2nd century
Saint Paraskevi of Rome
Second-century venerable martyr, honoured in popular piety as protector of the eyes.
Biography
According to the synaxarion, Paraskevi was born near Rome to Christian parents who named her after the day of her birth, Friday (Paraskevi). She preached the Gospel and was martyred in the second century.
In folk tradition she is the protector of the eyes, and many country chapels dedicated to her hold festivals on 26 July.