www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer My brother's desperate situation

In your kindness please remember my sister-in-law Patty in your prayers. She has been unemployed all year and their financial situation is on the brink of desperate - not to mention the anxiety, worry, and fear. Something needs to break for her and my brother as soon as possible.

My dearest Anna,

My heartfelt prayers for your brother and Patty to find employment. This is a trial of dire proportions...and one which many Christians suffer. One holy nun I know put it best when she said that this will make a person cling to God to the utmost, for they are fully dependent on Him and only Him in such situations. I pray that your brother and Patty are devout believers and that they will not give up on praying and beseeching God for their daily bread and rememinding Him in their prayers of His promise in Holy Scripture to take care of us and not to worry.

My beloved sister, please offer this to your brother and Patty. Blessed Saint Xenia of Petersburg is known to miraculously find employment of all kinds for those who beseech her through earnest prayer. Please, have them pray this Akathist daily and tell them not give up...one friend says that in such moments we must 'spam' God with prayers:


AKATHIST HYMN TO THE HOLY XENIA OF
SAINT PETERSBURG

Kontakion 1
O HOLY and blessed Mother Xenia, chosen favor
ite and fool for the sake of Christ, who elected to
undergo the struggle of patience and the suffer-ing
of affliction, we who honor your holy memory offer you
hymns of praise. Help us against our enemies, visible and
invisible, that we may cry unto you:
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Oikos 1
AFTER the death of your husband, O blessed Mother,
you sought the life of the angels and rejected 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; and you acquired
the understanding of Christ. Wherefore, you hear these
praises which we offer unto you:
Rejoice, for you were the peer of Andrew, the fool for the
sake of Christ!
Rejoice, for you renounced your own name, referring to
yourself as dead!
Rejoice, for you assumed foolishness and took the name
of your husband, Andrew!
Rejoice, for you called yourself by a man’s name, re-nouncing
woman’s weakness!
Rejoice, becausefor the sake of Christ you accepted
voluntary poverty!
Rejoice, for who distributed all your substance to good
people and to the poor!
Rejoice, for by your foolishness you have taught us to
reject the vain wisdom of this age;
Rejoice. good comforter of all who have recourse to you
in prayer!
Rejoice, for you were full of wisdom transcending the world!
Rejoice, for you preferred mockery and ridicule to earthly
glory!
Rejoice, for you have been glorified by God;
Rejoice speedy helper in time of trouble and despair!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 2
PERCEIVING your manner of life as strange, for your
spurned your home and all worldly riches, your kins-men
in the flesh thought you deranged; but the people of
Saint Petersburg, seeing your humility, lack of acquisitive-ness,
and voluntary poverty, singed unto God:
Alleluia!

Oikos 2
O BLESSED XENIA, you hid the understanding given you
by God under an apparent mindlessness; and amid the
vanity of the great city you lived like a desert-dweller,
unceasingly offering your prayers up to God. And, marvel-ing
at your manner of life, we cry out to you in praise:
Rejoice, for you took upon your shoulder the heavy cross
of foolishness which God had given you!
Rejoice, O blessed one who bore it without hesitation!
Rejoice, for you hid the radiance of grace under an
assumed insanity!
Rejoice, for your foolishness was most wise!
Rejoice, for through extreme humility and feats of prayer
you acquired the gift of clairvoyance!
Rejoice, for you showed forth this gift for the benefit and
salvation of the suffering!
Rejoice, for you beheld the sufferings of the people
clairvoyantly, as from afar!
Rejoice, for your prayers brought relief to those in pain
and distress!
Rejoice, for you prophesied to the good woman the birth
of a son!
Rejoice, for you entreated God, that He grant that woman
a child!
Rejoice, for you hurry to entreat the Lord in behalf of
your neighbors!
Rejoice, for you have taught all to flee to God in prayer!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 3
BY the power given you by God from on high, you
manfully endured burning heat and bitter cold, cruci-fying
your flesh and the passions and lusts. Wherefore,
enlightened by the Holy Spirit, you cried out unceasingly
unto God: Alleluia!

