On 5 October, the Orthodox Church commemorates Blessed Paraskeva of Diveevo, more widely known as Pasha of Sarov, born Irina Ivanovna.
The future saint was born in the village of Nikolskoye, Spassky District, Tambov Province, now in the Torbeyevsky District of the Republic of Mordovia (Russia). Her exact date of birth remains unknown, but it is estimated to be between 1795 and 1807. Irina was the daughter of Ivan and Daria, serfs belonging to the Bulygin landowners. In addition to Paraskeva, the family included three sons and two daughters.
At seventeen, her parents and masters arranged her marriage to a peasant named Fyodor. Submitting to their will, Irina, became an exemplary wife and homemaker. Her new family loved her for her gentle nature, diligence, and devotion to the Church. Irina remained distant from village festivities and social gatherings, preferring instead church services and prayer.
The couple lived together for fifteen years, but they were not blessed with children. After this period, the Bulygins sold their serfs, including Irina and Fyodor, to German landowners, the Schmidts, who resided in the village of Surkot.
Five years after her husband’s death from tuberculosis, Irina found herself working in the kitchen and attending to domestic duties. She resolutely refused to remarry. A year and a half later, a theft of linen occurred, and Irina became a suspect. At the behest of the landowners, the police brutally tortured her to extract a confession, but she refused to comply. Ultimately, the true culprit was uncovered with the aid of local villagers, and the stolen goods were retrieved.
Following this ordeal, Irina fled to Kiev, where her owners discovered her amongst the pilgrims. They did not permit her to remain free and had her returned. However, a year later, she escaped once more. The time finally came for the prophesies of the spiritual fathers of the Kiev Lavra to be fulfilled. The Lord summoned His chosen one to the path of foolishness for Christ’s sake. In Kiev, Irina received a secret tonsure into the Great Schema with the name Paraskeva, and from that point forward, she began to call herself Pasha.
Kiev Caves Lavra in the 1920s
On her second return, her owners refused to take her back, and she wandered in her native lands for five years. During these five years, she roamed the village as if deranged, becoming a figure of ridicule not only for children but for all the peasants. She then retreated to the secluded forest of the Sarov Monastery, where she resided for approximately thirty years. Over the years of her solitary life, she became renowned among the monks of both the Sarov and Diveevo Monasteries, as well as amongst the local people.
It is said that she had several caves scattered throughout the dense and untamed forest, home to many wild beasts at that time. She occasionally visited Sarov and Diveevo, but most often, she was seen at the Sarov mill, where she laboured.
Sarov Monastery
Pasha had once possessed a pleasing appearance. However, after long years of fasting and seclusion in the Sarov forest, she came to resemble Saint Mary of Egypt: thin, with skin tanned by the sun, and short hair. She walked barefoot, clad in a male monastic shirt, with an open scroll on her chest and bare arms. When she appeared at the monastery with a blessing, her presence instilled fear in those who were previously unacquainted with Paraskeva.
Before moving to the Diveevo Convent, Blessed Pasha resided in a village for some time. Her pious way of life did not go unnoticed, and soon people flocked to her to seek her counsel and request her prayers. In response, the enemy of mankind incited wicked people to attack and rob her. They beat her severely but found no money. The blessed one was discovered lying in a pool of blood with a fractured skull. Following this incident, she endured nearly a year of illness, although she never fully recovered. Head pain and a persistent ache under her breastbone tormented her, but Paraskeva paid little attention to this, only occasionally remarking, “Oh, Mother, how it hurts here! No matter what I do, Mother, the pain under my ribs won’t go away!”
Praskovya Ivanovna often visited the Diveevo fool-for-Christ, Pelagia Ivanovna. On one occasion, she entered and sat silently beside the saintly woman. Pelagia Ivanovna gazed at her for a long time and finally declared, “Yes! You have it good; you don’t have the worries I have: look at all the children I have!” Pasha rose, bowed without uttering a word, and quietly departed Diveevo.
Blessed Pelagia of Diveyevo
Six years before the death of Blessed Pelagia Ivanovna, Pasha reappeared at the convent, this time with a doll, and later with numerous dolls. She nurtured them, cared for them, and called them her children. Now she would spend weeks, and later months, living at the monastery. Pasha remained at the convent constantly during the final year of Blessed Pelagia Ivanovna’s life.
Following the repose of Blessed Pelagia of Diveevo on 30 January 1884 (Old Style), Paraskeva settled permanently at the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery. Her gift of foresight soon earned her fame across Russia.
Several times, the cell attendants of Blessed Pelagia Ivanovna suggested that she take up residence in the deceased’s cell.
“No, I cannot,” Praskovya Ivanovna would reply. “Mother won’t allow it,” she would say, gesturing towards the portrait of Pelagia Ivanovna.
“What is it? I don’t see anything.”
“Well, you don’t see, but I do. She doesn’t give her blessing!”
She left and initially settled with the chanters, and later in a separate cell near the gate. A bed with enormous pillows was placed in the cell, which she rarely occupied; it was the resting place for her dolls.
