Saint Paraskevi

Saint Paraskevi of Iconium was the daughter of wealthy Christian parents. Her name was associated with her birthday – Friday. She lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian. She was martyred and beheaded for practising the Christian faith. For this reason, she is referred to as Paraskeva Pyatnitsa or the Great Martyr. The cult of St Paraskevi, because of her name, is linked to the day of Good Friday and epitomises the day of the Passion. In iconography, she is shown wearing a voluminous cloak over her shoulders with a hood over her head, with a cross in her right hand, and holding a scroll in her left hand or lifting it to her chest. Another saint of this name, the Paraskeva of the Balkans, who lived in the 11th century and spent most of her life in prayer and asceticism in the Jordan Desert, is depicted in a very similar manner. Full identification of the figure is only possible when the icon contains scenes relating to the life of one or the other saint, or when the full name is given. In the case of the presented icon, the inscription "СВ ПАРАСКОВІЯ ПЯТ", placed on the face of the icon under the brass embossed cover, clearly indicates the figure of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa.

Teresa Bagińska-Żurawska https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9243-3967