She was born in Serbia, in the village of Epivat, into a pious family. After the death of her parents, she lived a life of fasting and prayer, retreating to the Jordanian desert, where she imitated the saints. Paraskeva suffered from the temptations of the devil, but with God's help, she overcame them. One day, an angel appeared to her, commanding her to return to her homeland, where she continued her struggles. She died, surrendering her soul to God, and was buried as a wanderer.
Her relics were discovered many years later when a pillar-dweller living nearby found her incorrupt body. After visions received from God, the relics were transferred to a church, where healings occurred. In 1238, King John Asen transferred the relics to Bulgaria, and then they were moved to different places due to conquests. In 1641, the relics were moved to Iași, where they remain to this day.
