28 October/10 November

The Holy Great-Martyr Paraskeva, nicknamed “Pyatnitsa,” lived in the Roman Empire, during the third century, in the city of Iconium. Her parents were Christians. They accorded great honor to Friday, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ’s suffering. When their daughter was born on that day, therefore, they named her Paraskeva, which translated from the Greek means “Friday.”

Young Paraskeva loved the pure spirit of chastity with all her heart. She took a vow of chastity and worked to spread the Christian Faith among the heathen. In the year 300, a military leader charged by Emperor Diocletian to extirpate the Christians, entered the city. Because Paraskeva refused to offer sacrifice to the idols, she was submitted to torture. She was suspended from a tree, and was raked with iron nails. Barely alive, her flesh torn down to the bones, she was cast into a dungeon. God did not abandon the Holy Sufferer, and miraculously healed her. The malicious torturer was not enlightened by this miracle, and continued to torture St. Paraskeva. He ordered that she be hanged from a tree and burned with torches. Finally, she was beheaded with a sword. Christians buried St. Paraskeva’s body. The relics of the Great Martyr became a source of miracles.

From ancient times, Orthodox Christians have shown love and reverence for St. Paraskeva (also known as Pyatnitsa or Petka). A multitude of pious customs and rites are associated with her memory. Churches and wayside chapels (Pyatnitsy or Fridays) are dedicated to her. She was thought to be the patroness of fields and livestock. On her Feast Day, Russians would bring fruits to the church to be blessed. There was no marketplace in all of Russia without a church or chapel in honor of St. Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa. The Saint was especially revered by explorers, merchants, and travelers.In pre-Revolutionary Moscow, there were four churches in her honor, including the one on Okhotny Row.

In Russia, it has been believed since ancient times that Paraskeva is a healer of spiritual and physical maladies, and a maintainer of domestic wellbeing and happiness. Girls coming of age prayed to her that they be married soon, and that they marry out of love.