Oikos 3
WITH the sky as your roof and the earth as your bed,
O blessed one, you spurned the comfort of the flesh
for the sake of the Kingdom of God. And we, beholding
your manner of life, cry out to you with compunction:
Rejoice, for you gave your earthly home to the people!
Rejoice, for you sought and received the shelter of
heaven!
Rejoice, for you possessed nothing that was earthly, but
enriched all spiritually!
Rejoice, O treasurehouse of the gifts of heaven!
Rejoice, for you accounted every material thing as nothing!
Rejoice, for you were thus freed from every loss!
Rejoice, for you endured hunger and cold in ragged
clothing!
Rejoice, for by your life teach you us endurance!
Rejoice, for you showed forth the love of God for all!
Rejoice, for you have been adorned with the fruits of piety!
Rejoice, for you showed the world patience and guilelessness!
Rejoice, O our fervent intercessor before the throne of
the Most High!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 4
THE tempest of life which assailed Saint Petersburg you
weathered by meekness and guilelessness, O blessed
Mother, and you acquired dispassion toward this corrupt
world; therefore, you sing unto God: Alleluia!

Oikos 4
HEARING of you, that, having endured a multitude of
afflictions for Christ’s sake, you comfort the sorrow-ful,
strengthen the weak and guide the lost to the straight
path, the suffering hasten to your aid, singing unto you:
Rejoice, for you loved the path of Christ with all your
heart!
Rejoice, for you joyfully bore the Cross of Christ!
Rejoice, for you endured every offense offered you by the
world, the flesh, and the devil!
Rejoice, for you thus emulated the ascetics of the desert!
Rejoice, for you were full to overflowing with the gifts of God!
Rejoice, for you freely bestow spiritual gifts upon those in need!
Rejoice, for you showed love for your neighbors!
Rejoice, for you offered consolation to the suffering!
Rejoice, for you shed unceasing tears of repentance!
Rejoice, for you wipe away the tears of those who weep!
Rejoice, for you sought neither comfort nor warmth for
yourself!
Rejoice, for you were wondrously warmed by the grace of
the Holy Spirit!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 5
YOUR holiness, O blessed Xenia, was like a divinely
guided star illumining the sky of Saint Petersburg; for
unto all perishing in the madness of sin you showed the
path of salvation, calling all to repentance, that they might
cry out to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 5
SEEING your feats of prayer and your endurance of heat
and cold, pious folk sought to alleviate your sufferings,
offering you clothing and food; but you distributed all these
things to the poor, desiring to maintain your struggle. And
we, marvelling at your voluntary poverty, cry out to you
thus:
Rejoice, for willingly endured burning heat and freezeing
cold the sake of Christ!
Rejoice, for you were warmed by the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit!
Rejoice, for you remained continually in prayer!
Rejoice, for you never tire in interceding for mankind!
Rejoice, for by all-night vigils in prayer you preserved
Saint Petersburg from misfortunes!
Rejoice, for many times you averted from it the wrath of God!
Rejoice, for every day of the year you prayed at night in
a field!
Rejoice, for by your fervent tears youwarmed the cold
earth!
Rejoice, for you tasted the sweetness of paradise in
poverty of spirit!
Rejoice, for in this sweetness you left behind all earthly
things!
Rejoice, for you abide wholly in God!
Rejoice, for you delight in the bridal banquet of your
Master!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 6

ALL who have been delivered by you from different
ailments, misfortunes and sorrows - the rich and the
poor, the old and the young - proclaim the holiness of your
life, O blessed one of God; therefore, and glorifying you, we
cry out unto God: Alleluia!

