The question is natural: what does the icon of St. Paraskeva have to do with the spiritual life of Mariupol? According to legend, this icon saved our city from cholera.

The guide to the Crimea indicates that “the source of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva of Rome… on the territory of the Toplovsky Holy Trinity Paraskevievsky Convent… scored at the place of execution of Saint Paraskeva (beheading). It is believed that the water from the source of St. Paraskeva cures diseases of the eyes and head. Women who wish to have children also pray to Saint Paraskeva. The source has the shape of a well, over which a chapel is installed. In this spring, an icon of St. Paraskeva in Greek writing was found. The icon is depicted standing in full growth, with a bowl in her hands, and in the bowl are healed eyes. According to legend, this icon saved the city from cholera. The whereabouts of this icon is currently unknown.

Epidemic diseases in the XVIII-XIX centuries. literally mowed down the population. The publication “Old Mariupol” states: “The adult population of Mariupol suffered no less from epidemics. Without having statistical data, it is difficult to judge what pestilences struck him in the first half century of his life at the mouth of the Kalmius. But the fact that these were typhus, fever and tuberculosis can be argued with a huge degree of certainty.

The proposal made to me is to conduct a journalistic investigation in order to establish an important fact for the spiritual Mariupol - to determine the location of the icon of St. Paraskeva - was unexpected. At first, I did not see any particular difficulties in such an investigation. There are Orthodox churches in the Mariupol deaneries, a museum of local lore, and finally, there is the Internet. Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll hear legends passed from mouth to mouth about the time the icon spent in our city. I hoped that, as always happens during the investigation: other sources of information will be opened.

But my first active attempts to use all of the above did not lead to anything. I was convinced only that even before me they tried to locate the icon of this saint. However, even then everything ended with a statement of fact - unfortunately, the fate of the icon is currently unknown. And I stopped my investigation.

A month passed, then another. Other worries and deeds occupied time and attention, but no, no, but the saint disturbed her memory and heart. Once, sorting through the papers, I saw a small book among them. "Life-giving shrine. Toplovsky Holy Trinity Paraskevievsky convent» , written by Lyudmila Yaselskaya with the blessing of His Eminence Lazar, Metropolitan of Simferopol and Crimea. It was given to me at one time for temporary use by Tatyana Golovko, a senior researcher at the department of the history of the region from 1917 to the present, of the Mariupol Museum of Local Lore.

The icon of Saint Paraskeva is directly connected with this monastery. The author of the book writes about this: “There was not yet a road, not a single building, only a spring flowed in the middle of a dense forest, and people, with difficulty making their way through ravines and forest growth, brought their prayers, their hope and aspirations here, consoled themselves and were cured. This was the best evidence that the holy venerable martyr Paraskeva does not leave these places with her mercy.

And here is a description of what interests me most now: “And, of course, the finding in the source of an icon depicting St. Martyr Paraskeva, whom the Greeks took with them during their resettlement in the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov in 1778. The found icon was in Mariupol, in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, and enjoyed special respect - according to legend, she saved Mariupol from cholera. Since then, on the day of the miracle (July 26, old style), only women gathered in the church and celebrated a kind of “female panair” (church holiday). We have no modern data on the whereabouts of this icon.”

The book was published in 2009. Perhaps since then the Toplovsky Monastery has been able to obtain any information about this icon? I find the monastery's phone and contact Matushka Ulyana. Her response was succinct: "If you would send us such information, we would be very happy." This means that traces of the icon must be sought in Mariupol.

I turn to the Mariupol Museum of Local Lore. The first thing that the employees give me is the chief curator of the museum’s funds, Lyudmila Yakushenko, the museum’s deputy director for scientific work Raisa Bozhko, head of the department of the history of the region from ancient times to 1917, Lidia Kuchugura, who not only did not refuse help, but also actively joined in the search, there was a photocopy of that page of the book “Mariupol and its environs” (Mariupol, 1892) , where it is written: "In the same church ( Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. - Approx. auth.) the icon of St. Paraskeva and, moreover, on August 8. The celebration is established on the following occasion. During cholera, a woman had a dream that she needed an icon of St. Paraskeva surround the parish. Enclosed - and cholera stopped. It was August 8, and since then this day has been dedicated to St. Paraskeva. There are only women in the church, and the panairs celebrated on this day are called women's"(The text is given in modern transcription. - Note. ed. ).

Who is she, Saint Paraskeva?

Complete venerable martyr Paraskeva of Rome

The Monk Martyr Paraskeva was the only daughter of Christian parents, and from a young age she devoted herself to God. Living in her parents' home, she devoted much time to prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskeva distributed all her property to the poor, accepted monasticism and, imitating the holy apostles, began to preach to the pagans about Christ, converting many to Christianity.

Her activities were reported to the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161), and Saint Paraskeva was put on trial. She fearlessly confessed herself a Christian. Neither promises of honors and material goods, nor threats of torment and death shook the saint's firmness and turned her away from Christ. She was subjected to brutal torture. They put a red-hot helmet on her head and threw her into a cauldron of boiling tar. However, by the power of God, the holy martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor looked into the cauldron, Saint Paraskeva threw a few drops of red-hot resin into his face, and he became blind. The emperor began to ask her for healing, and the holy martyr healed him. After that, the emperor released Saint Paraskeva to freedom.

Moving from one place to another with the preaching of the Gospel, Saint Paraskeva came to a city where Asclepius was the ruler. Here the saint was again tried and sentenced to death. She was taken to a huge snake that lived in a cave to devour her. But Saint Paraskeva made a serpent sign over the serpent, and he immediately died. Asclepius and the townspeople, seeing such a miracle, believed in Christ and released the saint. She continued her sermon. In a city where a certain Tarasius was the ruler, Saint Paraskeva accepted a martyr's death. After severe torture, she was beheaded.

“... the holy venerable martyr Paraskeva crowned her apostolic labors with martyrdom for the name of Christ,” Ludmila Yaselskaya concludes. - The relics of the honest head of St. The venerable martyrs Paraskeva are on Mount Athos, in the Russian Panteleimon Monastery. Particles of these relics are in the monastery. And in the place where her head was cut off, the healing spring Chokrak Saglyk (in Tatar “source of living, healthy water”), which has not dried up even once in nineteen centuries, scored.

With what image is the icon of St. Paraskeva being sought?

What was the image of St. Paraskeva on the icon, which was in the Mariupol Church of the Nativity of the Virgin? I will say right away that today there is no icon with any of its images in any Orthodox church in the Mikhailovsky and Nikolaev deaneries of Mariupol.

Here is how the icon of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva of Rome is described in the “Icon Original”, a special guide to iconography, a collection of samples that determine all the details of the canonical images of various persons and events reproduced on the icons:

“Another Saint Paraskeva is known as Paraskeva of Rome, she suffered in Rome in the first half of the 2nd century. Glorified St. Paraskeva of Rome as a venerable martyr, her memory is celebrated on July 26. Iconographic features of the images of the Prmts. Paraskeva of Rome is a palm branch, which she holds in her hands along with a cross. In addition, she was depicted with the instruments of Christ's suffering. An unusual iconographic detail in the image of Paraskeva of Rome is a dish with eyes lying in it, a symbol of the gift of healing the blind, this detail arose in connection with the miracle that the life of the saint tells about (the healing of the emperor from blindness).

Both in the Church of the Transfiguration (on Cheryomushki) and in the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael (on the Left Bank), they showed me the calendar (in the church - black and white, in the cathedral - colored), where the saint is depicted approximately as described in the mentioned book about Toplovsky Monastery.

According to current legends, the book says: “at night, especially on great holidays, she walks around the monastery in a monastic robe, in a long mantle, with a staff and a palm branch in her hands. It is believed that the venerable martyr Paraskeva helps those who have sore eyes…”

There is, according to Lyudmila Yaselskaya, a Greek icon, on which Saint Paraskeva holds a bowl, and in it are her eyes healed. According to legend, it was this icon that was in the Mariupol Church of the Nativity of the Virgin and saved our city from cholera. And the location of this particular icon is currently unknown.

