We have other saints named St. Xenia and would like to indicate them to you:

• St. Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, Russia. Commemorated on January 24.
• St. Xenia of Kalamae, the Great Martyr, Wonderworker. Commemorated on May 3.
• St. Xenia the Righteous of Rome. Commemorated on January 24.
• St. Xenia the Martyr. Commemorated on January 18.

What we do know in addition about St. Blessed Mother Xenia of Petersburg, was that she was born around 1730, and reposed in the Lord around the year 1800, and she was about seventy-one. Without a doubt St. Blessed Mother Xenia was given many great spiritual gifts of prayer and prophecy, and often foretold things to come: in 1796 she even foretold the death of Empress Catherine II of Russia. St. Xenia did spend time in a Convent after the repose of her beloved husband named: Andrei. Keep well in mind too that she was homeless, and was often seen kneeling on the ground at the main cemetery in Petersburg in prayer. After the repose of Mother Xenia, her grave sight became indeed a source of many prayers. In addition many men, women, as well as youth where converted to the Russian Orthodox faith by the prayers and intercessions of this holy women and saint. During the times of communism in Russia no one could have access to the church which was built over the site of her burial, even a large fence was put around the church so the faithful could not have access. The faithful however would bring flowers to the fence, and write notes to the saint and many found answers to their prayers. When the communist told the faithful to stop bringing flowers to the popular grave site church of the ten foot high fence, the faithful then made paper flowers. Those who obtained soil from her grave near the fence and church have observed miracles in abundance. The main church has been restored and the fence is now down, and the church was blessed for all the faithful to now enter and to pray to St. Blessed Mother Xenia of St. Petersburg.

Until this day St. Blessed Mother Xenia is noted for her intercessions in helping those with employment, marriage, the homeless, for fires, for missing children, and for a spouse.

Now I would like to present to you the main hymn sung in the Orthodox Church to St. Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, which is called in the Greek Orthodox Church as the Dismissal Hymn, and among the Russian Orthodox the Troparion, although both terms can be used. Keep in mind also that the Orthodox Church has a series of eight tones, and each tropar or dismissal which is indicated how to sing this prayer, and if your unable to sing the prayer then it could be humbly read.

In thee, O wandering stranger, Christ the Lord hath given us an ardent intercessor for our kind. For having received in thy life sufferings and grief and served God and men with love, thou didst acquire great boldness. Wherefore, we fervently hasten to thee in temptations and grief, crying out from the depths of our hearts: Put not our hope to shame, O Blessed Xenia.

Now I would like to humbly present to you the life of St. Blessed Mother Xenia of Petersburg that you can read to your beloved children, and you can as well as use the above indicated as a background:

Source: A Child's Paradise Of Saints, by Nun Nectaria McLees, Christ the Saviour Brotherhood, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2000, pp.59-61.

Other quality children's books available from Christ the Saviour Brotherhood Publishing:

• Bless, O Lord: A Prayerbook For Young People by Father Artemy Vladimirov
• House Of God by Vyacheslav Marchenko

Christ the Saviour Brotherhood Publishing,
PO Box 265 Ash Grove,
Missouri 65604

Introduction by Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes:
The following "Blessed Xenia" Orthodox ballad is from a cassette called "Out Of The Land Of Russia", and is being presented, and sung by Katina Patitsas, which can be obtained on from: Katina Productions, Box 427 Huntington, PA. 16652. For more information about this cassette and others access too: http:www.katinamusic.com The following is being presented with permission from Katina Patitsas.

O Xenia, O Xenia
Blessed fool for Christ's sake,
Wandering streets of Petersburg.
"Call me Andrew, that's my name."

A young widow was her lot,
Grieving for her husband's soul.
Without repentance came his death;
"I shall wear my husband's clothes."

O Xenia, O Xenia,
Sellling all possessions,
So began her wandering.
Free was she from earthly things.

Gone was she from Petersburg
Seeking to prepare herself.
The holy elders taught her well
For the labor that she undertook.

O Xenia, O Xenia,
Foolishness for Christ's sake;
A homeless life of wandering,
Hunger, cold and nakedness.

Foolishness, what foolishness
Did the Blessed one embrace.
Before her was the image of Christ:
Indeed, a stranger to this world.

O Xenia, O Xenia,
Christian virtue filled her soul.
Soon the gift of prophecy
Did this Blessed one receive.

"Make pancakes! Make pancakes!
All of Russia soon will make."
The Empress died the very next day;
Pancakes served in her memory.

O Xenia, O Xenia,
Thou didst know the love of Christ.
Teach us in thy wisdom
Blessed fool for Christ's sake,
Blessed fool for Christ's sake.