Oikos 6
THE GLORY of your struggles shone forth, O blessed
Mother, when at night you secretly carried stones for
those who were erecting the Church of the Smolensk Icon
of the Mother of God, lightening the tasks of the builders;
and mindful of this, we sinners cry out to you such things
as these:
Rejoice, for you teach us to perform virtuous deeds in
secret!
Rejoice, for you call all to feats of piety!
Rejoice, for you aided those who were building the
churches of God!
Rejoice, for you loved the holiness of the Church!
Rejoice, for you labor for the Lord of the vineyard!
Rejoice, for you ease our labors on the path of salvation!
Rejoice, for you continually call upon the name of the
Lord!
Rejoice, O speedy helper of those who have recourse
unto you!
Rejoice, for you have found rest in Christ your Master!
Rejoice, O good comforter of all the sorrowful!
Rejoice, for you sanctified your city by your painful
footsteps!
Rejoice, O eavenly aid of the city of Saint Petersburg!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls !

Kontakion 7
DESIRING to deliver from sorrow the mourning physician who had buried his wife, you commanded a
certain maiden to hasten to Okhta, there to take him as her
husband and to console him. And they did as you said,
singing unto God in joy: Alleluia!

Oikos 7
A NEW WONDER you revealed in your prayer, O
blessed Mother, when you said unto a pious woman:
"Take a five-kopek piece, and it will go out!" thus prophesying
that fire would strike her house; and at your supplication the flame of the fire was extinguished. Therefore,
mindful of these things, we cry out praises unto you:
Rejoice, for you unceasingly grieved over your sins!
Rejoice, for you extinguish the sorrows of the people!
Rejoice, for you bore suffering in body and soul!
Rejoice, for before God you show forth boldness for the
suffering!
Rejoice, O inextinguishable lamp burning brightly in
prayer to God!
Rejoice, O our intercessor amid misfortunes and perils!
Rejoice, for you save from perdition those beset by the
passions!
Rejoice, for you turn pious virgins away from marriage
with unbelievers!
Rejoice,foryoucrucifiedyourfleshwithconstantmortification!
Rejoice, for you deliver from despair those who have
been wounded by a curse!
Rejoice, for your defender was the Most High!
Rejoice, O speedy defender at an unjust trial!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 8
AS A HOMELESS wanderer you trod the path of your
life in the capital city of Russia, bearing afflictions and
reproaches with great patience; and, abiding now in the
heavenly Jerusalem, in joy you sing unto God: Alleluia!

Oikos 8
YOU were all things to all, O blessed Xenia - comfort for
the sorrowful, protection and defense for the weak, joy
for the grieving, clothing for the poor, healing for the sick;
therefore, we cry out unto you:
Rejoice, for you dwell in the mansions on high!
Rejoice, for you pray there for us sinners!
Rejoice, O good one, who show us a model of service to God!
Rejoice, O provider of our every need!
Rejoice, O protectress of the persecuted and oppressed!
Rejoice, for you by your supplications help the Orthodox
people!
Rejoice, for you endured much affliction and grief!
Rejoice, for you defend the afflicted who pray to you!
Rejoice, for you rebuke those who abuse their fellows!
Rejoice, for you put to shame unbelievers and those who
babble!
Rejoice, for you were clothed in rags and tatters!
Rejoice, for God has adorned you with the splendid
raiment of righteousness!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 9
O BLESSED MOTHER, you endured all illness, bodily
poverty, hunger and thirst, and the reproach of
iniquitous people who considered you to be insane; yet,
praying to the Lord, you continually cried out to Him:
Alleluia!

