Paraskeva Friday prayer. In Orthodoxy there were several saints Paraskev

There are a great many Christian saints, exact number known only to God. Some of them are especially dear to the Orthodox heart, including Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. How did she suffer, how do prayers to her help?

Life of a saint

Girl with unusual name lived in the city of Iconium (now it is Konya in Turkey). According to the life written by Dmitry Rostovsky, she received her name not by chance. Paraskeva means Friday. Her parents especially prayed on Fridays in memory of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. It was on this day that their daughter was born.

She grew up as a rare beauty, but there was no desire in the girl’s heart to get married. She wanted to see only Christ as her only betrothed, she spent a lot of time in prayers. When her pious parents died, Paraskeva became very rich.

Paraskeva Friday.

She used her money to help the poor. She converted many to Christ, but there were also many envious people. The pagans could not endure the denunciations of the saint - they seized her and threw her into prison. Soon an envoy arrived in the city from the emperor Diocletian, who was known for his hatred of Christians.

The commander called the girl to him, she struck him with beauty and calmness, spiritual joy. Neither persuasion nor threats had any effect on Paraskeva. After severe torment, she was thrown into a cell. The tormentors expected the girl's imminent death. But in the morning they found her completely healthy and vigorous. Christ sent an angel from heaven who healed the sufferer.

Then the torment continued, but seeing that the captive was not going to humble herself and sacrifice to idols, the chief ordered her head to be cut off. At that moment, joyful singing was heard in the sky - after all, the saint united with the only one whom she wanted to serve.

Prayer to the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva, named Friday

Holy bride of Christ, long-suffering martyr Paraskevo! Vemy, as from your youth, with all your soul and with all your heart, you loved the King of Glory, Christ the Savior, and you only missed Him, distributing your property to the poor and the poor. By the power of your piety, by your chastity and righteousness, you shone like the rays of the sun, living holy among the infidels and fearlessly preaching to them Christ God. You, from the days of your youth, taught by your parents, have always reverently honored the days of the redeeming passions of our Lord Jesus Christ, for His sake you yourself voluntarily suffered. You, miraculously healed from incurable wounds by the right hand of the Angel of God and assuming inexpressible lordship, amazed the unfaithful tormentors. You, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the power of your prayer in the pagan temple, cast down all the idols of the valley, crushed me into dust. You, scorched by the candles, with your single prayer to the almighty Lord, extinguished the natural fire, and with the same flame, miraculously kindled through the Angel of God, having burned the violent lawless, you led many people to the knowledge of the true God. You, to the glory of the Lord, accepting the beheading of your sword head from the tormentors, valiantly died of your suffering feat, having ascended with your soul to Heaven, to the chamber of your longed-for Bridegroom Christ the King of Glory, joyfully meeting you with this heavenly voice: “Rejoice, righteous ones, like the martyr Paraskeva crowned!" The same day we also greet you, long-suffering, and, looking at your holy icon, cry with tenderness to you: all-honorable Paraskevo! Vema, as a great imashe boldness to the Lord: implore him, the Lover of mankind, and for us who are coming and praying. May He give us, like you, patience and complacency in troubles and mournful circumstances; may He grant, by your intercession and intercession, a joyful, prosperous and peaceful life, health and salvation, and in all good haste to our beloved fatherland, may He send down His holy blessing and peace, and may all Orthodox Christians give with your holy prayers affirmation in faith, piety and holiness, progress in Christian love and every virtue; may it cleanse us sinners from all filth and vice; may He protect us with His holy angels, may He intercede, preserve and have mercy on all with His holy grace and make us heirs and partakers of His Kingdom of Heaven. And thus, having improved salvation with your holy prayers, intercession and intercession, the all-glorious bride of Christ Paraskevo, let us glorify all the honorable and magnificent name of the wondrous in His saints the true God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, always, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

What are they praying for

In the popular mind, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa is the patroness of hearth. It also especially cares about girls and young hostesses, mothers of the family. She was prayed for in the most important needs:

• about the gift of health;
• about the birth of a child;
• from a rival.

But first, of course, they read prayers for a speedy and successful marriage.

Eastern Slavs celebrated Paraskeva Friday on October 14 and 28. On this day, it was impossible to spin, do laundry, plow. They also made small idols in the form of a woman - they were placed in the house, they made sacrifices. Amulets with conspiracies were worn around the neck. Such rituals are strictly condemned by the Orthodox Church.

To honor the memory of St. Paraskeva, it is necessary to read only those prayers that are composed by the holy fathers. There are akathists, canons. You can say these texts at home any day. A martyr will definitely help if you have firm hope in God's mercy!

Paraskeva Friday prayer for marriage, text in Russian was last modified: September 27th, 2017 by Bogolub

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Prayers to the saints

Prayer to the Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Memory: October 28 / November 10

Taking a vow of virginity and renouncing the blessings of the world, Saint Paraskeva endured torture and martyrdom and persecution by the emperor Diocletian. From ancient times, she enjoyed special love and reverence in Russia as an assistant in agricultural labor and women's concerns. They also pray to her for the patronage of the family hearth; in marital infertility; about worthy suitors.