I wrote and thought: if the location of the icon is only unknown, then this is bad, but not hopeless. What if the icon of St. Paraskeva, God forbid, has sunk into oblivion? Let's go back to the period of her stay in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. The temple was founded in 1780, as stated in the book "Mariupol and its environs" (Mariupol, 1892),. The publication “Mariupol and Its Surroundings: A View from the 21st Century” (Mariupol, 2008) also states that “back in 1780, Metropolitan Ignatius laid four churches in Mariupol: the Cathedral Church of St. Charlampia; for the Kafai quarter - the church of St. Theodore Tyrone and Theodore Stratilates; for the Karasevsky quarter - the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin; for the Maryinsky quarter - the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin. Its full name is the Church of the Nativity Holy Mother of God. The parishioners called it Christmas.

It is documented that the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin existed in 1795. The publication "Mariupol and its environs" for 2008 notes that "in 1795, 4 Orthodox churches operated in Mariupol: St. Kharlampy, the Nativity of the Virgin, the Assumption of the Virgin and St. Mary Magdalene."

But still “There is little information about her,” the researchers write. “The church was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century, but it is not known when, besides, the inventories from 1809 to 1823 were irretrievably lost…”. Already in 1892, “Mariupol and its environs will write: “... for the Karasevites, that is, people from Karasu-Bazaar, the Metropolitan founded and founded the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. Since the Karasevs brought with them a camp church with a movable antimension, the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos was soon completed, consecrated and open for worship. Then it was rebuilt, but when it is not known, because the inventories from 1809 to 23 have been lost. Probably, the stone part, that is, the foundation, and the walls up to the dome, remained old; it was first covered with reeds, and then the later alteration consisted in attaching a wooden dome. In this form, it was to this day, and now it is being redone again. (writes the edition in 1892. - Note by the author). The throne, consecrated by Metropolitan Ignatius, remained in it. The iconostasis is old, good work. Above the iconostasis there is a cross and a bishop's ripida from the Crimea (according to the researchers, the Greeks took out all the church decoration and icons from the Crimea. - Note by the author). Among the ancient items is a shroud of 1717, embroidered with silk, a bowl, a censer and two gospels in Greek and Turkish.

Like many other churches, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin was built at the expense of the parishioners of that time. It was located at the intersection of modern Kuindzhi and Artem streets ... the icon of Cosmas and Damian was especially revered by the parishioners of the Nativity Church ... As stated in the book mentioned above, in the Nativity Church “the icon of St. Paraskeva, and, moreover, only on August 8.(The day of veneration of the icon is erroneously given according to the New Style. Paraskeva of Rome is commemorated on July 26, according to the Old Style (August 8, New Style). Note. ed.)

Did the armed Red Army soldiers seize it or did the believers from Mariupol save it?

Based on materials provided by the Department of domestic policy City Council, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin was located on Kosmo-Demyanovsky Square at the end of Taganrogskaya Street (later Artem Street). The temple was destroyed in 1936. And in the same year, secondary school No. 11 was erected on the same square. This church is also mentioned in the will of our famous countryman Arkhip Ivanovich Kuindzhi. The first paragraph of this document says: "The Nativity of the Theotokos Church in Mariupol, in which I was baptized, ten thousand (10,000 rubles) for the school named after me." In this temple in 1875, the famous artist married Vera Leontievna Kechedzhi-Shapovalova.

Together with the staff of the local history museum, the editor-in-chief of the Hellenes of Ukraine newspaper Victoria Pomazan, we are trying to find traces of the icon of St. Paraskeva among archival documents, in the memoirs of people, in any way connected with the events and facts of that period. They heard about the temple, but not about the icon, or “so something, in general terms.”

Sometimes they confuse the icon of St. Paraskeva with the Mariupol Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria", known today by the name of Mariupol. As stated in the above-mentioned book “Mariupol and Its Environs”, the Mariupol Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria"“There was a richly decorated icon. The robe of the Mother of God ... is embroidered with pearls, in places pearls of rare size, and strewn with diamonds, diamonds and other precious stones. Muslims also revered her, “it is known that before a military campaign, the khan placed a pound wax candle in front of the icon.” And when Christians from the Crimea moved to the Azov region, after praying at the icon, they were forced to hide the shrine from the Tatars in one of the barrels of grain, diligently protecting it.

They confuse the Mariupol Icon of the Mother of God with the icon of St. The Paraskevis, probably because they also made a procession against cholera with the first icon. However, there was "Hodegetria" not in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, but in the Holy Assumption Church, which was blown up in 1936. This place is now a bus station.

During the investigation of the whereabouts of the icon of St. Paraskeva glimmered was the hope of success. The chief keeper of the funds, Lyudmila Yakushenko, called from the local history museum and said that 18 inventory books of the history department of the Zhdanovsky Museum for 1948 were preserved in the funds. Maybe they have a record of the icon they're looking for.

I sit and leaf through inventory books. Here is information about the wooden icon of George the Victorious, on horseback, XVIII century; I also find an entry: “The icon of the Mother of God in a brass riza, a sample of work on metal; copper icon. Transferred to the Stalin Museum of Local Lore; an icon painted on a canvas with oil paints - the Mother of God and. The riza is made of multicolored bugles…”

No, not her, the wanted one. And suddenly in the inventory book No. 13 with entries from October 6 to October 13 I read: August icon. Holy. Cost - 5-00 ". It may well be that this is the same icon. But who can now explain what “August” means: the august or related to August 8, when panair was celebrated in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin? And its cost is low - five Soviet rubles.

Was it really included in the lists of church valuables when, in the famine years of the Land of Soviets, armed Red Army soldiers with police confiscated them in order to ensure “the well-being and future of the Soviet Republic”?

I go to the Internet. And again disappointment. The Wikipedia article says: “The Augustow Icon of the Mother of God is an icon of the Mother of God revered in the Russian Church, written in memory of her appearance in 1914 to Russian soldiers before the Warsaw-Ivangorod operation (September 15–October 26, 1914), the battle near the city of Augustow, Suwalki province Russian Empire(now in the territory of Eastern Poland).

And when the material was being prepared for publication, employees of the Mariupol Museum of Local Lore reported that this icon is in the funds of the Donetsk Regional Museum of Local Lore and is “a rather rare image of the August Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos associated with the events of the First World War of 1914.”

The glimmering hope is gone again. Or maybe, after all, the icon that once saved Mariupol from cholera was saved by someone from Mariupol? Really like. so that those who know something about this spiritual shrine of Mariupol responded. Visit our website and provide any information about the icon of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva of Rome. we will be sincerely grateful to you.

Saint Paraskeva was born in Rome. She was the only daughter of pious Christians. Her parents Agathon and Politaya were childless, but with fervent prayer they asked God for a child. The born girl was named Paraskeva (literally - Friday), since she was born on Friday. The mother taught Saint Paraskeva to pray and to visit the temple of God with zeal and love. Christian upbringing bore fruit: Saint Paraskeva from her youth fell in love with reading the Holy Scriptures, was meek and humble, filled with fiery love for Christ the Savior.

After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskeva, striving for spiritual perfection, distributed property to the poor, accepted monastic vows, and, imitating the holy apostles, began to walk around towns and villages, preaching the word of God. She delivered her first sermon in Rome, and here she suffered her first sufferings. Emperor Antoninus received a denunciation of a brave Christian woman. He ordered Saint Paraskeva to be brought to him and tried to persuade her to renounce Christ. Then she was tortured: she was thrown into a copper cauldron filled with boiling oil and tar. However, the holy martyr remained unharmed. The emperor, wanting to check whether the contents of the cauldron were hot, ordered Saint Paraskeva to sprinkle it from the cauldron. The saint fulfilled the command, and the resin that fell on the face of the emperor burned out his eyes. Repentant, Antoninus began to ask the holy martyr for forgiveness, and she healed him. Seeing the power of the saint's prayer, the emperor and many of his servants accepted holy Baptism.

Released to freedom, Saint Paraskeva again went to different cities preaching the Christian doctrine. In one city, where a certain Asclepius was the ruler, the saint was seized and again put on trial. Convinced that she would not renounce Christ, the torturers threw her into a cave where a snake lived and where criminals sentenced to death were thrown. Saint Paraskeva struck the snake with the sign of the cross and remained unharmed. Seeing such a miracle, Asclepius and his associates believed in Christ. Again Saint Paraskeva set off to preach the teachings of Christ the Savior. In another city, a local ruler named Tarasius subjected the saint to numerous cruel tortures, and then ordered that her head be cut off with a sword. Thus the holy venerable martyr Paraskeva crowned her apostolic labors with martyrdom for the name of Christ.

The relics of the honest head of St. The venerable martyrs Paraskeva are on Mount Athos, in the Russian Panteleimon Monastery. In the Crimea, near the village of Topolevka, next to the holy source of pure spring water, the Trinity-Paraskevsky Toplovsky Convent is located. Local Crimean residents firmly believe that it was here, in the remote tract of Toplu, that Saint Paraskeva met her death, and the spring gushed at the very time when the earth was stained with the blood of the martyr. The holiness of these legends was confirmed by the fact that this source was healing, and annually on July 26 (according to the old style) / August 8, not only from the surrounding area, but also from distant places, people flocked here, brought their prayers, their hopes and aspirations, they were comforted and healed, and this was the best evidence that the holy venerable martyr Paraskeva did not leave these places with her grace. The Holy Martyr Paraskeva of Rome is asked for help in business and for the healing of spiritual and bodily ailments, especially eye diseases.

Prayer before the icon of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Oh, holy and long-suffering martyr Paraskevo! To you, like we are warmer for us to God in a prayer book and diligently pray, implore the Lord and our Lord to extend His mercy to us His unworthy servants, to grant us spiritual and bodily health, fruitful land, good air, prosperity in Christian piety, to life temporarily needed, satisfied and everything needed for salvation; let us live peacefully and piously, let us be vouchsafed to improve the good end of the Christian and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. To her, our good representative! Do not disgrace our hope, which, according to God and the Most Holy Theotokos, we place strong on Thee, but be our intercessor for salvation, let us be honored together with you and all the saints in the joy of eternal bliss, glorify in your intercession the great mercy of our God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever.

Brief Life of the Monk Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Pre-on-dob-no-mu-che-ni-tsa Pa-ras-ke-va Roman-skay would-la-the only-stven-no-no-che-ryu ro-di-te-lei-hri-sti- en, yes-ro-van-noy to them according to their zealous prayer. From a young age, she sanctified herself to God, and after the death of ro-di-te-lei, she once-da-la all her property shchim, accepting the otherness and, under the holy apo-sto-lams, na-cha-la pro-po-ve-do-vat tongue-no-kam about Christ- ste, many of them in christianity.

Holy Pa-ras-ke-va, re-re-ho-dya from one place to another and doing wonder-de-sa, came from pro-po-ve -due Evan-ge-lia to the city, where the great-vi-te-lem was the same ido-lo-clone-nickname. Neither the promise of honors and ma-te-ri-al-goods, nor the threat of mu-che-ni-i-mi and death is not-co-le-ba-li steadfastly to the saint and not from-bra-ti-whether it is from Christ. She would-la pre-yes-on the brutal is-tya-for-ni-yam and took-nya-la mu-che-no-che-kon-chi-well through the mustache with a sword .

Complete Life of the Monk Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Pre-on-dob-no-mu-che-ni-tsa Pa-ras-ke-wa would-la the only-stven-do-che-ryu ro-di-te-lei-hri-sti-an and with mo-lo-breath of years in-ho-ti-la se-bya to God. Living in a ro-di-tel-house, she spends a lot of time de-la-la mo-lit-ve and studying the Holy Pi-sa -tion. After the death of the ro-di-te-lei, the holy Pa-ras-ke-va once-da-la all his property to nothing, took-ny-la other-thing and , under-ra-zha-th holy apo-hundred-lames, na-cha-la pro-po-ve-do-vat tongue-no-kam about Christ, many in christ- sti-an-stvo.

About her de-I-tel-no-sti was-lo to-not-se-but im-pe-ra-to-ru An-to-ni-nu Piyu (138-161), and holy Pa- ras-ke-va pre-sta-la pre-red su-dom. Bes-fear-but is-ve-yes-la she is hri-sti-an-koy. Neither the promise of honors and ma-te-ri-al-goods, nor the threat of mu-che-ni-i-mi and death is not-co-le-ba-li steadfastly to the saint and not from-bra-ti-whether it is from Christ. She would-la pre-yes-on the brutal is-ty-for-ni-pits. On her go-lo-vu on-de-li-ra-ka-len-ny helmet and bro-si-whether in a ko-tel with ki-pa-sche tar. Alone, by the power of God, the holy mu-che-no-tsa remained neuro-di-mine. When they-pe-ra-tor looked into the body, the holy Pa-ras-ke-va threw a few drops of ras-ka-pel into his face flax resin, and he was blind. Im-pe-ra-tor began to ask her about healing, and the holy mu-che-ni-tsa tried-li-la him. After this, im-pe-ra-tor from-pu-styl the holy Pa-ras-ke-vu to freedom.

Pe-re-go-dya with pro-po-ve-due Evangel-ge-lia from one place to another, holy Pa-ras-ke-va came to go- the clan where the pra-vi-te-lem was As-kli-piy. Here again, the saint is su-di-li and pri-go-vo-ri-li to death. She was brought to a huge snake, living in a cave, so that he would devour her. But the holy Pa-ras-ke-va co-create-ri-la over the serpent of the sign of the cross, and he immediately died. As-cli-piy and the townspeople, seeing such a miracle, believe-ro-va-li in Christ and from-pu-sti-li-thu. She continued her sermon. In the city, where the pra-vi-te-lem was someone Ta-ra-siy, holy Pa-ras-ke-wa pri-nya-la mu-che-no-che-kon-chi -well. After the same hundred is-ty-for-ny her bez-gla-vi-li.

See also: "" in from-lo-same-nii svt. Di-mit-ria Rostov-sko-go.

Prayers

Troparion to the Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Thou hast diligence according to thy name, the namesake, / thou hast chosen the faith in cohabitation of the same name as thee, / victorious Paraskevo, / the same pour forth healing and pray for our souls.

Translation: Having diligence, in accordance with your calling, preparatory labors, bearing the name, the faith of the same name you have chosen as your abode, Victorious Paraskeva, therefore you pour out healing and pray for our souls.

Kontakion to the Monk Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Your temple, all-honored one, / as if you have found a spiritual clinic, / in it all the faithful / we venerate you with open voice, / / ​​the glorious venerable martyr Paraskevo.

Translation: Your temple, revered by all, having found it as a hospital for souls, in it all the believers loudly revere you, glorious venerable martyr Paraskeva.

In Kontakion to the Monk Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Passion-bearer, believers, the song of Paraskeva, come, let us sing in agreement, / for the wonders in the world shine, / driving away the charms of darkness, / giving unenviable grace to the faithful, calling: // Rejoice, long-suffering martyr.

Translation: Come, believers, let us sing a prayer hymn to the martyr Paraskeva, for she shines in the world with the light of miracles, dispelling the darkness of sin, giving abundant grace to believers who cry out: "Rejoice, long-suffering martyr."

Prayer to the Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Oh, holy and long-suffering venerable martyr Paraskevo! To you, Aki warm for God's god prayer, fall and diligently pray: the mind of the gentlemen and the Lord of our muttering the grace of their own to us, unworthy of his slave, to give us spiritual and bodily health, the earth fruit, air is degrading, in piety Christian necessary and contented for a temporary life, and everything necessary for salvation; let us live peacefully and piously, let us be vouchsafed a good Christian end to improve and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Hey, our good representative! Do not disgrace our hope, which, according to God and the Most Holy Theotokos, we place strong on You, but be us an intercessor for salvation, that we may be together with you and all the saints in the joy of eternal bliss, glorify in your intercession, our God, and our great intercession Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Canons and Akathists

Canon of the Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Canto 1

Irmos: The seas of the dark abyss with wet feet, the ancient Israel, having walked on foot, defeated the power of Amalek in the desert with the cruciform hand of Moses.

Chorus (with private reading): Holy Martyr Paraskevo, pray to God for us.

Singing your luminous memory, martyr of all praise, pray for grace to grant us and forgiveness of sins, glorious Paraskevo, with your petitions to the Lord.

I destroy the power of your patience, martyr, the ruler threateningly commanded you to bow to the idol, but with your wise words, all his audacity will be destroyed.

You beauty appeared to the martyrs, you overthrew the enemy of trickery with the weapon of the cross, and, having defeated the rulers of cruelty martyrically, you preached the pious faith.

Bogorodichen: The Word from Your most pure blood, the Lady, is born, it receives animated flesh, and we, fallen by the remorse of the seducer, have been raised by Divine power to eat.

Canto 3

Irmos: Thy Church rejoices in Thee, O Christ, calling: Thou art my strength, O Lord, and refuge, and affirmation.

