Charitina was born into a noble Lithuanian family in the mid-thirteenth century. Oppressive paganism and civil strife under the Grand Duke Algirdas (Olgierd) forced her to leave her homeland. She sought refuge in Russia, making her way to [[Novgorod]]. Charitina entered the [[Convent]] of Sts. [[Apostle Peter|Peter]] and [[Apostle Paul|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.