Saint Paraskeva Friday has been venerated since the 9th century. She is one of the most important female saints of the Orthodox Church and is especially important to women, whom she taught to keep Fridays holy by fasting and in return provided them with good health and harvests. As Friday is also the day of marketing she is the patron saint of trade.

Legend has it that she was martyred for her faith during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian.