Christian Saints Podcast

Saint Matrona of Moscow

April 17, 2021 Darren C. Ong Season 1 Episode 26
Christian Saints Podcast
Saint Matrona of Moscow
Show Notes Transcript

Saint Matrona of Moscow (Matrona Dmitrievna Nikonova) was born blind to a poor family in 1881 in the village of Sebino in Russia. She also loss the use of her legs as a teenager. She was remarkably devout even at a young age, and had the gifts of miracle-working and spiritual insight.  Saint John of Kronstadt, one of the most important figures in the Russian Orthodox Church at the time declared Saint Matrona to be "my replacement, the eighth pillar of Russia" when she was only 14 years old!

Some time after the Russian Revolution in 1917 and the establishment of the communist Soviet state, Saint Matrona was forced to leave her home village and move to Moscow, where she lived illegally, moving from apartment to apartment and relying on the hospitality of others. By divine providence she avoided arrest by the communist authorities, at a time when persecution of the church was ongoing. 

Both in Sebino and in Moscow Saint Matrona would spend the nights in prayer and the days accepting visitors whom she would pray for and give advice to, using her God-given spiritual gifts. She would minister to the sick and suffering this way until her repose in 1952.


The Christian Saints Podcast is a joint production of Generative sounds & Paradosis Pavilion with oversight from Fr Symeon Kees

Paradosis Pavilion - https://youtube.com/@paradosispavilion9555

https://www.instagram.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://twitter.com/podcast_saints
https://www.facebook.com/christiansaintspodcast
https://www.threads.net/@christiansaintspodcast

Iconographic images used by kind permission of Nicholas Papas, who controls distribution rights of these images

Prints of all of Nick’s work can be found at Saint Demetrius Press - http://www.saintdemetriuspress.com

All music in these episodes is a production of Generative Sounds
https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com
Distribution rights of this episode & all music contained in it are controlled by Generative Sounds
Copyright 2021 - 2023

 God is glorious in his saints!
 
 Welcome to the Christian Saints Podcast. My name is Darren Ong, recording from Sepang in Malaysia. In this podcast, we explore the lives of the Christian saints, from the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. Today, we will commemorate Saint Matrona of Moscow, also known as Saint Matrona the blind.
 
 Matrona Dmitrievna Nikonova was born in 1881 in the village of Sebino, about 300 km south of Moscow. Her family was very poor, and she was the fourth child. The Canadian Orthodox History Project records this miraculous account around her birth:
 
 The Nikonovs lived in such poverty that to feed and clothe a fourth child seemed to be impossible. While she was still carrying the unborn child, because of their desperate circumstances, the mother wanted to get rid of the child. However, murdering a child in the mother’s womb was out of the question, and there were many asylums where illegitimate or very poor children were raised at the government’s or a benefactors’ expense. Therefore, Matrona’s mother Natalia made up her mind to take the child after the birth to the Prince Golitsyn Asylum in the neighbouring village of Buchalki, where the child would be raised at the prince’s expense. This was one of many such orphanages in the Russian Empire which were supported by nobles. 

Shortly after she had so decided, however, she had a prophetic dream. She saw her unborn daughter as a white bird with a human face and closed eyes, who came from above and perched on her right hand. The God-fearing woman interpreted the dream as a sign, and she gave up the thought of sending the child away. The daughter was born blind, but her mother loved her “poor child”. The child was indeed born totally blind, with firmly shut eyelids over empty eye sockets. The baby also had a raised birthmark in the form of a cross-shaped protrusion on her chest. Her mother interpreted this also as being a sign from God. 

The Holy Scriptures tell us that sometimes the All-knowing God elects His servants before their birth. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you ; before you were born I sanctified you

As is the custom, Matrona was baptised 40 days after her birth, in the local parish of the Diocese of Tula, in the Russian Orthodox Church. According to Saint Matrona’s relative, Pavel Ivanovich Prokhorov, who was there at the baptism, when the local priest, Father Vasily Troitsky immersed the child in the baptismal font, everyone saw a wispy column of aromatic smoke above the baby, that rose up from the font to the ceiling. The priest (who was revered by his parishioners as righteous and blessed) was amazed, and he said : “I have christened many an infant, but have never seen anything like this ! This infant shall be a saint”. 
 
