Saint Paraskeva, called “new”, from Iasi, “enlightening Moldavia” and the praise of all Orthodoxy, is commemorated on October 14.

Saint Paraskeva was born in the village of Epivat in eastern Thrace, not far from Constantinople, at the beginning of the 11th century in a family of pious and noble parents. The two children of the Paraskeva family and Eftimiy, his older brother, received selective upbringing and religious education. Euthymius entered the monastic life before her and, for the sanctity of his life, became the bishop of Matidia.

In the same way, Saint Paraskeva, having loved Christ above all else, at the age of almost 15 entered the convent of virgins in the city of Heraklia Pontuluiska. Five years later, he went to Jerusalem, worshiped the Holy Sepulchre, and spent several years in a small monastery of hermit nuns in the Jordan Valley.

In the settlement in Jordan, he struggled with even greater difficulties for almost ten years, defeating the devils and praying for the world. Her good deeds were perfect purity of mind and heart from passionate thoughts and thoughts, unceasing prayer with tears of joy, fasting and night vigil and love for Christ.

“Three great virtues adorned the soul and life of our Holy Mother Paraskeva of Iasi: angelic virginity, almsgiving, which means renunciation of the earthly, and divine prayer, the mother of all good deeds. The Blessed One loved these three virtues. since childhood, and because of this, he got rid of all earthly thoughts in a special way, defeated the devils and was included in the society of holy fathers, bearers of God,” says father Yoanikiy Belan. (“Patriculus of Romania”, Archimandrite Ioanikiy Belan, 2011)

At the age of 25, guided by the angel of the Lord, she returned to her homeland and spent another two years near the church of her native village of Epivat.

In the middle of the 11th century, at the age of 27, the pious Paraskeva gave her soul into the hands of the Lord and was buried near the seashore. Later, after the miracles at her grave, the relics of Saint Paraskeva were found intact in the ground and placed in the church of the Holy Apostles in the village of Epivat for honor and worship.

Her holy relics were in Epivati ​​for almost 175 years.

The relics of Saint Paraskeva arrived in Iasi in the 17th century

In 1223, the Romanian-Bulgarian king John Asan II (1218-1241) moved the relics of Saint Paraskeva to Tarnovo, where they remained for another 160 years, being in the cathedral dedicated to the “Assumption of the Virgin”. Later, Patriarch Yeftimiy of Bulgaria wrote “The Life of the Pious Paraskeva” and handed it over to the Synaksar of the Church on the feast of October 14. From the second half of the 14th century, the cult of Saint Paraskeva also moved north of the Danube.

In 1393, her holy relics were given to Mircea the Elder, ruler of Wallonia (1386-1418), and three years later, the Turks gave them to the Serbian queen Angelina, who moved them to Belgrade, where they lived for 125 years.

After the occupation of Serbia by the Turks, in 1521, the relics of Saint Paraskeva were taken and transported to the Sultan’s palace in Constantinople. They were then bought by the Ecumenical Patriarchate for 12,000 gold ducats and remained in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Phanar for 120 years.

In 1641, when the Patriarchate of Constantinople owed the Ottoman Gate large sums of money, which constituted the annual tax imposed on the Church, Patriarch Parthenius handed over the relics of the Pious Paraskeva as a sign of gratitude to the Lord of Moldavia. Vasyl Lupu, who for many years paid all the debts of the patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem to the Turks.

The relics of Blessed Paraskeva arrived in Iasi in 1641, on June 13, and were buried with great honor in the then church of the Three Saints Monastery. They stayed here until December 26, 1888, when they miraculously escaped the fire. Then they were transferred to the new metropolitan cathedral in Iasi, where they are still today.

“Innumerable miracles and healings from diseases, which were performed with the faithful who came with prayers and tears to the relics of our Holy Mother Paraskeva of Iasi, during the 350 years since she protected Moldova and our country.” And “the greatest miracle of St. Paraskeva is the glorification of her body with the gift of incorruption, healing from diseases and freedom from many needs and dangers. Because of this, she was taken as a patroness in all the Orthodox countries of the Balkans. Even the Turks were amazed by the miracles that happened to Christians, who asked him for help with faith and piety,” says father Ioanikiy Balan.

How many Romanians celebrate the name day of St. Paraskeva

More than 42,000 Romanians celebrate their birthdays on Saturday, the feast of Saint Paraskeva.

According to the General Administration of Population Registration, there are 38,772 women who bear the name Parashchev or its derivatives, and 3352 men who bear the name Parashchev or its derivatives.

The most common female name is Paraskiva – 34,072 people, then Paraskieva – 2,047, Paraskieva – 1,105, Chivutsa – 562, Chiva – 417, Pachitsa – 394, Paraskya – 74, Vutsa – 46, Parask ‘eva – 45, Parastica – 8 and Paraskivuca – 2.

Among men, the most common name is Paraskiv – 3,017, followed by Kivu – 219, Petka – 98, Paraskivu – 10, Paraskitse – 6 and Kivutse – 2.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims to the relics of Saint Paraskeva

Tens of thousands of believers came from Saturday morning to Stefan cel Mare boulevard in Iasi and on the streets around the Metropolis of Moldova and Bucovina to witness the ceremony of the Holy Liturgy celebrated on the occasion of the feast of the temple of St. Saint the faithful Paraskeva.

Starting at 9:30 in the morning, on the podium located on the border of Stephen the Great and St. Pishy, ​​in front of the altar of the Metropolitan Cathedral, the order will be celebrated by a council of priests, bishops and archbishops headed by Fr. Metropolitan Teofan of Moldova and Bukovyna. Hierarchs from Romania and abroad will also take part in the service at the consecration of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iasi.

Representatives of the administration of Iași, politicians, figures from the academic environment were also invited to the stage specially set up in the metropolitan yard for the celebration of the Liturgy.

Pilgrims from the country and abroad form a queue of several kilometers to worship the relics of Saint Pious Paraskeva, on the day of the celebration of her patroness, their number increases every hour. (Agerpress)