Old Orthodox Christians celebrate church hoiliday in Moldova

Chisinau, 27 October /MOLDPRES/ – Old Orthodox Christians celebrate today Saint Parascheva, considered to be the defender of Moldova. This celebration is known as Holy Friday of autumn among the people.
From religious sources, it is known that Saint Parascheva was born near Constantinople, with rich and faithful parents. At the age of ten, she goes to Constantinople, where she is taught by the monks to enjoy spiritual life. Then she goes to the monastery of Our Lady of Heraclea, where she spends five years. Then she goes to the Holy Land, and after seeing Jerusalem, she stays at a monastery of nuns in the desert of Jordan.
At age 25, an angel tells her to return to the places of her parents. She returns to Epivat without telling anyone who she is and where she comes from. Two years later, she moves to the eternity.
Parascheva's Day is marked by a series of traditions, customs and superstitions, on this day there are made feasts for the dead and there are divided offerings, there start winter preparations.
"The ladies do not have to crochet or sew at St. Parascheva. It is said that women who do such things will not marry quickly," the folklorists say. In their turn, the priests assert that Saint Parascheva protects the family, and on her birthday we need to be more humble, relieved in action, meditate and pray for our salvation.
It is also said that, as weather condition is on St. Parascheva, it will be until St. Dumitru. At the same time, another superstition shows that, as it is on the day of the Cuvioi, so will be the other celebrations of this year.
Today we pay tribute to those named Paraschiva, Parascheva, Paraschiv or their derived names such as Pachita, Paraschita, Parastita, Parasca, Chiva, Chivuta, Vuta, Chivu or Petcu. In many villages, towns and cities in Moldova, it is celebrated the day of the locality.
(Reporter L. Grubii, editor L. Alcaza)