Saint Paraskeva

It’s a piece of Heaven: Orthodox convert from England waited 17 hours in Iași to honour St Paraskeva’s relics

Doxologia has published a video feature on the experience of Sophrony (Brett) Shackles, an Orthodox convert from England, who waited 17 hours to venerate Saint Paraskeva during the pilgrimage in Iași. Sophrony was baptised into the Orthodox Church in August 2025. “I started my Orthodox journey in Romania, in Bucharest,” he says. His godfather is…

Oct 20, 2026Ștefana Totorcea

St Paraskeva feast in Iași: Pilgrims seek to follow in the footsteps of saints, says Metropolitan Teofan

Thousands of faithful attended the feast of St Paraskeva in Iași on 14 October. On this occasion, Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina highlighted the participation of pilgrims “who wish to follow in the footsteps of the saints, draw inspiration from their lives and receive God’s help through their prayers”. This year, the relics of…

Oct 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox community near Amsterdam buys church after nearly three-year effort

Romanians in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, have purchased the church they have been using since 2024. “The purchase has become a unifying force within our community,” Fr Ion Iuga, parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox community of St John Chrysostom in Amsterdam, told Basilica News Agency. The priest explained that the lack of a sufficiently spacious…

Oct 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanians in Newmarket, Ontario, honour St Paraskeva: Holiness is attained through patience

The faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Parish of St. Paraskeva and Prophet Elijah in Newmarket, Ontario, celebrated their principal patronal feast early last Sunday, with Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada in attendance. “Holiness is attained through patience. First and foremost, through God’s gift, through the ascetic struggle we undertake, and through receiving faith and the…

Oct 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Dimitrios of France: St Paraskeva unites Orthodox peoples across the Balkans

“St. Paraskeva has become a living bond within the Orthodox family of the Balkans, a common mother and protector of peoples who speak different languages but pray with the same faith and the same heart,” Metropolitan Dimitrios of France and Exarch of Europe (Ecumenical Patriarchate) said on Wednesday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași. The…

Oct 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

St. Paraskeva draws thousands of faithful to Iași: “Without a longing for God, one cannot understand the pilgrimage”

Tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered in Iași on Monday to celebrate the Feast of Saint Paraskeva. In his homily, Metropolitan Teofan emphasized that only those who share the pilgrims’ deep longing for God can truly understand their journey. The Divine Liturgy was held at the outdoor altar near the Metropolitan Cathedral, concelebrated by an…

Oct 16, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam explains the tradition of venerating holy relics: It does not lack biblical justification

On Monday, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “St Petka” Church in the Drumul Taberei neighbourhood of Bucharest. During the service, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop spoke about the tradition of venerating holy relics and emphasized the scriptural foundations of this practice. “This is not a gesture without…

Oct 15, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Siluan of Hungary leads service at Saint Paraskeva church in Gyula for its 160th consecration anniversary

On Sunday, Bishop Siluan of Hungary officiated a special service at the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Gyula, Hungary, marking the feast of Saint Paraskeva and the 160th anniversary of the church’s consecration. The event gathered many faithful from Gyula and surrounding parishes, as well as several local dignitaries. Among the attendees were Daniel Banu, the…

Oct 15, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Saint Paraskeva shows us that holiness does not depend on age

Saint Paraskeva “shows us that holiness does not depend on age,” said Patriarch Daniel on Monday. “You don’t need to be advanced in age to be holy; rather, the intensity of faith, piety, kindness, or merciful love demonstrates the holiness of Christ at work in those who carry His merciful love in their hearts.” His…

Oct 15, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira attends St Paraskeva feast in Iași: Pilgrimage is part of our Christian life

“Pilgrimage is part of our Christian life, and this must not be lost,” emphasized Archbishop Nikitas Loulias of Thyateira and Great Britain during the celebration of Saint Paraskeva in Iași on Monday. His Eminence spoke about the importance of pilgrimage in Christians’ lives, offering Saint Paraskeva as an example. “Saint Paraskeva herself was a pilgrim,…

Oct 14, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Iași: 20,000 people process with relics of Saints Paraskeva and Paisius

Tens of thousands of Romanian Orthodox faithful came out for a procession with the relics of two of the most beloved Romanian saints through the streets of Iași on Sunday evening. The feast of St. Paraskeva, October 14, is traditionally one of the most significant religious events in Romania, drawing pilgrims from throughout Romania and…

Oct 12, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu