elaborates on the pain and frustration a Saint felt because of his inability to become holy and worthy and it recognized that one can never stop strengthening their devotion and self discipline enough. Even a Bishop realized his flaws and became determined to enhance his self discipline while avoiding ignorance and self indulgence. To practice these restraints, the believers thought this considered them imitators of Christ.
It is also important to recognize how the writer Jacob portrayed the bishop and the prostitute in different lights. The bishop, though experiencing guilt and shame for his lack in being a successful ascetic, is always seen as the “God-loving or Holy Bishop”. However, the prostitute was seen as beautiful but only in the fleshly and worldly perspective. This illustrates the importance in difference between worldly discipline and ascetic discipline. The goal of ascetics is to deny that their flesh and worldly desires control them because that gives the enemy authority over God. Ascetics encompass an overall holiness of the body and mind. In order to express this purity and authority, they lived a life that conveys their faith and practices, like bishops and monks. They are spoken in a higher manner because they chose to live a disciplined life that sets them apart from prostitutes and pagans alike.