Prostitution

[JamesR]

I go to work in Oakland with my father very often and I always see prostitutes--the "streetwalker" variety mostly--hanging out around 7-Elevens, between alleys, in parking lots etc, and, I just can't help but feel really bad for them. Many of them seem like pretty nice people, but so broken inside. I always wonder what their story is--why they became what they are, you know? Maybe they became prostitutes because of a drug habit, or maybe they had an unstable, dysfunctional household growing up and ran away, or maybe they never had a strong male figure in their life like a father, so they see their only value to men as being sex. So many reasons why. I often wonder about what emotions and feelings they are hiding behind the countless layers of cheap makeup and 6 inch heels. I bet they feel sad, very broken, lack confidence, and don't feel loved by anyone. Whenever I see one of them, I can't help but think of my 3 year old sister and wonder where it all went wrong. They all started out just like her--an innocent little toddler--before becoming what they are now. I've found that most of these women are surprisingly very nice if you actually take the time to talk to them. I'm sure they don't get to talk to anyone very much except when discussing prices. A few weeks ago I was working on an apartment complex with my dad in Oakland, and I took a break and walked over to the 7-Eleven across the street for coffee, and when I was leaving, I saw this one prostitute. She was surprisingly attractive, and kind of young too, only like 6 years older than me (I'm 17). She "offered" herself to me and I just gave her two $20 dollar bills and then hugged her very tightly and started crying for some reason because I felt bad for her. I asked her why she does what she does and she didn't feel comfortable answering, but I told her that she's special--made in the image and likeness of God, a partaker of the Divine nature etc.--and that she's loved. Very nice woman. To my surprise, she even gave me back my money. One thing I've noticed about prostitutes is that no matter what you tell them--no matter how bad you are, or ugly, or pathetic--they won't judge you. We can learn a lot from them. All humans judge one another, and yet, I've never come across a prostitute that was judgmental. In retrospect, why would they? They're prostitutes for crying out loud. They're the most hated, stigmatized group in the world, second only to Christians and LGBT people. I wish I had the humility of a prostitute. Anyhow, I watched the Coptic film about St. Mary of Egypt shortly after that incident at 7-Eleven and couldn't help but cry. Ever since then, I've just been thinking about prostitution very much, praying constantly for them every day, and wishing I could do something.

Anyone here have any thoughts or stories regarding prostitutes? Has the Church been doing anything to reach out to them? It's always been my dream that if I ever won the California lottery and hit it rich, I'd build a female monastery with St. Mary of Egypt as the patron for penitent prostitutes.

[Maria]

Yes, we are to love everyone: saint, sinners, and our enemies too.

Perhaps you could buy some Orthodox Christian tracts from your church bookstore and hand those out, but please be very careful.

Lord have mercy.

There are some stories of saints and godly men who tried to help prostitutes escape from their ungodly masters. It is slavery after all. She mostly likely returned that money to you because these gals are to turn all monies they have "earned" through their trade to their ungodly master.

From what I remember reading, whenever these godly men tried to help prostitutes, they were often beaten to the point of death by these ungodly masters.

[JamesR]

Yes, we are to love everyone: saint, sinners, and our enemies too.

Perhaps you could buy some Orthodox Christian tracts from your church bookstore and hand those out, but please be very careful.

Lord have mercy.

There are some stories of saints and godly men who tried to help prostitutes escape from their ungodly masters. It is slavery after all. She mostly likely returned that money to you because these gals are to turn all monies they have "earned" through their trade to their ungodly master.

From what I remember reading, whenever these godly men tried to help prostitutes, they were often beaten to the point of death by these ungodly masters.

Yeah it's pretty sad. Most prostitutes seem to have to choose between two lousy options: be an independent prostitute and possibly be killed, raped, and/or robbed etc, or become a slave to a pimp for "protection" but then be exploited, beaten, and often killed in the end or dead by the time they're 30. Fortunately, given the rise of Craigslist, more and more prostitutes are leaving "streetwalking" and pimpage is becoming less influential and widespread. It's very shameful, especially given how good people these women seem to be, besides their sexual immorality. This sounds odd, but I wouldn't mind marrying a woman like a prostitute, minus the promiscuity part. They seem so humble, and broken. I have an attraction to broken, sad women. Not sure why. Maybe because I see myself as being somewhat similar.

[Maria]

Yes, we are to love everyone: saint, sinners, and our enemies too.

Perhaps you could buy some Orthodox Christian tracts from your church bookstore and hand those out, but please be very careful.

Lord have mercy.

There are some stories of saints and godly men who tried to help prostitutes escape from their ungodly masters. It is slavery after all. She mostly likely returned that money to you because these gals are to turn all monies they have "earned" through their trade to their ungodly master.

From what I remember reading, whenever these godly men tried to help prostitutes, they were often beaten to the point of death by these ungodly masters.

Yeah it's pretty sad. Most prostitutes seem to have to choose between two lousy options: be an independent prostitute and possibly be killed, raped, and/or robbed etc, or become a slave to a pimp for "protection" but then be exploited, beaten, and often killed in the end or dead by the time they're 30. Fortunately, given the rise of Craigslist, more and more prostitutes are leaving "streetwalking" and pimpage is becoming less influential and widespread. It's very shameful, especially given how good people these women seem to be, besides their sexual immorality. This sounds odd, but I wouldn't mind marrying a woman like a prostitute, minus the promiscuity part. They seem so humble, and broken. I have an attraction to broken, sad women. Not sure why. Maybe because I see myself as being somewhat similar.

Again, be careful.

