During the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Nicholas today—on Petkovdan, the patronal feast of the Circle of Serbian Sisters of Kotor—Archpriest Nemanja Krivokapić addressed the faithful, urging them to look to the life of the Venerable Mother Paraskeva, who has been crowned with God’s wreath of glory.

"May it be for health and salvation; a blessed feast day and a blessed *slava* [patron saint celebration] to all who are celebrating today. A blessed *slava* to the members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters from Kotor. On this day, as we celebrate this feast, the Church reminds those of us who consider ourselves Christians—and who strive to live a Christian life—that our earthly existence must, above all, be filled with virtues, that is, with good deeds. The Church reminds us of this in two ways: through the Holy Gospel, which we heard during today’s Liturgy, and through the life of Saint Petka—whose feast we celebrate today and whose life we ​​commemorate—as well as through the hymns of the Church," said Fr. Nemanja.

Virtues, he continued, are what should adorn the life of every Christian—everyone who calls themselves by that name and who hopes to enter the Kingdom of God.

"The 'wise virgins' mentioned in today’s Holy Gospel represent, in fact, those people who take care of their own lives—who ensure they are always prepared for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bridegroom who is to come—the One they were awaiting—is the Lord Himself. We do not know when He will arrive, and therefore, we must always be ready." "The wise virgins—those who had their lamps and oil ready so that they might burn—represent people who take care of their own lives, who constantly keep in mind that the Lord will come, that the end will arrive. They concern themselves with the integrity and purity of their lives. And for our lives to be such, we must arm ourselves. Just as those virgins purchased oil and prepared it, so too must we possess good deeds that draw us toward the Lord. For those who fulfill only the outward form—much like the foolish virgins who began to think about their salvation only at the very last moment—might say: 'Look, Lord, my hands are clean.' But the Lord will reply: 'Yet they are empty; what is in them? You ought to have brought something in those hands.' And what can one bring—what is the only thing one can take to heaven? It is our good deeds," said Fr. Nemanja.

This, he emphasized, is what the Lord will look at, and by this He will judge whether we shall enter the Kingdom of God, or whether—as was the case with the foolish virgins—the doors will be closed to us.

"They were of no use; they failed to fulfill the task of that day. Furthermore, they neither attained salvation nor received any reward." As for those maidens—that is, those individuals who take care of their own spiritual lives—they have entered into the glory of God together with the Lord. The life of Saint Petka, whose feast day we celebrate today, reminds us of this; for her entire life was defined by her efforts to please and assist others, beginning in her earliest childhood. We learn from her hagiography that, even as a young girl—having been raised by pious parents who brought her to the house of God and taught her to be virtuous—she took to heart the teachings heard in church about showing love for others. She would give away all that she possessed—her garments and everything else she owned—to the poor. She lived her entire life in this manner, and because of this, God crowned her with a wreath of glory. We celebrate her today—not because she has any need for our praise, but because we ourselves need to remember her life and the path by which she attained the Kingdom of God, so that, by emulating her, we too might—God willing—attain salvation. May the Lord God grant that, through the prayers of Saint Petka, we may also acquire the treasure that leads to the Kingdom of God; may the Lord receive us there, and may we all rejoice together with her—amen. "Once again, a blessed Slava to the members of the Circle of Serbian Sisters," said Fr. Nemanja.

Venerable Mother Paraskeva (known among the people as Saint Petka) is one of the most revered female saints in the Orthodox world; her feast day is celebrated on October 27th. She is considered the patroness of women, mothers, those giving birth, as well as the sick and the afflicted. Her relics are currently housed in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Moldavia in Iași (Romania).