Temple at Smolenskoye Cemetery (1992)

Monument to Peter I in St.

Petersburg.

View of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St.

Petersburg.

View of St.

Isaac's Cathedral.

Old engravings about the construction of St.

Petersburg during the time of Peter I. Smolensk Cemetery on Vasilievsky Island.

The first builders of St.

Petersburg from Smolensk were buried in this cemetery.

Old crosses on the graves.

The builders erected a chapel in the cemetery, in which they placed the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk, brought from their homeland.

View of the stone church built on the site of the chapel.

The church was dedicated to the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk.

Interior of the church.

Icon of Our Lady of Smolensk in the church.

View of the church, the priest is leaving the church.

During the construction of the church, the workers noticed that someone was lifting bricks onto the walls of the church under construction.

It turned out that this was being done by a beggar woman, who had been in the cemetery all the time.

An image of a beggar woman against the background of cemetery trees.

Icon of Saint Xenia of Petersburg.

The beggar woman was venerated during her lifetime.

People told stories of the miracles she performed.

A chapel over the beggar woman's grave.

Cemetery visitors and priests come to the chapel to bow.

A fence around the chapel dedicated to Xenia of Petersburg with notes from believers.

A woman places a note for Xenia with a request or gratitude.

The life of Xenia of Petersburg.

The interior of the chapel.

Icons in the chapel.

Xenia of Petersburg was the wife of a court singer.

Her husband died suddenly at a feast without repose.

On the day of her husband's funeral, the still young Xenia died to the world.

She put on her husband's clothes, called herself by his name and began to live for him, in his place, in order to pray for and save his soul.

At the call of Christ, she took upon herself the feat of foolishness for Christ's sake.

Service in the chapel dedicated to Saint Xenia.

The procession led by Patriarch Alexy around the chapel dedicated to Xenia of Petersburg.

The Patriarch brought the Holy Fire from the Temple of the Lord to the grave of Saint Xenia.

The chapel in the Church of the Smolensk Mother of God is consecrated in honor of Blessed Xenia.

Believers at the Church of the Smolensk Mother of God.