St. Matrona of Moscow

Matrona Nikonova was born blind and lost the use of her legs as a girl. From childhood she had the gift of prayer and insight, and people came to her for healing and counsel. Through the Soviet years she lived in Moscow without papers, moving between friends’ apartments and receiving dozens of visitors a day. Her relics at the Pokrovsky convent in Moscow draw long queues of pilgrims.

• Feast: April 19 (New Calendar)
• Lived: 1885–1952
• Place: Moscow
• Relics today: Pokrovsky Convent, Moscow