Saint Matrona was born on November 22, 1881 in the village of Sebino, Tulskaya region. She was blind at birth. She lived in a poor rural family where she was a fourth child. At baptism they named her Matrona in honor of St. Matrona of Constantinople.
From an early age, she showed the gifts of clairvoyance and healing. She foresaw accidents and warned people. As a kid, she made pilgrimages to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Petrograd and other Russian shrines. She also visited Kronstadt where she met St. John Kronstadt.
At the age of seventeen, her legs were suddenly paralyzed. At a young age, Matron foretold a revolution: “They will rob, they will tear down temples, and all of you.”
In 1925, she left her birthplace and moved to Moscow. Before the war, she lived with priest Basil and his parishioner Pelagia until they were arrested. She stayed in a house made out of plywood for a while. She spent the longest time (1942-1949) at Arbat. While in Moscow, Matrona often went to her village. She would either go as they called her to help someone, or she would go and see her mother and loved ones
During the day, Matrona received about fifty people who came to her with their mental and physical distress. She never refused to help anyone, but she recognized those who came to her with evil intentions.