Holy Martyr Paraskevi of Iconium (3rd c.) — October 28 / November 10 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 28 according to the Julian Calendar (November 10 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Holy Martyr Paraskevi of Iconium.

The holy martyr Paraskevi lived and labored in the third century. She was born in Iconium into a wealthy and pious family. Her parents showed particular reverence for Friday, the day of the Savior’s precious Passion, and honored it with an especially strict fast, with prayer and with works of charity. For this reason the Lord granted them a daughter on that very day of the week, and her father and mother named her Paraskevi (“Friday”).

Paraskevi’s parents died while she was still young. After this the saint took a vow of virginity and zealously labored to turn the pagans of her city to Christianity. Enraged, the pagans seized her and brought her before the governor of the region. When the ungodly ruler demanded that the saint worship idols, the blessed one firmly refused and boldly confessed the true God. The governor then ordered her tortured. The lamb of Christ was hung upon a rack and her whole body was torn. At last the martyr, close to death, was thrown into prison. God healed the wounds of His chosen one, but the persecutor failed to grasp the miracle, continued the martyr’s torments, and finally ordered that she be beheaded.