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Icon of the Holy Empress
Matilda of Germany
Feast: Mar. 14
St. Matilda was raised by her
grandmother, who was abbess of the great Erfurt Abbey. She married
Henry the Fowler, son of Duke Otto of Saxony, who succeeded his father
as duke in 912 and in 919 attained the German throne. Matilda was noted
for her piety and charitable works. In 936 she was widowed; her son
Otto (the Great) became ruler and she resigned her inheritance to her
sons, retiring to a country home where she perfected her soul in
prayer. She built 4 monasteries, 3 for women and 1 for men. When Otto
went to Rome in 962 to be crowned, she was left in charge of the
kingdom. The declining years of her life she spent at the women's
monastery she had built at Nordhausen. She reposed at Quedlinburg
monastery on March 14. Holy Mother Matilda, pray to God for us!
Icon: by the hand of Mother
Justina, Greek Old Calendarist convent of St. Elizabeth, Etna,
California, with permission.
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