Righteous
Juliana of Lazarevo and Murom displays an astonishing example of a selfless
Russian Christian woman. She was the daughter of a nobleman, Justin Nediurov.
From her young years, she lived piously, fasted strictly and allotted much time
to prayer. Having been orphaned early on, she was given over to the care of
relatives, who did not understand her and laughed at her. Juliana bore
everything patiently and uncomplainingly.
Her love
for people was expressed in the fact that she often tended the sick and sewed
clothing for the poor. The pious and virtuous life of the maiden attracted the
attention of the owner of the village of Lazarevo (not far from Murom), Yuri
Osorin, who soon married her. The husband's parents came to love their modest
daughter-in-law and put the management of the household into her hands.
Domestic cares did not interrupt Juliana's spiritual struggles. She would
always find time for prayer and was constantly ready to feed orphans and clothe
the poor. During a severe famine, she, going without food herself, would give
up her last bit of food to a beggar. When an epidemic began after the famine,
Juliana devoted herself wholly to the care of the sick.
Righteous
Juliana had six sons and a daughter. After the loss of two sons, she decided to
withdraw to a monastery, but her husband persuaded her to remain in the world
in order to continue to raise the children. According to the testimony of
Juliana's son, Callistratus Osorin, who wrote her life, she became even more
demanding of herself at this time: she increased her fasting and prayer and
would sleep no more than two hours at night, having placed a log under her
head.
Upon the
death of her husband, Juliana distributed her portion of the inheritance to the
poor. Living in extreme poverty, she nonetheless was always full of the joy of
life and affable, and she thanked the Lord for everything. The Saint was
counted worthy of a visitation from Hierarch Nicholas the Wonderworker and of
instruction from the Mother of God on church prayer. When righteous Juliana
departed unto the Lord, she was buried alongside her husband in the church of
Saint Lazarus. Here also her daughter, Schema-nun Theodosia, was buried. In the
year 1614, the relics of the righteous one were found, which gave off a
fragrant myrrh from which many received healing.
Source: https://stjohndc.org/en/orthodoxy-foundation/saints/righteous-juliana-lazarevo
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