Saint Paraskeve
Dublin Core
Title
Saint Paraskeve
Subject
Description
The panel on the lower part of the soffit of the western arch of the narthex depicts Saint Paraskevi holding a medallion with Christ as the Man of Sorrows. On each side of His figure, His sigla can be read and behind Him the cross is painted.
Paraskevi (i.e. Friday), a martyr, was named as such because she was born on Friday. She was widely venerated across the Eastern Roman Empire but also in southern Italy.
The specific type of representation of Saint Paraskevi holding a medallion depicting the Man of Sorrows corresponds to the metaphorical portrayal of Good Friday, as on Friday Christ was placed and suffered on the cross. The scene was popular among the iconographic repertoire of churches in Cyprus during late medieval years and relics of her were kept in the monasteries of Kikkos, Mahairas and Saint Barbara.
The link of Saint Paraskevi with the Day of Judgement, and therefore with the whole iconographic program of the narthex, is additionally to be found on textual contents. In the Vespers service of 26 July, the date of her commemoration, Paraskevi is called to intervene with Christ on the Second Coming in order to protect the souls of the faithful. On the contrary, in Apocalypse of Anastasia, Paraskevi and others are mentioned not as defenders of the faithful but as prosecutors of the sinners, standing before the throne of the Almighty.
Paraskevi (i.e. Friday), a martyr, was named as such because she was born on Friday. She was widely venerated across the Eastern Roman Empire but also in southern Italy.
The specific type of representation of Saint Paraskevi holding a medallion depicting the Man of Sorrows corresponds to the metaphorical portrayal of Good Friday, as on Friday Christ was placed and suffered on the cross. The scene was popular among the iconographic repertoire of churches in Cyprus during late medieval years and relics of her were kept in the monasteries of Kikkos, Mahairas and Saint Barbara.
The link of Saint Paraskevi with the Day of Judgement, and therefore with the whole iconographic program of the narthex, is additionally to be found on textual contents. In the Vespers service of 26 July, the date of her commemoration, Paraskevi is called to intervene with Christ on the Second Coming in order to protect the souls of the faithful. On the contrary, in Apocalypse of Anastasia, Paraskevi and others are mentioned not as defenders of the faithful but as prosecutors of the sinners, standing before the throne of the Almighty.
Creator
Source
Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology
Publisher
Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology
Library of Cyprus University of Technology
Date
Contributor
Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology
Rights
Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.
Relation
https://apsida.cut.ac.cy/items/show/45036
Format
JPG, MP3
Language
en
Type
Identifier
Figure-122
Coverage
35.046355, 32.973431
Files
Collection
Citation
Ioannides, Marinos, “Saint Paraskeve,” Αψίδα, accessed January 31, 2025, https://apsida.cut.ac.cy/items/show/45318.