The Divine Spirit affirmed that there is a weak one and a great bright display of a god-like pure radiance of your soul.

Strengthened by the power of Christ, the oxen lived a merciless scourging, the martyr of Christ, you endured, like some kind of hardest adamant.

Love, even for God, on the trinity, you firmly endured the beating of the body by scorpions and innumerable other scourgings.

Bogorodichen: You are the only one who exists on the earth of worldly blessings. You were the Giver, Mother of God, the same You, rejoice, we call.

Sedalen, tone 5

From the swaddling clothes of the mother to Christ, dedicating yourself, like a martyr, to Him you pleased you, the Savior of all, and, having firmly corrected the insolence of the tormentors, you truly bravely endured suffering. The same Christ, having crowned thee, entered the Heavenly chamber of glory. Holy Paraskevo, ask Christ our God for forgiveness of sins.

Canto 4

Irmos: You are exalted when you see the Church on the Cross, the Righteous Sun, a hundred in its rank, worthy of crying out: glory to your power, Lord.

Having received healings, and gifts, and visions, glorious, Divine, you exude currents of grace, always honoring you by faith and resorting to your temple.

You truly have no vice and filth, having acquired sanctification of your body, you saw the angels, you cried out with them: glory to your power, Lord.

If the sign of a terrible day is terrible, sometimes imagine a saving passion in your body, a cross, and a cane, and a crown, and you saw your lip.

Bogorodichen: You conceived unskillfully, O Virgin, and after Christmas you appeared virginal again. The same silent voices, rejoice, with undoubted faith crying out to Thee, Lady.

Canto 5

Irmos: You, Lord, my Light, have come into the world, Light of the Holy, turn from gloomy ignorance by faith singing Thee.

You labored, honest, and wisely trampled the tormentor of ornate wisdom before the judgment, preaching Christ.

If you have a firm mind, you have shamed the entire idol honoring with a fearless thought, with the mind of the scriptures.

The bed of the clever and the palace was honored if you exulted with the God-wise virgins, Paraskevo glorious.

Bogorodichen: You, an indestructible weapon, we turn to enemies, You are the anchor and the hope of our salvation, God's bride, with a banner.

Canto 6

Irmos: I will devour Thee with a voice of praise, Lord, the Church cries out to Thee, cleansed from the blood of demons for the sake of mercy from Your ribs with shed Blood.

By the coming of the angel, on your Persians, the greatness of the court, all-honorable, and the nails on your hands, glorious martyr, the Lord soon took away food by divine mania.

We glorify the new First Martyr Thekla, as if she preached to everyone, and she enlightened many with the Divine word, and led the unbelievers to the Divine faith.

Opening yours, Divine dogmas of the ark, honey mouth, teaching everyone with boldness, Paraskevo, adornment of the martyrs.

Bogorodichen: O miracle, the strangest of all miracles! Like the Virgin in the womb, the All-embracing unskillfully conceived, do not be discouraged.

Kontakion, tone 4

Your temple, all-honourable, as if you have found a spiritual clinic, in it all the faithful revere thee, glorious martyr Paraskeva.

Ikos

The voice of the Bridegroom, call you, like a bride, adorn you with a crown of immortality, God-wise Paraskevo all-praise, and worthy to honor the crown-bearer and martyr. Having fun with them, commemorate those who celebrate your holy feast and come down to your temple, in which it is now coming, from the bottom of our hearts we bring you songs, glorious venerable martyr Paraskevo.

Canto 7

Irmos: In the cave of Abraham, the youths of Persia, with the love of piety, more than with a flame, are scorched, crying: Blessed are you in the temple of Thy glory, Lord.

Saved by the Lord, before the judgment of the wicked, martyr, strengthen your muscles firmly, scorched by the flame, always sing to you, calling: blessed be thou, my God and Lord.

The fire that burns is no better than thee, but the wicked are more scorched, the maiden, but Christ preserved you intact, as if from ancient times, making noise in the midst of the fire, with a strong hand, fearless youths.

Wisely all the earth and not creating the heavens, let the demonic idols and bozi perish, cried thou; Christ is the Lord, thou preached, the Creator is of all.

Bogorodichen: Highly consecrated Divine village, rejoice, for you have given joy, Mother of God, to those who call: blessed are you in women, O All-blameless Lady.

Canto 8

Irmos: Rutse spread out, Daniel the lions of the yawning in the ditch; quenching the fiery power, girded with virtue, piety, zealots, youths, crying out: bless, all the works of the Lord, the Lord.

You showed not the gods that exist, but the false demons of ghosts, martyr, and I trampled you in every possible way and completely crushed you, in joy to Christ unceasingly singing: bless, all the works of the Lord, the Lord.

The temple was shaken on the ground by your coming, honest, pade Apollo, and the former idols were shot by the power of the honest Cross, which is mysteriously fenced, with boldness many cried out: all things, bless the Lord.

By Your beauty and love, O Christ, I was wounded, Paraskeva, pure of fire, suffered a burning sensation, crying out: into the stench of Your Divine world, now suffering firmly, I flow unceasingly after You, glorifying Your Divine Name.

Bogorodichen: You are one in all generations, Virgin Immaculate, Mother of God appeared, You were the Deity of the universe, Most Pure, not scorched by the fire of impregnable Light. All the same, we glorify Thee, Mary the Bogonesto.

Canto 9

Irmos: A stone not hand-carved from the unseen mountain, Thee, Virgo, cut off the cornerstone, Christ, copulative of the separated nature. By those having fun, we magnify You, Mother of God.

The fleeting life and the temporary one, the martyr of the God-wise, you neglected, seeing the beauty of your unthinkable Bridegroom, chasing the truth after Him. Thou hast also improved the crown, good maiden, imperishable.

Hearing the voice of the Divine, answering from heaven, Paraskevo, to the petitions of your heart, you cheerfully ended the course, an honest martyr, and you ascended to Him, an honest truncated head.

Give victory to enemies, pray to Christ, Paraskevo, to all Divine Temple to yours coming with the warmest faith, and the abandonment of sins, and deliverance from troubles.

Bogorodichen: Thou hast appeared, surpassing the Cherubim and higher than the Heavens, the Pure Virgin Mary, the Great Council of the Angel, who gave birth to the Great Council of the Father, the Judge of all to come.

Exapostilary

Strengthened, good maiden, by the Cross of your Lord, insolence defeated the tormentors, suffering valiantly, martyr, and to the crown of victorious Christ, you are gone, Paraskevo all-wonderful, praying for us, honoring you with love.

Akathist to the Holy Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Kondak 1

To the chosen bride of Christ, the holy venerable martyr Paraskeva, with faith and love, praiseworthy singing, as a good healer, we bring; but you, the passion-bearer of Christ, graciously bow down to us, your deeds and sufferings to those who sing, and from all misfortunes you are free, with tenderness calling you:

Ikos 1

The angel of the Lord was sent to quickly announce to your barren parents, reverend martyr, that God heard their prayer: they will give birth to a blessed daughter, heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. Marveling at such a foreshadowing of your birth, as the chosen one of God, we please you with these praises:

Rejoice, proclaimed by an angelic prophecy; Rejoice, having resolved the infertility of your parents by your birth.

Rejoice, having been asked of God by many prayers; Rejoice, having taught everyone not to lose heart in prayer.

Rejoice, holy root of good vegetation; Rejoice, God-loving daughter of a Christ-loving father and mother.

Rejoice, chosen from the mother's womb to serve Christ; Rejoice, having betrothed your virginity to the Incorruptible Bridegroom.

Rejoice, manifestation of divine mercy to people; Rejoice, unceasing prayers censer.

Rejoice, rebuke of the lazy; Rejoice, good affirmation of those who hesitate.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 2

Seeing the world's vanity and inconstancy, God-wise Paraskevo, you longed to retire from the world, so that you could unceasingly please Christ God and bear His good yoke unhindered, in prayers lie down, calling Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Having acquired the mind of heaven, the venerable martyr Paraskevo, after the death of your parents, you distributed all your possessions to the poor, diligently flowed along the path of confession of Christ, for this we praise thee:

Rejoice, thou who shone with spiritual beauty; Rejoice, neglecting bodily kindness.

Rejoice, having filled your soul with the grace of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, thou who did not fear the confession of His name.

