14. Marina the Ascetic, Monk (Fifth Century)
Marina was born in modern-day Lebanon. When her father wanted to join a monastery, she
insisted on coming with him, dressing as a man and taking the name Marinos. After her father�s death, a girl who lived near the monastery
fell pregnant and accused Marinos of seducing her. When confronted, Marinos did not deny the allegations out of a desire to not embarrass
the girl. The disgraced monk was forced to live outside the monastery and raise her accuser�s child for many years. When she died
at around age 40, she was finally discovered to be female. Her former accuser confessed to the lie.
Marina is only one of dozens of
women throughout history thought to have entered religious life posing as men. There is even a story of an undercover female
Pope, Pope Joan, although that one at least has no historical basis.
