Saints Depicted Carrying Dismembered Body Parts Explained

In the second century, Saint Paraskevi was born to two devout Christians in the Roman empire. Like Saint Lucy, she was extremely charitable, and upon her parents' death, she gave away everything she owned. Also like Saint Lucy, she is often depicted holding a pair of eyes on a plate.

As described in "The Splendor of the Saints," Paraskevi became a nun and traveled around the world trying to convert people to Christianity. According to legend, Emperor Antoninus attempted to convert her instead. When she wouldn't renounce Christianity, he ordered her burned in hot oil. She was drenched in the boiling oil, but she would not burn. Confused, the emperor told Paraskevi to throw some of the oil at him. She flicked it into his face, and he was blinded. Taking pity on him, Paraskevi healed his wounds and restored his vision. Because of this, she is often depicted with a pair of eyes, and she's prayed to by Christians hoping for help with their eye conditions.

While the emperor freed Paraskevi for fixing his burns, that wasn't the last time she was sentenced to death for preaching her beliefs. According to the legend retold by Orthodox Church in America, the authorities attempted to feed Paraskevi to a giant snake, but she made the sign of the cross over it, and it died. The onlookers were so impressed, they all converted to Christianity, and she was again released. Finally, she was taken captive again, tortured, and beheaded.