Didymoteichos Damascenes: "...I lusted after a bride..."translated

With deep faith and much reverence, our Christians hastened to honor the memory of the Holy Martyr and miracle worker Saint Paraskevi, to learn life lessons and to entrust her with the anxieties of their hearts. The Most Reverend Metropolitan of Didymoteicho Orestiados and Soufli Mr. Damaskinos in the evening presided over the Vespers Synagogue at the celebrating Holy Monastery of Agia Paraskevi Didymoteicho, flanked by the Abbot of the Monastery Archim. Kyrillos Koltsidis and blessed the breads.

On the occasion of the trope of the Vespers similes "Martys Christos panefeme, olessychosa pothisas tes Despotin Christ" he spoke about the great mission of women in modern reality, emphasizing the sanctity of motherhood, her role for the cohesion of the family and her contribution as an educator and as a social worker and missionary.

Continuing, he enumerated the virtues of the Saint, her heroic and unshakable attitude, which was severely tested, her holy testimony and her virtuous life, which she dedicated completely to the one of her heart, as described in this connection by the holy hymn "Purity of body, and brightness of soul, always acquired by the innocent. O bride...