Why Xenia?

Those of you who read this blog may have already assumed that "Xenia" is my patron saint. A few of my friends who read this and aren't Orthodox might be wondering, "What's with the 'Xenia', Katie?" Well, while visiting John's blog, I noticed a link that leads to the story of her life. So if you can, click here and take some time to read her amazing and beautiful story!

Why did I choose Xenia when I was chrismated roughly 3 years ago? She was the first saint that I ever read about when my dad first introduced me to Orthodoxy. I was probably 15 when I read a short yet captivating synopsis of her life in Youth of the Apocalypse-- a book that, needless to say, had a huge impact on my spiritual awakening. Click here for more info on the book! (Another *must have* if you ask me!).

Also, as a somewhat wishy-washy teenage “inquirer,” I was given an icon of St. Xenia by the first parish I ever attended, St. John Maximovitch in Eugene, OR. Having limited knowledge of any other saint besides this Fool-for-Christ, I remember being both baffled and deeply touched by their chosen gift.

After another three years as a meandering inquirer, I became a catechumen at St. John the Baptist once I moved to the Portland area. It wasn’t long before chrismation was approaching and I had to choose a patron saint. I remember having Nektaria (after St. Nektarios, who’s biography I’d just finished reading at the time) and Xenia as my options—of course, Xenia won after I realized her role in my long journey to Orthodoxy. Also, her icon reminded me of the loving people at St. John Maximovitch who first welcomed me with open arms into the Orthodox Faith.