Parascheva of the Balkans
Encyclopedia
Saint Parascheva of the Balkans (also known as Petka, Petka of Bulgaria, Petca Parasceva, Paraskevi of Serbia, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Parascheva of Tirnovo, Parascheva the Serbian, Parascheva of Belgrade, Parascheva the New, Parascheva the Young) was an ascetic female saint
of the 11th century. She was born in the town of Epibatos (close to today's Istanbul) on the shore of the Sea of Marmara
; her parents were wealthy landowners.
The legend says that when she was 10 years old, Parascheva heard in a church the Lord's words: "Whoever wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mark 8, 34). These words would determine her to give her rich clothes away to the poor and flee to Constantinople
. Her parents, who did not support her decision to follow an ascetic, religious life, looked for her in various cities. Parascheva fled to Chalcedon
, and afterwards lived at the church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Heraclea Pontica
. She lived an austere life, experiencing visions of the Virgin Mary. Her voyages took her to Jerusalem, wishing to spend the rest of her life there. After seeing Jerusalem, she settled in convent in the river Jordan
ian desert.
When she was 25, an angel appeared in her dreams, telling her to return to homeland. She returned to Constantinople, and then when she was 25, lived in the village of Katikratia, in the church of the Holy Apostles. She died at the age of 27.
. The relics were translated
to the church of the Holy Apostles in Katikratia.
Parascheva’s cult and attributes became confused with that of other saints with the same name
as well as pre-Christian deities of the Slavs.
As one scholar asks:
The cults of Paraskevi of Iconium
(Parascheva-Pyatnitsa) and Parascheva of the Balkans were conflated with that of a Slavic
deity associated with Friday, alternatively known as Petka, Pyatnitsa, or Zhiva.
Attributes, such as the association with spinning, were also merged into the cult of these saints.
In 1238, the relics were translated from Katikratia to Veliko Tarnovo
, capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire
.
In 1393, they were translated to Belgrade
, specifically the Ružica Church
. When Belgrade fell to Ottoman
forces in 1521, the relics were translated to Constantinople. In 1641, the relics were translated to Trei Ierarhi Monastery
, in Iaşi
, Romania
. In 1888, they were translated to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iaşi
.
A severe drought in 1946-47 affected Moldavia, adding to the misery left by the war
. Metropolitan Justinian Marina
permitted the first procession featuring the coffin containing the relics of Saint Paraskevi, kept at Iaşi since then. The relics wended their way through the drought-deserted villages of Iaşi, Vaslui, Roman
, Bacău
, Putna
, Neamţ, Baia and Botoşani Counties. The offerings collected on this occasion were distributed, based on Metropolitan Justinian's decisions, to orphans, widows, invalids, school cafeterias, churches under construction, and to monasteries in order to feed the sick, and old or feeble monks.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the 11th century. She was born in the town of Epibatos (close to today's Istanbul) on the shore of the Sea of Marmara
Sea of Marmara
The Sea of Marmara , also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, and in the context of classical antiquity as the Propontis , is the inland sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, thus separating Turkey's Asian and European parts. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Black...
; her parents were wealthy landowners.
The legend says that when she was 10 years old, Parascheva heard in a church the Lord's words: "Whoever wants to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mark 8, 34). These words would determine her to give her rich clothes away to the poor and flee to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. Her parents, who did not support her decision to follow an ascetic, religious life, looked for her in various cities. Parascheva fled to Chalcedon
Chalcedon
Chalcedon , sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari . It is now a district of the city of Istanbul named Kadıköy...
, and afterwards lived at the church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Heraclea Pontica
Heraclea Pontica
Heraclea Pontica , an ancient city on the coast of Bithynia in Asia Minor, at the mouth of the river Lycus. It was founded by the Greek city-state of Megara c.560-558 and was named after Heracles who the Greeks believed entered the underworld at a cave on the adjoining Archerusian promontory .The...
. She lived an austere life, experiencing visions of the Virgin Mary. Her voyages took her to Jerusalem, wishing to spend the rest of her life there. After seeing Jerusalem, she settled in convent in the river Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian desert.
When she was 25, an angel appeared in her dreams, telling her to return to homeland. She returned to Constantinople, and then when she was 25, lived in the village of Katikratia, in the church of the Holy Apostles. She died at the age of 27.
Veneration
Christian tradition states that after an old sinner was buried near Parascheva’s grave, the saint protested by appearing in a dream to a local monk. The vision informed the monk where the saint had been buried; when the body was unearthed, it was found to be incorruptibleIncorruptibility
Incorruptibility is a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox belief that supernatural intervention allows some human bodies to avoid the normal process of decomposition after death as a sign of their holiness...
. The relics were translated
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
to the church of the Holy Apostles in Katikratia.
Parascheva’s cult and attributes became confused with that of other saints with the same name
Saint Paraskevi
Saint Paraskevi , literally "Preparation" as the day of preparation for Sabbath, "Friday") can refer to several saints ....
as well as pre-Christian deities of the Slavs.
As one scholar asks:
Was Parasceve, or Paraskeva, an early Christian maiden named in honor of the day of the CrucifixionCrucifixionCrucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
? Or was she a personification of that day, pictured cross in hand to assist the fervor of the faithful? And was the Paraskeva of the South Slavs the same who made her appearance in northern RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
?
