Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I presided over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday for the patronal feast of the Romanian Church of the Holy Virgin-Martyr Paraskevi in Constantinople.
“With the certainty of this life and of the universal resurrection, we honour the memory of St Paraskevi, who suffered martyrdom for her faith in the risen Christ,” His All-Holiness said.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed at the church by Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallipolis and Madytos.
His All-Holiness spoke about the sacrifice of martyrs and confessors of the faith, stressing that the persecution of Christians continues to this day.
“Countless martyrs, from the Apostles to the Venerable Virgin-Martyr Paraskevi, whose holy memory we celebrate here today by God’s grace, were led to death because of their faith in the Risen Lord,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
New martyrs of the faith
Patriarch Bartholomew noted that the struggle against the truth of the Gospel did not end with the first centuries of Christianity.
“Neros and Diocletians fought against Christians with fire, wild beasts and the sword. Even today, in many different ways and in numerous parts of the world, the war continues relentlessly, and the truth is opposed.”
He pointed to Christians in the Middle East, who, he said, “continue to offer new martyrs of the faith even in our own time.”
“Despite the clouds that gather, sometimes becoming storms before passing away, and despite changing external conditions and circumstances, in Him we live and move and have our being—in God, who is wonderful in His saints. We are not writing small histories; we are writing history here, on the land of our forefathers, with unwavering faith in the providence of the Lord of all.”
At the conclusion of his address, His All-Holiness prayed that St Paraskevi would protect “the beloved community of Hasköy,” Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallipolis, parish priest Fr Sergiu Vlad, members of the parish council, pilgrims and the entire Romanian community in Constantinople.
Constantinople-Romania ties
Patriarch Bartholomew went on to reflect on the historical ties between Constantinople and Romania, recalling his visit to Bucharest last year at the invitation of Patriarch Daniel of Romania, as well as their meeting this June on the island of Imbros, attended by the Patriarchs of Romania and Bulgaria.
His All-Holiness also referred to St Andrew the Apostle, patron saint of the Church of Constantinople and Apostle of the Romanian people, as well as to the shared devotion of Greeks and Romanians to St Parascheva of Epivata.
He made special mention of the Holy Prince-Martyr Constantine Brâncoveanu, the founder of the church in Hasköy, recalling the ruler’s martyrdom together with his wife and four sons.
“Their blood, shed not far from where we are now, is the seal of the covenant between Constantinople and Romania—a covenant of faith stronger than any earthly power,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
The only Romanian parish in Constantinople
The church has undergone extensive restoration work over the years, some of it supported by Romanian football coach Mircea Lucescu, who reposed in the Lord at the beginning of April 2026.
The most recent restoration was completed in 2008 through a donation from Archon Panagiotis Tsakos. The churchyard also contains the tomb of the New Martyr Argyra.
The Romanian Church of St Paraskevi (Aya Paraskevi Kilisesi) is the only Romanian Orthodox parish in Constantinople. It is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Kalayci Bahçe Sok. No. 2, Hasköy, Piri Paşa Mahallesi, Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
Photo: Ecumenical Patriarchate / Nikos Papachristou