Saint Matrona was indeed born blind, indeed with eyelids closed over empty eye sockets. But even at a young age, she demonstrated a remarkable spiritual insight and a devotion to God beyond her years. Despite not being able to see, as a toddler Matrona would find her way to the prayer corner of the house where the icons were, and babble to them. As she got older, people started noticing that the people she prayed for would get better. She even had the ability to tell the future, including predicting that the local parish priest had died. People would come in from her village and neigbouring villages for her prayers for a variety of their problems, often leaving gifts of food or other items for her family. So this blind child became a blessing rather than a burden to her poor family.
 
At the age of 14, a friend took her to visit St Petersburg, where they attended a service led by Saint John of Kronstadt, who was one of the most prominent leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church at the time, and himself a man of great spiritual gifts. After the divine liturgy Saint John asked the people to make way for the 14-year-old Matrona to let the girl come through and approach him. As she walked towards him he said loudly: “Matronushka, come, come to me. Here is my replacement, the eighth pillar of Russia”. 



At the age of 17, Matrona lost the ability to walk. She did not succumb to bitterness, but rather accepted her new disability as the will of God. She then continued with a pattern throughout her life of spending her nights in prayers and her days in receiving visitors, sometimes up to 40 a day. She would pray for those who came to her with problems, and sometimes offer insight or advice. She was always clear that the miracles that came from her prayers were from God, often insisting to her visitors that It is God that helps!"
 
Saint Matrona foresaw the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the devestation the communists would bring to Russia and how they would persecute the Russian Orthodox Church. She even told one neighbour shortly before the revolution to sell everything they had and move abroad.
 
By 1925, Saint Matrona’s situation had worsened her brothers Mikhail and Ivan were staunch communists and atheists. They were annoyed by the large numbers of sick and suffering that thronged to their family home to see Saint Matrona. They were also afraid that all the attention that Saint Matrona was getting would result in repurcussions from the communist authorities.
 
 For these reasons Saint Matrona decided to leave her hometown and head to Moscow. She was residing in Moscow without registration, which was illegal at the time. She was forced to rely on the hospitality of others moving from apartment to apartment. At times, she had to live with people who were hostile to her. She continued her routine of praying at nights and receiving visitors during the day and ministering to them. Often, she was only one step ahead of the authorities who were trying to arrest her. Her gift of spiritual insight aided her in not getting caught. This was a time when Soviet persecution was intense, and many devout Christians were arrested and killed, but God protected Saint matrona. The following story is often recounted about her:
 
 Once a Communist official came to arrest Matrona  who did not leave her residence but calmly waited for his arrival.  She greeted him with a warning: " Go, go quickly, there is trouble for you at home!  A blind woman has no place to hide.  I'll sit here on the bed, I won't go anywhere."  Fearful, the policeman ran home to find that his wife had been badly burned by the stove.  He managed to get her to the hospital and saved her life.  When he returned to his office the next day, his chief asked him:  "Well, did you get the blind woman?"  He replied:  "I'm not taking her anywhere.  If that blind woman hadn't told me, I would have lost my wife, but I was able to get her to the hospital in time."
 
Her biographerZinaida Vladimirovna Zhdanova tells about the hardships of Matrona’s life : “I came to Sokolniki to visit Matushka (a Russian affectionate term meaning “dear mother” which is used mostly for the wife of a priest or for a nun, and sometimes for a person such as Matrona). She lived in a small clapboard house that was rented to her for a while. It was late autumn. I came in and I found myself in a cloud of thick and wet steam, which came from an iron stove. I came up to Matushka. She was lying in bed facing the wall. Her hair had frozen to it. We could hardly tear the hair off the wall. I was horrified : “What’s this, Matushka ? You know that I live together with my mother. My brother is at the front and my father is in prison. We have 2 rooms in a warm house, 48 square metres, with a separate entrance. Why didn’t you ask us to host you ?” Matushka sighed and said : “God did not allow me so that you wouldn’t regret it afterwards”. 
 
Despite her hardships, Saint Matrona continued to receive visitors to pray for and give advice to up to the day of her death. She predicted her date of death in advance, and arranged for her funeral and burial arrangements. She also told those around her, that she would continue to pray for people and help those who visiter her even after her death.
 
"Everyone, everyone who will come to me:  tell me, as if I were alive, of your sorrows, and I will see you, and hear you, and help you.  After my death few people will visit my grave, only close friends, and when they die my grave will be abandoned.  But after many years people will hear about me and come in crowds for help in their sorrows and with requests for prayer for them to the Lord God, and I will help everyone and listen to  everyone."
 
Indeed, today her gravesite is an important place of pilgrimage in Moscow. She was glorified as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church in 2004, and her saint’s day is in April 19. In 2018 the Romanian Orthodox Chuch also recognized her as a saint. We will read here the Akhatist for Saint Matrona, which is a short Orthodox service in her honour:
 
Kontakion 8

Strange it was for the weak in faith and the unwise that, though born blind, thou couldest see and know not only the present, but also the future, for they knew not that the power of God is fulfilled in human weakness. And we, blessed mother, seeing the wisdom of God manifested in thee, cry out to God: Alleluia. 

Ikos 8

Many vexations and offences, exiles and reproaches didst thou bear, blessed mother, not complaining of these, but in all things thanking God. For these things and for teaching us each with patience to carry his cross, we praise thee thus: 

 Rejoice, thou that prayed without ceasing; 

Rejoice, thou that drove away spiritual wickedness by fasting and prayer; 

Rejoice, thou that hast gained graceful peace; 

Rejoice, for by thy love many about thee were saved; 

Rejoice, for thy life of service to many; 

Rejoice, for after thy repose people are ever helped by thee;                           

Rejoice, for now thou fervently heedest our petitions;                                     

Rejoice, thou that leavest not them that put their trust in thy care;               

Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. 

Kontakion 9

All manner of sorrows and diseases thou didst bear, mother Matrona, ever leading the struggle with the forces of darkness, denouncing their machinations and guile, and expelling demons from the possessed; and up to the end of thy days thou didst help them in sufferings, illnesses and grievings, ever singing unto God: Alleluia. 

Ikos 9

Eloquent orators are not able worthily to glorify thy holy life, nor the miracles wrought by thee through the power of God, most marvellous eldress. And we, wishing by hymns to praise God in His saints, and with heartfelt love inspired, dare to sing to thee thus: 

Rejoice, thou that didst choose the narrow path and strait gates;                 

Rejoice, thou that shone by many virtues;                                                           

Rejoice, thou that didst reject all in life that is passing;                                           

Rejoice, thou adorned with the precious crown of humility;                                 

Rejoice, thou bird of heaven, that didst live the Gospel on earth;                     

Rejoice, thou that followed the Son of God Who had not where to lay His head;                                                                                                                     

Rejoice, thou rejoicing now in the mansions of paradise;                                   

Rejoice, thou whose mercy is never failing to us sinners who pray to thee;                                                                                                                         

Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. 

Kontakion 10

Wishing to save many people from bodily sufferings and spiritual sicknesses, thou didst stay all night in prayer, O righteous one of God, beseeching for them help and strengthening of our Lord Jesus Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia. 

Ikos 10

A rampart and protection wert thou in the days of thy life, blessed mother, to all who resorted to thee, and after death thou ceaselessly intercedest before God for the people who in faith run toward to thy tomb. Wherefore, hearken now unto us sinners, by sorrows, sickness and many griefs consumed, and hasten to help by thy prayers all that cry unto thee: 

 Rejoice, speedy intercessor for the distressed; 

Rejoice, comforter of them bearing hardships; 

Rejoice, guardian of worthy marriage; 

Rejoice, pacifier of all that persist in strife; 

Rejoice, defender of them brought unjustly to trial; 

Rejoice, merciful advocate before God for those guilty before an earthly judgment; 

Rejoice, refuge of them deprived of shelter;                                                               

Rejoice, protectress of all that call upon thee;                                                         

Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. 

