Commemorated on July 26th
Holy Virgin Martyr Paraskeva 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 St Paraskeva 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, St Paraskeva 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, St Paraskeva
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 St Paraskeva 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, St Paraskeva 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.
Source: www.oca.org
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