Saint Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, 19th Century, Russian Icon, tempera on wooden board, size 32 x 27 cm. Saint Martyr Paraskeva lived in the 3rd century. Her parents were ardent Christians and especially honored the day of Christ’s sufferings – Friday and gave their daughter name Praskeve, what is translated from Greek as Friday (Rus. Pyatnitsa). Paraskeva decided to devote her life to serving God and enlightenment of pagans. For Christian preaching, she was arrested and brought to the city governor. She was offered to make a sacrifice to a pagan idol. She refused. Then, she was tortured and taken to a prison cell. But, her wounds got healed by the God’s will. They continue to torture her and finally, she was decapitated. Saint Paraskeva Pyatnitsa is one of the most honored and loved saints of Russian people. She is being prayed for family well-being, healing of spiritual and bodily illnesses. Her patronage of women and female work is considered one of the most powerful among all saints. In old believer community, the veneration of Saint Paraskeva was so high, that actually, there was created a cult of St. Paraskeva.