Akathist to Saint Xenia of Petersburg, the Blessed
O chosen one, well-pleasing to God and fool for Christ’s sake, holy blessed Mother Xenia, who didst take upon thee the struggle of patience and didst suffer grievously, we who honour thy holy memory offer thee a hymn of praise; do thou shelter from enemies visible and invisible us who cry to thee: Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Thou didst partake of the life equal to the angels, O blessed mother, after the repose of thy husband, renouncing the beauty of this world and all that is in it: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life; a fool for Christ’s sake, thou didst put on the mind of Christ. Therefore hear the praise that we send up to thee:
Rejoice, thou who by thy life art equal to Andrew, the fool for Christ; rejoice, thou who didst renounce thy name and call thyself dead; rejoice, thou who in thy folly for Christ didst take the name of Andrew, thy husband; rejoice, thou who, taking a man’s name, didst leave behind the weakness of women; rejoice, thou who didst give away all thy possessions to good people and to the poor; rejoice, thou who for Christ’s sake didst take up voluntary poverty; rejoice, thou who by thy folly for Christ teachest us to renounce the vain wisdom of this age; rejoice, thou who kindly comfortest those who flee to thee in prayer; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Seeing the strange life of thee who didst hate thy house and all worldly wealth, thy kinsfolk according to the flesh counted thee mad. But the people of the city of Peter, seeing thy humility, thy freedom from possessions and thy voluntary poverty, sang to the Lord: Alleluia.
The understanding given thee by God, blessed Xenia, thou didst hide by thy seeming madness; living like a hermit amid the vain bustle of the great city, thou didst send up thy prayers to God unceasingly. And we, marvelling at such a life of thine, cry to thee with praises:
Rejoice, thou who didst take upon thy shoulders the heavy cross of folly for Christ given thee by God; rejoice, thou who didst hide the radiance of grace by seeming madness; rejoice, thou who didst gain the gift of clear sight by extreme humility and the struggle of prayer; rejoice, thou who didst show forth this gift for the profit and salvation of those who labour; rejoice, thou who by the gift of clear sight didst foresee human sufferings in the unknown distance; rejoice, thou who didst foretell to a pious mother the birth of a son; rejoice, thou who didst ask of God a child for that mother; rejoice, thou who teachest all to draw near to God in prayer; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
By the power given thee by God from on high thou didst courageously endure heat and bitter frost, crucifying the flesh with its passions and lusts; and so, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, thou didst unceasingly cry to God: Alleluia.
Having, O blessed one, the heaven for thy covering and the earth for thy bed, for the sake of the kingdom of God thou didst forsake the pampering of the flesh. And we, seeing such a life of thine, cry to thee with a contrite heart:
Rejoice, thou who didst give thine earthly dwelling to others; rejoice, thou who didst seek and find a heavenly refuge; rejoice, thou who hadst nothing earthly, yet enrichest all spiritually; rejoice, thou who by thy life teachest us patience; rejoice, thou who showest to men the love of God; rejoice, thou who art adorned with the fruits of piety; rejoice, thou who showest to the world patience and freedom from anger; rejoice, fervent intercessor before the throne of the Most High; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
The storm of vanity raging in the city of Peter thou didst overcome by thy humility and freedom from anger, having gained dispassion towards the corruptible world, O blessed mother; therefore thou didst sing to the Lord: Alleluia.
When the people heard of thee, how thou, who didst suffer grievously for Christ’s sake, comfortest the sorrowful, strengthenest the weak and settest the straying on the right path, those who laboured, fleeing to thy help, sent up a hymn to thee:
Rejoice, thou who didst love the way of Christ with all thy heart; rejoice, thou who didst take up the Cross of Christ with joy; rejoice, thou who didst endure every outrage from the world, the flesh and the devil; rejoice, thou who art filled with the gifts given by God; rejoice, thou who showest love for thy neighbour; rejoice, comforter of those who labour; rejoice, thou who wipest away the tears of those who weep; rejoice, thou who art wondrously warmed by the grace of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Thy holiness appeared as a twinkling star of God, blessed Xenia, lighting up the sky over the city of Peter. To the people going to perdition in the madness of sins thou didst show the way of salvation, calling all to repentance and crying to God: Alleluia.
