The Venerable Martyr Paraskeva was the only daughter of Christian parents and devoted herself to God from a young age. While living in her parents' house, she devoted a lot of time to prayer and studying the Holy Scriptures. After the death of her parents, Saint Paraskeva distributed all her possessions to the poor, became a monk, and, imitating the holy apostles, began to preach about Christ to pagans, converting many to Christianity.
Her activities were reported to Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161), and Saint Paraskeva was brought to trial. She fearlessly confessed herself to be a Christian. Neither the promises of honors and material benefits, nor the threats of torment and death shook the firmness of the saint and did not turn her away from Christ. She was brutally tortured. They put a red-hot helmet on her head and threw her into a cauldron of boiling pitch. However, by the power of God, the holy martyr remained unharmed. When the emperor looked into the cauldron, Saint Paraskeva threw a few drops of red-hot resin in his face, and he went blind. The emperor began to ask her for healing, and the holy martyr healed him. After that, the emperor released Saint Paraskeva.
Passing from one place to another with the preaching of the gospel, Saint Paraskeva came to the city where Asclepius was the ruler. Here the saint was tried again and sentenced to death. She was taken to a huge snake that lived in a cave to devour her. But Saint Paraskeva made the sign of the cross over the serpent, and it immediately died. Asclepius and the townspeople, seeing such a miracle, believed in Christ and released the saint. She continued her sermon. In a city where a certain Tarasius was the ruler, Saint Paraskeva suffered a martyr's death. After severe torture, she was beheaded.