Holy Martyr Paraskeva (III)

The holy Martyr Paraskeva lived and laboured in the third century. She was born in Iconium into a rich and devout family. Her parents especially honoured Friday, the day of the Saviour’s precious Passion, marking it with exceptionally strict fasting, prayer and works of charity. For this the Lord gave them a daughter on that very day of the week, and her parents named her Paraskeva (Friday).

Paraskeva’s parents died while she was still a child. After this the saint made a vow of virginity and laboured zealously to convert the pagans of her city to Christianity. The enraged pagans seized her and brought her to the governor of the province. When the godless ruler demanded that the saint worship the idols, the blessed one firmly refused and boldly confessed the true God. Then the governor ordered her to be tortured. The lamb of Christ was hung on a stake and her whole body was lacerated. At last the dying martyr was thrown into prison. God healed His chosen one’s wounds, but the tormentor did not grasp the miracle; he went on torturing the martyr and at last gave orders for her to be beheaded.