Charitina of Lithuania

Martyr

Commemorated October 5

The holy and right-believing Princess Charitina (d. 1281) is a saint of the 13th century who was born into a royal family but became a nun.
Charitina was born into a noble Lithuanian family in the mid-thirteenth century. Oppressive paganism and civil strife forced her to leave her homeland. She sought refuge in Russia, making her way to Novgorod . Charitina entered the Convent of Sts. Peter and Paul , which had been founded in the twelfth century. Some sources indicate that she was betrothed to the Russian prince Theodore but relinquished her royal privileges when she became a nun . She lived a strict, ascetic life and became Abbess of the convent. She reposed in the year 1281 and came to be revered as a saint of God. Her relics remained at Sts. Peter and Paul church until the Russian Revolution.
St. Charitina is commemorated on October 5 . She should not be confused with Charitina of Amisus (or of Rome), also commemorated on October 5 , but who was martyred in the year 304.

Source: Wikimedia Commons