Rejoice, unshakable confessor of Christ; Rejoice, long-suffering passion-bearer of Jesus.

Rejoice, God-wise evangelist of the Gospel; Rejoice, container of many virtues.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 3

Strengthened by the power of God from above, holy reverend martyr Paraskevo, you put aside the weakness of the female nature and, having put on the armor of the confession of Christ, with idolaters you strongly fought, even with fierce torments from the love of Christ God, you turn away the vanishing, but with your patience you are defeated, and with the Angels You sang to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

You had a soul filled with courage in Christ, God-wise Paraskeva, you strongly confounded the tormentors of the ungodly, the same laughing at their torment, as if you were in a foreign body, you endured Christ for the sake of everything, but you taught us to sing to you, sitsa:

Rejoice, loud-voiced confessor of God; Rejoice, beautiful bride of the Sweetest Jesus.

Rejoice, thou who didst bring undefiled virginity to Him as a gift; Rejoice, thou who shed thy blood for Him.

Rejoice, thou who fearlessly confessed His name before judges and tormentors; Rejoice, bringing the witnesses of your torment to faith.

Rejoice, in our prayers there is a warm refuge; Rejoice, confirmation of our hope in the Lord.

Rejoice, lover of temporary pleasures rebuke; Rejoice, heavenly seekers of encouragement.

Rejoice, in the struggle of the existing helper; Rejoice, good consolation to the offended.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 4

Tsar Antonin, possessed by a storm of disbelief, was surprised when he saw you in a boiling cauldron unharmed; When your hands, having filled from the cauldron, threw down on the face of the tormentor, he was burned crying out: “Have mercy on me, servant of the true God, and give me the light of my eyes, so that I may believe in God, you preach Him, and I will sing to Him in marriage with you : Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing your many and fierce sufferings, Paraskevo glorious, and we, sinners, tenderly marvel at your patience: what kind of iron that was kindled on your head did you wear and the fierce beats suffered many times; the same pleasuringly we call:

Rejoice, you who bore the wounds of the Lord Jesus on your body; Rejoice, thou who didst love the One.

Rejoice, thou who didst strengthen thee in the Lord; Rejoice, thou who didst many miracles for the assurance of idolaters.

Rejoice, having overcome your tormentors with patience; Rejoice, punishing the unfaithful king.

Rejoice, you who mercifully gave healing to him; Rejoice, among the people of Rome the name of Christ glorified great.

Rejoice, having shown with all your tongue the image of long-suffering; Rejoice, thou who didst show the fulfillment of the faith to all generations.

Rejoice, thou who bestows thy grace-filled enlightenment upon those who praise the deeds; Rejoice, for the sins of their Lord imploring.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 5

Thou hast become like a divine star, holy martyr Paraskevo, visiting many cities and countries and preaching the Name of Christ;

Ikos 5

Seeing the people your glorious miracle, reverend martyr, how the dragon of the great Name of God struck down with invocation, thou didst believe in Christ abie, saying to thee:

Rejoice, thou who didst glorify thy Lord and Christ through suffering and miracles; Rejoice, the culprit of the salvation of many human souls.

Rejoice, victorious martyr of Christ; Rejoice, miraculous witness of Jesus.

Rejoice, planter of the true faith; Rejoice, merciful healer of human ailments.

Rejoice, and sinful people did not leave your love; Rejoice, jealous of the enlightenment of our souls.

Rejoice, thou who didst lift many works of the Gospel for the sake of it; Rejoice, for this sake of greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven, you were named.

Rejoice, adornment of the face of virgins; Rejoice, most glorious regiment of martyrdom.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 6

You faithfully imitated the preacher of Christ, the God-bearing Apostle, Paraskevo, the long-suffering one, and in the preaching of the Gospel through your whole life you labored, people who catch salvation. The same miracles were enriched with a gift from Christ God, about them and disbelief in the faith came and sang to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Thou hast shone, like a star, in the firmament of the Church of Christ, Paraskevo the victorious, and to all of us in the way of your life shine clearly, the same faith and love honor your holy memory, we cry to you:

Rejoice, ascetic of God, brought up by fasting and prayer; Rejoice, immaculate dove, full of meekness and gentleness.

Rejoice, for your tormentors brought the Lord's prayers; Rejoice, Christ, our Savior, thus likened.

Rejoice, thou who overcame the malice of enemies with goodness; Rejoice, thou who didst envy the crown of Stefan the First Martyr.

Rejoice, faithful performer of the gospel commandments; Rejoice, formidable accuser of unbelief.

Rejoice, quick giver of repentant forgiveness from God; Rejoice, good teacher of those who are faithful to salvation.

Rejoice, filling our hearts with tenderness; Rejoice, uplifting our thoughts to God.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 7

Wanting to lay down your soul for Christ, having endured many torments for Him, you were truncated from the impious tormentor Tarasius at the head, but from Christ you received an incorruptible crown on your head, but with your soul you rose into the heavenly abode of paradise, where you are with the Angels and all the saints sweet sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Thou hast accepted a new eternal belly, blasphemous one, when she was resolved from the flesh with a sword death, thou ascended to the marriage of the Heavenly Bridegroom. His silence does not stop for us, sinners, with the love of your suffering, honoring and saying incessantly:

Rejoice, having crowned your martyrdom with a sword death; Rejoice, thereby erasing the head of the invisible serpent.

Rejoice, in the voice of the singing of an angel, you soared into heaven with your soul; Rejoice, thou who didst rejoice the martyr's countenance in heaven.

Rejoice, thou who didst rejoice the fasting regiment; Rejoice, joyful adornment of the virgin host.

Rejoice, fasting life, but you combined martyrdom in yourself; Rejoice, and jealous of us for virtues.

Rejoice, you who lived holy and blameless on earth; Rejoice, denounced idol flattery.

Rejoice, you who put the demons to shame; Rejoice, thou who put the thought of repentance into the tormentor.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 8

It is strange for the unfaithful to see how, from a single prayerful invocation of the name of your saint, Paraskevo, the long-suffering, healing is given to the sick and unclean spirits run away from people, we sinners, to help you, call and sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

The whole Church of Christ, honest to your suffering, holy and all-praise martyr, glorifies, healing grace from you accepts and joyfully calls out to you, saying:

Rejoice, in life after death glorified by many miracles; Rejoice, offering healing gifts without envy.

Rejoice, who loves and honors you with pure love; Rejoice, soon fulfilling our good petitions.

Rejoice, graciously visiting those who suffer in sickness; Rejoice, incurable diseases soon healing.

Rejoice, granting help to those who want to endure illnesses; Rejoice, helping to overcome spiritual passions.

Rejoice, for we are ashamed of the feat of your long-suffering, we are ashamed of our cowardice; Rejoice, as your courage is reminiscent, we strive to fight against the flesh.

Rejoice, enlightening many people in your belly; Rejoice, after your repose, you have confirmed the greatest number of generations in piety.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 9

All the Angels of Heaven and the holy faces rejoice in you, reverend martyr, sretosha, when thou hast ascended to the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven, accept the reward of thy feat and suffering from the Lord; For we, the unworthy, also ask for an eternal inheritance with the saints, praying that the Lord will make us worthy to sing with you to Him in the Kingdom of Heaven: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The orgy of man does not suffice, even according to the property of thee, Paraskevo all-blessed, glorify, both with your love we conquer, we bring you praises:

Rejoice, eternally reigning with Christ and imploring Him for us; Rejoice, generously giving us the gifts of His Divine prayers with your prayers.

Rejoice, condescension of the penitent; Rejoice, those who strive for good instruction.

Rejoice, from the heights of the mountains to the earthly mercy, penetrating; Rejoice, demonic temptation with your prayer reflecting.

Rejoice, thou who didst receive the victorious branch into thy coat; Rejoice, to all those who labor in salvation, invisibly giving help.

Rejoice, prophesied by an angel; Rejoice, and the interlocutor of the Angels who appeared.

Rejoice, mind that lifts up our grief.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 10

Helping those who pray to be saved, holy reverend martyr, who comes to your holy temple with faith, give gifts of grace incessantly and quickly fulfill all our good petitions, as if you have acquired great boldness to Christ God. Joyfully sing to him the song of victory: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

With the wall of your prayers, reverend martyr, protect us from every temptation of the devil, so that the enemy does not rejoice at our falls, but may you be put to shame in us, laudatoryly calling to you:

Rejoice, according to Bose and the Mother of God, our hope is strong; Rejoice, shameless intercession in troubles.

