PLEASE PRAY FOR SAINT XENIA'S REPOSED HUSBAND, ANDREI.
An anonymous canticle written to the beloved Saint Xenia of Petersburg:
O Blessed Xenia, help me, my most dear one,
Fervently I pray to thee, deep within my heart.
Asking for thy mercy, O Matushka Xenia,
To thy holy chapel, now hasten I again.
O Blessed Xenia, wondrous was thy prayer,
Thou didst pray for everyone, in the fields at night.
Hear thou my entreaty, O Matushka Xenia,
Grant that I may pour out my sorrow with my tears.
O blessed Xenia, how thou didst endure,
Hunger, cold old poverty didst thou bear for all.
Strengthen me in patience, O Matushka Xenia,
Help me to endure my most bitter pain and grief.
O blessed Xenia, greatly didst thou love,
There could be no warmer love than that which was thine.
O thou warmth most radiant, Matushka Xenia,
Love for our dear Saviour do thou grant unto me.
O Blessed Xenia, how thou didst grow weary,
Thou wast weary weeping and suffering for all.
All my strength is spent now, O Matushka Xenia,
I cannot be steadfast without thy holy prayers.
O Blessed Xenia, many years have passed,
I long in my heart for those blessed days of old.
Hoping in thy mercy, O Matushka Xenia,
At thy little chapel I whisper once again.
O Blessed Xenia, guide me my most dear one,
Thou dost see the dangerous way that I have to walk!
Where there be uncertain ways, O Matushka Xenia,
Lead me on the path to salvation by thy hand.
O Blessed Xenia, help me, my most dear one,
Fervently I pray to thee, deep within my heart.
Asking for thy mercy, O Matushka Xenia,
To thy holy chapel, now hasten I again.
LIFE OF SAINT XENIA: Xenia Grigorievna Petrova was the wife of an army officer, Major Andrew Petrov. After the wedding, the couple lived in Saint Petersburg. Saint Xenia became a widow at the age of twenty-six when her husband suddenly died at a party. She grieved for the loss of her husband, and especially because he died without Confession or Holy Communion.
Once her earthly happiness ended, she did not look for it again. From that time forward, Xenia lost interest in the things of this world, and followed the difficult path of foolishness for the sake of Christ. The basis for this strange way of life is to be found in the first Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:18-24, 1 Cor. 2:14, 1 Cor. 3:18-19). The Lord strengthened her and helped her to bear sorrow and misfortune patiently for the next forty-five years.
She started wearing her husband’s clothing, and insisted that she be addressed as “Andrew Feodorovich.” She told people that it was she, and not her husband, who had died. In a certain sense, this was perfectly true. She abandoned her former way of life and experienced a spiritual rebirth. When she gave away her house and possessions to the poor, her relatives complained to the authorities. After speaking to Xenia, the officials were conviced that she was in her right mind and was entitled to dispose of her property as she saw fit. Soon she had nothing left for herself, so she wandered through the poor section of Petersburg with no place to lay her head. She refused all assistance from her relatives, happy to be free of worldly attachments.
When her late husband’s red and green uniform wore out, she clothed herself in rags of those colors. After a while, Xenia left Petersburg for eight years. It is believed that she visited holy Elders and ascetics throughout Russia seeking instruction in the spiritual life. She may have visited Saint Theodore of Sanaxar (February 19), who had been a military man himself. His life changed dramatically when a young officer died at a drinking party. Perhaps this officer was Saint Xenia’s husband. In any case, she knew Saint Theodore and profited from his instructions.
Saint Xenia eventually returned to the poor section of Petersburg, where she was mocked and insulted because of her strange behavior. When she did accept money from people it was only small amounts, which she used to help the poor. She spent her nights praying without sleep in a field outside the city. Prayer strengthened her, and in her heart’s conversation with the Lord she found the support she needed on her difficult path.
When a new church was being built in the Smolensk cemetery, Saint Xenia brought bricks to the site. She did this in secret, during the night, so that no one would know.
Soon her great virtue and spiritual gifts began to be noticed. She prophesied future events affecting the citizens of Petersburg, and even the royal family. Against her will, she became known as someone pleasing to God, and nearly everyone loved her.They said, “Xenia does not belong to this world, she belongs to God.” People regarded her visits to their homes or shops as a great blessing. Saint Xenia loved children, and mothers rejoiced when the childless widow would stand and pray over a baby’s crib, or kiss a child. They believed that the blessed one’s kiss would bring that child good fortune.