Seeing the struggle of thee who didst endure cold and heat in prayer, pious people, striving to lighten thy sufferings, gave thee clothing and food; but thou, wishing to remain in thy struggle, didst give all away to the poor. And we, marvelling at thy voluntary poverty, cry to thee thus:
Rejoice, thou who didst willingly endure cold and heat for Christ’s sake; rejoice, thou who didst abide in unceasing prayer; rejoice, thou who didst guard the city of Peter from calamities by all-night vigil; rejoice, thou who didst many times turn away from it the wrath of God; rejoice, thou who on every day of the year didst pray by night in the field; rejoice, thou who in spiritual poverty didst taste the sweetness of paradise; rejoice, thou who for this sweetness didst leave all earthly things; rejoice, for thou restest wholly in God; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
The holiness of thy life, O God-blessed one, is proclaimed by all whom thou hast delivered from sicknesses, misfortunes and sorrows of many kinds, rich and poor, old and young; therefore we too who magnify thee cry to the Lord: Alleluia.
The glory of thy struggles shone forth, O blessed mother, when, lightening the labours of the builders of the Smolensk church, thou didst secretly carry stones to them. And we sinners, seeing this, cry to thee thus:
Rejoice, thou who teachest us to do good in secret; rejoice, thou who callest all to the struggle of piety; rejoice, helper of the builders of the temples of God; rejoice, lover of the beauty of the Church; rejoice, thou who lightenest our labours on the way to salvation; rejoice, swift helper of those who flee to thee; rejoice, kind comforter of all who sorrow; rejoice, heavenly protector of the city of Peter; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Wishing to still the grief of a mourning physician who was burying his wife, thou didst bid a certain maiden hasten to Okhta, there to find a husband and comfort him. And when it came to pass as thou hadst foretold, they cried to the Lord with joy: Alleluia.
Thou didst show a new wonder by thy prayer, O blessed mother, when thou didst say to a pious woman: “Take this five-kopeck piece; it will go out”. By this thou didst foretell the fire in her house, and by thy prayer didst quench the flame. And we, seeing this, send up a hymn of praise:
Rejoice, thou who stillest the sorrows of the people; rejoice, thou who showest boldness before God for those who labour; rejoice, unquenchable candle, burning brightly in prayers to God; rejoice, our mediator in afflictions and misfortunes; rejoice, thou who deliverest from perdition those held fast by passions; rejoice, thou who rescuest pious maidens from unfitting marriage; rejoice, thou who deliverest from despair those wounded by slander; rejoice, swift defender against unjust judgement; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Thou didst pass along the road of life in the life of a homeless wanderer, enduring afflictions and insults with the greatest patience. And now, dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem, thou criest to the Lord with joy: Alleluia.
Thou wast all things to all, blessed Xenia: consolation of those who weep, shelter and defence of the weak, joy of the sorrowful, clothing of the poor, healing of the sick. Therefore we cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who restest on high; rejoice, thou who there prayest for us sinners; rejoice, thou who givest an example of piety towards God; rejoice, protector of the wronged and persecuted; rejoice, champion of the Orthodox people by thy prayer; rejoice, guardian of the insulted and of those who pray; rejoice, thou who bringest scoffers to their senses; rejoice, thou who puttest to shame the unrighteous and the vainglorious; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Thou didst endure every infirmity, O blessed mother: bodily poverty, hunger and thirst, and also insults from lawless men, for they counted thee mad. But thou, praying to the Lord, didst cry to Him: Alleluia.
Many-speaking orators cannot understand how by thy folly thou didst expose the folly of this world, and by thy weakness didst put to shame the strong and the wise, who knew not the divine power and the divine wisdom in thee. But we, receiving thy help, sing to thee thus:
Rejoice, vessel of the Holy Spirit; rejoice, thou who with the apostle Paul boastest in thine infirmities; rejoice, thou who by thy seeming folly reprovest the world; rejoice, thou who for the salvation of thy soul didst renounce the beauty of these treasures; rejoice, thou who didst love heavenly good things with all thy heart; rejoice, thou who settest us on the way of salvation; rejoice, stern reprover of the sin of drunkenness; rejoice, unmercenary physician, merciful to all; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Desiring to save thy soul, thou didst thus crucify thy flesh with its passions and lusts, and, denying thyself for ever, didst take up thy cross and zealously follow Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia.
