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This blessed one is undeservedly forgotten: she was revered no less than Matrona of Moscow and Ksenia of St. Petersburgtranslated

October 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Today, when it comes to female holy fools, we usually remember Ksenia of Petersburg or Matrona of Moscow. But Blessed Paraskeva of Diveevskaya, better known as Pasha of Sarov, who lived for 120 years and was revered throughout Russia, is for some reason undeservedly forgotten. But both St. Seraphim of Sarov and Nicholas II listened to her. It was she who predicted to the last Russian Tsar the imminent birth of the long-awaited heir, and the death of Russia and the royal dynasty, and the defeat of the Church, and a sea of blood.

“There are few true holy fools”

Blessed Pasha of Sarov. Lithograph 1908

The Monk Seraphim, who blessed her for the feat of foolishness, even when she came to Sarov on a pilgrimage with her husband, of whom she said: “He is a fool like me,” reminded:

“The true blessed and Christ for the sake of fools are few; most of them are wandering around Russia, spontaneously taking upon themselves this great and difficult feat, vicious people led by the enemy of humanity. But the true blessed ones are recognized by the purity and holiness of their gaze, inexplicable in words, penetrating into the heart of a person, by their way of life and, especially, by the inimitability of their speech, which is the same for everyone.”

And the abbot...

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Ксения Беляева

It is interesting that Seraphim of Sarov himself blessed her on this path when she and her husband came to Sarov. And about “there are few true holy fools” - it was accurately noted, now there are a lot of such self-proclaimed ones. It’s a pity that Pasha Sarovskaya is really almost forgotten, although Nicholas II came to see her.

Екатерина Попова

Yes, Seraphim really blessed her when she and her husband came to Sarov. It’s interesting that she told Nicholas II about the heir and about the blood that would be shed. It’s a pity that now they hardly remember her, although everyone knows Matrona and Ksenia.

Антон Комаров

Yes, Ksenia, it was Seraphim who blessed her when she and her husband arrived in Sarov. I was recently in Diveevo, and local grandmothers said that Pasha even told Nicholas II about the heir right to his face. It’s a pity that now they hardly remember her, although her prophecies came true one after another. Do you often go to Diveevo yourself?

Andreea Matei

Yes, I also remembered how Saint Seraphim blessed her exactly when she came with her husband to Sarov and told him "he is as crazy as I am". It's sad that he forgot about her, when even Nicholas II listened to her. Maybe we should read more of these old lives, not just the ones posted everywhere.

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ვახტანგ ჯავახიშვილი

Still, it is interesting how the old people of Diveevo remembered that Pasha told Nicholas II about the heir directly to his face. I also remember the blessing of Seraphim when they came to Sarov with their husband. There is still little to talk about it with us.

Miloš Marković

Just like Kseniya and Ekaterina wrote - Seraphim blessed her when she came to Sarov with her husband and said "he is the same fool as me". I'm just curious if any of you have been to Divejevo and heard from the grandmothers there how Pasha told Nicholas II to his face that he was the heir. It is sad that almost no one mentions it today, and the prophecies have come true.

Timothy Johnson

Yeah, that bit about Seraphim blessing her when she turned up in Sarov with her husband and called him the same kind of fool as herself really stuck with me too. The local old women in Diveyevo still pass those stories on, same as they told Anton. Funny how we all know Matrona and Xenia but Paша gets left out even though the tsar himself listened to her.

Martin Horváth

Yes, just as Ksenia and Anton write, Serafim blessed her for this crazy life when she came to Sarov with a man and said "he is the same fool as me". It would be good if there was more talk about Pasha in our churches, because her words about blood and a successor really came true. When I was in Divejev last year, the old ladies told me almost the same thing.

Eva Balážová

Yes, Martin, the exact moment when Seraphim blessed her after those words about the man is key. In Divejev, I heard from an older sister that Pasha often warned against "a lot of fake fools", which is worth remembering today. It would be really good if she was talked about in our churches at least once a year.

Валентина Соловьёва

Yes, Anton, Seraphim definitely blessed her when she and her husband arrived in Sarov as simple pilgrims. I also heard from the old women of Diveyevo how Pasha directly told Nicholas II about her son and what would happen next. I usually go to Diveevo for the patronal feast, at the beginning of August, and in which church do you stand there the most?

Ivana Kováčová

Yes, Martin, the moment with the blessing from Seraphim after her words about the man is really the basic one. I read the other day in a book about Divejev that Pasha also warned against people who only pretend to be fools to get attention - that stuck with me. It would be nice if she was at least occasionally mentioned during sermons in Prešov.