Pious Saint Parascheva, the patron saint of Moldova, is celebrated on Sunday, October 27, by the Orthodox Christians who follow the old church calendar, IPN reports.
Saint Parascheva was born in 1025 in a village at the bottom of the Danube, in a wealthy family. From early childhood, she followed Christ, approaching the holy things and choosing the spiritual over material goods. During her lifetime, she was idealized for her outward beauty and purity of soul. After she died on a ship at the age of 25, she was sanctified.
She was buried initially on the seashore, then in Constantinople, after which, during the reign of Mircea the Elder, her earthly remains were transported to Bucharest. After the weakening of Wallachia, the relics of Saint Parascheva were taken again to Constantinople. The ruler of Moldavia Vasile Lupu exchanged the relics for 300 coins and brought them with a great procession and honor to Iasi, where in 1641 they were deposited in the Three Hierarchs church. Today the earthly remains of t Pious SainParascheva are kept in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iasi.
It is said that her relics at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iasi performed countless miracles and cures of diseases.
On this day, liturgies take place in churches across the country and the patron saint is celebrated in many localities. The Orthodox Christians who follow the new calendar, including in Iasi, celebrated the Feast of Pious Saint Parascheva on October 14.