Photo 1: Cell of Blessed Praskovya Ivanovna, early 20th century
Photo 2: Doll of Paraskeva of Diveyevo, early 20th century
Pasha insisted that those living with her rise at midnight to pray, and if anyone refused, she would “wage war,” as they called it, by creating such a commotion and cursing so loudly that everyone had no choice but to calm her down and pray.
Initially, Praskovya Ivanovna rarely attended church, saying that she had her “own liturgy,” but she strictly ensured that the sisters participated in services daily.
The blessed pne’s typical day unfolded as follows: after the Divine Liturgy, she would drink tea and then engage in her work — knitting stockings or spinning yarn. During this work, Paraskeva continuously prayed the Jesus Prayer; therefore, the yarn she produced held special value in the monastery and was utilised to make belts and prayer ropes. She referred to knitting stockings as an exercise in unceasing prayer.
Once, a visitor came to see her, considering a move closer to Diveyevo. With a warm smile, she replied, “Come to Sarov. We’ll gather mushrooms and knit stockings together.” Of course, she meant that they would perform prostrate bows and learn the Jesus prayer.
After moving to Diveyevo, Paraskeva often departed from the monastery to visit distant places or returned to Sarov. For these journeys, she carried a simple stick, her “little cane,” a sack of belongings, or a sickle on her shoulder. Sometimes, she would tuck several dolls under her arm.
Personal belongings of Blessed Paraskeva of Diveyevo
One day, a merchant’s wife arrived with her married daughter. Hoping to please Praskovya Ivanovna, they had brought her a large doll from Moscow, lavishly dressed in silk and velvet. The moment they entered and bowed, the Blessed One sprang up, seized the doll, and tore its arm off in one swift motion. She thrust it towards the daughter’s mouth, shouting, “Eat! Eat!” The daughter stood paralysed, scared out of her wits, while her mother trembled. Praskovya Ivanovna insisted, “Eat! Eat!” The guests were eventually ushered out. It turned out that there was more to this incident. Later, the mother confessed that her daughter had destroyed her own unborn child — something the blessed one had mysteriously known all along.
Though her prayers were her own, Praskovya Ivanovna had memorized a few from the book. She called the Theotokos “Mummy behind the little glass.” Sometimes, she would suddenly halt in her tracks, as though rooted to the spot, and kneel before an icon — or even in the middle of a field, a room, or the street — and weep as she prayed fervently.
She sought the Lord’s blessing for every step and action, sometimes asking out loud and answering herself just as quickly: “Should I go now? Or wait?… Go, go quickly, silly girl!” And so, she would set off. “Should I pray more? Or stop? Father Nicholas the Wonderworker, am I praying well? Not well, you say? Should I leave? Leave, leave quickly, Mummy! I hurt my finger, Mummy! Should I treat it? No need? It will heal on its own!”
In times of spiritual struggle against the enemy of mankind, she would start speaking incessantly, but nothing she said could be understood. She would break objects, shatter dishes, grow agitated, shout, and curse.
Paraskeva of Diveyevo in 1908
One day, a wandering pilgrim came and insisted on being let into her cell. The Blessed One was busy, and her cell attendant dared not disturb her. However, the pilgrim persisted:
“Tell her that I am just like her!”
The cell attendant was surprised by his lack of humility but went to convey his words. Praskovya Ivanovna said nothing, she merely picked up her little cane, went outside and began beating the man with all her might, exclaiming:
“Oh, you murderer, deceiver, thief, impostor!”
The pilgrim left and did not insist on meeting her again.
Praskovya Ivanovna had taken the great schema, but she had no time to read the monastic prayers. Thus, Mother Seraphima read her prayer rules in her stead. In the monastery, Mother Seraphima had her own cell with an ancient bed and pillows, though she never lay down on it, preferring to rest seated in a chair.
They lived in perfect harmony of spirit, and to insult Mother Seraphima was far worse than offending Praskovya Ivanovna. Anyone who dared to upset her found themselves entirely barred from seeing Praskovya Ivanovna.
Mother Seraphima died of cancer. It was then that Praskovya Ivanovna appeared in church, catching the sisters’ attention, for it was a rare sight to see her there. The blessed one remarked to them, “You silly ones, you’re looking at me but not seeing that she wears three crowns” — speaking of Mother Seraphima.
Blessed Pasha of Sarov (center) on the porch with Archimandrite Seraphim (Chichagov) and nun Seraphima, 1890s
Countless instances of Praskovya Ivanovna’s gift of foresight were known, some even recorded.
Once, a young woman named Ksenia from the village of Ruzin came to seek the blessed one’s blessing to enter a convent.
“What are you talking about, girl?” Praskovya exclaimed. “You must first go to St. Petersburg and serve all the lords; only then will the Tsar send me money, and I’ll build you a cell!”
Some time passed, and Ksenia’s brothers began dividing the family estate. She returned to Praskovya Ivanovna once more.
“My brothers want to divide the inheritance, and you still haven’t blessed me! Like it or not, I won’t listen to you this time — I’m going to build the cell!”
The blessed Pasha, startled by her words, leapt up and cried, “Oh, my foolish daughter! How can you! Do you not realise how much higher a child is than us?”
