Fr. John Kalaides and the Miracle of Saint Paraskevi

 By Miltiadis Tsesmetzis, Teacher

In the village of Sintiki in the prefecture of Serres, where the holy father lived, there is a Chapel of Saint Paraskevi, at the foot of the mountain. Because the area has many chapels, where many miracles took place, my grandfather used to tell us that this place is a second Mount Athos!

So he [Fr. John Kalaides ] once told us:

Saint Paraskevi and the Blasphemer

Michael, a resident of Smyrna before the Population Exchange of 1922, one day went to plow his field with oxen. In a moment the plowshare* got stuck somewhere, the oxen did not advance and he himself could not get the plowshare out of the ground. After he was tired and indignant, he began to blaspheme Christ and the Saints.

He immediately lost his sight for about a quarter of an hour. Then, repentant and compunctionate, he begged Saint Paraskevi to give him his sight and promised never to blaspheme again. He also made a vow. As long as he lived, on Friday he would not eat or drink anything. And immediately, miraculously, his sight came back, he easily took out the plowshare and continued plowing, thanking God and Saint Paraskevi.

Homily on Saint Paraskevi the Wonderworker (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

 By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

Saint Paraskevi is honored not only by those women who bear her name, but also by all Christians. This happens especially in our Province, since there are many parish churches, but also chapels that are honored with her name and on this day they celebrate brilliantly.

The life of Saint Paraskevi is wonderful. Her parents were pious and virtuous, her birth was by God's intervention, she herself grew up in a Christian way, distributed her property to the poor, became a nun, preached Christ, confessed Him and finally suffered many tortures and was martyred for the love of Christ. That's why she is called a Venerable Martyr.

Homily on Galatians 3:27 - "As Many of You as Were Baptized Into Christ Have Put on Christ" (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

Homily on Galatians 3:27 - "As Many of You as Were Baptized Into Christ Have Put on Christ"

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

In the sermon of each Sunday of the two summer months this year, we will interpret some phrases of the apostolic readings that are read in the Divine Liturgy. These are readings from the Apostle Paul's Letters to the Christians of the various Churches he had founded, and they aimed at solving problems and guiding them to a life in Christ.

Today we will interpret the passage from his Epistle to the Galatians, which refers to the Baptism of Christians and declares its great value: "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ". That is, those who were baptized in the name of Christ have clothed themselves with Christ. This passage is chanted every time the Mystery of Baptism takes place and it is also chanted on the great Despotic Feasts, Christmas and Easter, because then the group baptisms of the catechumens and the illuminated took place. It is a very important passage.

A Uniquely Cypriot Icon of Saint Paraskevi

In Cyprus there are two churches from the 15th-16th century that depict Saint Paraskevi holding an icon of Christ known as "Extreme Humility", showing him dead and being taken down from the Cross. This style dates back to the 13th century. In most other icons of Saint Paraskevi she usually holds a Cross in her right hand to indicate her martyrdom, and in her left hand she holds a plate with eyes to indicate her particular gift to heal ailments of the eyes.

Saint Paraskevi and the Miracle of the Annihilation of the Unbelieving Turks by Cholera

By Paraskevas Lambropoulos

During the Turkish occupation, in a small church, the Turkish occupiers did not let the priest liturgize.

They would go and do dirty things inside the church and on Sundays they would guard it and sought to kill him.

But Saint Paraskevi offered guidance to the priest while he was sleeping, that he should go ring the bell, because when he rang the bell, they would not bother him afterwards.

Homily for the Epistle Reading on the Feast of Saint Paraskevi (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos

(Homily for Galatians 3:23-4:5)

On the occasion of the feast of Saint Paraskevi, the Church has established to be read today as an apostolic reading a passage from the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Christians of Galatia, which is known as the epistle to the Galatians.

Studying today's apostolic reading, one assumes that it was chosen by the Church because it includes the phrase: “Those who have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:27-28).

The Right Hand of Saint Paraskevi at the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi in Kinopiastes of Kerkyra

The Monastery of Saint Paraskevi, which stands on a hillside in the village of Kinopiastes in Kerkyra, was established in 1571. The original monastery stood about a hundred meters from where the monastery is today. In the beginning the monastery was for men, but today it is a monastery for women. On the plaque of the monastery it says the year 1833, which is the year the monastery was restored by Monk Christopher Mazarakis, who also brought a relic of Saint Joseph the Sanctified.

Monastery of Saint Anthimos and Saint Paraskevi in Lepeda of Kefallonia

The Monastery of Saint Anthimos and Saint Paraskevi in Lepeda of Kefallonia is a female monastery that unfortunately is empty today following the death of the nun Hermioni, who served here for almost a century. It was established in 1568 as a male monastery, with Laurentios Mantzavinos being the first abbot. He along with other monks built the entrance to the cave, where they found the Holy Water of Saint Paraskevi. There they built a church and dedicated it to the miraculous Saint, when Timothy Tipaldos was the archbishop.

The Tradition of Unbaptized Dead Infants in Crete

In many places of Crete we encounter churches where the locals once buried their unbaptized babies, called "telonia" by Cretans. In other places, such as mountainous west Crete, instead of burying them they dropped them in caves. What is interesting about the churches where they used to bury the unbaptized children is that they usually honor the name of Saint Paraskevi. It has not been established why Saint Paraskevi has been associated with the telonia, therefore this requires more research.

One of the most important churches used for burying telonia is located near Kritsa, in the area of Koulbado. This church, commonly known as the Church of Saint Paraskevi at the Telonia, is also very important as it is a single-aisle church, probably built in the Byzantine Era (indicated by the typical ceramic bricks encountered in Byzantine churches) prior to the Venetian rule of Crete.

Saint Paraskevi, "A Bedrock of Virtue" (Homily by Metr. Augustounos Kantiotes)

St. Paraskevi was not an ordinary woman. She was a spiritual meteor, a bedrock of virtue, unshakable amid the ocean of corrupt society.

She implemented that which Christ said, that: “He who hears my words and keeps them resembles a house built upon the rock, and though the rains came and the winds and the rivers fell upon it, the house was not shaken” (Matt. 7:24-25.) And St. Paraskevi was a bedrock of virtue. Foamy waves fell upon her, the biggest waves of life.

The Holy Spring of Saint Paraskevi Outside Thessaloniki

A few kilometers outside of Thessaloniki, shortly before arriving at the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Souroti, is the village of Agia Paraskevi. It is a beautiful village built on a hill, with a fertile stretched out plain.

A true blessing of the village, besides the grave of Saint Paisios the Athonite, is the miraculous holy spring of Saint Paraskevi.

Synaxarion of Saint Paraskevi the Martyr

On the twenty-sixth of this month [July], we commemorate the Holy Venerable Martyr of Christ Paraskevi.

Verses

You prepared yourself for God as a pure temple,

Being led there, Revered One, for habitation.
On the twenty-sixth Paraskevi was beheaded with a sword.

Saint Paraskevi lived during the reign of Emperor Antoninus (138-161), was from a village in old Rome, and the daughter of Christian parents, whose names were Agathon and Politia. They were careful to keep the commandments of the Lord, and were childless, for which reason they supplicated the Lord without ceasing, in order to be given a child. God, who does the will of those who fear Him, granted them a female child, who they named in Holy Baptism Paraskevi, because she was born on the day of Paraskevi (Friday).

The Miraculous Discovery of the Icon of St. Paraskevi in Ierochori, Kastoria

The Church of St. Paraskevi in Ieropigi

Saint Paraskevi, according to her biography, was born in 117 A.D. in Rome from Greek parents. At 20 years old she left her homeland and came to Macedonia, where she preached Christianity, and lived in asceticism in various places, and having worked various wonders she was martyred for her faith in an unknown city, near Thessaloniki.

Some researchers have hypothesized that this city of the martyrdom of Saint Paraskevi was in the region of Kastoria. This view is supported by the fact that the residents of Orestida especially honor Saint Pareskevi, over many centuries, and they have many sacred churches dedicated to her venerable name.

The Relationship Between Elder Iakovos Tsalikes and St. Paraskevi

The following stories come from the biography of Elder Iakovos Tsalikes of Evia (+ 1991) by Stylianos G. Papadopoulos titled The Garden of the Holy Spirit, where the relationship between Elder Iakovos from the 20th century and St. Paraskevi the Martyr from the 2nd century is recounted, beginning from the days of his youth in a village of Corinth, where his family settled after being uprooted from Asia Minor in the 1920's.

The Appearances of Saint Paraskevi

Every child would go to school once per day, but little Iakovos would go twice. He loved it very much, because in the first years, the school was housed in the chapel dedicated to Saint Paraskevi. He would go in the evenings and light the oil lamps. The boy would go alone and liked to stay until it was dark. He prayed according to his knowledge and ability. Then he would take the way downhill back home, through the pine forest.

Saint Paraskevi Resource Page

St. Paraskevi the Great Martyr (Feast Day - July 26)

Verses

You prepared yourself for God as a pure temple,

Being led there, Revered One, for habitation.
On the twenty-sixth Paraskevi was beheaded with a sword.

