Commemorated on January 24th
Our righteous Mother Xenia of Petersburg was born in or near the year 1730. She was married to a Colonel named Andrew, who died suddenly after drinking with his friends. Left a childless 26-year-old widow, Xenia gave away all that she had and vanished from Saint Petersburg for eight years. It is believed that she spent this time in a hermitage, learning the spiritual life. When she returned to Saint Petersburg, she wore her husband’s military clothing and would answer only to the name Andrew. She took up the life of a homeless wanderer and prayed for her husband’s soul. She was given great gifts of prayer and prophecy, and often foretold things to come including the death of Empress Catherine II. She reposed in peace at the age of seventy-one. Her grave became a source of miracles and so many faithful came to take soil from it that it was often necessary to replace the soil. When a stone slab was placed over her grave this too disappeared over time, piece by piece. Saint Xenia’s intercession is specially invoked for help in finding employment, lodging or a spouse.
