Saint Charitina, Princess of Lithuania

Commemorated on October 5.

Saint Charitina, Princess of Lithuania, nun of Novgorod, pursued asceticism in a Novgorod women’s monastery in honor of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, built on Sinich hill.

Having resolved to dedicate her life to the Lord, she became a nun. For her virtuous life she was made Abbess of the monastery. Until the time of her death, she was a sister to all through her humility, purity and strict temperance. She fell asleep in the Lord in the year 1281 and was buried in the Peter and Paul monastery church.

In the Iconographers’ Manual it says, “The holy and righteous Charitina, Abbess of the Peter and Paul women’s monastery at Novgorod. She was born of Lithuanian royalty, yet appears as a maiden in a single garb without the mantiya.”