Oikos 9
EVEN the most eloquent of orators are unable to
understand how by your foolishness you reproved the
madness of this world, and by your weakness you put the
mighty and wise to shame, for they do not know the power
and wisdom of God which are in you; but we, receiving your
aid, sing to you such things as these:
Rejoice, O bearer of the divine Spirit!
Rejoice, for with the Apostle Paul you boasted in your
weakness!
Rejoice, for you reproved the world by your feigned
foolishness!
Rejoice, for you spurned the glamor of this world for the
sake of salvation!
Rejoice, for you disdained the beautiful things of this earth!
Rejoice, for you loved the good things of heaven with all
your heart!
Rejoice, for you were attentive unto the inner voice of the Lord!
Rejoice, for you call us to the path of salvation!
Rejoice, O dread denouncer of drunkenness as a sin!
Rejoice, for you were renowned for your kindness and love!
Rejoice, O holy protectress of the Orthodox family!
Rejoice, for in Christ you found comfort for your sorrows!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 10
DESIRING to save your soul, you crucified your flesh
with its passions and lusts; and, utterly denying your-self,
you set your cross upon your shoulder and followed
after Christ with all your heart, singing unto Him:
Alleluia!

Oikos 10
You are a firm rampart and an unassailable refuge for
those who pray to you, O Mother Xenia; therefore, by
your supplications help us against our enemies, visible and
invisible, that we may cry to you:
Rejoice, for you worked diligently in the garden of Christ!
Rejoice, for you move us to spiritual labor!
Rejoice, for through steadfastness of faith you escaped
the devil’s snares!
Rejoice, for you deliver us from the snares of the enemy!
Rejoice, for you offered yourself unto God like incense in
a censer!
Rejoice, for you bring the peace of God into the hearts of
the people!
Rejoice, for you shed rays of Christian love upon all!
Rejoice, for you extinguish the spirit of malice in the
hearts of the oppressed!
Rejoice, for you impart blessing unto good children!
Rejoice, for by mystic supplication you heal their ailments!
Rejoice, for through foolishness you attained heavenly
wisdom!
Rejoice, for you have shown forth the wisdom of God to
the afflicted world!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 11
THOSE who have been saved from misfortunes, sor
rows and all dangers offer you hymns of praise, O
blessed Xenia, and with you joyously sing unto God:
Alleluia!

Oikos 11

YOUR life, O holy Mother, has been shown to be a
radiant light illumining the people amid the darkness
of this life; for you have delivered those who have fallen into
the mire of sin and directed their path to the light of Christ.
Therefore, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, O favorite of Christ, who while in the world lived
above the world!
Rejoice, for you enlighten the Orthodox with the light of God!
Rejoice, for you by your many labors acquired great
grace!
Rejoice, for you shone forth with the grace of God in the
darkness of sin!
Rejoice, for you set your hope upon the Almighty!
Rejoice, for on the path of salvation you give a helping
hand to the desperate!
Rejoice, for you were clad in the brilliant robe of unwaver-ing
faith!
Rejoice, for you strengthen those who are weak in the Faith!
Rejoice, for you were renowned for your kindness and love!
Rejoice, for you put to shame the spirits of malice!
Rejoice, for your ways were those of an ascetic of the
wilderness!
Rejoice, for by your manner of life you amazed the angels!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!
Kontakion 12

YOU pour forth grace in abundance upon those who
honor your memory and flee to your protection, O
blessed Xenia; therefore, upon us who pray to you do youalso pour forth streams of healing from God, that we may
cry out to Him:
Alleluia!
Oikos 13

HYMNING your many wonders, O blessed Mother, we
praise you and entreat you with all our heart: Forsake
not us sinners amid our grievous circumstances, but be-seech
the Lord of hosts, that we fall not away from our
Orthodox Faith, but that, strengthened in it by your
prayers, we may cry out to you:
Rejoice, for you teach us to have sympathy for the
suffering!
Rejoice, for you bear our infirmities with all your heart!
Rejoice, for you instruct us to crucify the flesh, together
with the passions and lusts!
Rejoice, for you come to our aid amid every spiritual
battle!
Rejoice, for you hear our every supplication!
Rejoice, O intercessor and protectress of those who
honor your memory!
Rejoice, for you who traveled the path of tribulation!
Rejoice, for you thereby obtained everlasting salvation!
Rejoice, for you give joy to those who hasten to your tomb!
Rejoice, for you are a speedy helper in every misfortune!
Rejoice, for yout light has shone forth before all!
Rejoice, for you ever mediate the salvation of your
people!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 13
O HOLY and blessed Mother Xenia, who bore a heavy
cross during your lifetime: Accept from us sinners this
entreaty offered unto you. By your supplications protect us
from the assaults of the spirits of darkness and from all who
plot evils against us. Beseech our most compassionate God,
that He grant us power and might, that we may bear our
own crosses and, following Christ, may go forth, singing
with you to Him:
Alleluia!

