About
fifteen years ago, I heard this story about an event that took place in
Northern California—an unusual story, about a miracle of St. Xenia of
Petersburg. Nun Nina, now Abbess Nina of St. Nilus Skete in Alaska, had heard
it from Fr. Weldon Hardenbrook, who at the time was the rector of a church in
Santa Cruz County. I wrote it down immediately, but unfortunately the notebook
I wrote it in is located somewhere far away from me now, and I am writing it
again from memory—so that people might know that Blessed Xenia the
fool-for-Christ of St. Petersburg helps people everywhere, even people who
previously knew nothing about her. She helps not only those who have prayed to
her, but even those who will pray to her.
This
priest, Fr. Weldon, served in a parish that consisted of former Evangelical
Christians who had embraced Orthodox Christianity. There was a time when their
flourishing community was not Orthodox, and all kinds of people came to them to
hear their Christian message. One day, a young man rode up to the church on his
Harley Davidson. His appearance betrayed the life of a prodigal, but he was
sincerely interested in hearing about Jesus. A relationship formed with the Fr
Weldon, now an Orthodox priest (who told this story), and the young man began
to gradually change his ways. He had given up one vice after another when the
pastor told him that his “biking” would have to go if he wanted to truly follow
Christ. This was too much for the newly-born Evangelical to bear, and he left
the community and his pastor’s care, never intending to return.
Our biker
rode off on his Harley Davidson, and soon had a terrible accident, which cost
him his legs. Eventually he landed back in the company of his old “friends”, in
a run-down apartment in a low-rent neighborhood in the bad part of a
crime-ridden city. One evening, as he and his companions were abusing drugs and
alcohol in a particularly vigorous way, he slipped over the edge and lost
consciousness. The others were also far from sober and took him for dead. Not
understanding clearly what they should do, and as usual avoiding all contact
with the police, they simply dragged his limp, legless body to the street and
threw him into the nearest garbage dumpster. In there, the next morning, he
came to his senses. It was a rude awaking indeed to find himself in a dumpster,
wallowing in refuse. Climbing dazedly out of that would-be coffin, he sat down
on the curb, thinking the darkest thoughts. “So, this is what I have come to.
Useless, human trash. Thrown away like garbage.”
Sunk in
these pessimistic thoughts, he was suddenly stirred by the presence of an old
lady in tattered clothes—what people call a “bag lady”. She was coming closer
to him with a fierce, accusatory expression. “You know where to go,” she said,
pointing at him. “So, go there!” At that moment the man remembered his former
pastor, and the church where he had almost reformed. Determined to find it
again, he made his way back to the town where it is located.
When he
returned to that church it was different. There were gold domes with crosses on
the roof, and the interior was completely changed. No pews; and there was a
sort of screen at the front, with strange images of holy people. He looked
around in wonder, when his gaze caught the image of a woman—the very “bag lady”
who had told him where to go in that hour of dire depression. It was Holy
Blessed Xenia, the fool-for-Christ of Petersburg.
He met
his old friend, now an Orthodox priest in a cassock, wearing a cross. He
received holy Baptism himself, and began to live the life of a dedicated
parishioner, this time truly transformed.
I do not
know what has come of this man since. I have no reason to believe that he is
anywhere other than at that parish, but as I have said, this story was related
to me fifteen years ago. However, the fact remains that this miracle of St.
Xenia happened to person who knew nothing of her, who lived in a place very far
from Russia, and when he needed it the most.
By Nun Cornelia (Rees)
Source: http://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com.by/2017/01/a-miracle-of-st-xenia-of-st-petersburg.html
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