Troparion to the Holy Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Tone 4

Kontakion to the Holy Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Tone 3

Prayer to the Holy Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

O holy and blessed Paraskevo, the martyr of Christ, beautifully virginal, martyr praise, wise surprise, the Christian guardian of faith, accuser of idol flattery, champion of the Divine Gospel, zealous of the commandments of the Lord, worthy to come to the haven of eternal rest and in the devil of your Bridegroom Christ God, lightly rejoicing, august adorned with the crown of virginity and martyrdom! We pray to you, holy martyr: wake up for us (names) sadness to Christ God, with His most blessed sight always rejoice; kindle with your holy prayers the darkness that has come from our sins: ask God for the light of grace with our spiritual and bodily eyes: enlighten us, darkened by sins, with the light of God's grace, so that for the sake of your holy prayers, sweet vision will be given to the innocent. O great servant of God! O most courageous girl! O strong martyr, Saint Paraskevo! With your holy prayers, be our sinful helper, intercede and pray for the accursed and negligent sinners, hasten to help us, for we are very weak; pray to the Lord, pure maiden, pray to the Merciful, holy martyr, pray to your Bridegroom, immaculate bride of Christ, but with your prayers help, the darkness of sin is gone, in the light of true faith and divine deeds, we will enter into the light of the eternal day of the never-ending, into the city of joy forever, into now you shine brightly with glory and endless joy, glorify and sing with all the powers of heaven the tri-radiant one Deity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Second Prayer to the Holy Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Personal petition to the holy martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Oh, holy and blessed martyr of Christ Paraskevo! With your holy prayers, be a helper to us sinners (names), intercede, let us be honored with your prayers (the content of the petition), and together with you let us glorify and sing the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Akathist to the Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa:

Canons to the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa:

Hagiographic and scientific-historical literature about the martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa:

• Martyr Paraskeva, named Friday– Pravoslavie.Ru
• The Life and Suffering of the Holy Martyr Paraskeva- Journey to the holy places
• Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa: apparition and miracles on the Don in the village of Mityakinskaya- Priest Alexander Chernyshkov

Read other prayers of the section "Orthodox prayer book"

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Prayer to the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Saint Paraskeva Friday has always enjoyed special love among the Orthodox people. In Russia, she was revered as an assistant in women's worries, a patroness household and agricultural work.

The Holy Martyr Paraskeva lived in Iconium in the 3rd century in a rich and pious family. The saint's parents especially revered the day of the Lord's suffering - Friday, therefore they named their daughter, born on this day, Paraskeva, which in Greek means Friday. With all her heart, young Paraskeva loved the purity and high morality of virgin life and took a vow of celibacy. She wanted to devote her life to God and the enlightenment of the pagans with the light of the faith of Christ. After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskeva distributed all her property to the poor, accepted monasticism, and began preaching the Gospel to the pagans. Tradition tells of the heavy torments of the cross that befell this saint.

The emperor Antoninus Pius was informed about the activities of Paraskeva, and he ordered that she be subjected to brutal torture. They put a red-hot helmet on Paraskeva's head and threw it into a cauldron of boiling tar. However, the martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor looked into the cauldron, the saint threw a few drops of red-hot resin into his face, and he became blind. The emperor began to ask Paraskeva for healing, and she healed him. After this, Antoninus released Saint Paraskeva to freedom.

Once Paraskeva came to the city where Asclepius was the ruler. Here she was again sentenced to death: they led her to a cave where a huge serpent lived to devour the martyr. But Paraskeva made the sign of the cross over the serpent, and he immediately died. The ruler and the townspeople, seeing such a miracle, believed in Christ and released Paraskeva.

Arriving in a city where a certain Tarasius was the ruler, Saint Paraskeva was again seized by the pagans. She was asked to make a sacrifice to an idol. With a firm heart, trusting in God, the saint refused this, for which she suffered great torments. They tied the martyr to a tree, tormented her body with iron nails, and then threw her into prison. But God did not leave the holy sufferer and miraculously healed her. But in the morning the executioners resumed the torture and finally cut off her head.

Icons of the holy martyr protect family well-being and happiness. Saint Paraskeva Pyatnitsa pray for worthy grooms, in infertility, for the health of babies, in serious illnesses.

Memorial Day of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva Friday - November 10 (October 28 (old style).

O holy and blessed martyr of Christ Paraskevo, beautifully virginal, praise of martyrs, purity of image, magnanimous mirror, wise surprise, Christian faith guardian, accuser of idol flattery, champion of the Divine Gospel, zealot of the commandments of the Lord, worthy to come to the haven of eternal rest and in the devil of your Bridegroom Christ God lightly rejoicing, adorned with the crown of virginity and martyrdom! We pray to you, holy martyr, be sorrowful for us to Christ God, with His most blessed sight to rejoice. Pray to the All-Merciful, by His word, open the eyes of the blind, may He save us from the disease of our eyes, both bodily and spiritual; kindle with your holy prayers the dark darkness that has come from our sins, ask the Father of Light for the light of grace with our spiritual and bodily eyes; Enlighten us, darkened by sins, with the light of God's grace, and for the sake of your holy prayers, sweet sight will be given to the innocent. Oh, great saint of God!

