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St. Paraskevi was born in a village near Rome to pious [[Christian]] parents, Agatho and Politea. Her parents prayed fervently for a child, and [[God]] finally blessed their piety. They gave great honor to Friday, the day of Our Lord’s Lord's suffering. Being born on this day, her parents named her Paraskevi (‘’Friday’’ "Friday" in Greek., but literally "preparation").

Strong in faith, learning, and eloquence, Paraskevi spoke persuasively to her fellow Roman citizens, leading them from idolatry to faith in Christ. The rumor of her successes eventually fell upon the ears of the Emperor Antoninus Pius. Summoning her to the Imperial Palace, he attempted to dissuade her from believing in Jesus Christ. Refusing to deprecate her own beliefs, Paraskevi was submitted to gruesome tortures, yet to no avail on the part of the emperor. Finally, she was lowered in a kettle of boiling oil and pitch. But the emperor saw her standing in the vat as if in cool water, unharmed. He asked if Paraskevi had bewitched the pot through some form of magic. In response, Paraskevi scooped up a bit of the boiling liquid, and tossed it toward the emperor, urging him to test it for himself. Some of the oil and pitch splashed into his eyes, blinding him. Screaming in pain, the emperor begged the young woman to heal him. She called upon the name of the Lord, and instantly the emperor regained his sight. Astonished by the miracle, Antoninus released Paraskevi. He also ceased persecuting Christians throughout the Roman Empire; however, this period was brief. After Antoninus’ Antoninus' death in 161, a plague broke out throughout the empire. Romans took it as a sign from their gods that that they were angered by the tolerance of Christianity. Under Antoninus’ Antoninus' successor, Marcus Aurelius, Christian persecution resumed.

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