Saint Walburga

February 25th Troparion
O God, who among the countless gifts of thy grace dost work thy wonders even in the weakness of women: mercifully grant; that we, who are not only enlightened by the example of the chastity of blessed Walburga thy Virgin but also gladdened by the glory of her miracles, may perceive her to be our advocate at thy mercy-seat. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

St. Walburga was born around 710. She is the daughter of St. Richard and the niece of St. Boniface. When St. Richard set out for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with his sons, Ss. Willibald & Winibald, he entrusted 11 year old Walburga to the monastery school at Wimborne. She remained as a nun, spending a total of 26 years there. When St. Boniface put out an appeal for nuns to help him in the evangelization of Germany, St. Walburga answered the call. On the way to Germany, there was a terrible storm at sea. Walburga knelt on the deck of the ship and prayed. The sea immediately became calm. Some sailors witnessed this and spread the word that she was a wonderworker, so she was received in Germany with great respect. At first, she lived at Bischofsheim, under the rule of St. Lioba. Then she was made abbess at Heidenheim, near to where her brother, Winibald served as an abbot over a men's monastery. After his death, she ruled both monasteries. She worked many miracles in the course of her ministry. She wrote a biography of her brother, Winibald, and of Willibald's travels in Palestine, in Latin. She is regarded as the first woman author in both England and Germany. On September 23, 776, she assisted Willibald in translating the uncorrupt relics of their brother, Winibald, to a new tomb in the church at Heidenheim. Shortly after this, she fell ill. Willibald cared for her until she reposed on February 25, 777, then placed her next to Winibald in the tomb. After St. Willibald's death in 786, people gradually forgot St. Walburga and the church fell into disrepair. In 870, Bishop Oktar was having Heidenheim restored. Some workmen desecrated Walburga's grave. She appeared in a dream to the bishop, who then translated her relics to Eichstadt. In 893, St. Walburga's body was found to be immersed in a mysterious sweet-smelling liquid. It was found to work miraculous healings. The liquid, called St. Walburga's oil, has flowed from her body, especially her breast ever since, except for a brief period when the church was put under the interdict after robbers shed the blood of a bell-ringer in the church. Portions of St. Walburga's relics have taken to several other cities and her oil to all parts of the world. In the icon, she is holding a shepherd's staff to symbolize her rule of the men's and women's monasteries. She is holding a gospel book as she was an evangelizer of Germany; and she is holding a bottle of her healing oil.

This icon is by the hand of an iconographer who wishes to be anonymous*.

Order # cap-42

How to Order Home Copyright Price List Next Saint Icon

©  "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art
Any comments or corrections to the site direct to the webmaster.

*If you want to contact this iconographer to commission original work, you may email us and we can put you in touch.