Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00
You are a fiery advocate of all that approach your relics!
(Saint Euthymius, Praise to Saint Petka, 14th century)
In Belgrade there is one image that basically never changes. It is the one of generations of (primarily) women from Belgrade, both born there and those "adopted" by circumstances, who go to the chapel of St. Petka at the Belgrade Fortress almost every Friday, especially on the 27th of October. A miracle worker, a great protectress, an intercessor - the Serbian people often call her God's sister and even mother.
Venerable Paraskeva - a Christ-like ascetic from the 11th century, who is believed to be of Serbian or at least Slavic origin, is a great source of hope for the poor, the sick, the childless, and oppressed by various hardships. However, she is also a powerful and benevolent friend, comforter and counselor to women. She often appears in dreams, shows herself to the needy and summons them to her sanctuary.
Hundreds of Saint Petka's wonders have been recorded in the annals through the centuries. In older testimonies she appears as a thin woman dressed in white with a golden cross, and in newer ones as a young woman in a black, monastic robe. According to testimonies, Saint Petka helps anyone who turns to her with a sincere prayer, regardless of whether they are Orthodox or of other faiths. There are many examples of her helping complete atheists in their hour of greatest despair.
The most interesting example is perhaps the one about a partisan officer who hid in the chapel on Kalemegdan during the Second World War in the face of German pursuit. According to his testimony, Holy Petka literally made him invisible and hid him from the German soldiers. Until the end of his life, he went to her chapel in Belgrade to worship her - often in uniform with a red star on his officer's cap.
A believing woman in front of the icon of Holy Petka before the start of the liturgy.
Communion after the liturgy on Good Friday. The 27th of October, 2018.
Lighting of candles in a special area in front of the Chapel of St. Petka in Belgrade - a ritual associated with prayers for health and a long life.
