Holy Virgin Martyr Paraskevi (Paraskevḗ) of Rome was the only daughter of Christian parents, Agathon and Politia, and from her early years she dedicated herself to God. She spent much of her time in prayer and the study of the Holy Scriptures. After the death of her parents Saint Paraskevi distributed all of her inheritance to the poor, and consecrated her virginity to Christ. Emulating the holy Apostles, she began to preach to the pagans about Christ, converting many to Christianity.
She was arrested during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161) because she refused to worship the idols. She was brought to trial and fearlessly confessed herself a Christian. Neither enticements of honors and material possessions, nor threats of torture and death shook the firmness of the saint nor turned her from Christ. She was given over to beastly tortures. They put a red-hot helmet on her head and threw her in a cauldron filled with boiling oil and pitch. By the power of God the holy martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor peered into the cauldron, Saint Paraskevi threw a drop of the hot liquid in his face, and he was burned. The emperor began to ask her for help, and the holy martyr healed him. After this the emperor set her free.
Traveling from one place to another to preach the Gospel, Saint Paraskevi arrived in a city where the governor was named Asclepius. Here again they tried the saint and sentenced her to death. They took her to an immense serpent living in a cave, so that it would devour her. But Saint Paraskevi made the Sign of the Cross over the snake and it died. Asclepius and the citizens witnessed this miracle and believed in Christ. She was set free, and continued her preaching. In a city where the governor was a certain Tarasius, Saint Paraskevi endured fierce tortures and was beheaded in the year 140.
Many miracles took place at the saint’s tomb: the blind received sight, the lame walked, and barren women gave birth to children. It is not only in the past that the saint performed her miracles, but even today she helps those who call on her in faith.
Troparion — Tone 1
Showing a diligence befitting your calling, O namesake of preparedness,1 / you have inherited as your dwelling, a faith worthy of your name, O prize-winner Paraskevḗ. / Therefore, you pour forth healings, / and you intercede for our souls.
1 Paraskevḗ means Friday, in Greek. In the Scriptures, Friday is called the day of preparation (Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31).
Troparion — Tone 5
O wise and praiseworthy Martyr of Christ Paraskevḗ, / by taking courage and rejecting feminine weakness / you conquered the devil! / You put your torturer to shame by crying out: / “Come, rend my body with your sword, and burn it with fire; / for I go rejoicing to Christ my bridegroom!” / By her prayers, O Christ God, save our souls!
Kontakion — Tone 8
(Podoben: “O Victorious Leader…”)
Come, O faithful, with one accord let us sing a hymn of praise to the prizewinner, the victorious Paraskevḗ, / for she shines forth upon the world with miracles; / driving away the dark moonless night of error, she pours forth grace upon the faithful / who cry out to her: “Rejoice, O much-suffering Martyr!”
Kontakion — Tone 1
Your temple, revered by all, is found to be a hospital for souls, / in it all believers honor you with loud voices, / O glorious Monastic Martyr Paraskevḗ.
~Website of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), https://www.oca.org/saints/troparia/1981/07/26/102096-martyr-paraskevi-of-rome
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