Rejoice, in the dreamy visions of the faithful you visit; Rejoice, and mercifully giving healing gifts to the unfaithful.

Rejoice, star of God's grace, by which darkness is driven away from us; Rejoice, abyss of miracles, abundantly watering us all.

Rejoice, having become like ancient Judith by abstinence; Rejoice, having surpassed this courage.

Rejoice, for you have loved the myrrh-bearing women of Christ; Rejoice, thou who was faithful to Him in her torments.

Rejoice, glorified by His word; Rejoice, contemplating Him I will take out face to face.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 11

Our laudatory singing is not enough to glorify your many and wonderful wonderworkings, holy martyr, both, as a good and merciful imitator of Christ, look at us sinners with your mercy and with your holy and pious prayers to the Lord, ask for peace of mind for us, and cry out to God: Alleluia .

Ikos 11

You shine unfailingly with the light rays of miracles, Paraskevo the God-praised, all the same, piously wanting to live, grace to the unsetting Sun of truth, Christ God, guide those who call to this place:

Rejoice, precious and beautiful color of chastity; Rejoice, world-receptacle full of heavenly aromas.

Rejoice, from your fulfillment and to us the gifts of grace inexhaustibly exude; Rejoice, valiant confessor of Christ, clothed with grace.

Rejoice, wonderfully exalted in your humility in Heaven and on earth; Rejoice, having acquired incorruptible wealth through temporary poverty.

Rejoice, for the Kingdom of God brings out spiritual crying; Rejoice, in the torment of your body, you did not surrender to crying.

Rejoice, having inherited Christ by the meekness of your tongue; Rejoice, thou who hungered for His righteousness.

Rejoice, you forgot about the food of the perishable for His sake; Rejoice, thou who called upon the unbelievers with thy prayer for the mercy of God.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 12

The grace of the Lord by your prayers to the source of water from ancient years was bestowed here. The same and the temple of God from the abode of the virgins was created there in your name, you favored. Attend this ubo and do not forget your spiritual children, in reverence to you imitate those who want and sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your deeds and sufferings and many of your miracles, holy and all-praise Paraskevo, we pray diligently: pray for us to the Lord who glorified you, for us to be delivered from eternal perdition, and to improve some of those who are being saved, thankfully calling:

Rejoice, crowned crowned by the hand of Christ; Rejoice, thou who wast worthy of the purity of the heart of the vision of God.

Rejoice, many people who believed in Christ by you, reconciled to God; Rejoice, hatred from the people of Christ for the sake of accepting.

Rejoice, thou who didst suffer terrible torments for His sake; Rejoice, having come with a bright light to the marriage of the Heavenly Bridegroom.

Rejoice, candle of God's jealousy, filled with the oil of mercy; Rejoice, our souls with the mask of the Holy Spirit, living in you, anointing.

Rejoice, blessed daughter of the Heavenly Father; Rejoice, for your reward is much in Heaven.

Rejoice, for your prayers are effective on earth; Rejoice, for your powers tremble in hell.

Rejoice, reverend martyr of Christ, Paraskevo all-glorious.

Kondak 13

Oh, holy and long-suffering martyr Paraskevo! Graciously accept this prayer of ours and implore the Holy and ever-worshiping Trinity to deliver us from eternal torment and together with you to make the Kingdom of Heaven better and eternally to our Creator sing: Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Angel of the Lord…” and the 1st kontakion “Chosen bride of Christ…”.

Prayer

Oh, holy and long-suffering martyr Paraskevo! To you, like a prayer book warmer for us, we fall down and diligently pray: implore the Lord and our Lord to extend His mercy to us, His unworthy servant, to grant us spiritual and bodily health, fruitful land, good air, prosperity in Christian piety, needed and satisfied for a temporary life, and everything needed for salvation; let us live peacefully and piously, let us be vouchsafed to improve the good end of the Christian and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. To her, our good representative! Do not disgrace our hope, which, according to God and the Most Holy Theotokos, we place strong on Thee, but be our intercessor for salvation, let us be honored together with you and all the saints in the joy of eternal bliss to glorify in your intercession the great mercy of our God, the Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Today the Orthodox Church honors the memory of:

Sshmchch. Yermolai, Hermipp and Hermocrates, presbyters of Nicomedia (c. 305).

Rev. Moses Ugrin, Caves, in the Near Caves (c. 1043); prmts. Paraskeva of Rome (138-161).

Shmch. Sergius Strelnikov, presbyter (1937).

Saints of the day, pray to God for us!

Rev. Moses Ugrin (Hungarian), in the Near Caves

Moses Ugrin, Caves (+ c. 1043), reverend. Commemorated on July 26 (August 8), September 28 (October 11) in the Cathedral of the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves Near Caves and in the Cathedral of All the Venerable Fathers of the Kiev Caves.

The Monk Moses, a Hungarian by birth, was the brother of the Monk Ephraim of Novotorzh and George. Together with them, he entered the service of the holy noble Prince Boris. After the murder in 1015 on the Alta River of St. Boris, with whom George also died, St. Moses fled and hid in Kyiv near Predslava, the sister of Prince Yaroslav. In 1018, when the Polish duke Boleslaw I the Brave captured Kyiv, Saint Moses, along with others, came to Poland as a prisoner.
Tall and slender, handsome, Saint Moses attracted the attention of a wealthy Polish widow, who burned with a passionate desire for him and wanted to make him her husband, ransoming him from captivity. Saint Moses resolutely refused to exchange captivity for slavery of a woman. His long-standing dream was to take the form of an angel. However, despite the refusal, the polka bought the prisoner.

She tried in every possible way to seduce the young man, but he preferred hunger pangs to magnificent feasts. Then the Polish woman began to carry Saint Moses around her lands, thinking that he would be seduced by power and wealth. Saint Moses told her that he would not exchange spiritual riches for the perishable things of this world and would become a monk.

The Athos hieromonk, who was passing through those places, tonsured Saint Moses into monasticism. The Pole ordered Saint Moses to be stretched out on the ground and beaten with sticks so that the ground was saturated with blood. She obtained permission from Boleslav to do whatever she liked with the prisoner. The shameless woman once ordered that Saint Moses be forcibly put on the bed with her, kissed and hugged him, but even with this she achieved nothing. Holy Moses said: Out of the fear of God, I abhor you as unclean ". Hearing this, the Polish woman ordered to give the saint a hundred blows every day, and then castrate him. Soon Boleslav raised a persecution against all the monks in the country. But he got sudden death in 1025. A revolt arose in Poland, during which the widow was also killed.

Having recovered from his wounds, the Monk Moses came to the Pechersk Monastery, bearing the wounds of martyrdom and the crown of confession as a conqueror and brave warrior of Christ. The Lord gave him strength against the passions. One brother, possessed by an unclean passion, came to the Monk Moses and begged him to help him, saying: I vow to keep until death everything that you tell me ". Reverend Moses said: Never speak a word to any woman in your life ". The brother promised to fulfill the advice of the reverend. Saint Moses had a stick in his hand, without which he could not walk from his wounds. With this stick, he hit the brother who came to him in the chest, and immediately he was delivered from temptation.

The Monk Moses labored in the Caves Monastery for 10 years, died about 1043, and was buried in the Near Caves. By touching the holy relics of the Monk Moses and fervent prayer to him, the monks of the Caves were healed of carnal temptations.

(shrine with the relics of St. Moses Ugrin in the Near Caves)

Troparion
voice 3
The other Joseph, the great purity and chastity of the zealot, all-honest and equal to the angels of Moses, with sacred songs praising, sinners, we pray diligently: pray to Christ God, as if he would heal all our passions and give great mercy.

Ying troparion
voice 3
Seeing labors and deeds with passions according to your purity, holy, who will not be surprised? Gladly, accepting prison and wounds, you were not enslaved by the sweetness of the Lyakhovits, but, like a king, possess passions, now and then you were glorified from the All-seeing human heart, from Worthless in the temptation of everyone to help the grace of acceptance, help us, who honor your memory, Moses reverend.

