Righteous Juliania of Lazarev and Muromsk Commemorated on January 2 Righteous Juliania
of Lazarev and Muromsk presents an astonishing example of a self-denying
Russian Christian woman. She was the daughter of the nobleman
Iustin Nediurov. From her early years she lived piously, kept the fasts
strictly and set aside much time for prayer. Early on having become orphaned,
she was given over into the care of kinsfolk, who did not take to her and
laughed at her. Juliania bore everything with patience and without complaint.
Her love for people expressed itself in this manner – she often nursed the
sick and sewed clothing for the poor. The pious and virtuous life of the maiden
attracted the attention of the Lazarev village owner, Yurii Osor'in, who
thereafter soon married her. The husband's parents loved their gentle
daughter-in-law and gave over into her hands the running of the household.
Domestic concerns did not disrupt the spiritual efforts of Juliania. She always
found time for prayer and she was always prepared to feed the orphaned and
clothe the poor. During the time of an harsh famine, she herself remained
without food, having given away her last morsel to someone begging. When an
epidemic started after the famine, Juliania devoted herself completely to the
nursing of the sick. © 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos. |
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