St Paraskevi the Virgin-Martyr

St. Paraskevi the Virgin-Martyr Feast Day and Greek Name Day

St. Paraskevi the Virgin-Martyr is honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as a Christian saint known for her devotion to Christ and her courage during the persecutions of the Roman Empire. Her feast day is celebrated on July 26, and on this day people named Paraskevi, Paraskevoula, Paraskevas, Voula, Vivi, Vicky, Evi, Eva, Victor, and Viktoras, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Was St. Paraskevi

St. Paraskevi the Virgin-Martyr lived during the 2nd century and was born to Christian parents who had prayed for a child and dedicated her life to God.

Her name Paraskevi means Friday in Greek, the day of Christ’s crucifixion, and she was named this because she was born on that day.

From a young age she devoted herself to a life of faith, prayer, and service.

Faith and Preaching

St. Paraskevi became known for openly preaching the Christian faith at a time when Christianity was still persecuted in the Roman Empire.

Because of her bold proclamation of Christianity, she was arrested and brought before Roman authorities.

Martyrdom

According to Christian tradition, St. Paraskevi endured severe torture for refusing to renounce her faith.

Despite the suffering she faced, she remained steadfast in her belief in Christ and was eventually executed for her faith, becoming honored by the Church as a Virgin-Martyr.

Greek Name Day for Paraskevi

Because St. Paraskevi the Virgin-Martyr is commemorated on July 26, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Paraskevi

Paraskevoula

Paraskevas

Voula

Vivi

Vicky

Evi

Eva

Victor

Viktoras

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When St. Paraskevi Is Celebrated

The feast day of St. Paraskevi the Virgin-Martyr is observed each year on July 26 in the Greek Orthodox Church. She is remembered for her strong faith, her dedication to spreading Christianity, and her courage during persecution.