Icon of Paraskeva Friday

Icon of Paraskeva Friday. Russia, 19th century. Wood, gesso, tempera. 19.5x22.5 cm. A small half-length icon depicts a saint with a cross and scrolls in her hands; with the image of Christ overshadowing Paraskeva.

The Holy Martyr Paraskeva, who was named Vendredi, lived in Iconium in the third century in a rich and pious family. The saints parents especially revered the day of the suffering of the Lord - Friday, therefore they named their daughter, who was born on this day, Paraskeva, which in Greek means Friday. Young Paraskeva loved with all her heart the purity and high morality of her virgin life and took a vow of celibacy. She wanted to devote her whole life to God and to enlighten the pagans with the light of the faith of Christ. On this righteous path, Paraskeva, who bore in her name the memory of the day of the great Passion of Jesus, was destined to partake in the Passion of Christ through bodily torment. For her confession of the Orthodox faith, embittered pagans seized her and brought her to the city ruler. Here she was offered to bring a godless sacrifice to a pagan idol. With a firm heart, trusting in God, the nun rejected this offer. For this she endured great torment: having tied her to a tree, the torturers tormented her clean body with iron nails, and then, tired of the torture, all ulcerated to the bone, they threw her into prison. But God did not leave the holy sufferer and miraculously healed her tormented body. Not understanding this divine sign, the executioners continued to torture Paraskeva and finally cut off her head.

Saint Paraskeva Friday has always enjoyed special love and veneration among the Orthodox people. Many godly customs and rituals are combined with her memory.