Mariam’s family originally came from Damascus, Syria. Mariam’s father, Giries Baouardy was born in Horfesch, Palestine and her mother, Mariam Chahine in Tarshish, Palestine. Mariam was born in Ibillin, Upper Galilee, Palestine. She was the thirteenth child born to her parents.

All of Mariam’s 12 siblings died in infancy. A few years after Mariam’s birth, her brother Boulos was born. Sadly, their parents died within a few days of each other when Mariam and Boulos were still babes. Mariam, was adopted by her paternal uncle, living in Ibillin and Boulos, went to live with their maternal aunt in Tarshish, Palestine. 

When Mariam was eight years old her uncle moved the family to Alexandria, Egypt. Until the age of 13, Mariam was cared for and loved in her uncle`s home. However, when she refused to proceed with an arranged marriage, her uncle beat her for disobedience and her life became untenable in her uncle’s home.

Mariam, wanted to leave Alexandria and sought help from a Muslim servant in her uncle’s home. Instead of assistance, he tried to convert her to Islam. Mariam, steadfastly refused conversion, professing her faith in the Melkite Catholic Church. In anger, the man slashed her throat. Thinking her dead, he dumped her in a dark alley. It was then that Mariam experienced her first mystical encounter―the Blessed Virgin Mary, took Mariam to a grotto, and stitched her wound.

Mariam’s eventful life continued, she offered service to poor families throughout the Middle East. She ventured overseas, and at 21 years old entered the Carmelite Convent in Pau, France, as a lay sister, where she would experience ecstasies and her stigmata. At 24 years old, she went with the founding group to establish the Carmel of Mangalore, India. After several years, she returned to the Carmel of Pau, France where she was professed as a Carmelite nun and continued her work. Later she went to the Holy Land where she built a monastery in Bethlehem and began planning for another Monastery in Nazareth.

Mariam, died at 33 years old in Bethlehem on 26 August 1878, which is now her Feast Day. She died at the same age as Jesus was crucified.

Our Eparchy hosts four first-class relics (which is a part of a Saint’s body) of St Mariam, in Sydney at: