My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
ON JULY 26TH OUR HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES THE FEAST-DAY OF SAINT PARASKEVI THE VIRGIN-MARTYR
The holy and glorious Virgin-Martyr Paraskevi (also Paraskeva) was arrested during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) under the penalty of refusing to worship idols and adhering to the state pagan religion. After enduring many tortures, she was eventually released by the emperor, continuing to profess Christ. She was eventually tortured and beheaded by the Roman governor Tarasius in the year 180 A.D. The Church commemorates her on July 26th.
Life
Saint Paraskevi, the Parthenomartyr (Virgin-Martyr), was born in a village near Rome during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 A.D.). Her parents were the pious Christians Agathonikos (Agathon) and Politeia. Her parents prayed fervently for a child, and God finally blessed their piety. They gave great honor to Friday, the day of Our Lord's Passion (suffering). Being born on this day, her parents named her Paraskevi ("Friday" in Greek, but literally "preparation").
Saint Paraskevi obtained an excellent education from both secular and Scriptural instructors. She was also very knowledgeable in the field of philosophy. Bolstered by her Christian upbringing, she often conversed with other women about Christianity, trying to strengthen their faith in this new religion. Many distinguished families wanted this beautiful, educated and rich woman to marry their sons. Her understanding and kindness made her even more desirable. However having a higher goal in life, Saint Paraskevi rejected any marriage proposals.
When she was 20 years old, both her parents died and leaving her as the sole heir to the family fortune. Saint Paraskevi did not use her fortune for herself. Filled with the spirit of Christ and Christian ideals, she sold all her worldly possessions using the money to relieve human suffering. There was a portion retained to a community treasury that supported a home for reverent virgins who stayed in a kenovion, a type of commune like a contemporary monastery. These women prayed and fasted doing charitable works. They preached primarily to Hebrew and idol worshipping women giving them an opportunity to learn about Christian salvation.
She left Rome at the age of 30 and began her holy mission, passing through many cities and villages. Saint Paraskevi's activities occurred during a period that the Jews and Romans persecuted the Christian religion with the greatest intensity. Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) ruled Rome at this time, and he did not execute Christians without a trial. She was not caught immediately or put to death. Instead, Antoninus protected Christians against the blind mania of the Jewish and Roman inhabitants. Christians could only be brought to trial if another citizen lodged a formal complaint against them. Antoninus however had to repeal this law because of the many disasters which had befallen Rome and which were blamed on the Christians.
Strong in faith, learning, and eloquence, Paraskevi spoke persuasively to her fellow Roman citizens, leading them from idolatry to faith in Christ. Eventually, Antoninus heard of Saint Paraskevi's holy mission. Upon her return to Rome, several Jews filed complaints about her and Antoninus summoned her to his palace to question her. Attracted by her beauty and humility he tried with kind words to make her denounce her faith even promising to marry her and make her an empress. Angered by her refusal he had a steel helmet, lined with nails, compressed on her head with a vice. It had no effect on the Saint and many who witnessed this miracle converted to Christianity. Thrown into prison, Paraskevi asked God to give her the strength to face the terror that awaited her. Antoninus again continued her torture by having her hung by her hair and at the same time burning her hands and arms with torches. The Saint suffered greatly, but had the will not to submit to the pain. Antoninus then prepared a large cauldron of oil and tar, boiled the mixture and then had Paraskevi immersed in it. Miraculously she stood in it as if she being refreshed rather than burned. Angered, Antoninus thought that she was using witchery to keep the contents cooled. Antoninus then approached the cauldron only to be blinded by the hot steam and searing emissions coming from the area. At this moment the mighty emperor asked for the intervention of Saint Paraskevi to heal him from this affliction to which she responded:
"Emperor, the Christian God is healing you from the blindness that was given to you as a punishment".
Immediately, he regained his sight. Humbled by the miracle he freed the Saint, allowing her to continue her missionary activity and ended all persecutions against the Christians throughout the Roman Empire.
From this episode it is clear to the Christians that Saint Paraskevi has the intercessional ability to help people with visual ailments.
This period was brief. After Antoninus' death in 161 A.D., a plague broke out throughout the empire. Romans took it as a sign from their pagan gods that they were angered by the tolerance of Christianity. Under Antoninus' successor, Marcus Aurelius (161-180 A.D.), the laws dealing with "non-believers" were changed and the persecution against Christians resumed.
Despite these dangers, Saint Paraskevi persevered in her missionary endeavors, spreading the Gospel wherever she traveled. By authority of emperor Aurelius the provincial eparchs Asclepius and Tarasios captured Saint Paraskevi. Having refused Asclepius' demands to sacrifice to pagan gods, she was thrown into a snake pit. The Saint made the Sign of the Cross over the serpents and the serpents perished. Asclepius had heard of the Saint's previous miracles, realized that a great and mighty power guarded Paraskevi and decided to set her free while Asclepius and his court were all converted.
Tarasius however was less tolerant. Saint Paraskevi was tied and beaten and afterwards imprisoned and huge rock place on her chest. She prayed to Christ to help her be strong. The next morning Saint Paraskevi was taken willingly to the Temple of Apollo. Everyone praised Tarasius, thinking that he had succeeded in breaking Saint Paraskevi's faith. However, upon entering the temple, the Saint raised her hand and made the sign of the Cross. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard and all the idols in the temple were destroyed. The pagan priests and idolaters dragged her from the altar, beat her, and pushed her out of the temple. The pagan priests demanded that Tarasius kill Saint Paraskevi. She was convicted and condemned to death by beheading.
It was customary to give the condemned their last wish. She asked to be left alone for a few moments so that she might pray for the last time. Afterwards, the Roman soldier returned and executed the Saint.
Many healing miracles occurred as a result of Saint Paraskevi's divine intervention. It is said that that merely coming in contact with the dirt of her grave, crippled could walk, demonized would return to health and that the infertile would bear children. Most importantly Saint Paraskevi healed the blindness of the blind. Her merciful disposition to her tormentor had made her an intercessor Saint for the healing of eye ailments.
Her remains were eventually taken to Constantinople, where they are venerated by the faithful to this very day.
Apolytikion of the Feast
Appropriate to your calling, O Champion Paraskevi, you worshipped with the readiness your name bears. For an abode you obtained faith, which is your namesake. Wherefore, you pour forth healing and intercede for our souls.
Kontakion Hymn
O most majestic One, we have discovered your temple to be a spiritual clinic all the faith resoundingly honor you, O famed and venerated Martyr Paraskevi.
TOMB IN POUNTA, GREECE
According to the tradition of the people of Epirus, Saint Paraskevi was not martyred in Rome as mentioned in her traditional hagiography, but in Thesprotia where the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi of Pounta stands today. According to this tradition, strongly held by the locals, the headless body of the Saint was entombed there and her tomb is still venerated today.
It is said that the persecutors of Saint Paraskevi dragged her to the edge of the river Acheron to behead her. As the sword was raised over her head, she grabbed a stone pillar that she held so tightly that the print of her hands melted into it leaving an indelible mark. A church was eventually erected there by the faithful in her honor and housed her holy relics. Her skull was eventually placed in the walls of the church, though today it is kept in Moni Petraki in Athens, Greece.
According to the author and novelist Spyros Mouselimis, in his article "The Monastery of Pountas and the Feast of Saint Paraskevi", Pountas Monastery was known for its healing waters and numerous miracles. The pilgrims would cut off portions of the stone pillar of Saint Paraskevi as a blessing, to the point that in 1960 the size of the stone was half its original size.
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George