 

Synaxarion of Saint Paraskevi the Martyr

 

Lives of Saint Paraskevi the Virgin Martyr

 

July: Day 26: Teaching 1: Holy Venerable Martyr Paraskevi

Saint Paraskevi and the Dragon

  

The Wondrous Saint Paraskevi

  

Saint Paraskevi, "A Bedrock of Virtue" (Homily by Metr. Augustounos Kantiotes)

 

Saint Paraskevi, "A Sacrifice Out of Love" (Homily by Metr. Augustounos Kantiotes)

 

Homily on Saint Paraskevi the Wonderworker (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

Homily on the Holy Great Martyr Paraskevi - Sacred and Godless Letters (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)
 

Homily for the Epistle Reading on the Feast of Saint Paraskevi (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

Homily on Galatians 3:27 - "As Many of You as Were Baptized Into Christ Have Put on Christ" (Metr. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

  

The Tomb of Saint Paraskevi in Pounta

 

The Location of the Place Where Saint Paraskevi Was Martyred

 

7 Astonishing Miracles of Saint Paraskevi

  

The Miracle of St. Paraskevi in 1442 on the Island of Chios

 

Saint Paraskevi and the Miracle of the Annihilation of the Unbelieving Turks by Cholera

 

Saint Paraskevi and the Blasphemer

 

The Holy Spring of Saint Paraskevi Outside Thessaloniki

 

The Miracle of Saint Paraskevi in ​​Thermo on November 20th 1918

  

St. Paraskevi Appears to Elder Damaskenos

  

The Appearance of St. Paraskevi to Nun Christonymphi 

  

A Miraculous Appearance of St. Paraskevi in 1947

  

The Relationship Between Elder Iakovos Tsalikes and St. Paraskevi

 

Fr. John Kalaides and the Miracle of Saint Paraskevi

 

St. Paraskevi Heals a Bishop in 2008 Who Was About to Go Blind
 

St. Paraskevi Heals A Blind Man in New York 

  

Monastery of Saint Anthimos and Saint Paraskevi in Lepeda of Kefallonia

  

The Right Hand of Saint Paraskevi at the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi in Kinopiastes of Kerkyra

 

St. Paraskevi in the Valley of Tempe

 

The Hermitage of Saint Paraskevi in Larissa and It's Mysterious Coffin

 

The Church of Saint Paraskevi of the Dragon in Arta of Epirus

 

The Miraculous Discovery of the Icon of St. Paraskevi in Ierochori, Kastoria

  

The Church the Communists Could Not Destroy

 

The Tradition of Unbaptized Dead Infants in Crete

 

The Leaning Church of Palaioselli: A Church in Greece That Has Tilted for Over a Hundred Years

  

The Grotto-Shrine of Saint Paraskevi in Greenlawn, New York

  

A Unique Cypriot Icon of Saint Paraskevi

 

 

St. Paraskevi Heals a Bishop in 2008 Who Was About to Go Blind

The following miracle was recorded in 2011:

Brethren, allow me to tell you about a miracle of Saint Paraskevi I heard the other day.

St. Paraskevi Heals A Blind Man in New York

On OCN Now Radio Fr. Dimitrios Moraitis of St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Shrine Church in Greenlawn, NY shared his personal experience of a man legally blind for seven years being miraculously healed in November 2013. Fr. Dimitrios first wrote about the miracle on his Facebook account several weeks prior. In this interview with Fr. Chris Metropulos, he tells the story of what happened, opens up about the impact it has had on his parish and his personal relationship with God, and offers an update about the once-blind man.

A Miraculous Appearance of St. Paraskevi in 1947

By George Anestopoulos

The following is a true story. It is known in the region of Ypati in Fthiotida from the 1950's when it began to happen. It is one of those miraculous events that occurs occasionally, rare cases of a few "blessed people" throughout the course of history. We refer to the appearances to people of Holy Figures in order to reveal places where icons or relics can be found.

This happened in 1947.

The Appearance of St. Paraskevi to Nun Christonymphi

During the time of the civil war in Greece (1946-1950) between the communists and the government of Greece, the communist guerrillas would often come down from the mountains, hide in the bush near the Monastery of St. Paraskevi (in Serres) looking for food. The cell of Nun Christonymphi (+ 2005) was located on the ground floor of the Monastery. Nearby there were four or five other cells of other nuns. There was also a dining room and a large room whose walls were filled with icons. This room was being used as a church by the nuns. The sisterhood of nuns would gather in this room at midnight to read the monastic midnight service. After the service the nuns would rest for a while and then wake up early in the morning to chant the matins service.