Having said this, she lay down and stretched out. That autumn, Ksenia’s sister-in-law passed away, leaving her with a little orphan girl in her care.
Mother Rafaela recounted how, six months before her own mother died, she visited Praskovya Ivanovna. The Blessed One gazed towards the bell tower.
“They are flying, flying — there’s one, and another behind him — higher and higher,” she clapped her hands, “still higher!”
Mother Rafaela understood at once. Six months later, her mother died, and half a year after that, her grandfather followed.
When Mother Rafaela joined the convent, she was often late to services. One day she came to the blessed one, who remarked, “The girl is good, but such a lazybones! Your mother prays for you.”
Schema-Archimandrite Barsanuphius of Optina was transferred from Optina Monastery and appointed abbot of the Golutvin Monastery. Gravely ill, he wrote to the blessed Praskovya Ivanovna, in whom he had great faith and whom he often visited. Mother Rafaela delivered the letter. Upon hearing its contents, the Blessed One simply replied, “Three hundred and sixty-five!” Exactly 365 days later, the elder passed away. This was confirmed by the elder’s cell attendant, who had witnessed the blessed one’s response.
Blessed Pasha of Sarov in her cell
Praskovya Ivanovna guided many who came to her, showing them the path to salvation. To some, she foretold marriage; to others, she gave her blessing for monastic life. A nun from Diveyevo recalled how she entered the convent: “I had decided to go to Sarov and prayed fervently at the tomb of God’s saint, asking for his help. On my way back, I stopped in Diveyevo and visited Blessed Pasha. As soon as she saw me, she shouted, ‘Where have you been all this time, wandering about? They’ve been waiting for you here, yet you’ve been roaming who knows where!’ She even shook her cane at me!”
During the 1903 celebrations of the canonisation of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the Blessed One received a visit from the Tsar, the Tsarina, and other members of the imperial family. According to Diveyevo tradition, Paraskeva foretold the birth of the heir to the throne.
Family of Emperor Nicholas II
When Nicholas II arrived at Praskovya Ivanovna’s home, chairs were brought outside, and a carpet was laid on the floor. A crowd of witnesses reportedly struggled to squeeze into the small room alongside the imperial couple. Seated on her bed, the blessed one demanded privacy with the Tsar and his family. The courtiers left, though Pasha’s attendant remained. She then insisted that the Tsar and Tsarina sit on the floor.
It was then that she foretold the “fall of Russia, the downfall of the Dynasty, the destruction of the Church, and a sea of blood.” When Alexandra Feodorovna objected, declaring that such things could never happen, Pasha handed her a piece of cloth, saying, “This is for your son’s trousers when he is born — you will believe what I have said.” According to another account, Pasha also gave her a doll shaped like a boy.
Visit of Emperor Nicholas II to Blessed Paraskeva of Diveyevo
From this moment, the Tsar’s family began to revere the blessed elder, so much so that, according to her attendant Evdokia Barskova, the grand dukes frequently visited her with questions from the Emperor.
Praskovya Ivanovna reposed on 22 September (5 October) 1915. In her final days, she continually made prostrations before a portrait of the Tsar.
“Why do you pray so fervently for the Tsar, dear mother?” someone asked her.
“Fools,” she replied. “He will be above all other kings.”
Her passing was long and agonizing. Before the end, she was paralyzed and suffered greatly. Some were puzzled, wondering why such a revered servant of God would endure such a painful death. But it was revealed to one of the sisters that through these sufferings, she had redeemed the souls of her spiritual children from hell.
Praskovya of Diveyevo at her Funeral, October 1915
She was buried behind the altar of the Trinity Cathedral of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery in a brick vault, over which a chapel was later built.
During the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the birth of St. Seraphim of Sarov, on 31 July 2004, Blessed Paraskeva was canonized as a locally venerated saint of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese. Later that year, on 6 October, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church established her as a saint to be venerated by the entire Church.
Her holy relics were uncovered on 20 September 2004 and now rest in the Church of Our Lady of Kazan at the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery. Her memory is celebrated on 22 September / 5 October, as well as on the feast of the Synaxis of the Saints of Diveyevo on 14 / 27 June.
Kazan Church of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery
Troparion to the Diveyevo Blessed Ones Pelagia, Paraskeva, and Maria, Tone 1
Having heard the voice of Paul proclaiming: “We are fools for Christ’s sake,” Your servants, O Christ God, Pelagia, Paraskeva, and Maria became fools on earth for Your sake; therefore, honouring their memory, we pray to You: O Lord, save our souls.
Kontakion to the Diveyevo Blessed Ones Pelagia, Paraskeva, and Maria, Tone 8
Desiring heavenly beauty, you utterly rejected earthly pleasures; passing through life as angels in this transient world, you ended your earthly course as Blessed Ones: Pelagia, Paraskeva, and Maria; pray unceasingly to Christ God for us all.
Magnification to the Diveyevo Blessed Ones Pelagia, Paraskeva, and Maria
We glorify you, holy blessed mothers Pelagia, Paraskeva, and Maria, and we honour your holy memory, for you pray to Christ our God for us.
