Icon - Paraskeva - Wood

Santa Paraskeva, one of the most popular saints of Eastern Christianity, especially in Russia, Greece and the Balkans.
The saint appears front-facing, with a severe and spiritual expression, typical of Byzantine iconography.
She holds a parchment with ecclesiastical Slavic writing, a symbol of her preaching and faith.
Above her head a crown held by angels appears, indicating her martyrial victory.
In the upper left corner Christ is depicted blessing.
The side saints are probably family protectors or patrons added by commission.
It is a Russian icon from the 19th century.
Painted in egg tempera on panel with a gold background.
Rural Russian popular influence, more devotional than scholarly.
Saint Paraskeva is considered protector of:
women,
home,
agricultural work,
and health.

In Russia she is also known as “Paraskeva Pyatnitsa” (“Paraskeva of Friday”).