Oh, most courageous girl! Oh, strong martyr Saint Paraskevo! With your holy prayers, be our sinful helper, intercede and pray for accursed and negligent sinners, hasten to help us, for we are very weak. Pray to the Lord, pure maiden, pray to the Merciful, holy martyr, pray to your Bridegroom, immaculate bride of Christ, yes, having helped with your prayers, the darkness of sin has been overcome, in the light of true faith and deeds of the Divine, we will enter into the light of the eternal day of the never-ending, into the city of joy forever, into now you shine brightly with glory and endless joy, glorify and sing with all heavenly powers the Trisagionary One Deity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Sayings of the Holy Fathers about diseases

Patience means that everything that happens should be generously endured: do not despair in illnesses, do not lose heart in misfortunes, do not grieve in poverty and do not grumble at insults.

Who, having sinned, is not punished here, that same unfortunate person.

Saint John Chrysostom

Some old man was often sick. It happened that he did not get sick for one year; The elder was very sad about this and wept, saying: “My Lord left me and did not visit me.”

The more we suffer in this life from disease, persecution, the power of enemies, or poverty, the more we will inherit the rewards in the next life.

The all-good Lord allows a person in this life various insults and embarrassments, illnesses, and so on, all this in order to cleanse the soul from sins and instill in eternal life.

When illness weighs us down, we do not need to grieve that because of pain and ulcers we cannot sing psalms with our lips. For illnesses and wounds serve to exterminate lusts, while both fasting and prostrations to the earth are prescribed for us to conquer the passions. If, however, these passions spew out illnesses, then there is nothing to worry about.

Truly, through bodily illnesses, the soul approaches God.

Saint Gregory the Theologian

In illness, before any other deed, one must hasten to be cleansed of sins in the Sacrament of Penance and in one's conscience to be reconciled with God.

It happens that God shelters others from trouble with a disease, which they would not have escaped if they were healthy.

The Lord heals many diseases through doctors and other means. But there are diseases, the cure of which the Lord imposes a ban, when he sees that the disease is more necessary for salvation than health.

Sickness for a person is the grace of God. And if a Christian accepts as God sent for the benefit of his soul and complacently endures his painful condition, then he goes straight way to Paradise. At the sickbed there is threshing: the more blows, the more grains will be knocked out and the richer the threshing. Then you need grain under the millstone, then flour into mixing the dough and sour it, then - in the form of bread - into the oven, and finally - at the table of God.

During illness, everyone should think and say: “Who knows? Maybe in my illness the gates to eternity are opened to me?

In illness, before doctors and medicines, use prayer and the Sacraments: Confession, Communion and Unction.

If you are sick, then invite an experienced doctor and use the remedies prescribed by him. For this purpose, so many beneficent plants spring from the earth. If you proudly reject them, you will hasten your death and become suicidal.

The wealth of the soul is in patience.

In illness, learn: humility, patience, complacency and thanksgiving to God.

If you have to indulge yourself due to illness, then this is nothing. And if under the pretext of illness, then it’s bad.

Saint Theophan the Recluse

Most of our illnesses come from sins, why the best remedy to the prevention and cure of them is not to sin.

A great feat is to patiently endure illnesses and among them to send songs of thanksgiving to God.

We are brought closer to God by sorrow, tightness, sickness, labors. Do not grumble against them and do not be afraid of them. Although the disease torments your flesh, the spirit saves.

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

The Lord makes up for the lack of our good deeds either with illnesses or sorrows.

Although it is a good deed to take care of the sick and visit them, yet one must have discernment; where your spiritual dispensation is damaged, there things will do without you.

Try to console the sick person not so much with services as with a cheerful face.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov

Diseases come from sin, they weaken the passions, and a person comes to his senses. Whoever endures illnesses with patience and thanksgiving, they are charged instead of a feat and even more ... At the same time, one must believe and hope that if it pleases the Lord God for a person to experience illnesses, then He will give him the strength of patience.

Reverend Seraphim of Sarov

The Lord sent you a disease not in vain and not so much as a punishment for past sins, but out of love for you, in order to tear you away from a sinful life and put you on the path of salvation. Give thanks to God for taking care of you.

The devil attacks the dangerously sick more strongly, knowing that he has little time.

IN dangerous diseases take care first of the purification of your conscience and the peace of your soul.

Thank God that you are on a good path: your illness is a great gift from God; day and night for this and for everything praise and give thanks, and your soul will be saved.

Elder Arseny Athos

Sick and poor, do not complain and do not grumble about your fate, about God and people, do not envy other people's happiness, beware of despondency and, especially, despair, submit completely to the Providence of God.

Sickness reconciles us with God and brings us back into His love.

Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt

Reflect on the fact that everything here is fleeting, but the future is eternal.

The patient should comfort himself by reading the Divine Scriptures about the sufferings of the Savior.

The Lord accepts the patience of illness instead of fasting and prayer.

Being sick, do not force yourself to go to church by force, but lie under the covers and say the Jesus Prayer.

Reverend Anatoly of Optina

The enemy tempted the ancient Christians with torments, and the current ones with illnesses and thoughts.

All the most grievous sorrows and misfortunes are endured by people more easily than serious bodily ailments. An undoubted expert in the matter of tormenting and tormenting people - Satan - in the face of God Himself testified that bodily illnesses are more unbearable than all other misfortunes and that a person who bravely and meekly endures other disasters can weaken in his patience and waver in devotion to God, having undergone a serious illness.

