SKU: 14127962833

St. Xenia of Petersburg icon

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St. Xenia of Petersburg iconOrthodox icon of Saint Xenia of Petersburg, Fool for Christ. Commemorated January 24. Saint Xenia lived during the eighteenth century, but little is known of her life or of her family. She passed most of her life in Petersburg during the reigns of the empresses Elizabeth and Catherine II. Xenia Grigorievna Petrova was the wife of an army officer, Major Andrew Petrov. After the wedding, the couple lived in St Petersburg. St Xenia became a widow at the

Orthodox icon of Saint Xenia of Petersburg, Fool for Christ.

Commemorated January 24.

Saint Xenia lived during the eighteenth century, but little is known of her life or of her family. She passed most of her life in Petersburg during the reigns of the empresses Elizabeth and Catherine II. Xenia Grigorievna Petrova was the wife of an army officer, Major Andrew Petrov. After the wedding, the couple lived in St Petersburg. St Xenia became a widow at the age of twenty-six when her husband suddenly died at a party. She grieved for the loss of her husband, and especially because he died without Confession or Holy Communion.

Once her earthly happiness ended, she did not look for it again. From that time forward, Xenia lost interest in the things of this world, and followed the difficult path of foolishness for the sake of Christ. The basis for this strange way of life is to be found in the first Epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 1:18-24, 1 Cor. 2:14, 1 Cor. 3:18-19). The Lord strengthened her and helped her to bear sorrow and misfortune patiently for the next forty-five years. She started wearing her husband's clothing, and insisted that she be addressed as Andrew Feodorovich.  She told people that it was she, and not her husband, who had died. In a certain sense, this was perfectly true. She abandoned her former way of life and experienced a spiritual rebirth.

When she gave away her house and possessions to the poor, her relatives complained to the authorities. After speaking to Xenia, the officials were conviced that she was in her right mind and was entitled to dispose of her property as she saw fit. Soon she had nothing left for herself, so she wandered through the poor section of Petersburg with no place to lay her head. She refused all assistance from her relatives, happy to be free of worldly attachments. When her late husband's red and green uniform wore out, she clothed herself in rags of those colors. After a while, Xenia left Petersburg for eight years. It is believed that she visited holy Elders and ascetics throughout Russia seeking instruction in the spiritual life.

She may have visited St Theodore of Sanaxar (February 19), who had been a military man himself. His life changed dramatically when a young officer died at a drinking party. Perhaps this officer was St Xenia's husband. In any case, she knew St Theodore and profited from his instructions. St Xenia eventually returned to the poor section of Petersburg, where she was mocked and insulted because of her strange behavior. When she did accept money from people it was only small amounts, which she used to help the poor.

She spent her nights praying without sleep in a field outside the city. Prayer strengthened her, and in her heart's conversation with the Lord she found the support she needed on her difficult path. When a new church was being built in the Smolensk cemetery, St Xenia brought bricks to the site. She did this in secret, during the night, so that no one would know. Soon her great virtue and spiritual gifts began to be noticed. She prophesied future events affecting the citizens of Petersburg, and even the royal family. Against her will, she became known as someone pleasing to God, and nearly everyone loved her.They said, Xenia does not belong to this world, she belongs to God. People regarded her visits to their homes or shops as a great blessing.

St Xenia loved children, and mothers rejoiced when the childless widow would stand and pray over a baby's crib, or kiss a child. They believed that the blessed oneu2019s kiss would bring that child good fortune. St Xenia lived about forty-five years after the death of her husband, and departed to the Lord at the age of seventy-one. The exact date and circumstances of her death are not known, but it probably took place at the end of the eighteenth century.

She was buried in the Smolensk cemetery. By the 1820s, people flocked to her grave to pray for her soul, and to ask her to intercede with God for them. So many visitors took earth from her grave that it had to be replaced every year. Later, a chapel was built over her grave. Those who turn to St Xenia in prayer receive healing from illness, and deliverance from their afflictions. She is also known for helping people who seek jobs.

Reference: O.C.A.

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Linna
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 3
Sour moist meat
Flavor Name: Traditional, Size: 4 Ounce (Pack of 1)
I had a hankering for jerky and found biltong instead. I didn’t know what made it different, but I was willing to try. I was very surprised how moist it was!! It’s better than the jerky here. If I wanted to gnaw on leather then I’d get my belt instead of paying money for dried meat. I liked that it didn’t have sugar. However , the flavor was confusing. It was mostly sour, like too much vinegar. Other reviewers mentioned that too and I must agree. I’m not sure how it’s suppose to taste but this experience makes me hesitate buying any more.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2020
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Charles W. Ambrose
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Great taste
Flavor Name: Traditional, Size: 4 Ounce (Pack of 1)
Great taste, the right size
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Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2026
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Joseph Ernest
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 1
Rancid, Nasty, biltong shavings
Flavor Name: Traditional, Size: 4 Ounce (Pack of 1), Flavor Name: Traditional, Size: 4 Ounce (Pack of 1)
This Ayoba Biltong has an OK flavour, but the black pepper is excessive. About 20% of the shavings are rancid, which means that every 5 shaving pinch you put in your mouth is practically guaranteed to have a rancid flake. The rancid flakes are bitter. acrid and foul, and this nastiness completely overpowers the biltong flavour, even the excess black pepper taste. I believe the rancidness comes from the white bits of fat attached to the meat, but who wants to sort and clean these biltong bits? DO NOT BUY!!!! FYI - I grew up in Swaziland and Botswana, and ate pounds and pounds of biltong. I even made Biltong while deep in the Okavango Delta.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2026
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J. Johnson
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Flavorful
Flavor Name: Traditional, Size: 2 Ounce (Pack of 3)
Best jerky ever I love everything about it! Jeff Johnson
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Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2026
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David A.
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent flavor and texture to this jerky with no sugar makes it my new favorite
Flavor Name: Traditional, Size: 4 Ounce (Pack of 1)
I have recently adopted a low carb, high protein diet combined with weight training, so I'm always looking for new sources of protein. I use protein powder as little as possible, and eat more from natural sources. I have a brand of beef jerky I really like, but traditional beef jerkies have a lot of sugar (10g protein to 6g of sugar). Biltong, however, has more protein per oz (16g) and 0g of carbs or sugar. Simple ingredients, and nothing funky. So a big win on the nutrition front. That is great, but what won me over was the flavor. It has a nice hearty flavor, and has a little wetness to it that makes the texture nice to chew. I have tried another brand of biltong, but I found it too dry for my taste (kinda of like chewing on plastic). So another win on flavor and texture. Pricing is okay. Good beef jerky is not cheap, so you get what you pay for. I would like to buy in bulk, so bigger packages with better discounts would be a good offer I would jump on immediately.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2019

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