Xenia of Saint Petersburg

Xenija of St. Petersburg (actually Russian Ксения Григорьевна Петрова Xenija Grigoryevna Petrova; * 1719-1730 in Saint Petersburg, † 1803 ibid ), is revered in the Russian Orthodox Church as saints, she lived and worked in the 18th century.

Life as a "Righteous "

Xenija was the wife of Andrei Petrov Theodorowitch, a wealthy Russian army officer. This officer, who was also a member of the Andrejewski - church, but died unexpectedly. In Xenija matured by the sudden death of her husband, the knowledge about the transience of life, she retired with 26 years back in a hermitage near Petersburg. After eight years of Spartan life, she returned to St. Petersburg and from then sat restlessly for the poor and needy throughout the city. She helped as best she could and soon even spoke of miracles that can accomplish it. This activity Samaritan brought her the nickname " Xenija the righteous " and " fool in Christ" a. So selfless, she spent 45 years until she died at the age of 71 years. The people worshiped after her death further, over her grave in the Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg, a chapel was built.

Canonization

On September 11, 1978 Xenija was canonized by the Russian Church Abroad, on 6 February 1988 the Russian Orthodox Church. Feast day is January 24 ( Julian, Gregorian 6 February).

Icon representation

In all representations of Xenija of Petersburg wearing military jacket of her late husband and a white headscarf, such descriptors are located in the Smolensk Church and the Chapel of Xenija on the Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg.