21. Great Martyr Paraskeva with vita

Details

Russian, second half 18th century
101.5 x 75 cms

Provenance:
Kasteel de Wijenburgh, Echteld, The Netherlands, inventory no. 80/108.
Private collection, The Netherlands since 1980.

Description:
Great Martyr Paraskeva, one of the first female martyrs in the early centuries of Christianity, is portrayed in full-length in the centre, surrounded by sixteen events of her life. In her left hand she holds an open scroll, on which the beginning of the Nicene Creed is written. In her right hand she holds the martyr’s cross. Two angels hover on either side of Paraskeva, holding a martyr’s crown on her head.

The life of St Paraskeva is more legendary than historical.

After her parents died, she divided her possessions among the poor. She preached Christianity in Rome and converted many people. For this reason she was arrested. Several legends tell how Paraskeva was horribly tortured, but miraculously survived. Upper left, we see the Birth of Paraskeva and her Baptism. She preached Christianity and healed a paralyzed man. People report this to the local governor (end of 1st tier). He tried to persuade her to worship the idols. She refused and is flogged by soldiers. An angel appeared in prison to comfort the injured woman and to heal her wounds. She is imprisoned again. She was tortured by burning candles, but remained unharmed. Then she endured the torture on the wheel. Finally they decided to decapitate her. She died around the year 140.

St Paraskeva, one of the most important female martyrs in the Orthodox Church, was exceptionally steadfast in her Christian faith. The Orthodox Church celebrates her feast day on July 26.