Juliana of Novgorod

Holy Righteous Juliana of Novgorod was a devout widow and the mother of Blessed Nicholas Kochanov, and she died in 1384. She is commemorated on 11 July (new style, a movable day), in the Synaxis of the Saints of Novgorod.

Juliana was the wife of a prominent and very rich citizen of Novgorod, Maxim. From the blessed marriage she had a son, Nicholas, whom she raised in instruction and the fear of God and prepared as a chosen vessel, a dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Widowed young, she devoted herself after her husband's death wholly to God. Fasting, prayer, work, almsgiving, visiting and serving the sick, love of God and neighbour made up her life. She was distinguished by such piety until her repose, in 1384, eight years before her son, Blessed Nicholas, called Kochanov.

She was buried in the cemetery of the cathedral of Saint James. At the burial place there was an inscription: "The righteous Juliana reposed in the year 6892 (1384), in the time of the grand prince of Moscow Dimitry Ivanovich Donskoy, metropolitan of Moscow Cyprian, archbishop of Novgorod Alexis, and was buried in this place, where she rests today under a covering. For the love of the Lord, venerable one, you hated the desire for rest, but by your prayers scatter the wavering of our adversaries." In the chapel a memorial service is held every year on 21 December. The relics of the Holy Righteous Juliana rest under a covering in a stone chapel built in 1817, which belongs to the city church of Nicholas-⁠Kochanov (Saint Panteleimon), on the Sophia side.