Feast Day: October 14th
The Life of Saint Parasceva: “He is speaking for me”, the little Parasceva said, just like Saint Anthony, who heard the same Gospel. And, as she was getting out of the Church, she gave her clothes to the first poor girl whom she met and put on the latter’s ragged clothes…
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Prayers
Troparion – Tone 2: You loved the solitary and Hesychastic life, and then, with diligence, you hastened after Christ, your Bridegroom, and took up His easy yoke in your youth. Armed with the Sign of the Cross, you contended courageously against noetic enemies; through fasting, Prayer, and by shedding tears, you extinguished the embers of the passions, O Glorious Parasceva. Now, standing in the Heavenly Bridal Chamber of Christ, together with the wise virgins, intercede for us who honour your Holy Memory.
Kontakion – Tone 6: Devoutly let us all praise the most Honorable Parasceva, a Holy intercessor for the afflicted; for she left this perishable life behind and received eternal incorruption. Therefore, she has been given the Grace of working Miracles, by the command of God.
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At the age of ten Saint Paraskeva went to Church and heard the Gospel reading “Sell your fortune and give it to the poor and follow Me”, “He is speaking for me”, the little Saint Paraskeva said. When she came outside the Church she gave her clothes to the first poor girl whom she saw.
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An Angel came to her and said: “Leave the desert and go back to your country. You’ll end your Earthly life for you are dust and in dust you’ll return and your Soul will go to Heaven next to you Bridegroom Whom you love more than your parents, your relatives and any other Earthly goods”.
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At the Church of the Holy Virgin in Vlaherne, Saint Paraskeva kneeled in front of the Miraculous Icon of the Holy Virgin, raised her hands and Prayed in tears:
“My Holy Lady, all my hopes are directed towards you. Don’t reject your humble servant, accept me, the sinner. I’ve kept loving your Son and my God since childhood. You know the weakness of human nature. You are the protector of my life. You helped me in the desert and now, when I’m back in the world, I beg you to help me again. Stay beside me; give me advice and guide me until the end of my life”.
One day, while walking with her servant, she met a girl dressed in tattered clothes. She felt sorry for the poor girl and, because she didn’t have any money on her, she wanted to give the girl her golden cross, which she was wearing around her neck. Her servant tried to stop her explaining that she was doing something wrong. But Paraskeva replied: “It is the Cross which told us to be merciful. Could my jewel not be used as charity for this poor girl who does not deserve such a hard life in a society ruled by Christ?”. How could she be indifferent to the poor? She immediately gave the cross to the little girl, who blessed her benefactress, with tears in her eyes.
Paraskeva’s hand is asked for
Paraskeva’s great virtue also reflected on her face, because the soul enlightens the face and makes it very beautiful. That’s why many rich teenagers would have liked to marry her, but she refused all of them. Her parents told her that they wanted to see her married, not an orphan and unprotected after their death. But Paraskeva said: “Our Heavenly Father lives, sees and protects everything. How could someone be an orphan who believes and lives according to His words? Why are you thinking of your death? Only God decides the number of our days. You are still young and you, mother, you look as if you were my elder sister.” Her friends told her that by marrying someone she would become very rich, but Paraskeva showed them the ailing children and replied: “Is there enough richness as to cover the needs of so many unhappy creatures?”.
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