I cannot remember the specific facts of this story as it was told back in 2002 when I was attending a Greek Orthodox retreat. There was a Greek seminarian who felt a calling by God to marry a prostitute. After the marriage he was ordained a Greek Orthodox Priest. His wife was not faithful, so he often would have to go to the local brothel to fetch her. Remembering the Prophet Hosea, he forgave her many times even suffering beatings for her sake. Finally, when he was just at the breaking point, his wife deserted him again, but then she came back to him in tears begging forgiveness after he had spent much time in prayer and fasting. He forgave her and she started to live a devout life for the first time in her life.

[JamesR]

Yes, we are to love everyone: saint, sinners, and our enemies too.

Perhaps you could buy some Orthodox Christian tracts from your church bookstore and hand those out, but please be very careful.

Lord have mercy.

There are some stories of saints and godly men who tried to help prostitutes escape from their ungodly masters. It is slavery after all. She mostly likely returned that money to you because these gals are to turn all monies they have "earned" through their trade to their ungodly master.

From what I remember reading, whenever these godly men tried to help prostitutes, they were often beaten to the point of death by these ungodly masters.

Yeah it's pretty sad. Most prostitutes seem to have to choose between two lousy options: be an independent prostitute and possibly be killed, raped, and/or robbed etc, or become a slave to a pimp for "protection" but then be exploited, beaten, and often killed in the end or dead by the time they're 30. Fortunately, given the rise of Craigslist, more and more prostitutes are leaving "streetwalking" and pimpage is becoming less influential and widespread. It's very shameful, especially given how good people these women seem to be, besides their sexual immorality. This sounds odd, but I wouldn't mind marrying a woman like a prostitute, minus the promiscuity part. They seem so humble, and broken. I have an attraction to broken, sad women. Not sure why. Maybe because I see myself as being somewhat similar.

Again, be careful.

I cannot remember the specific facts of this story as it told back in 2002 when I was attending a Greek Orthodox retreat. There was a Greek seminarian who felt a calling by God to marry a prostitute. After the marriage he was ordained a Greek Orthodox Priest. His wife was not faithful, so he often would have to go to the local brothel to fetch her. Remembering the Prophet Hosea, he forgave her many times even suffering beatings for her sake. Finally, when he was just at the breaking point, his wife deserted him again, but then she came back to him in tears begging forgiveness after he had spent much time in prayer and fasting. He forgave her and she started to live a devout life for the first time in her life.

Wow that's a very touching story Maria, thanks for sharing

[joasia]

I go to work in Oakland with my father very often and I always see prostitutes--the "streetwalker" variety mostly--hanging out around 7-Elevens, between alleys, in parking lots etc, and, I just can't help but feel really bad for them. Many of them seem like pretty nice people, but so broken inside. I always wonder what their story is--why they became what they are, you know? Maybe they became prostitutes because of a drug habit, or maybe they had an unstable, dysfunctional household growing up and ran away, or maybe they never had a strong male figure in their life like a father, so they see their only value to men as being sex. So many reasons why. I often wonder about what emotions and feelings they are hiding behind the countless layers of cheap makeup and 6 inch heels. I bet they feel sad, very broken, lack confidence, and don't feel loved by anyone. Whenever I see one of them, I can't help but think of my 3 year old sister and wonder where it all went wrong. They all started out just like her--an innocent little toddler--before becoming what they are now. I've found that most of these women are surprisingly very nice if you actually take the time to talk to them. I'm sure they don't get to talk to anyone very much except when discussing prices. A few weeks ago I was working on an apartment complex with my dad in Oakland, and I took a break and walked over to the 7-Eleven across the street for coffee, and when I was leaving, I saw this one prostitute. She was surprisingly attractive, and kind of young too, only like 6 years older than me (I'm 17). She "offered" herself to me and I just gave her two $20 dollar bills and then hugged her very tightly and started crying for some reason because I felt bad for her. I asked her why she does what she does and she didn't feel comfortable answering, but I told her that she's special--made in the image and likeness of God, a partaker of the Divine nature etc.--and that she's loved. Very nice woman. To my surprise, she even gave me back my money. One thing I've noticed about prostitutes is that no matter what you tell them--no matter how bad you are, or ugly, or pathetic--they won't judge you. We can learn a lot from them. All humans judge one another, and yet, I've never come across a prostitute that was judgmental. In retrospect, why would they? They're prostitutes for crying out loud. They're the most hated, stigmatized group in the world, second only to Christians and LGBT people. I wish I had the humility of a prostitute. Anyhow, I watched the Coptic film about St. Mary of Egypt shortly after that incident at 7-Eleven and couldn't help but cry. Ever since then, I've just been thinking about prostitution very much, praying constantly for them every day, and wishing I could do something.

Anyone here have any thoughts or stories regarding prostitutes? Has the Church been doing anything to reach out to them? It's always been my dream that if I ever won the California lottery and hit it rich, I'd build a female monastery with St. Mary of Egypt as the patron for penitent prostitutes.

I am very touched by your post here. You are a sensitive soul. And I would definitely support this monastery dedicated to St. Mary of Egypt. Her journey to God is incredible and also shows that there is hope for everyone. Repentance is the key.

These women don't judge others because they are already judging themselves. Prostitution is not a reasonable job and they know it. What young girl says that she wants to grow up and be a prostitute?

I don't have any stories, but I certainly appreciate the fact that you brought this up. We should help anyone that is in need.

[Priest Antonios]

Maria,

That story is enough to bring tears to any married mans eyes... I can't imagine. Thank you for sharing.

-Antonios