Kontakion 11

Thou didst hear angelic singing, worthy mother Matrona, whilst yet living on earth. And teach us, the unworthy, how we should glorify God in the Trinity worshipping Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to Whom also the heavenly host unceasingly sing with a great voice: Alleluia. 

Ikos 11

Thy life shineth with luminous light, blessed Matrona, enlightening the darkness of this too-busy world, and thou dost draw unto thee our souls. Wherefore we, by the ray of the grace of God, will be enlightened, and our mournful way in this temporal life shall pass in a manner pleasing to God, and thus attain unto the kingdom of God, where thou, mother, now takest up thine abode, hearing our voice calling to thee: 

 Rejoice, ever-burning candle of God;                                                                           

Rejoice, precious pearl, illuminating us by the light of thy holiness; 

Rejoice, sweet-smelling flower that by the Holy Spirit coverest us with fragrance; 

Rejoice, rock of faith, stablishing the fainthearted in piety; 

Rejoice, brightest star pointing out to us the right way; 

Rejoice, good warrior of Christ, by the sword of prayer frightening demonic hosts; 

Rejoice, for throughout thy life thou wast holy and undefiled;                                   

Rejoice, for thy death is precious in the sight of the Lord; 

Rejoice, righteous mother Matrona, fervent intercessor for us before God. 


Father Edward Pehanich, priest at St Nicholas Orthodox church at Monogahela, Pennsylvania wrote a nice short biography of Saint Matrona’s life, and the biography ends thus:
 
 The life of St. Matrona reminds us that all of us are called to a life of holiness and that this is possible for all of us.  She was not a nun, never attended a seminary, in fact was an illiterate,  peasant woman yet was so filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit that she was able to see people's needs and sins, predict the future, and perform countless miracles even after her death.  The Bible teaches that when a person is cleansed of their sinful passions and is filled with the Holy Spirit the presence of the Spirit produces certain "gifts" or "fruit".  These include the ability to read the hearts of people, perform miracles,  predict future events...  (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11) as well as characteristics of love, joy,  peace, patience, kindness... (see Galatians 5:22) 

Why is it that we do not have people like her among us in America today?  Where are these people who can predict the future and perform miracles?  St. Matrona was immersed, she was "marinated" in the divine services of the Church, spending countless hours in her village church along with hours daily of her own private prayer.  What are we in America immersed or marinated in?  To what do we devote our time?  Television, internet, Facebook, movies, magazines, shopping....   The Bible also describes the "fruit" of this type of immersion:  adultery, fornication, hatred, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissension...  (see Galatians 5:19)     Which do you prefer in your life, the fruit which St. Matrona had or the fruit of this world?

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Christian saints podcast. Look for the Christian Saints podcast page on Facebook or Instagram, or look for us on Twitter at podcast_saints. All music in this episode was composed by my good friend, James John Marks of Generative sounds. Please check out his music at https://generativesoundsjjm.bandcamp.com/
 
Let us end this episode with this prayer to Saint Matrona, which is used during the akathist that we read a few minutes ago:
 
Blessed mother Matrona, thy soul in heaven standeth before the throne of God, thy body resteth upon earth, and thou bestowest divers miracles through grace given thee from on High. Look down with thy merciful eye upon us sinners who pass our days in sorrows, sicknesses and sinful temptations. Console us who are in despair. Heal our grievous ailments which God allowed because of our sins. Deliver us from many misfortunes and attacks of evil spirits. Beseech our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us all our trespasses, transgressions and falls, and our sins committed from our youth up to the present day and hour. And by thy prayers obtain for us grace and great mercy, that we may glorify the Trinity, one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. 
***