Paraskeve the New

For other saints with the name "Paraskeve," see the disambiguation page.

Our venerable Mother Paraskeve the New lived as a monastic in the 11th century. She is beloved in Romania as Parascheva and in Serbia and Macedonia as Petka. She is also distinguished from other saints of the same name with the descriptions "the New" or "the Young." Her feast day is celebrated on October 14.

Life

Born in Epivat (Thrace; Byzantium, near Constantinople) in 11th century, Paraskeve was of noble origin. Her pious parents taught her as a child the words of the Gospel which say that everyone who wants to follow the Lord Jesus must give up everything. When her parents died, she gave up the world for the "desert" while still young in years. First she dedicated her life entirely to God through prayer and fasting, and then undertook ascetic struggles in the desert of Jordan.

She is especially beloved by the Orthodox peoples of Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldavia where her holy relics are kept in the Metropolitan Cathedral Church, Iaşi, Romania.

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Hymn

Troparion (Tone 4) [1]

You chose a silent and solitary life;

You followed Christ your Bridegroom.

You took his easy yoke in your youth,

Arming yourself with the sign of the Cross.

You contended against spiritual enemies

Through fasting, tears and labors,

O glorious Paraskeva.

Now you stand before Christ with the Wise Virgins:

Intercede for us who honor your precious memory.

Miracles

Many miracles are mentioned as being done by God through Saint Paraskeve. According with the miracles described here, Saint Paraskeve helped people with:

marriage , finding a great spouse

health related issues

finding stolen objects

escaping from the power of sick angels

exams and studying

finding a job

finding a place to live

finding resources and ways for coming to pilgrimage to her relics

defending the Iasi city on war

stopping the theft

building a Church

defending the church

defending life even of the unborn

defending food from bugs

Miracles described took place because people did one or more of the following:

prayed to the Saint in front of her relics asking for help

read the Akhatist of the saint in front of her relics

reading the Akhatist and the Paraclete in front of the Holy relics

left a diptych to be comemorated at Holy Liturgy

gave a diptych to the Church that has the Holy relics through another person visiting the Church

prayed to the saint at home

Observation:

When praying to God or in front of the relics of a Saint it is good to pray for both problems you know about and problems you don't know about. Regarding the problems you don't know about, you can pray for whatever Mother of God knows that you need.

A diptych is a list on which names of persons alive or departed are recorded to be read for help at Holy Liturgy in front of God. The names of living and departed are written usually in two different columns. On the diptych, in the end can be mentioned "with all their relatives" as to give help to as many people as possible. Also it is customary to write people you don't know as a way of mercy.

After doing some prayer or actions is good to pray for these to be useful.

External links

• Venerable Parasceva (Petka) (OCA)
• Righteous Paraskeve of Serbia (GOARCH)
• Saint Petka (Serbian)
• The Pious Saint Parascheva (OrthodoxWord blog)
• Saint Paraskeva the New, who have her holy relics in Iasi, Romania
• St. Petka-Paraskeva of Serbia Commemorated October 14 Orthodox America
• St. Petka Slava and Exhibition in St. Sava church, Vancouver, Oct. 14/27, 2005 (archive)