Greek Orthodox Icon of St. Paraskevi

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July 26th
Troparion (Tone 1)
Ready for godliness, O namesake of preparedness, thou didst inherit as a dwelling a faith worthy of thy name. O prize-winning Paraskevi thou dost pour forth healings, and art interceding for our souls.

Paraskevi was born in Rome to Christian parents. When her parents died, she became a nun. She received the blessing of the Abbess to proclaim the Gospel of Christ as an itinerant preacher, even though it was illegal to do so. Some Jews brought her for trial before the Emperor Antonius, who tried to persuade her to give up her faith. She remained steadfast, so she was tortured by fire and a white hot helmet was placed on her head. No matter what the soldiers would do to torture her, she would be healed and start the next day refreshed and whole as if nothing had happened. This infuriated Antonius so he decided to boil her alive in a cauldron of boiling water, oil and tar. When she was lowered into it, she acted as though it were lukewarm water. The Emperor accused his men of ineptitude and told Paraskevi to splash some of this water on him. She obeyed and threw hot tar on his face. He was blinded and called out to her to pray to God to heal him, promising to follow Christ if he were to be healed. She jumped out of the cauldron and went to a spring and poured some of its water on his eyes, making the sign of the Cross. He was healed immediately and was baptized in the Name of the Trinity, and ended the persecution of Christians. That spring in Therapia (now in Turkey) has ever since been a source of healing, especially for blindness and other eye ailments. Marcus Aurelius succeded Antonius and renewed the persecution of Christians. Paraskevi was tortured in two more cities. She again miraculously recovered from her wounds. The pagans tried to ascribe her miracles to their false gods. She affirmed that it was the power of "my Christ, the true God." Prince Tarasius ended her earthly life by beheading her on July 26, 180. Her holy relics were later taken to Constantinople.

This Icon is by the hand of Nicholas Papas.

Order # inp-26