ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

All the images from Mary of Egypt included in this thesis were digitized from the manuscript, BL MS Cotton Otho B. x, by Kevin Kiernan and David French. They are used with permission of the British Library Board and may not be reproduced or otherwise used without permission of the British Library Board.

The frontispiece image of St. Mary of Egypt is used with permission of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It may not be reproduced or otherwise used without the expressed written consent of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

The guidance and encouragement of many people contributed to my successful completion of this thesis. I first wish to thank for their feedback and suggestions in the early months of the writing process the members of my thesis writing group: Betsy Boyd, Rynetta Davis, Kelly Lawson, and Rachel Ray. I also wish to thank for patiently waiting for me to get the job done the members of my Thesis Committee: Jonathan Allison, Joseph Gardner, and Kevin Kiernan. I especially thank my children, Jordan, Robyn, Alison, and Gavin, for bearing with me through the months I was working on this project.

My greatest debt is to my thesis director, Kevin Kiernan. In addition to giving me privileged access to his digital images of Mary of Egypt in BL MS Otho B. x, Professor Kiernan generously shared his knowledge of Old English language and his expertise in manuscript studies, provided necessarily frank criticism and valuable direction, and replied promptly to my frequent flurries of e-mailed inquiries. I am grateful to have him as a mentor, colleague and friend.