Saint Xenia of Saint Petersburg, Fool for Christ

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Kondakion and Oikos

Kontakion 1:

To you, the chosen one, the well-pleasing servant of God and fool for Christ, holy and blessed mother Xenia, who chose the struggle of patience and evil suffering, a song of praise we bring, all we who honor your holy memory. And you defend us from enemies seen and unseen, that we may cry to you: Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Oikos 1:

You emulated the angelic life, blessed mother, for after the death of your husband you cast aside 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, attaining foolishness for Christ. Therefore hear now from us humble praises:

• Rejoice, for through your life you were likened to the holy Andrew the Fool for Christ;
• Rejoice, for renouncing your own name, you were called by the name of the one who fell asleep;
• Rejoice, for you began your foolishness for Christ by taking the name of your husband Andrew;
• Rejoice, for calling yourself by a man's name, you cast aside womanly weakness;
• Rejoice, for you distributed all your wealth to good people and to the poor;
• Rejoice, for you willingly accepted poverty for Christ;
• Rejoice, for through your foolishness you taught us to cast aside the vain thoughts of this age;
• Rejoice, good comforter of all who run with faith to you;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 2:

Seeing your strange way of life, that you despised all worldly rest and riches, your relatives according to the flesh thought you had lost your mind; but the inhabitants of the city of Peter, seeing your lack of possessions and your voluntary poverty, sang to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 2:

The wisdom given you by God you hid, holy Xenia, under apparent foolishness, living in the vanity of the great city as an inhabitant of the wilderness and raising unceasing prayers to God. And we, marveling at this your way of life, bring you such things as these:

• Rejoice, you who accepted on your shoulders the heavy cross of foolishness for Christ, given you by God;
• Rejoice, you who hid the brightness of grace through apparent foolishness;
• Rejoice, for you attained the gift of foresight through your deep humility and the struggle of prayer;
• Rejoice, for you used your gift for the good and salvation of those in sufferings;
• Rejoice, you who as a seer perceived human sufferings in immeasurable distances;
• Rejoice, you who prophesied to the good woman about the birth of her son;
• Rejoice, for you asked God for a child for that woman;
• Rejoice, you who taught all to run to God through prayer;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 3:

With the power granted you from above by God, you manfully endured the heat and the terrible frost, crucifying your body with its passions and desires. Therefore, being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, you unceasingly cried to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 3:

Having, O blessed one, heaven as a covering and the earth as a bed for your body, you cast aside bodily pleasures for the sake of the kingdom of God; and we, seeing such a marvelous way of life, with compunction of heart cry to you:

• Rejoice, for you gave your earthly dwelling to people;
• Rejoice, you who sought and received the heavenly covering;
• Rejoice, you who having nothing on earth, enrich all spiritually;
• Rejoice, you who teach us patience through your way of life;
• Rejoice, you who showed to people the love of God;
• Rejoice, you adorned with the fruits of piety;
• Rejoice, you who showed to the world patience and guilelessness;
• Rejoice, our warm intercessor before the throne of the Most High;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 4:

Through meekness and guilelessness you conquered, blessed mother, the storm of worldly life that troubled the city of Peter, and you attained dispassion towards corruptible things. Therefore you now sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 4:

Hearing about you – that suffering for Christ you give comfort to the afflicted, strengthen the weak, and guide the erring on the right path – people in suffering ran to you, crying:

• Rejoice, you who loved the path of Christ with all your heart;
• Rejoice, you who bore the cross of Christ with joy;
• Rejoice, you who endured all temptations from the world, the flesh, and the devil;
• Rejoice, you who have abundantly the gifts of God;
• Rejoice, you who showed love for your neighbor;
• Rejoice, you who comforted people in suffering;
• Rejoice, you who wiped away the tears of those who wept;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 5:

A star proceeding from God your holiness appeared, blessed Xenia, enlightening the horizon of the city of Peter; for to people perishing in the madness of sin you showed the way of salvation, calling all to repentance, that they might bring to God the song: Alleluia!