If you endured here, you will not endure eternal torment in the next world, but, on the contrary, you will enjoy such bliss, before which present happiness is nothing.

He who has no comfort here, and endures it patiently, may well hope that there, in future life will receive great and inexpressible joy.

Church of the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Khvoshchevatka village

(Voronezh region, Ramonsky district)

Holy patroness of the temple Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

The Great Martyr Paraskeva lived at the turn of the 3rd-4th centuries in Iconium - ancient city Asia Minor (now the city of Kony in Turkey). Her parents especially revered the day of the Lord's suffering on the Cross - Friday. On Fridays, they fasted especially strictly, prayed a lot and did alms. In honor of this day, they named their daughter Pyatnitsa, which in Greek sounds like "Paraskeva", and in Russian - "Praskovya". Orphaned early, Paraskeva took a vow of virginity and saw all her thoughts and aspirations only in sowing the faith of Christ among the pagans. On behalf of the emperor, Paraskeva was captured and tortured for refusing to sacrifice to idols. She was mercilessly beaten to the point of blood and thrown into prison, barely alive (c. 303). But the Lord did not leave her and miraculously healed the sufferer.

The emperor did not understand this miracle and continued to torture Saint Paraskeva, ordering her to be hung on a tree and her body to be burned with burning torches. Burning with fire, the holy Great Martyr began to pray. And a miracle happened: the fire directed at Paraskeva rushed to her tormentors and burned many of them, leaving the saint unharmed!

When Paraskeva's head was cut off with a sword, the Christians reverently buried the Saint. From the relics of the Great Martyr, healings were given to the sick. Subsequently, the relics of the great martyr were distributed to many monasteries and temples, primarily those on Mount Athos.

Parts of her holy relics are also kept in Russia: in the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra; in the Moscow Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Sokolniki in a casket delivered from Athos in the 19th century, and in other places.

Saint Paraskeva is revered as a healer of mental and bodily ailments, the guardian of family well-being and happiness, and the patroness of fields and livestock. The memory of Saint Paraskeva is celebrated on October 28 (November 10, according to the new style).

Prayers of Saint Paraskeva

They pray to the holy martyr Paraskeva in the illnesses of babies. They also pray to her for the patronage of the family hearth; in marital infertility; about worthy suitors.

Prayer to the Holy Martyr Paraskeva, named Friday

Wise and all-praiseful Christ’s martyr Paraskeva, accepting a male fortress, rejecting female weakness, defeat the devil, and shame the tormentor, crying out and saying: come, cut my body with a sword and burn it with fire, for rejoicing I go to Christ, my Bridegroom. With prayers, Christ God, save our souls.

Having brought the all-holy and immaculate torment, like the most honorable wine, to the immortal Bridegroom of Christ, you rejoiced the angelic standing and defeated the demonic intrigues: for this sake, we honestly honor the faith, martyr Paraskevo, long-suffering.

Oh, holy and blessed Paraskevo, the martyr of Christ, beauty of a virgin, praise of martyrs, purity of image, magnanimous mirror, wise surprise, Christian faith guardian, accuser of idol flattery, champion of the Divine Gospel, zealot of the commandments of the Lord, worthy to come to the haven of eternal rest and in the devil of the Bridegroom your Christ God, lightly rejoicing, adorned with the crown of virginity and martyrdom! We pray to you, holy martyr, be sorrowful for us to Christ God, with His most blessed sight to rejoice. Pray to the All-Merciful, His word opens the eyes of the blind, may he save us from the disease of our eyes, both bodily and spiritual; kindle with your holy prayers the dark darkness that has come from our sins, ask the Father of Light for the light of grace with our spiritual and bodily eyes; Enlighten us, darkened by sins, with the light of God's grace, and for the sake of your holy prayers, sweet sight will be given to the innocent. Oh, great saint of God!

Oh, most courageous girl! Oh, strong martyr Saint Paraskevo! With your holy prayers, be our sinful helper, intercede and pray for accursed and negligent sinners, hasten to help us, for we are very weak. Pray to the Lord, pure maiden, pray to the Merciful, holy martyr, pray to your Bridegroom, immaculate bride of Christ, yes, having helped with your prayers, the darkness of sin has been overcome, in the light of true faith and deeds of the Divine, we will enter into the light of the eternal day of the never-ending, into the city of joy forever, into now you shine brightly with glory and endless joy, glorify and sing with all heavenly powers the Trisagionary One Deity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Paraskeva Friday: what are they praying for? Icon of Saint Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

Great is the merit of the saints before the Lord. Many of them from an early age aspired to the perfection of the Kingdom of Heaven. Such was Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, whose parents tried to raise their daughter in faith and chastity. Taking upon herself the cross of martyrdom, by her spiritual feat she once again testified to the incomparable great power of God, which punished idolaters and their gods.

