Venerable Parasceva (petka)

Life

This glorious saint was of Serbian origin, born in the town of Epibatae (Pivat, in Turkish Boyadjis, between Selymbria and Constantinople). The parents of Saint Parasceva were wealthy and pious Christians, and besides Parasceva they also had a son, Euthymius, who was tonsured a monk during his parents' lifetime and later became the renowned Bishop of Madytos. After the death of her parents, the maiden Parasceva, ever desirous of the ascetic life for the sake of Christ, left her parental home and went first to Constantinople, and then to the desert of the Jordan, where she practiced asceticism until her old age. Who could recount all the labors, and sufferings, and demonic temptations that Saint Parasceva endured in the course of many years? Under old age an angel of God appeared to her and said: "Leave the desert and return to your homeland; it is needful that there you surrender your body to the earth and your soul depart to the Lord." Saint Parasceva obeyed the voice from heaven, left the desert she so loved, and returned to Epibatae. There she lived for two more years, again in unceasing fasting and prayer, and then surrendered her spirit to God and departed to the dwellings of Paradise. She reposed in the eleventh century. Her wonderworking relics were transferred over time: to Constantinople, to Trnovo, then again to Constantinople, then to Belgrade. They are now located in Romania, in the city of Iasi. In the fortress of Belgrade there is a holy spring (hagiasma) of Saint Parasceva, which miraculously heals all those who approach it with faith in God and love for this saint.

From the Hymn of Praise

### VENERABLE PARASCEVA