This kontakion is recited thrice, then Oikos I and Kontakion I are repeated.

Oikos 1
AFTER the death of your husband, O blessed Mother,
you sought the life of the angels and rejected 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; and you acquired
the understanding of Christ. Wherefore, you hear these
praises which we offer unto you:
Rejoice, for you were the peer of Andrew, the fool for the
sake of Christ!
Rejoice, for you renounced your own name, referring to
yourself as dead!
Rejoice, for you assumed foolishness and took the name
of your husband, Andrew!
Rejoice, for you called yourself by a man’s name, re-nouncing
woman’s weakness!
Rejoice, becausefor the sake of Christ you accepted
voluntary poverty!
Rejoice, for who distributed all your substance to good
people and to the poor!
Rejoice, for by your foolishness you have taught us to
reject the vain wisdom of this age;
Rejoice. good comforter of all who have recourse to you
in prayer!
Rejoice, for you were full of wisdom transcending the world!
Rejoice,foryoupreferredmockeryandridiculetoearthlyglory!
Rejoice, for you have been glorified by God;
Rejoice speedy helper in time of trouble and despair!
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!

Kontakion 1

O HOLY and blessed Mother Xenia, chosen favorite
and fool for the sake of Christ, who elected to
undergo the struggle of patience and the suffering of
affliction, we who honor your holy memory offer you
hymns of praise. Help us against our enemies, visible and
invisible, that we may cry unto you:
Rejoice, O blessed Xenia, who ever intercede for our souls!
Prayers to Blessed Xenia

Prayer 1
O BLESSED WANDERER XENIA, heir to the King
dom of the Father, who were homeless on the earth
and most simple in the manner of your life! Like those who
in the past fell down before your tomb, so do we, who have
recourse unto you, now ask: Pray that, as the Lord says, our
steps may be guided rightly toward the doing of His
commandments, and that the soul-corrupting iniquity sown
by the godless may not prevail over our generation. O you
who hid yourself from the wise of this age, yet were known
to God, ask humility, meekness and the pledge of love for
our hearts, faith in prayer, hope in repentance, strength in
labors, the mercy of healing in sickness, and restoration of
our whole life from this time forward, that, blessing you, we
may with compunction confess the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, the consubstantial and indivisible Trinity, unto
ages of ages.
Amen.

Prayer 2
O HOLY AND MOST BLESSED MOTHER XENIA,
who lived under the protection of the Most High and
were strengthened by the Mother of God, and who en-dured
hunger and thirst, cold and burning heat, oppres-sion
and persecution: You have received from God the gift
of clairvoyance and the power to work miracles, and you
rest under the shelter of the Almighty. The Holy Church
now glorifies you as a fragrant blossom. Praying before
your holy icon, we ask you, as one who is alive and with us:
Accept our petitions, and offer them up before the throne
of the loving Father of heaven; and, since you have boldness
before Him, for those who have recourse unto you ask
eternal salvation, compassionate blessing upon our good
works and undertakings, and deliverance from all misfor-tunes
and sorrows. In your holy supplications before our
most merciful Savior, intercede for us, the unworthy and
sinful. O holy and blessed Mother Xenia, help our children
to receive illumination by the light of holy baptism and the
seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit; raise our youths and
maidens in faith, honesty, and the fear of God, and grant
them success in their studies; heal the infirm; send down
love and concord upon families; account monastics worthy
to fight the good fight and protect them from oppression;
make our pastors steadfast in the might of the Holy Spirit;
preserve the Orthodox faithful in peace and tranquility;
and pray for those who at the hour of their death are
deprived of the communion of the Holy Mysteries of
Christ. You are our trust and hope, speedily hearkening to
us and delivering us, Unto you do we send up thanks, and
with you do we glorify the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.