Saint Paraskeva Friday was born in the 3rd century AD. e. in the Roman Empire in the city of Iconium (the territory of modern Turkey). At that time, the ruler of the state was Diocletian, who persecuted those who preached Christianity. The girl's parents sacredly believed in the One Trinity, living according to the Law of God. They always fasted, honored Wednesday and Friday, remembering in these days the suffering of Jesus Christ, who suffered torment as an atonement for human sins. For fear of God and unshakable faith in Him, the Almighty gave the parents a daughter. They called her Paraskeva, which means “Friday”, since the girl was born on that day. Unfortunately, the righteous very soon departed to another world, leaving the young girl alone on the sinful earth. Holy Paraskeva Friday continued the work of her parents, keeping the commandments of God and remaining chaste. Even then, she chose for herself the heavenly Bridegroom - Jesus Christ, thinking only about being next to him.

The girl was beautiful both in body and soul. Many rich men wooed her, but she remained adamant. Paraskeva's parents left their daughter a good inheritance. The Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa did not spend the money she received on herself, but on clothes and food for the poor. All the charms of life: expensive vestments, jewelry and entertainment - the girl considered temporary and mortal. Instead of earthly pleasures, Paraskeva prayed and preached faith in Jesus Christ.

Confessor of the Lord

Despite the fact that the Christians of those times were subjected to terrible persecution, Paraskeva continued to preach the faith of Christ. Many young men, seeing the immaculate beauty of the saint, offered her to marry and worship an idol in order to save her life and not be subjected to cruel torment. But the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa always answered that one God- Jesus Christ and He is her only Bridegroom. Some townspeople, thanks to the saint, converted to the faith, while others reproached her for such sermons.

One day, Diocletian ordered his subjects to go to the cities of the Roman Empire in search of Christians who avert the rest from idolatry. Eparch Aetius was given a decree to visit the city of Iconium and find secret believers in the one Lord.

The people met the subject of the sovereign with great honors. The townspeople, openly, told that there is one girl named Paraskeva, who confesses Jesus Christ and does not go to the temple to worship idols. Hearing this, Aetius demanded that they immediately find her and bring her before the court. The soldiers quickly found the girl and sent her to the eparch. Aetius, seeing the beautiful Paraskeva, was fascinated by her beauty. The saint was not sad, but on the contrary, glowed with joy. Aetius wanted to know if people were slandering beautiful girl. Paraskeva answered without fear or doubt that she was a true Christian and a confessor of the Lord. Aetius invited her to bow to the gods in the temple of idols. For this, he promised her to save her life. The subject of the emperor did not hide the fact that he liked Paraskeva very much, and he offered the saint to marry him. But the girl was relentless. “My only Bridegroom is Jesus,” she answered. Aetius threatened Paraskeva with the painful suffering that the executioners had prepared for her. But the girl was not afraid of this, because she knew that after all the tortures the Lord would take her to him. Enraged, Aetius ordered the executioners to take off her clothes and beat the young body with ox sinews. Paraskeva, during the terrible torment, did not utter a word of mercy, but only silently glorified the Lord. Aetius, unable to watch how the beauty of the girl was being destroyed, ordered the executioners to stop and once again ordered the saint to go and worship the idols. Paraskeva, clenching her teeth, was silent. For this, Aetius insulted the entire Christian race, after which the girl spat in his face. For the eparch, this was the last straw. Beside himself with anger, he ordered the executioners to hang Paraskeva upside down and torment her with iron claws.

The unfortunate woman prayed, and her blood stained the earth. When the executioner saw that the girl was already dying, he informed Aetius about this. He ordered Paraskeva to be thrown into prison so that earthly death would be more painful for her.

Apparition of an angel

Wounded and without strength, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa lay on the floor of the prison cell, as if dead. But the Lord, seeing her all-encompassing love for the Holy Trinity, sent an Angel to the girl. He appeared to Paraskeva with a cross, a crown of thorns, a spear, a cane and a sponge. The angel consoled the tormented girl, rubbing her wounds. Christ healed Paraskeva - her body became healthy again, and her face lit up with radiant beauty. The girl beamed like an angel. Paraskeva, in gratitude for the healing, began to glorify the Lord.

unexpected discovery

In the morning, the guards, appearing in Paraskeva's prison cell, found that the girl was completely healthy. Filled with joy, she sang prayers and praised the Lord. Frightened, the guards rushed to Aetius and reported an unprecedented miracle. The eparch summoned Paraskeva to him and said that her healing was the merit of the idols worshiped by the Romans. Aetius, taking the girl by the hand, led her to one of the temples. Paraskeva, without resisting, entered the temple. Turning to heaven, she said a prayer to the Lord, after which it happened terrible earthquake. All the statues of the gods collapsed and turned to dust. Many who saw this converted to Christianity. And only Aetius regarded this as a ritual of strong magic, ordering to hang the saint from a pillar and burn her sides with lamps. Again Paraskeva turned to the Lord. Through her prayers, the Almighty turned away the hot fire from the virgin, directing it at the torturers. The people, who saw the miracles performed by the Lord through Paraskeva, believed in Jesus Christ, rejecting paganism. Aetius was afraid that he would lose his power, which was based on belief in idols. Therefore, he ordered Paraskeva's head to be cut off. Finally, the Lord takes the soul of the tormented, fragile girl to the Kingdom of Heaven, where eternal bliss awaited her.

The fate of the eparch

Having finished with the long-suffering Paraskeva, Aetius, as if nothing had happened, decided to go hunting. On the way to the forest, his horse, rearing up, threw the ruler to the ground. He died on the spot, sending his soul to eternal death in the underworld.