Thou wast a firm wall and an impregnable rampart for those who entreat thee, Mother Xenia. Therefore by thy prayer keep us from our enemies visible and invisible, who cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who guidest us to spiritual labour; rejoice, thou who deliverest us from the snares of the enemy; rejoice, fragrance sent up to God; rejoice, thou who pourest divine peace upon hearts; rejoice, thou who quenchest the spirit of malice in embittered hearts; rejoice, blesser of pious children; rejoice, thou who by thy secret prayer healest them of sicknesses; rejoice, thou who revealest divine wisdom to an embittered world; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
A hymn of praise is offered, blessed Xenia, by those delivered through thy prayer from afflictions, sorrows and every misfortune, and they too with thee sing joyfully to the Lord: Alleluia.
Thy life, O holy mother, was shown to us as a dawning light in the darkness, a life that enlighteneth men. For thou didst deliver the fallen from the darkness of sin and direct their journey towards the light of Christ; therefore we cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who enlightenest the Orthodox people with divine light; rejoice, well-pleasing one of Christ, who didst live in the world as one above the world; rejoice, thou who by many labours didst gain great grace; rejoice, thou who wast enlightened by divine grace in the darkness of sin; rejoice, thou who on the way of salvation stretchest out a helping hand to those in despair; rejoice, thou who strengthenest the weak in faith; rejoice, thou who puttest to shame the spirits of wickedness; rejoice, thou who by thy life didst amaze the angels; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
Thou didst pour out grace abundantly upon those who honour thy memory and seek thy protection. So also pour out from God fountains of healings upon us who entreat thee and cry to Him: Alleluia.
Singing of thy many miracles, O blessed mother, we praise thee and zealously entreat thee: forsake not us sinners in our sorrows, but ask of the Lord strength, that we may not depart from our Orthodox faith, as, established in it by thee, we cry to thee:
Rejoice, thou who teachest compassion for the heavy laden; rejoice, zealous healer of our infirmities; rejoice, thou who teachest us to crucify the flesh with its passions and lusts; rejoice, mediator and protector of those who honour thy memory; rejoice, thou who didst pass thy road in sorrows; rejoice, thou who thereby didst attain eternal salvation; rejoice, thou who givest joy to those who flee to thy tomb; rejoice, zealous intercessor for the salvation of the fatherland; Rejoice, blessed Xenia, intercessor for our souls!
O holy blessed Mother Xenia, who by thy life didst bear the weight of the Cross, accept from us sinners this supplication offered to thee. By thy prayer shelter us from the assault of the spirits of darkness and from all who devise evil against us. Ask of the all-merciful Lord strength and firmness, that each of us may take up his cross and follow Christ, singing with thee to Him: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read thrice, then Ikos 1 and Kontakion 1.
O holy all-blessed Mother Xenia, who didst live under the shelter of the Most High, guided and strengthened by the Theotokos, who didst endure hunger and thirst, cold and heat, insults and persecution, and didst receive from God the gift of clear sight and of working wonders, thou restest in the shadow of the Almighty.
And now the holy Church glorifieth thee as a fragrant flower. Standing before thy grave and thy holy icon, as before one living and present with us, we entreat thee: accept our petitions and bring them before the throne of the all-merciful heavenly Father, and, as one who hath boldness, ask for those who flee to thee eternal life, a generous blessing on all our good works and undertakings, and deliverance from every misfortune and sorrow.
Stand with thy holy prayers before our all-merciful Saviour for us, the unworthy and sinful.
Help us, holy blessed Mother Xenia, that our infants may be enlightened by the light of holy Baptism and sealed with the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit; that our boys and girls may be brought up in faith, honesty and the fear of God and prosper in their learning; heal those in sickness and infirmity; send down love and concord upon families; make monastics worthy to struggle the good struggle and guard them from reproach; strengthen the pastors in the might of the Holy Spirit; keep our people and fatherland in peace and quiet; and ask mercy for those deprived at the hour of death of the communion of the holy Mysteries of Christ.
Thou art our hope and trust, swift hearer and deliverer; we send up thanksgiving to thee, and with thee we glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Georgian translation: Melania Shanava-Vepkhvadze