Troparion of St. .Xenia of St. Petersburg, Tone 8:

Christ the Lord has revealed you to be a new intercessor for
the Orthodox; you willingly endured evil in your life and
lovingly served both God and man. We zealously run to you
in misfortune and sorrow. We hope in you and cry from our
hearts: Put not our hope to shame, O blessed Xenia.
Another Troparion of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, Tone 5:
Having lived as a stranger in the world, O Xenia, you
outwitted the deviser of evil by your feigned foolishness.
You received from God grace to foresee and foretell things
to come. Now you have been translated from earth and are
numbered with the choirs of Angels.

Another Troparion of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, Tone 4:

Having renounced the vanity of this world, you took
up the cross of a homeless life of wandering. You did
not fear grief, privation, and scorn, but knew the love
of Christ. Now taking sweet delight in His love in
heaven, O blessed and divinely wise Xenia, pray for
the salvation of our souls.

Kontakion of St. Xenia of Rome, Tone 2:

As we who honor you with love, O Xenia, celebrate the
memory of your strange way of life, we sing the praise of
Christ, who in all ways grants you the strength of cures. Ever
entreat him on behalf of us all.

Kontakion of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, Tone 4:

You gave your wealth to the poor, O Xenia, and
accepted poverty out of love for Christ; and having
lived in a manner rivaling the Angels you were counted
worthy of glory on high.

Another Kontakion of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, Tone 3:

A wandering stranger on earth ever signing for the heav-enly
homeland, you were considered a fool by the senseless
and unbelieving, but were known to be wise and holy by the
faithful. God crowned you with glory and honor, O Xenia,
strong minded and divinely wise. Therefore, we cry to you:
Rejoice, for after earthly wandering you have come to dwell
in the Father’s house.

Prayers.

My prayers.

Lord God you are our Provider, make a way where there appears to be no way, provide for all the situations at hand for this family. Amen.

Thank you all for your generous and heartfelt prayers. And thank you Alice especially for posting that wonderful prayer. Please let us continue to pray for them as the days go by. The threat of foreclosure is very real and frightening for them.

Anna,

You don't need to answer this, but I was wondering what your brother and sister-in-law did for work? What field were they in before going through all of this? I only ask because someone may have a contact somewhere if we know their specialty.

In Christ,

Aaron

Thank you Aaron for your concern. My sister-in-law does secretarial/data entry type of work-has for 30 years. Was laid off from a major banking institution (in Ohio) where she worked in wire transfers.

My prayers!! I too, am unemployed--with a Masters degree no less.

Prayers...

Many prayers.

My heartfelt prayers to you too, my brother, Storm Shadow...(I suppose that God knows your real name, unless ofcourse you are really named Storm--there is a NY weather man who was named 'Storm' Field by his father who was also a meteorologist)

As one good priest I know advised me to do: Let's pray for ALL those who are going through these trials in this terrible worldwide economic environment. So, I offer my prayer for them, and in a very special way, for those who are devout Christians... AMEN!

Kyrie Eleison...

In Christ our Hope,
Alice

Through the intercession of St. Joseph, I offer my prayers for your brother and sister-in-law.

Prayers for Anna's brother and sister-in-law, and for all so terribly effected by the economic crises of these times. Having been unemployed for a prolonged period a year ago, I can appreciate the fear that they are going through and pray that they be blessed with meaningful employment that will relieve their stress and allow them to go on with their lives in peace.

I have continued praying for them at church services and privately.

Alice