After that, the Christians, many of whom believed in the Lord thanks to Paraskeva, took the body of the virgin and were able to bury her in the house church.

The relics of the saint healed the mental and physical illnesses of people through her prayers before the Lord.

Image of the Holy

Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, whose icon is presented in this article, is depicted as a fair-haired girl with a crown of thorns on her head. She is dressed in a red maforium and a blue veil. In her left hand, the Great Martyr holds a scroll with the text of the Creed, and in her right hand, a cross, symbolizing faith in Christ and the suffering that Paraskeva Pyatnitsa suffered. The icon of the saint until the 20th century was in every peasant house. Farmers especially honored her image, decorating it with elegant ribbons, flowers or a chasuble. On the day of remembrance of the great martyr (November 10, according to a new style), the peasants always came to church service and consecrated the fruits that were kept in the house until the next year.

Also in Russian villages, on the feast of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, it was customary to consecrate a piece of linen cloth, with which the image of the saint was hung. That is why in Orthodoxy one can also find another name for the great martyr - Paraskeva Lnyanitsa. The peasants prayed to the saint for the preservation of livestock, especially cows.

Paraskeva Friday ... What do they pray for this saint?

First of all, people involved in agriculture and domestic life, as well as those who have livestock. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, who has taken a vow of virginity, prays before the Lord for those who are waiting for a worthy groom. Those who long time they cannot conceive a child, they can also turn to the great martyr in the hope of a miracle of childbearing. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa also helps to establish peace in the family, for which all Orthodox Christians pray.

The saint heals the spiritual and physical ailments of believers, especially in cases of unbearable pain, as well as during diabolical temptations.

Oddly enough, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa also helps in matters of trade, for which those who are associated with this activity pray. Hence the tradition of organizing fairs on Fridays.

The image of Paraskeva is often placed at springs and wells so that the water gains healing power. In Russia, it was also customary to tie flowers to her image, and then make a decoction of them, which was used to treat not only physical, but also mental illness. The prayer of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa possessed such great power that people hid its text in a piece of cloth, which they applied to a sore spot and healed.

Cover me soon!

In Russia, people revered Paraskeva Pyatnitsa as the intercessor of girls who wanted to get married. That is why they prayed to her even on the Intercession, asking for help in matters of love. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, who never thinks about marriage and has taken a vow of virginity, helps chaste girls make a worthy choice in an effort to start a family.

Friday Keeper

Saint Paraskeva appeared to our ancestors as a strict woman who commanded them to strictly observe the fast on Wednesday and Friday, namely not to do household chores and not to bring discord among the people. She also forbade them to eat fast food these days. The saint came to many peasants in visions, so no one doubted that it was the Great Martyr herself. That is why in some parts of our country the custom has still been preserved to put off sewing, washing clothes and other things on the day of Paraskeva Friday.

Our ancestors also said that

The Holy Great Martyr went to the villages of Little Russia, whose body was pierced with needles because of the sins of women who did not observe strict fasting on the days allotted for her. In honor of Paraskeva in Russia, 12 Friday days were established, which were timed to coincide with some great holiday, for example, the Annunciation, Easter, the beginning of Great Lent, etc.

pagan origins

IN ancient Russia the image of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was often confused with the pagan goddess Mokosha, who was revered as the guardian of the family hearth. Therefore, the Orthodox saint is credited with patronage of agriculture and domestic life.

Some believe that the veneration of Paraskeva by merchants is due to the fact that from ancient times Friday was a fair day.

Such disputes about the patronage of the saint were debunked by the Holy Synod, which forbade mixing the image of the great martyr with a pagan goddess. But the tradition of consecrating fruits and springs has survived to this day.

At the crossroads of the roads of Russia, special pillars or chumps were previously placed, at which the pedestrian had to make a sacrifice. With the adoption of Christianity, such buildings were removed, and towers and chapels were built in their place. Many of them were erected in honor of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa.

For example, one of the famous buildings is the chapel of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, located in Krasnoyarsk on Karaulnaya Hill. This tower is considered the symbol of the city. Her image can be found on the 1997 ten-rouble note. Similar chapels have also been erected in other cities of Russia.

Temples and churches in honor of the saint

In memory of the great martyr, many Orthodox complexes were built, the central figure of which was Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. A church was erected in Butovo, which dates back to the 16th century. The wooden church was burned down during the Lithuanian invasion. The stone version was rebuilt by the end of the 17th century. The church was restored in the 20th century. The Temple of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was built in the form of a ship - a spiritual guide for the Orthodox. Crowned with golden domes, it seems to invite people to a long and difficult, but worthy voyage along the river of life and faith.

The Church of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was also built in Yaroslavl. Her official name- Pyatnitsko-Tugovsky temple. It was built at the end of the 17th century. One of its aisles is dedicated to the feast of the Annunciation. The temple of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa experienced special hardships in the 30s of the XX century. Then by order Soviet power the bell tower and one of the domes were demolished. The Church of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was restored only by the end of the 20th century, when the temple was transferred to the Yaroslavl diocese.

How to address a saint?

