Saint Matrona Nikonova of Russia was born in 1885 in the village of Sebino, in the Tula Governorate. She was the fourth child. She was blind from birth, yet was endowed with remarkable spiritual gifts. She possessed spiritual discernment and the gift of foresight. From the age of eight, she healed the sick through her prayers. People came to her from various regions seeking her help.
At the age of sixteen, she became disabled. Following the Revolution of 1917, she was left homeless and moved to Moscow together with a friend. There, Saint Matrona received many people seeking spiritual support and healing. She foretold her death three days in advance, continuing to receive visitors until the very end.
She reposed on 2 May 1952. Her funeral service was conducted by the priest Nikolai Golubtsov. The saint was buried at Danilov Cemetery in Moscow, which subsequently became an important pilgrimage site.
In 1998, her holy relics were exhumed and translated. Now they are venerated at the Pokrovsky Monastery. In 1999, she was recognised as a saint among the local people, while her official glorification as a saint took place in 2004. On 16 July 2013, the 23rd of February was established as her feast day.
On 15 February 2018, she was added to the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
