What church holiday is February 6: Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg Memorial Day
Every year on February 6, the Orthodox Church commemorates Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, one of the most revered Russian saints. In 2025, the celebration falls on Thursday. "Izvestia" tells how the "mad" widow became a heavenly intercessor and comforter of many people across the country.
Church holiday February 6 - the day of memory of Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg
Two dates of the church calendar are dedicated to Blessed Xenia of Petersburg: February 6 and June 6. In winter the saint's memorial day is celebrated, and in summer - the day of her glorification as a saint. In the folk calendar these dates are called Xenia of Winter and Xenia of Summer.
The Life and Miracles of St. Xenia of Petersburg
St. Xenia was born around 1930 in a pious and noble family. After coming of age, the girl married Andrei Fedorovich Petrov. Her husband, being a military man and having the rank of colonel, was a very pious man and sang in the church choir.
In the family of the future saint reigned harmony, but happiness did not last long - when Xenia was 26 years old, her husband suddenly died. The loss of the dearest person was a serious blow to the girl, but much more she was saddened by the fact that her beloved did not have time to repent before his death. At the funeral inconsolable widow came to the camisole, pants and cartouche of her husband, saying that it is she - Andrei Fedorovich, and in the coffin lies his wife Xenia.
Neighbors and relatives decided that the girl's grief had made her mad, and felt sorry for her. However, the strangeness did not end there. The widow gave away all her property, gave the house left by her husband to a woman named Paraskeva and donated the remaining money to the temple "for the repose of Xenia's soul". Her relatives tried to dissuade her, took her to doctors, invited to talk to the late husband's superiors. But they only spread their hands - the girl is absolutely healthy and fully aware of her actions.
Having gotten rid of everything earthly, Xenia went to wander the streets of St. Petersburg. She ate what was given by kind-hearted citizens, wore her husband's old clothes, refusing to accept other clothes, and the alms she received was immediately given to other beggars. She was often mocked by children and rude passers-by, but the saint steadfastly bore any insults. At night she would go to a vacant lot outside the city to pray for her deceased husband and other people she had met during the day.
Over time, the locals began to notice that Xenia was more than just the town madwoman. The shopkeepers she visited for food and alms grew in sales, the sick children she blessed recovered, and the woman's seemingly incoherent speeches were prophetic.
One day the saint came to Paraskeva, to whom she had once given a house. The new owner of the house was lonely and sad because she had no children. Blessed Xenia, however, told her to run to the Smolensk cemetery as soon as possible. "There God has sent you a child!" - she said.
Arriving at the indicated place, Paraskeva noticed a crowd. She learned that near the cemetery gate a coachman had hit a pregnant woman and from the impact she went into premature labor. The mother could not be saved, but the child was born healthy. To find his father could not, so Paraskeva took the baby to herself.
Another case connected with St. Xenia is also known. At that time, a new church was being built in the Smolensk cemetery. One day the workers noticed that overnight the walls seemed to grow a little higher. This happened until the builders decided to find out who their midnight helper was. It turned out that the bricks were carried upstairs by Blessed Xenia.
Where Xenia of Petersburg is buried, where the relics of the saint are located
St. Xenia died around 1806. She was buried in the Smolensk cemetery in St. Petersburg. Soon people from all over the city began to come to her tomb, asking for healing from illnesses, support in everyday affairs, consolation in grief, and deliverance from loneliness and longing. According to legend, even after her death, the Blessed One did not refuse help and intercession to those who asked for it.
In 1830 a small chapel was erected over the grave of St. Xenia, and in 1902 a stone chapel-shrine was built in its place. After the October Revolution, local clergymen rented it from the city authorities so that the building would not be given for economic needs.
In 1940 the chapel of Blessed Xenia was closed, but people never stopped coming to it. Only in 1987 the building was returned to the church and restored. A year later, the Russian Orthodox Church officially consecrated Xenia of St. Petersburg to the countenance of saints.
The relics of Blessed Xenia are still kept in the chapel at the Smolensk cemetery. Everyone can visit the shrine.
Earlier "Izvestia" told how the Orthodox Church celebrates the day of memory of the Apostle of seventy Timothy.
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