The prayer of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, read with all my heart, is very effective. After all, all the saints are mediators between the Lord and people. The petitions of the martyrs and saints before the face of the Almighty are always fulfilled. Therefore, prayer is an essential part of life. Orthodox person. In domestic affairs, as well as love affairs, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa became an assistant to the Russian people. What do young girls pray for and what do they ask for? Of course, about a worthy groom. For such cases, there is a special prayer addressed to Paraskeva. In it, the virgins ask the saint to help them find their husband, just as the great martyr found her Heavenly Bridegroom.

Many temples dedicated to Paraskeva Pyatnitsa are located in small villages and towns. One of these is the church in Khvoshchevatka, Voronezh region. In this relatively small village (with a population of no more than 300 people), people are trying to build a temple that was once destroyed during the bombing of the Great Patriotic War. Not far from this church is a holy spring called "Seven Streams", known for its healing power not only in the Voronezh region, but throughout Russia.

You can also visit the Pyatnitsky Church in Suzdal, whose official name is Nikolskaya Church. On the site of the current stone building, there was a wooden complex named after Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. And although in 1772 it was consecrated in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker, the locals still call it Pyatnitsky. Initially, the church was intended for winter worship. That is why it was built in the style of urban architecture. This type of temples is characterized by elongated forms along the east-west axis and semicircular apses. Distinctive feature The Suzdal Pyatnitsky Church is an octagon located in the middle of the structure, placed on a quadrangle and crowned with a vase-shaped dome. Such a structure is not typical for Suzdal architecture.

Thus, Saint Paraskeva Pyatnitsa was and will be honored by Orthodox Christians for her spiritual deeds. For many of them, this great martyr is an example of great spiritual strength and courage, unshakable faith and all-encompassing love for the Lord, as well as the main intercessor of the people before the Almighty.

The only church in Russia that was not desecrated during the years of the revolution and civil war.

The icon of Paraskeva Friday twenty years ago could be found in every country house. The holy martyr is considered the patroness of farmers, cattle breeders and people engaged in agriculture. Now the image of Paraskeva is less common in the home iconostasis, but it is still revered in peasant families.

It is believed that the saint protects livestock, keeps crops from frost and drought, young girls pray to her for marriage, and family ones - to preserve peace and harmony in the house. Who is Paraskeva Pyatnitsa? What is she famous for?

Life of a saint

The chronicle tells us that in the 3rd century AD, on the territory of modern Turkey, a girl named Paraskeva, which means “Friday”, was born in a family of followers of the faith of Christ. The maiden lost her parents early, but inherited from them steadfastness and humble following Orthodox faith.

The girl was distinguished by her beauty, but did not aspire to marriage. To all proposals for marriage, she humbly answered that her only bridegroom was Jesus Christ, and her only desire was to live with dignity. earthly life and join him in heaven.

Paraskeva inherited a small fortune from her parents, but considered it shameful to spend it on clothes and jewelry. Instead, she helped the poor, the suffering and the needy. Paraskeva herself dressed simply, considering spiritual achievements, purity and humility to be her best adornment.

Looking at her, many people turned to faith in Christ and began to follow his commandments.

At that time, the Roman Empire ruled, which brutally persecuted and executed all those who, instead of bringing gifts to pagan idols, believed in the One Lord Jesus Christ.

The ruler Diocletian regularly sent punitive detachments in search of Christians. One of these detachments learned that a certain Paraskeva lives in the city of Iconium, who not only prays to Jesus Christ, but also leads other people astray from the “true” path of idolatry and converts them to their faith. The soldiers immediately arrested the girl and brought her to the Eparch Aetius, the governor of the emperor.

But in vain did the ruler expect to see a creature broken by the sight of armed warriors! Before him appeared a fair-haired, modestly dressed girl, whose beautiful face was illuminated by sincere faith in Christ. A joyful smile played on the captive's lips from the anticipation of an early meeting with her heavenly fiance.

In vain, the eparch Aetius frightened her with terrible tortures, persuading her to bow to idols and become his wife.

When the executioners tortured the young Christian woman, not a single moan, not a single plea for mercy escaped her lips, only Paraskeva silently prayed to the Lord for help in order to adequately endure all the torment.

When the executioners reported to the ruler that the girl had lost consciousness and was dying, he ordered her to be thrown into prison in order to prolong her torment. At night, an angel appeared to the dying Paraskeva, he healed the girl. In the morning, the executioners saw, instead of a corpse, a happy and healthy Paraskeva, about which they reported to Aetius. He again came to the girl and began to offer her to worship idols and reject the faith of Christ. But the answer was again refusal.

Then the ruler ordered Paraskeva to be burned with fire in the square near the pillory. The servants brought torches, but not a single flame could touch the girl's skin. People who saw this manifestation of Divine intercession themselves turned to the faith of Christ, rejecting the false gods.

The eparch in anger ordered Paraskeva to be beheaded, thus the Holy Martyr ended her earthly life, and her soul was united in heaven with the Lord.

Veneration of the image of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa in Russia

The patience and humility of the Saint were highly valued in Russia. On the icon, Paraskeva is depicted with a scroll of the Creed in one hand and a cross, symbolizing her suffering and martyrdom for her faith, in the other. The Paraskeva Pyatnitsa prayer was offered before the start of spring sowing in the fields, with her image religious processions were made during the loss of livestock, during drought or prolonged rains. It is believed that the Saint patronizes all Orthodox Christians engaged in hard peasant labor.