Oikos 5:

Seeing how you struggled in prayer, enduring frost and heat, devout people strove to lessen your sufferings, bringing you clothing and food. But you distributed all to the poor, wishing to preserve your struggle. And we, marveling at your voluntary poverty, said to you such things as these:

• Rejoice, you who willingly suffered heat and frost for Christ;
• Rejoice, you who dwelt unceasingly in prayer;
• Rejoice, for you delivered the city of Peter from many needs through your all-night vigils;
• Rejoice, you who often turned away from it the wrath of God;
• Rejoice, you who spent the nights in the field in prayer;
• Rejoice, you who tasted the sweetness of Paradise through spiritual poverty;
• Rejoice, for through this sweetness you cast aside all worldly things;
• Rejoice, you who dwelt entirely in God;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 6:

The holiness of your life, O divinely blessed one, is proclaimed by rich and poor, old and young, all those delivered through you from various illnesses, needs, and sorrows. Therefore we also, magnifying you, cry to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 6:

The glorious fame of your struggles, blessed mother, was when you brought stones at night, in secret, for those building the cemetery church, thus easing the toil of those working on the raising of the walls. Knowing this, we sinners also say to you:

• Rejoice, you who teach us to perform good deeds in secret;
• Rejoice, you who call all to struggle for the right faith;
• Rejoice, you who help those who build the churches of God;
• Rejoice, you who loved the holiness of churches;
• Rejoice, you who ease our labors on the path of salvation;
• Rejoice, swift helper of those who run to you;
• Rejoice, good comforter of all the sorrowful;
• Rejoice, heavenly protection of the city of Peter;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 7:

Wishing to deliver from suffering the doctor who was weeping for his departed wife, you commanded a certain young woman to run to Okhta and, finding her husband there, to comfort him. And it happened as you said, and afterwards they also rejoicing sang to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 7:

A new miracle you showed through your prayer, blessed mother, when you said to the devout woman: "Take the coin, the fire will go out," prophesying thereby about the fire that was engulfing her house; and through your prayer the flame was extinguished. We also, knowing this, praise you thus:

• Rejoice, you who extinguish the pains of people;
• Rejoice, you who showed boldness towards God for those in suffering;
• Rejoice, unquenchable lamp, burning with a strong light in prayer to God;
• Rejoice, our intercessor in needs and sorrows;
• Rejoice, you who pull out of the pit of destruction those mastered by passions;
• Rejoice, you who protect devout maidens from marriages with the lawless;
• Rejoice, you who deliver from despair those wounded by slanders;
• Rejoice, swift helper of those dragged through unjust judgments;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 8:

As a homeless stranger you traversed the path of life in the capital city of your earthly homeland, suffering with great patience sorrows and slanders; and now, dwelling in the Jerusalem above, with joy you sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8:

You were all things to all, blessed mother Xenia: to the sorrowful comfort, to the weak shelter and protection, to the sad joy, to the poor refuge, to the sick healing. Therefore we all say to you:

• Rejoice, for you dwell in the dwellings above;
• Rejoice, for you pray for us sinners;
• Rejoice, for you showed the good pattern of service to God;
• Rejoice, protectress of the humiliated and persecuted;
• Rejoice, you who help with your prayers the right-believing people;
• Rejoice, for you cover the oppressed who pray to you;
• Rejoice, you who make the oppressors wise;
• Rejoice, you who put to shame the unbelieving and scoffers;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 9:

All torments you suffered, blessed mother: bodily poverty, hunger and thirst, and also slander from lawless people, who thought you had lost your mind. But you, praying to God, always cried to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 9:

The most eloquent orators cannot comprehend how you rebuked through your foolishness the madness of this world, and through your apparent weakness put to shame the powerful and wise, who did not know the power and wisdom of God. But we who have received your help will bring you such things as these:

• Rejoice, bearer of the divine Spirit;
• Rejoice, you who together with the Apostle Paul boast in your weakness;
• Rejoice, you who rebuked the world with your apparent madness;
• Rejoice, you who cast aside, for the sake of salvation, the beauty of this age;
• Rejoice, you who loved with all your heart the good things of heaven;
• Rejoice, you who call us on the path of salvation;
• Rejoice, fearful rebuker of the sin of drunkenness;
• Rejoice, you who were to all a merciful physician without payment;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 10:

Wishing to save your soul, you crucified your passions and bodily desires and, renouncing yourself forever, you took up the cross on your shoulders and followed with all your heart Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 10:

A strong wall and a storm-free haven you appeared to those who pray to you, mother Xenia. Therefore defend us also with your prayers from enemies seen and unseen, that we may cry to you:

• Rejoice, you who urge us to spiritual labor;
• Rejoice, you who deliver us from the snares of enemies;
• Rejoice, spiritual incense offered as a gift to God;
• Rejoice, you who bring divine peace into the hearts of people;
• Rejoice, you who extinguish the spirit of malice in the hearts of the embittered;
• Rejoice, you who give blessing to good children;
• Rejoice, you who heal from illnesses through your secret prayer;
• Rejoice, you who showed the wisdom of God to the embittered world;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 11:

A song of praise they bring you, blessed Xenia, those delivered from needs, from sorrows, and from every temptation through your prayers, and together with you they cry to God, rejoicing: Alleluia!