The cults of Paraskevi of Iconium
Paraskevi of Iconium
Saint Paraskevi of Iconium is venerated as a Christian virgin martyr. According to Christian tradition, she was born to a rich family of Iconium...
(Parascheva-Pyatnitsa) and Parascheva of the Balkans were conflated with that of a Slavic
Slavic mythology
Slavic mythology is the mythological aspect of the polytheistic religion that was practised by the Slavs before Christianisation.The religion possesses many common traits with other religions descended from the Proto-Indo-European religion....
deity associated with Friday, alternatively known as Petka, Pyatnitsa, or Zhiva.
Attributes, such as the association with spinning, were also merged into the cult of these saints.
Relics
In subsequent years, Paraskevi’s relics were translated to various churches in the region.In 1238, the relics were translated from Katikratia to Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo
Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists...
, capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire
Second Bulgarian Empire
The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor of the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th-early 15th century...
.
In 1393, they were translated to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, specifically the Ružica Church
Ružica Church
Ružica Church is located in the Kalemegdan Fortress, in Belgrade, Serbia. A church of the same name existed on the site in the time of Stefan Lazarević. It was demolished in 1521 by the invading Ottoman Turks. Today's church was a gunpowder magazine in the 18th century, and was converted into a...
. When Belgrade fell to Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
forces in 1521, the relics were translated to Constantinople. In 1641, the relics were translated to Trei Ierarhi Monastery
Trei Ierarhi Monastery
Biserica Trei Ierarhi is a seventeenth-century monastery located in Iaşi, Romania. The monastery is listed in the National Register of Historic Monuments and included on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site....
, in Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. In 1888, they were translated to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iaşi
Metropolitan Cathedral, Iasi
The Metropolitan Cathedral, Iaşi , located at 16 Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt Boulevard, Iaşi, Romania, is the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Iaşi and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, and the largest Orthodox church in Romania. It is dedicated to Saint Paraschiva, to the Presentation...
.
A severe drought in 1946-47 affected Moldavia, adding to the misery left by the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Metropolitan Justinian Marina
Justinian Marina
Justinian Marina was a Romanian Orthodox prelate...
permitted the first procession featuring the coffin containing the relics of Saint Paraskevi, kept at Iaşi since then. The relics wended their way through the drought-deserted villages of Iaşi, Vaslui, Roman
Roman, Romania
Roman is a mid-sized city, having the title of municipality, located in the central part of Moldavia, a traditional region of Romania. It is located 46 km east of Piatra Neamţ, in the Neamţ County at the confluence of Siret and Moldova rivers....
, Bacău
Bacau
Bacău is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. It covers a land surface of 43 km², and, as of January 1, 2009, has an estimated population of 177,087. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistriţa River...
, Putna
Putna
Putna can refer to several entities in Romania:* Putna, Suceava, a commune in Suceava County* Putna, a village in Prigor Commune, Caraş-Severin County* Putna, a village in Boloteşti Commune, Vrancea County* the Putna Monastery...
, Neamţ, Baia and Botoşani Counties. The offerings collected on this occasion were distributed, based on Metropolitan Justinian's decisions, to orphans, widows, invalids, school cafeterias, churches under construction, and to monasteries in order to feed the sick, and old or feeble monks.
Noteworthy churches dedicated to St. Parascheva
- Metropolitan CathedralMetropolitan Cathedral, IasiThe Metropolitan Cathedral, Iaşi , located at 16 Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfânt Boulevard, Iaşi, Romania, is the seat of the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Iaşi and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, and the largest Orthodox church in Romania. It is dedicated to Saint Paraschiva, to the Presentation...
, IaşiIasiIași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, RomaniaRomaniaRomania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea... - Church of St ParaskevaChurch of St ParaskevaThe Church of Saint Paraskevi is a partially preserved medieval Eastern Orthodox church in Nesebar , a town on the Black Sea coast of Burgas Province in eastern Bulgaria. It was most likely built in the 13th or 14th century and forms part of the Ancient Nesebar UNESCO World Heritage Site...
, SofiaSofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... - Church of St Petka of the Saddlers, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Church of St PetkaChurch of St Petka, VukovoThe Church of St Petka is a late Medieval Bulgarian church in the village of Vukovo, Kyustendil Province.- Location, history, architectural and artistic features :...
, VukovoVukovoVukovo is a village in the Boboshevo municipality in western Bulgaria. It has 82 inhabitants.- Geography :The village is located in western Bulgaria to the south-east of the city of Kyustendil. It is situated in a mountainous region near the Struma River...
, Bulgaria - Church of Pious Parascheva, DeseştiDesestiDeseşti is a commune in Maramureş County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Deseşti, Hărniceşti and Mara.The commune's Church of Pious Parascheva was built in 1770 and is one of eight Wooden Churches of Maramureş that are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site....
, Romania - Church of Saint Paraskevi, Paloumba, GreeceGreeceGreece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. - Church of Pious Parascheva, Poienile IzeiPoienile IzeiPoienile Izei is a commune in Maramureş County, Romania. The commune is composed of a single village, Poienile Izei, which was part of Botiza Commune until being split off in 1995.At the 2002 census, 99.9% of inhabitants were Romanians and 0.1% Ukrainians...
, Romania - Wooden Church of Saint Paraskevi of Serbia (1820) with a belfry in Bohorodchany Raion, UkraineUkraineUkraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
- Church of St Petka, BelgradeBelgradeBelgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans... - Church of St Petka, Dubica, Bosna i Hercegovina