The Orthodox Christians celebrate the Pious Saint Parascheva, on Friday, October 14. Over 500,000 pilgrims are expected in the Romanian city of Iasi to pray at the relics of St. Parascheva and of the other saints specially brought for the pilgrimage. The holy relics were already removed from the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iasi on Tuesday morning and carried in a procession through the city streets, and were deposited on a specially constructed pedestal in front of the place of worship. This procession already brought hundreds of pilgrims in Iasi.

Saint Parascheva was born in the village Epivat in Eastern Tracia, at the beginning of the 11th century. Saint Parascheva is considered the Protector of Moldavia and Bucovina, and Christians believe in the miraculous powers of the relics. Saint Parascheva’s relics were brought to Iasi in 1641, during the reign of the ruler Vasile Lupu.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sfantaparascheva.com)