Name Xenia

There are multiple origins and translations for the name Xenia:

1. Ancient Greek name (Ξενία) means - "hospitable; hospitality, warm welcome", or from word ξένια denotation - "xenia; offering; present; hospitality to the guest"

2. Comes from the Greek word (ξένη) [Xeni] - "foreigner, alien", the female equivalent of the Greek male name Xenon.

Saint Xenia of St. Petersburg (Russian Ксения) was a "fool-for-Christ" who, for 45 years, wandered around the streets of St. Petersburg, Russia. For the first 26 years of her life, Xenia had lived quite comfortably. However, after her husband suddenly died, the Holy Spirit led her to give away all her possessions to the poor. She put on her dead husband’s clothes and called herself by his name, saying that Xenia had died. Homeless, she lived in the streets all year round for 45 years, owning only the ragged clothes on her back. The Holy Spirit also led her to give away her mind and her heart to God. By giving everything away, she became rich in humility, simplicity, self-denial, kindness, and deep and profound love for all. By pretending to be insane, she showed how insane the world and its values are. By denying herself the comforts of a home, a bed, decent clothes, food, and the appearance of being "normal" she helps us to examine what really is important in life, and what really is "normal." By her self-denial, Blessed St. Xenia daily died to her old self and daily lived only for God.