Venerable Martyr Paraskeva — July 26 / August 8 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, July 26 according to the Julian Calendar (August 8 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates the Venerable Martyr Paraskeva.

The Venerable Martyr Paraskeva was the only daughter of pious parents, and from her earliest youth she dedicated herself to the service of the Lord. After the death of her father and mother, the saint distributed all her possessions to the poor, was tonsured a nun, and took upon herself an apostolic labor: she preached the teaching of Christ tirelessly among the pagans and set many of the ungodly upon the path of salvation.

When word of this reached the Emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161), Saint Paraskeva was arrested and brought to trial. The blessed one courageously confessed her faith before the judges. Neither promises of honor and glory nor threats of torture and death could bend the Lord’s chosen one. A red-hot helmet was placed upon her head, and she was cast into a cauldron of boiling pitch; yet, guarded by the grace of the Holy Spirit, the martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor peered into the cauldron, Paraskeva flung a few drops of the seething pitch into his face, and he was blinded. In despair, the ruler begged help from the lamb of Christ herself, and by her prayer lifted up to the Lord she restored the sight of the impious man. After this the emperor ceased tormenting Paraskeva and set her free.

Traveling from place to place with the preaching of the Gospel, the blessed mother came to a city governed by Asclepius. There she was again imprisoned, brought to judgment, and sentenced to death. The condemned saint was led to a cave to be devoured by a dreadful serpent that nested there, but by the sign of the Cross she destroyed the beast. Shaken by this miracle, Asclepius and the inhabitants of the city believed in the true God and released the Lord’s handmaid.

Paraskeva continued to proclaim the saving teaching. In a city ruled by a certain Tarasius, the venerable mother was seized and, after cruel tortures, was beheaded (+138–161).