Oikos 11:

A shining light your life appeared, holy mother, enlightening people in the darkness of this life, for you delivered from the mire of sin those who had fallen and guided them to the light of Christ. Therefore, as is fitting, hear from us:

• Rejoice, you who enlighten the right-glorifying people with the light of God;
• Rejoice, well-pleasing one of God, who in the world showed virtues beyond the world;
• Rejoice, you who through many labors attained great grace;
• Rejoice, for you shone in the darkness of sin, through the grace of God;
• Rejoice, you who give a helping hand to those despairing on the path of salvation;
• Rejoice, you who strengthen the weak in faith;
• Rejoice, you who put to shame the spirits of malice;
• Rejoice, for you amazed even the angels with your way of life;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 12:

Abundant grace you pour forth, blessed mother Xenia, to all who honor your memory and run under the shelter of your prayers. Therefore pour forth upon us abundantly healings from God, to us who pray to you, that we may all sing: Alleluia!

Oikos 12:

Honoring, blessed mother, your many miracles, we praise you and with all zeal we pray to you: do not forsake us sinners, in all sorrowful circumstances, but pray to the Lord that we may not fall from our Orthodox faith, in which being strengthened through you, with good hope we may cry to you:

• Rejoice, you who teach us to suffer alongside the afflicted;
• Rejoice, you who care for us with all zeal in our sufferings;
• Rejoice, you who teach us to crucify our passions and bodily desires;
• Rejoice, intercessor and protectress of those who honor your memory;
• Rejoice, for you traversed the path with labor;
• Rejoice, for through this you attained eternal salvation;
• Rejoice, you who gladden those who run to your grave;
• Rejoice, you who ever intercede for the salvation of the right-believing people;
• Rejoice, holy Xenia, ever well-received intercessor for our souls.

Kontakion 13:

O holy mother Xenia, who in your life bore – for the love of your Savior – so heavy a cross. Receive from us sinners this prayer brought to you. Encompass us with your prayers from the temptations of the spirits of darkness and of all who think evil against us. Pray to the All-Merciful God to grant us strength and virtue, that each of us, taking up his cross and following Christ, may sing to Him unto the endless ages together with you: Alleluia! This kontakion is said three times.

Then again are said Oikos 1 and Kontakion 1

Prayer to our holy and blessed mother Xenia, the fool for Christ:

O holy mother Xenia, living under the shelter of the Most High and strengthened by the Mother of God, enduring hunger and thirst, frost and heat, slanders and persecutions, you received from God the gift of foresight and wonderworking, and now you dwell in the light of the Almighty. The holy Church now glorifies you as a fragrant flower. Standing before your holy icon, we pray to you as to one who is in the ageless life, yet dwells also together with us: receive our petitions and bring them to the throne of the Merciful Heavenly Father, for you have boldness towards Him; ask for those who run to you eternal salvation, abundant blessing for good deeds and undertakings, deliverance from all needs and sorrows. Intercede with your prayers before our All-Merciful Savior, for us unworthy and sinners. Help, holy and blessed mother Xenia, that infants may be enlightened with the light of holy Baptism and be sealed with the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit; that boys and girls may be raised in faith, honor, and the fear of God; grant them success in learning; heal the sick; send love and harmony to those married; make monastics worthy of the good struggle and defend them from slanders; strengthen shepherds in the power of the Holy Spirit; guard the people and this country in peace and without disturbance; pray for those who at the hour of death are deprived of communion with the holy Mysteries of Christ; for you are our hope, our swift hearer, for which we bring you thanks and glorify the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the God worshipped in Trinity and wondrous in His Saints, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen!

Troparion, Tone 7:

Loving Christ’s poverty, you now delight in the eternal banquet; with apparent foolishness you put to shame the madness of this world; through the humility of the Cross you received the power of God. Therefore, having attained the gift of helpfulness through miracles, blessed Xenia, pray to Christ God to deliver us through repentance from all evil.

Kontakion, Tone 3:

Brilliantly rejoices today the city of holy Peter, for the multitude of the sorrowful find comfort, hoping in your prayers, blessed Xenia, for you are the praise and strength of this city.

Magnification:

We magnify you, our holy and blessed mother Xenia, and we honor your holy memory, for you pray for us to Christ our God.