A Northern City Under St. Xenia’s Protection: St. Petersburg

St. Xenia, beloved not only in Russia but also around the Orthodox world, was the fool-for-Christ who wandered the relatively newly-built capital of the Russian Empire. Surrounded by wealth and luxurious palaces, she was poor by choice, praying for everyone and especially for her late husband, who died without repentance.

St. Xenia of Petersburg was born around 1719–1730 and is believed to have passed away around 1803. However, the exact dates of her birth and death remain uncertain.