The Menil Collection The Menil Collection

Named “Friday” by her pious parents after the day of Christ’s suffering, Paraskeva (or Pyatnitsa in Russian) was born in a province of Rome in the 2nd century CE. She was arrested for preaching Christianity during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius (138–161 CE). Paraskeva refused to denounce her religion despite being imprisoned, tortured, and ultimately beheaded. She is shown here in her usual red maphorion (hooded robe), holding a scroll that reads, “I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth.” Two angels place a crown atop Paraskeva’s head. The crown is a later possibly 18th-century addition, though the angels are original. Paraskeva stands surrounded by scenes from her eventful life (beginning at the top row, from left to right): Christ appears to Paraskeva, bringing her a scroll that reads, “I believe in one God”; she preaches from the same scroll; she is summoned before the governor; she kneels in prayer as a soldier arrives. Short inscriptions in Russian identify the remaining scenes. On the left border, from top to bottom, they read: “The emperor [orders] to tear Saint Pyatnitsa with irons”; “Saint Pyatnitsa destroys the idols”; “The emperor [orders] to hang Saint Pyatnitsa on a pole and to burn her ribs with burning candles.” On the right, from top to bottom, we find: “[illegible] Saint Pyatnitsa with leather straps”; “‘Bring me Saint Pyatnitsa’ said the Emperor”; “The Holy Mother of God healed Saint Pyatnitsa.” Finally, the bottom border, from left to right, is labeled: “The beheading of Saint Pyatnitsa”; “Burial of Saint Pyatnitsa”; [illegible except for one word] “crime”; “Emperor [He]gemon thrown by a stubborn horse.”