Kontakion
voice 3
Seeking the one God in the Highest, thou hast despised all the earth, neglecting thy body, thou hast tormented thyself masculinely, smoothness, thirst, bonds, shut up in prison, valiantly endured thou, beatings, outpouring of blood and cutting off, pure for the sake of thy virginity, you courageously bore. And now, with virginal faces, standing before the Most Holy Trinity, pray to be delivered from all temptations to those crying out to you: Rejoice, Moses, most blessed father.

magnificence

We bless you, reverend Father Moses, and honor your holy memory, teacher of monks and companion of angels.

Prayer to the Monk Moses Ugrin

O miraculous and God-bearing Father Moses, a fair servant of Christ and a great miracle worker, we humbly bow down to you and pray: let us be partakers of your love for God and neighbor, help us do the will of the Lord in simplicity of heart and humility, do the commandments of the Lord infallibly, look kindly on every soul of your faithful worshipers, seeking your mercy and help. She, all-good servant of God, hear us praying to you, and do not despise us, demanding your intercession and bringing you a worthy song, we bless you, Father Moses, we sing thee, the purity of the lamp, glorifying the merciful God, in the Holy Beginningless Trinity of the glorious Father and Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Hieromartyrs Ermolai, Hermipp and Hermocrates, presbyters

(Great Martyr Panteleimon and Hieromartyr Yermolai)

Hieromartyrs Hermolais, Hermipp and Hermocrates, priests of Nicomedia, were among the few who remained alive after 20,000 Christians were burned in the Church of Nicomedia in 303 (Comm. 28 December) at the command of Emperor Maximian (284-305). They hid in remote places and did not stop teaching the pagans the Christian faith. The pagan youth Pantoleon (Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon; Comm. 27 July) often passed by the house in which Saint Ermolai was hiding.

One day Saint Ermolai went out to meet the young man and asked him to come into his house. In conversation, Saint Hermolai began to explain to his guest the falsity, wickedness and vanity of worshiping pagan deities. From that day on, Pantoleon began to visit St. Ermolai daily and received holy Baptism from him. When the trial was being carried out on the holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, Saints Hermolais, Hermipp and Hermocrates were also captured. The day before, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to Saint Ermolai and revealed to him that the next day he would suffer for Him and receive a martyr's crown. After Saint Hermolai, Saints Hermipp and Hermocrates were also seized and brought to trial. All three were invited to renounce Christ and sacrifice to idols. But they resolutely refused, confessed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and their willingness to joyfully die for Him. The pagans began to threaten the holy priests with torture and death. Suddenly, a strong earthquake began, and the idols in the temple fell and broke. This was reported to the emperor. Enraged, Maximian handed over the holy martyrs to torture and sentenced them to death.

Having bravely endured all the torments, the holy priests - martyrs Hermolais, Hermipp and Hermocrates were beheaded around the year 305.

Troparion of Hieromartyr Yermolai and others like him
voice 4
Thy martyrs, O Lord, / in their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from Thee, our God: / for having thy strength, / put down the tormentors, / crush and demons of weak insolence. / With those prayers / / save our souls.

John Troparion of Hieromartyrs Yermolai, Yermipp and Yermocrates
voice 8
Heralds of the Trinity, / honest Trinity of martyrs, / denouncing idol wickedness / and crushing the enemy of darkness, / now, reigning with Christ, pray, / holy Hermolaeus with Hermipp and Hermocrates glorious, / as if we will defeat our enemies / and receive from the King of all, God, the eternal life / and the incorruptible crown.

Troparion of Hieromartyr Yermolai
voice 1
Anointed with the world of grace, / Blessed Father Yermolai, / Thou hast appeared as a priest of the Most High God / and a bright preacher of piety, / a firm and unmercenary martyr of those who flow to you. / Glory to Him who gave you a fortress, / glory to Him who crowned you, / glory to the one who acts by you all healing.

Kontakion of Hieromartyr Yermolai
voice 4
As if the saint lived piously / and took the crown of holy martyrdom. / Having extinguished the idol sacrifices, / you were a good shepherd of the flock of Christ, wise, / and a true teacher to Panteleimon. , Ermolae, our father.

Venerable Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

The Holy Martyr Paraskeva was born in Rome, in the family of pious Christians Agathon and Pochitia. They did not have children for a long time, and only after fervent prayers did the Lord give them their only daughter Paraskeva, named so because she was born on Friday (Paraskeva - Friday - Greek). The dates of her birth and death are not exactly known. The time of her life belonged to the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus. Two Antonins ruled in Rome - Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) and Antoninus the Philosopher (161-180 AD), and in whose reign Paraskeva lived is unknown.

Parents raised their daughter in the spirit of true Christianity, and this upbringing was not in vain. After their death, St. Paraskeva distributed all her property to the poor and devoted herself to the apostolic work - preaching the Gospel. She delivered her first sermon in Rome, and here she suffered her first sufferings. Emperor Antoninus received a denunciation of a brave Christian woman. He ordered the ascetic to be brought to him and tried both by caresses and threats to force her to renounce her faith in Christ. Paraskeva was unshakable, and the angry emperor ordered her to be tortured. A red-hot copper helmet was placed on her head, but this terrible weapon did no harm to the saint. Then a new order followed - to throw St. Paraskeva into a copper cauldron with boiling tar and oil, but the saint remained unharmed here too. The emperor doubted whether the tar in the cauldron was really melted, and imprudently ordered St. Paraskeva splash liquid into it. She scooped from the cauldron with her hand and splashed it in his face. Severe burn and blindness were the punishment of a cruel ruler. Tormented by unbearable pain, seeing nothing, the recent tormentor begged his victim " Slave of the true God he asked - have mercy on me and return the light to my eyes, so that I can also believe in the God you preach ". Through the prayer of the saint, the emperor was immediately healed, received his sight, and, together with his entourage, converted to Christianity.

Released in peace, St. Paraskeva went to other parts to preach Christianity. She came to a city ruled by a certain Asclepius. And this ruler, like Emperor Antoninus, tried to reject St. Paraskeva from preaching the gospel, but not having achieved what he wanted, he condemned her to death. According to custom, the suicide bombers were given to be eaten by a terrible serpent that lived near the city. The saint remembered the words of the Lord: They will take up the serpent, if they drink it to death, it does not harm them » (Mark 16 18). Fearlessly she approached the monster, overshadowed it with the sign of the cross, after which it split in two and disappeared. This miracle enlightened the pagans, and all the local people believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, St. Paraskeva ended up in places ruled by a man named Tarasius. And here the saint preached Christianity, for which she was given over to terrible torment. Tarasius, seeing that the saint was unshakable, ordered her head to be cut off. Thus the holy venerable martyr Paraskeva crowned her apostolic labors with martyrdom for the name of Christ. The relics of the honest head of St. The venerable martyrs Paraskeva are on Mount Athos, in the Russian Panteleimon Monastery.

Troparion to the Martyr Paraskeva of Rome
voice 1
You have chosen diligence according to your name, the namesake, the faith in cohabitation of the same name to you, Paraskevo victorious, pour out healings and pray for our souls.

Kontakion to the Monk Martyr Paraskeva of Rome
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Your temple, all-honourable, as if you have found a spiritual clinic, in it all the faithful revere thee, glorious martyr Paraskeva.

In Kontakion to the Monk Martyr Paraskeva of Rome
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Passion-bearer, faithful, the song of Paraskeva, come, according to sing, it shines for miracles in the world, driving away the charms of darkness, and giving unenviable grace to the faithful, calling: Rejoice, long-suffering martyr.

Prayer to the Martyr Paraskeva of Rome

Oh, holy and long-suffering martyr Paraskevo! To you, like a prayer book warmer for us, we fall down and diligently pray: implore the Lord and our Lord to extend His mercy to us, His unworthy servant, to grant us spiritual and bodily health, fruitful land, good air, prosperity in Christian piety, needed and satisfied for a temporary life, and everything needed for salvation; let us live peacefully and piously, let us be vouchsafed to improve the good end of the Christian and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. To her, our good representative! Do not disgrace our hope, which, according to God and the Most Holy Theotokos, we place strong on Thee, but be our intercessor for salvation, let us be honored together with you and all the saints in the joy of eternal bliss to glorify in your intercession the great mercy of our God, the Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit now, and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

According to local tradition, the martyrdom of St. Paraskeva took place in the Crimea, at the place of her execution, a healing spring was hammered, which has survived to this day. In the 19th century, the Toplovsky Paraskevinsky convent was formed at the source.

