Name day
Xenia: Name Day and Patron Saint
Xenia keeps the name day on 24 January, or 6 February on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Xenia of St Petersburg.
By Greek custom the name day is 24 January: St Xenia of Rome.
- Patron saint
- St Xenia of St Petersburg
- New Calendar
- 24 January
- Old Calendar
- 6 February
- Next name day
- 24 January 2027 (New Calendar) · 6 February 2027 (Old Calendar)
- Greek custom
- 24 January: St Xenia of Rome
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of January · The feasts of February
The patron saint: St Xenia of St Petersburg
Kept on 24 January, or 6 February on the Old Calendar · Repose
Xenia Grigorievna lived in eighteenth-century St Petersburg as the happy young wife of Andrew Feodorovich Petrov. When she was twenty-six her husband died suddenly at a party, without confession or Communion, and Xenia gave her whole life to praying for his soul. She put on his military uniform, answered only to his name, gave her house and goods to the poor, and took up the hard path of foolishness for Christ. For forty-five years she wandered the poor quarters of the city in rags of red and green, praying through the nights in an open field and secretly hauling bricks for the new cemetery church. Mocked at first, she came to be loved by all; her visit was counted a grace and her prophecies came true. She reposed around 1803 and was buried at the Smolensk cemetery, where her chapel has drawn the faithful ever since. Orthodox Christians pray to Saint Xenia for a good spouse, a peaceful family, a home and work.
What the faithful pray for
- a good and God-fearing husband or wife
- a happy marriage, and the return of love and peace between spouses
- good husbands for one’s daughters
- the health and protection of children and loved ones
- a home and help with housing
- work and help in hard times
- the souls of those who died suddenly and without repentance
- help in exams and studies
Protection
- young women from deceit in marriage
- families from quarrels
- the homeless and destitute
- St Petersburg and its people
Miracles
- Mothers rejoiced when she prayed over a baby’s crib or kissed a child, believing her kiss brought the child the grace of God; merchants counted her visit to their shop a gift from God. (source)
- She secretly carried bricks by night to help build the church at the Smolensk cemetery, where she now rests. (source)
- She foresaw the deaths of Empress Elizabeth and of young Emperor Ivan Antonovich, and warned girls against marrying deceitful men. (source)
Other saints named Xenia
St Xenia of Rome
Kept on 24 January, or 6 February on the Old Calendar · Venerable Xenia of Rome
The Roman noblewoman who fled a forced marriage, took the name Xenia, “stranger”, and became a deaconess on Kos.
Xenia in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Xenia, Ksenia, Kseniya, Zenia, Oksana, Aksinya | |
| Greek | Ξένια, Ξένη, Xenia, Xeni | |
| Russian | Ксения, Аксинья, Kseniya, Ksenia, Aksinya | Ксюша, Ксюня, Ksyusha, Ksiusha |
| Ukrainian | Оксана, Ксенія, Oksana, Kseniia | Оксанка, Oksanka |
| Serbian | Ксенија, Ksenija | |
| Romanian | Xenia | |
| Georgian | Ksenia |
An icon for Xenia
We don't carry an icon of St Xenia of St Petersburg yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychChrist (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God
Also prayed to for home and household$99$69
Folding diptychChrist Pantocrator & Our Lady of Kazan
Also prayed to for marriage and family$99$69
For every name: the Guardian Angel, given at baptism
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for Xenia
Name-Day Gift Set $213$149
A patron saint's folding diptych chosen by first name, a stainless steel crucifix and a prayer rope, in a gift box with a card giving the saint's life and feast day.
The St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych is chosen, for the Guardian Angel every Orthodox Christian receives at baptism, and the name is filled in.
Questions
When is Xenia’s name day?
Xenia keeps the name day on 24 January on the New Calendar and on 6 February on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Xenia of St Petersburg. By Greek custom it is kept on 24 January: St Xenia of Rome.
Who is the patron saint of Xenia?
St Xenia of St Petersburg. Xenia Grigorievna lived in eighteenth-century St Petersburg as the happy young wife of Andrew Feodorovich Petrov.
How is Xenia written in other languages?
Greek: Ξένια (Xenia), Russian: Ксения (Kseniya), Ukrainian: Оксана (Oksana), Serbian: Ксенија (Ksenija), Romanian: Xenia and Georgian: Ksenia. Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Xenia?
We don’t carry an icon of St Xenia of St Petersburg yet, and you can ask for one on this page. Every Orthodox Christian has a Guardian Angel from baptism, so the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with the Guardian Angel diptych is always fitting.
More about name days
- Name Days Explained: What They Are, How Families Keep Them, and Gifts
A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you carry. Here is how to find yours on either calendar, how Greek and Russian families keep it, and what to give.
- Orthodox Patron Saint: How to Find Yours (by Name, Day or Choice)
Your Orthodox patron saint is the saint whose name you were given at baptism. Here is how to find yours by name, by the day of your birth or baptism, or by choice, and how to keep the name day.
- Find another name