Orthodox Icon of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg

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January 24th
Troparion (Tone 8)
Christ the Lord has shown forth in thee a new mediatress and intercessor for our race; thou didst will to endure evil in thy life and didst lovingly serve both God and man. We zealously run to thee in misfortune and sorrow, we hope in thee and cry from our hearts: Put not our hope to shame, O blessed Xenia.

St. Xenia was born in 1729. She married a colonel in the Russian army, but they had no children. He was an alcoholic to such an extent that he fell over dead from too much drink in the middle of a party. Xenia was widowed when she was only 26. She was shocked at losing him, but even more grieved that he died without benefit of the Holy Mysteries. She immediately started to give everything away. Her relatives tried to have her declared insane, so they could take control of her wealth, but she appeared very lucid in court and the judge decided for her. She gave everything away, including her home. Then she left St. Petersburg for eight years. She spent that time learning prayer and spiritual discipline. She then returned to the poorest section of St. Petersburg wearing her husbands old uniform. She only answered to his name "Colonel Petrov" and lived among the homeless as a Fool for Christ. Shopkeepers and cabbies came to recognize her spiritual gifts and would give her whatever she would accept. Whether she accepted anything or not, the shops would prosper for the rest of the day by her blessing. She was known for a prophetic gift that she particularly used to protect marriages and families with children, and to deliver others from the ravages of alcoholism. Many miracles were worked by her during her lifetime and since. She did everything in her husband's name to win his salvation by her love for him, and her desire that they be together in the Kingdom of God. She received assurance that her husband was waiting for her in glory, just before she reposed in the Lord in 1800. Her intercessions are powerful especially for those needing a job, those who are homeless, those dealing with alcoholism, to heal a marriage or to bear or adopt children.

This Icon is by the hand of Nick Papas of Greensburg, PA. This icon is from St. Michael's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Greensburg, PA.

Order # mgp-11