(Source of St. Paraskeva in the Toplovsky Paraskevinsky Convent)

The Monk Martyr Paraskeva of Rome is greatly revered in Greece, especially on the islands. There is more than one monastery of Saint Paraskeva on Corfu. In the Russian Orthodox segment of the Internet, the one that is located in the northern part of the island, in the mountains, not far from the village of Sgurades, is better known. It is very small: Mother Superior Photinia and a couple of nuns. Supported mainly by donations from Russia.

More favored by fate is another monastery of the same name, which is located in the central region of Corfu, in the municipality of Achilleion, near the village of Kinopiastes or Kinopiastes, which is closer to pronunciation. It is this monastery in the photo below ...

(Monastery of Saint Paraskeva in Corfu)

(The ark with the right hand of St. Paraskeva of Rome - is kept in a monastery in Corfu)

Thank you very much for the photos lap_landia: http://lap-landia.livejournal.com/.

Hieromartyr Archpriest Sergius
(Sergey Aleksandrovich Strelnikov, +08.08.1937)

Sergiy Strelnikov was born on September 24 / October 7, 1887, on the eve of the holiday St. Sergius Radonezh, in the village of Shulka, Vyatka province, in the family of deacon Alexander Strelnikov. On June 14, 1911, Sergiy Aleksandrovich graduated from the Vyatka Theological Seminary in the first category, and on January 12, 1912, he was assigned as a teacher at the Bogorodsko-Polyansk parish school of the Yaransky district of the Vyatka province, and on September 1 of the same year he was transferred to a similar position in the village of Mushu, located in the same county. Soon S.A. Strelnikov was ordained a deacon, and on November 14, 1912, a priest with an appointment to the Archangel Michael Church in the village of Kolyanur, Yaransky district. In this parish, the priest served until January 7, 1916, and then, by personal request, was transferred to the Baptist Church in the village of Orshanka, where he labored until the end of his life.

Throughout his service in pre-revolutionary times, Father Sergius, like most priests of that time, was engaged in active educational activities: he taught the Law of God at the Babinsky Zemstvo School (1912-1915), the Vidyaninsky Zemstvo School, the Orsha Two-Class Zemstvo School, the Orsha Higher Primary School (1916-1917). From December 1912, the priest was a member of the Missionary Society, from 1915 he was a member of the Brotherhood of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, formed in the Vyatka diocese.

The work of the priest Sergius Strelnikov in the field of Christ received recognition. On March 7, 1915, on the feast of Holy Easter, His Grace Nikandr (Phenomenov), Bishop of Vyatka and Slobodsky, for excellent and diligent service, he was awarded a cuisse, in 1919 - a skufia. In the surviving clergy records of those years, it is written about him: “ Very good behavior ».

Father Sergiy served in the Baptist Church in the village of Orshanka for more than 20 years. During the years of Soviet power, like all clergymen, he was deprived of civil rights, more than once subjected to excessive taxes, and was subjected to other harassment. The church in the village of Orshanka was under threat of closure several times, but the parish life was saved through the efforts of the priest and the faithful. In 1933, for his zealous service to the Church of God, Father Sergius was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

In 1936, the church in Orshanka was nevertheless closed, transferring the building to a grain warehouse. Batiushka endured all this patiently, continued to fulfill his pastoral duty, performing divine services at home, and in January 1937 he blessed the collection of signatures for the opening of the church. And to this day, they remember Father Sergius in the Orsha parish as a compassionate, hardworking and sympathetic person. In the most ordinary everyday affairs, he was a support for his fellow villagers: he helped people with bread, participated in general agricultural work, and together with everyone put out fires in the village. Of course, Father Sergius foresaw his fate, common to all true servants of the Church of that time. According to eyewitnesses, the priest was repeatedly offered to hide, but he categorically refused to leave the flock.
On July 26, 1937, Archpriest Sergiy Strelnikov was arrested on false charges of systematic counter-revolutionary agitation and taken into custody in the pre-trial detention cell of the Orsha police department, followed by transfer to the Yoshkar-Ola prison. During the investigation, the priest was interrogated twice on July 29, 1937 and pleaded not guilty. On August 8, 1937, a meeting of the NKVD troika for the MASSR took place, at which Archpriest Sergei Strelnikov was sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out on the same day, at 15:00. Father Sergius was buried in a mass grave on the so-called Mendur road not far from Yoshkar-Ola.

July 16, 2005 at a meeting Holy Synod Russian Orthodox Church chaired His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, a decision was made to classify Archpriest Sergius Strelnikov as a Holy New Martyr and Confessor of Russia.

The rite of glorification was performed on September 19, 2005 in the Mironositsky monastery of the Yoshkar-Ola diocese. In December 2005, the relics of the newly glorified saint were uncovered, which are currently in the home church of the icon of the Mother of God " three-handed» in the building of the Yoshkar-Ola diocesan administration.

(in this building of the Yoshkar-Ola diocesan administration in the house church of the icon of the Mother of God " three-handed"there are the relics of schmch. Sergius Strelnikov)

With his life, which ended in a martyr's death, Hieromartyr Sergius Strelnikov set an example of meekness and patience, fidelity to pastoral duty. Through his prayers, may the Lord strengthen us in the patient bearing of the cross of life and the fulfillment of Christian virtues.

Troparion
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We will honor the new martyr of Christ Sergius of Orsha, and we will honor the new martyr of Christ, Sergius, having lived a mournful life in the persecution of the fierce virtuous and having died gloriously in the feat, enriched with Divine glory in Heaven. Now, standing before the throne of the Ascetic Christ our God, he prays unceasingly for all of us.

Kontakion
voice 2
In your prayers, without failing, holy father, and protecting those who flow to you with intercession, be to all of us, by faith honoring your memory, enlightenment of conscience and purification of morals, as if we, having armed ourselves with divine grace, will love, like you, the narrow path, holy martyr Blessed Sergius.

Holy Martyr Paraskeva suffered for her faith in Christ during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161). She was born in Rome and was the only daughter of pious Christians. Her parents Agathon and Politia were childless, but with fervent prayer they asked God for a child. The girl who was born was named Paraskeva (literally Friday), since she was born on Friday. The mother taught Saint Paraskeva to pray and to visit the temple of God with zeal and love. Christian upbringing bore fruit: Saint Paraskeva from her youth fell in love with reading the Holy Scriptures, was meek and humble, filled with fiery love for Christ the Savior.

After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskeva, striving for spiritual perfection, distributed property to the poor, accepted monastic vows, and, imitating the holy apostles, began to walk around towns and villages, preaching the word of God. Saint Paraskeva converted many pagans to the true faith. Seeing the success of her preaching, the Jews slandered the saint before the emperor Antoninus Pius. He ordered Saint Paraskeva to be brought to him and tried to persuade her to renounce Christ. But neither threats nor persuasions shook the saint's faith. Then she was tortured: they put a red-hot helmet on her head and threw her into a copper cauldron filled with boiling oil and tar. However, the holy martyr remained unharmed. The emperor, wanting to check whether the contents of the cauldron were hot, ordered Saint Paraskeva to sprinkle it from the cauldron. The saint fulfilled the command, and the resin that fell on the face of the emperor burned out his eyes. Repentant, Antoninus began to ask the holy martyr for forgiveness, and she healed him. Seeing the power of the saint's prayer, the emperor and many of his servants accepted holy Baptism.

Released to freedom, Saint Paraskeva again went to different cities preaching the Christian doctrine. In one city, where a certain Asclepius was the ruler, the saint was seized and again put on trial. Convinced that she would not renounce Christ, the torturers threw her into a cave where a snake lived and where criminals sentenced to death were thrown. Saint Paraskeva struck the snake with the sign of the cross and remained unharmed.

Seeing such a miracle, Asclepius and his associates believed in Christ. Again Saint Paraskeva set off to preach the teachings of Christ the Savior. In another city, a local ruler named Tarasius subjected the saint to numerous cruel tortures, and then ordered that her head be cut off with a sword.

Later, the relics of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva were transferred to Constantinople, in 1200 they were seen there by the Russian pilgrim Anthony. In Constantinople, on the left side of the Golden Horn, in the area of ​​Husky-Kiva, a temple was built in the name of St. Paraskeva. The memory of the venerable martyr Paraskeva is also sacredly revered in Russia. In 1864, in the Crimea, in the tract of Toplu, a women's cenobitic monastery was built in her honor. Near the monastery was the source of St. Paraskeva, which was considered healing.

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