The Orthodox Church commemorates on 14 October 2015 the feast of St Pious Paraskeva the New of Iaşi. On this great feast, the Divine Liturgy was officiated at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest by His Grace Varlaam Ploieșteanul (of Ploiești), Assistant Bishop to the Romanian Patriarch, surrounded by an assembly of priests and deacons, and in the presence of numerous faithful.
She took care in a permanent state of vigilance to keep the candle of her soul burning
In his sermon delivered after the reading of the Holy Gospel, His grace Bishop Varlaam referred to the fact that the entire life of St Pious Paraskeva was a fulfilment of the commandments of Christ.
“This parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins has been chosen to be read on the feast of pious saints because no one resembles more to the wise virgins from the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ like these pious saints. That is why, when we commemorate our St Pious and Most Merciful Mother Paraskeva of Iaşi we listen again this Gospel fragment because St Paraskeva fulfilled in her life the purpose of these wise virgins of the Gospel, namely she took care since childhood, in a state of permanent vigilance, to keep the candle of her soul burning, a candle of faith, of labours, a candle of the love for the neighbour”.
St Pious Paraskeva followed Christ since childhood
“St Pious Parakeva remains a model for us no matter of our age, because we can see that she followed Christ since childhood, and although she died young, at the age of 27, she lived as a true saint who loved God from all her heart, offering and dedicating her entire life to Him, although she lived a short life. We can see that this fact is often found throughout the history. Many young people similar to her coming from rich families, youth having a social, cultural, and political career forsake the world in order to dedicate themselves to God in a life of vigilance and labour. And this is not a normal fact only for the past centuries”, His Grace Bishop Varlaam also explained.
The Psaltic Group Tronos of the Patriarchal Cathedral conducted by Rev. Fr. Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, offered the liturgicalresponses during the Matin Service. During the Divine Liturgy the liturgicalresponses were offered by the Patriarchal Cathedral’s Choir Nicolae Lungu conducted by Luminiţa Guţanu.
