Certain customs should be observed on this day: It is important to say these words and drink water from ITS SOURCES

Sveta Petka, Photo: pcpress.rs

Her Sabbath is marked in bold and represents not only a great Christian holiday, but also one of the most widespread baptismal holidays in the Serbian people, and many believers consider her their patron saint (especially women, children and the elderly) and the celebrated as a celebration (another baptismal feast). ) according to all the glorious customs.

Do you celebrate Good Friday?

This famous and highly respected saint among Serbs is the protector of women, who helped the sick and the poor. Believers pray to him for help and salvation from illness and other life problems. Alongside the temples of St. Petka, there are often springs of medicinal water that people drink, believing it will heal their wounds and protect them from disease.

How much do we know today about the life of this saint?

In the late 10th and early 11th centuries, before the division of Christianity, Holy Mother Paraskeva lived. He was born in Epivat, near Kalitrakija in Asia Minor, and according to the records of the holy Serbian bishop Nikolaj Velimirović, he is of Serbian origin. In the icons, she is depicted in monastic clothing and with a cross in her hand, because she led a strict monastic and ascetic life in the desert.

She spent many years in the desert, in the hermitage, when an angel appeared to her and directed her to spread the faith of Christ. At an advanced age he obeyed the voice of an angel, left the desert and returned to Epivat. He lived there for another two years in constant fasting and prayer.

Venerable Mother Paraskeva was also celebrated for numerous miracles that, as they say, she performed after her rest and, according to the words of believers, she still performs them today.

Later, according to legend, the saint appeared to some George and Jefimija in a dream, the Christians of Epivat found her relics and transferred them to the temple of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. His miraculous relics have been carried many times since then. To Constantinople, then to Trnovo, and then they returned to Constantinople, and from there to Belgrade. Now his relics are in the Romanian city of Iasi.

According to legend, several miracles occurred at the tomb of Saint Petka. In addition to their relics in Iasi, believers mainly pray for healing from various diseases, salvation from dangers, wars, cruel death …

The customs that you must follow in your day

According to numerous testimonies collected, on Good Friday she appears to the faithful at night while they sleep, but also in reality, where they see her more frequently as a “woman with a black cloak” (while to Moldovans she appears more often in white clothing). Venerable Mother Paraskeva often comforts and reassures them if they show respect and visit her church. Sometimes he brings them news of healing, but he also acts as a messenger of doom, warning them to break their fast on Friday or do things on Sunday.

Although it is not a red letter, Santa Petka Trnova is highly respected in the Orthodox faith and especially among Serbs. That is why nowadays you should not do hard housework, but you should not knead bread, wash clothes or do crafts.

This saint appears and warns her believers mainly through dreams. On Good Friday, October 27, many ask for help, burn incense and pour red bread on the feast bread, mentioning Petkovic or Pejcindan in prayers. Then they drink the water collected from the spring near the monasteries dedicated to it. This water is called adjazma.

Due to the healing properties of its water, it is considered to cure eye diseases, eczema on the skin and face, but also other diseases with the help of the Good Friday prayer, with deep faith everyone who comes and drinks water in a special bottle leaves a contribution. Many people have found a cure for their pain right here.

PRAYER TO GOOD FRIDAY BELGRADE – TRNOVSKA

Photo: Alo! / Dejan Briza

1. – Saint Petko, saint of God, pray to God for us. You deserved to see the face of God as a child of our people, glorious Saint Petko, so we have the freedom to speak with you, our relatives, and pray for the salvation of our souls. You are glory and praise to Belgrade, where your miraculous water attracts many people, like a Knight somewhere, and gives sight to the blind, takes away their health, weakened strength and joy and joy to all, virgins of Christ, our helper. Continue to be the guardian of our capital city, and establish it in orthodoxy, help the believers, raise the innocent and sad, and pray to our universal parents, brothers and children, eternal peace and eternal salvation, Saint Petko, the saint of God. Help everyone, don’t help me either. He puts the good in the good and each one multiplies the good. May God be glorified through you in the Trinity, forever and ever. Amen.

2.- Our Venerable Mother Paraskevo, our miraculous help: We ask you from this weeping valley, look at us sinners and spiritually weak from the higher heavenly heights. Wipe away the tears of those who cry, ease the pains of the sick, comfort the hearts of the sad and unwilling. Fulfill the prayers and wishes of those who pray to you from the heart. Pray, mother, for all who come to Your temple in Kalemegdan, capturing the holy water from Your living spring, Mother dedicated to You. Venerable Mother Paraskevo, look at the afflicted, all the sick, the disbelievers and the infidels: Help, Mother, Your celebrators and all the nuns who bear Your holy name. Help, Saint Petko, all Christians, help those who made the monastic vow before You and took You as their mother for their protection. Pray, Mother Paraskevo, to the Queen of Heaven, the Blessed Mother of God, that she lead us on the path of salvation, that she pray to the Son of Her Lord Jesus Christ, to make us worthy to stand at His right hand in His Judgment, to save our souls and our deceased parents. mother, of all our clergy who led us to salvation and left us a good example. Amen.