Blessed Paraskeva, Irina in the world, was born at the beginning of the 19th century in the village of Nikolsky, Tambov province, into a family of serfs. She was married at the age of seventeen. She was hardworking and meek, loved worship and prayed hard. The couple lived together for twenty years, but they had no children. After her husband's death, Irina refused to remarry.
She was unfairly accused of theft and severely punished. After suffering beatings and humiliation, she went on a pilgrimage to Kiev. Worshiping shrines and meeting with spiritual mentors strengthened her resolve to dedicate herself to God. During her stay in Kiev, she took secret vows with the name Paraskeva. She was searched for twice and returned to the landlords, until they finally drove her away.
Left homeless and destitute, Paraskeva embarked on the path of foolishness for Christ's sake. Under the outward strangeness of her behavior, she hid a prayer feat, humbly enduring ridicule and hardship. The ascetic spent more than twenty years in the Sarov forests, living in an excavated cave. Hunger, cold and harsh life did not weaken her faith. She came to the Sarov and Diveevskaya monasteries, worked and prayed. Gradually, people began to turn to her for spiritual advice and prayer help.
Later, the blessed one settled in the Diveevo monastery, where she was affectionately called Pasha of Sarov. For her strict ascetic life, the Lord granted her clairvoyance. She comforted the mourners, rebuked unrighteousness, and warned against sin. Often, the meaning of her unusual words and deeds was revealed to people only over time. Receiving numerous visitors, the blessed one continued to live in prayer and took care of those who came to her.
Veneration of St. Seraphim of Sarov occupied a special place in her life. During the days of his glorification in 1903, Paraskeva was visited by Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. According to the surviving evidence, the blessed one predicted the birth of an heir and the coming ordeal of the royal family. She received the emperor with the same simplicity with which she greeted ordinary pilgrims.
Blessed Paraskeva passed away to the Lord on September 22 (October 5), 1915. Until the last days, she carried out her feat, patiently enduring illness and suffering. Her life reminds of faithfulness to Christ in the midst of trials, of the power of prayer and love that helps a person share the pain of others.
Holy blessed Mother Paraskevo, pray to God for us!