After the harvest, on November 10, the day of remembrance of the Holy Martyr, the peasants gathered in the temple, offered thanksgiving prayers and consecrated the fruits of their labors, which they kept all winter in a red corner.

To this day, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa's prayer for marriage, uttered by innocent girls, is the most effective helper in creating a happy family.

Video on the topic: Prayers to Martyr Paraskov Pyatnitsa

Prayer to the Holy Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

O holy and blessed Paraskevo, the martyr of Christ, beautifully virginal, martyr praise, wise surprise, the Christian guardian of faith, accuser of idol flattery, champion of the Divine Gospel, zealous of the commandments of the Lord, worthy to come to the haven of eternal rest and in the devil of your Bridegroom Christ God, lightly rejoicing, august adorned with the crown of virginity and martyrdom! We pray to you, holy martyr: wake up for us (names) sadness to Christ God, with His most blessed sight always rejoice; kindle with your holy prayers the darkness that has come from our sins: ask God for the light of grace with our spiritual and bodily eyes: enlighten us, darkened by sins, with the light of God's grace, so that for the sake of your holy prayers, sweet vision will be given to the innocent. O great servant of God! O most courageous girl! O strong martyr, Saint Paraskevo! With your holy prayers, be our sinful helper, intercede and pray for the accursed and negligent sinners, hasten to help us, for we are very weak; pray to the Lord, pure maiden, pray to the Merciful, holy martyr, pray to your Bridegroom, immaculate bride of Christ, but with your prayers help, the darkness of sin is gone, in the light of true faith and divine deeds, we will enter into the light of the eternal day of the never-ending, into the city of joy forever, into now you shine brightly with glory and endless joy, glorify and sing with all the powers of heaven the tri-radiant one Deity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Orthodox Christians believe that the Paraskeva Pyatnitsa prayer heals bodily and mental illnesses. The saint is the patroness of livestock and crop fields. Also, the prayer of the saint helps to find good husband for women, an icon depicting a saint protects the family hearth from adversity and quarrels.

The life story of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

The girl's parents honored Friday, the day of the week of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the name of this day, they named their daughter Friday, which in Greek sounds Paraskeva. She took a vow of celibacy in her youth and devoted her life to serving God. She was appointed to the saints after a long and painful death.

In the year 300, during the mass extermination of Christians, Paraskeva was subjected to cruel tortures: she was hanged on a tree and stabbed with iron claws, and then, barely alive, she was thrown to die in a dungeon. It was in captivity that an angel appeared to her and healed her. When the healed girl was discovered, they again subjected to abuse, this time they set her on fire and at the end they cut off her head. Christians buried the relics of the holy martyr. Soon, crowds of sick people rushed to the burial place of Paraskeva and received miraculous healing from ailments.

Even, it would seem, completely hopeless patients were applied to the relics of the Saint and received recovery

In honor of the Great Martyr road intersections erected poles with her image. For believers, these were sacred places.

At present, the population in the Komi Republic has preserved the tradition, women and girls wash domestic icons, as well as temple ones in the Vashka River, consecrated precisely by the icon of Friday. It is believed that in the next three days the water has miraculous properties.

What to pray to Saint Paraskeva?

At the icon depicting the holy great martyr, the Orthodox pray for the following:

1. Protection and assistance to women.
2. Healing from infertility and "female" diseases.
3. About marriage.
4. On the preservation of livestock from mortality.
5. Getting rid of pain.
6. About health .

For easy and successful childbirth, the icon of St. Paraskeva is hung around her neck.

The day of memory of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva was chosen on November 10. On this day, according to the old tradition, hard work is forbidden. But on this day the most strong prayers for believers.

Prayer for girls

At dawn, the prayer of Saint Paraskeva Pyatnitsa for marriage is pronounced by marriageable girls without extra shoes and clothes. You can wear a loose shirt.

Friday mother, patroness of all girls and our benefactor. Help women find happiness and well-being, a husband and children, start a family. I hope (name) for your help and indulgence. Let him wither away for me (name, if you know who) and walk under my windows, sadness anguish torments him. I will be grateful to you, remember and pray endlessly. Amen.

Holy mistress, pious martyr for women's deeds, sufferer. Hear our prayers and requests to you, great mother. Adorn the mind with modesty, chastity to save it to one betrothed, named by God. May he be near in grief or joy, may he not offend me or our common children, may there be prosperity and great joy in the house. Thank you for your attention holy maiden Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. Amen.

Prayer to Paraskeva Friday for health

Oh, most courageous girl! Oh, strong martyr Saint Paraskevo! With your holy prayers, be our sinful helper, intercede and pray for accursed and negligent sinners, hasten to help us, for we are very weak. Pray to the Lord, pure maiden, pray to the Merciful, holy martyr, pray to your Bridegroom, immaculate bride of Christ, yes, having helped with your prayers, the darkness of sin has been overcome, in the light of true faith and deeds of the Divine, we will enter into the light of the eternal day of the never-ending, into the city of joy forever, into now you shine brightly with glory and endless joy, glorify and sing with all heavenly powers the Trisagionary One Deity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen