Orthodox saint

St Paraskeva

St Paraskeva (Paraskevi) — the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa of Iconium

Αγία Παρασκευή — η Μεγαλομάρτυς Παρασκευή η Ικονιεύς · Αγία Παρασκευή η Ρωμαία · Οσία Παρασκευή η Επιβατινή (η Νέα) · Великомѹ́ченица Параскеѵа́, нарицаемая Пѧ́тница · Великомученица Параскева Пятница (Иконийская)

St Paraskeva is remembered on 28 October (10 November on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to St Paraskeva for a happy marriage and a good choice of husband, a good bridegroom for a young woman and peace, harmony and well-being in the home.

Feast days

Feast: Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa of Iconium (the Russian 'Pyatnitsa')
Kept on: 28 October (10 November on the Old Calendar)
Next, New Calendar: 28 October 2026
Next, Old Calendar: 10 November 2026

Feast: Virgin Martyr Paraskevi of Rome (the Greek 'protector of the eyes')
Kept on: 26 July (8 August on the Old Calendar)
Next, New Calendar: 26 July 2027
Next, Old Calendar: 8 August 2027

Feast: Venerable Paraskeva (Petka) the New of Epivates, relics at Iasi (Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian)
Kept on: 14 October (27 October on the Old Calendar)
Next, New Calendar: 14 October 2027
Next, Old Calendar: 27 October 2026

The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.

The life of St Paraskeva

She gave her life to Christ, refused to sacrifice to idols, endured beating and iron claws, was miraculously healed in prison, and was beheaded. In Russia she is loved as Paraskeva Pyatnitsa: churches and wayside chapels bore her name, and her icons guard pious and happy households. St Paraskevi of Rome, a second-century virgin martyr, preached Christ after her parents' death, survived a cauldron of boiling oil, and restored the sight of the ruler who was blinded there; Greeks honor her as protector of the eyes. St Paraskeva the New (Petka), an eleventh-century ascetic of Epivates, rests incorrupt at Iasi. Orthodox Christians pray to these holy women for their families, their marriages and their health.

What the faithful ask of St Paraskeva

The faithful pray for

a happy marriage and a good choice of husband
a good bridegroom for a young woman
peace, harmony and well-being in the home
the conception of a child and an easy birth
the health of children
healing of the eyes and restored sight
healing of grievous illness of body and soul
the protection of fields, crops and livestock
help in all the needs of daily life

St Paraskeva protects

the household from discord and quarrels
from eye diseases
from fever, headache and toothache (Russian folk prayers)
cattle from disease
from grievous illness of body and soul

Patron of

women and wives (in Russia called the 'women's intercessor', babya zastupnitsa)
families and the household
marriage and brides
spinners, weavers and needleworkers
fairs, markets and trade (Russian 'Pyatnitsa' fairs)
fields, harvest and cattle
those with eye ailments (especially St Paraskevi of Rome, Greek usage)
Iasi and Moldavia (St Paraskeva the New)

Miracles

St Paraskeva of Iconium, raked with iron claws and thrown into prison lacerated to the bone, was miraculously healed by God before her beheading.
Source: OCA — Greatmartyr Paraskevi of Iconium
St Paraskevi of Rome emerged unharmed from a cauldron of boiling oil and tar; when the watching ruler was blinded by a splash of it, her prayer restored his sight — which is why she is shown holding a dish with two eyes.
Source: John Sanidopoulos — The Wondrous Saint Paraskevi
At the tomb of St Paraskevi of Rome the blind received sight, the lame walked and barren women bore children.
Source: OCA — Martyr Paraskevi of Rome
The incorrupt relics of St Paraskeva the New, carried from Epivates to Trnovo, Belgrade and Constantinople, were brought to Iasi in 1641, where many healings took place.
Source: OCA — Venerable Paraskevi (Petka) of Serbia

Where the traditions differ

These are three different saints. Russian usage centers on the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa of Iconium (28 Oct). Greek usage centers on St Paraskevi of Rome (26 Jul) as protector of the eyes; Russian prayers to Paraskeva Pyatnitsa also ask for deliverance from eye disease. Serbs, Bulgarians and Romanians chiefly honor St Paraskeva the New (Petka, 14 Oct), patron of Iasi and of needleworkers, spinners and weavers. Name-day choice depends on which saint the family's tradition follows.

St Paraskeva in our shop

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Prayer services

Name days

These names keep their name day on a feast of St Paraskeva:

Prayed to for

Questions

When is the feast day of St Paraskeva?

Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa of Iconium (the Russian 'Pyatnitsa'): 28 October (10 November on the Old Calendar); Virgin Martyr Paraskevi of Rome (the Greek 'protector of the eyes'): 26 July (8 August on the Old Calendar); Venerable Paraskeva (Petka) the New of Epivates, relics at Iasi (Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian): 14 October (27 October on the Old Calendar).

What do Orthodox Christians pray to St Paraskeva for?

Orthodox Christians pray to St Paraskeva for a happy marriage and a good choice of husband, a good bridegroom for a young woman, peace, harmony and well-being in the home, the conception of a child and an easy birth, the health of children and healing of the eyes and restored sight.

What is St Paraskeva the patron saint of?

St Paraskeva is the patron of women and wives (in Russia called the 'women's intercessor', babya zastupnitsa), families and the household, marriage and brides, spinners, weavers and needleworkers, fairs, markets and trade (Russian 'Pyatnitsa' fairs), fields, harvest and cattle, those with eye ailments (especially St Paraskevi of Rome, Greek usage) and Iasi and Moldavia (St Paraskeva the New).

What does St Paraskeva protect from?

St Paraskeva protects the household from discord and quarrels, from eye diseases, from fever, headache and toothache (Russian folk prayers), cattle from disease and from grievous illness of body and soul.

Whose name day is on a feast of St Paraskeva?

The name day of Paraskeva, Paraskevi, Praskovya, Paraskevas, Parascheva, Petka, Voula and Evi.

Sources

OCA — Greatmartyr Paraskevi of Iconium (read 14 October 2026)
OCA — Martyr Paraskevi of Rome (read 14 October 2026)
OCA — Venerable Paraskevi (Petka) of Serbia (read 14 October 2026)
Azbuka very — Великомученица Параскева Пятница (read 14 October 2026)
Calend.ru — Параскева-Пятница, Бабья заступница (read 14 October 2026)
Rambler — Покровительница семьи: кому помогает Параскева Пятница (read 14 October 2026)
John Sanidopoulos — The Wondrous Saint Paraskevi (read 14 October 2026)
Greek City Times — Feast Day of Agia Paraskevi, protector of the eyes (read 14 October 2026)
Wikipedia — Parascheva of the Balkans (read 14 October 2026)