Her full religious title is ‘Paraskeva of Ikonium, Great Martyr.’ She is primarily venerated in Russia, especially in Novgorod. No certain historical facts about her are known and, according to the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, ‘the origins of her cult are obscure’. The name, in both Russia and Greek means Friday. In Russia she is known as Paraskevi-Pyatnitsa.

By tradition she is the patron of women and of markets and trade. (In Russia Friday was market day). Theologians suppose her to have been martyred during the persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian (304-305) for her fearless preaching of the Christian gospel. Legend tells us that, when arrested and asked her name, she would only give that of Christ: ‘it is necessary to give first the name of eternal life and only then, the name of temporary existence.’