The Pyatnitskaya Church in Suzdal is located in the western part of the former settlement, between the Kremlin and the Trade Rows.
Short story
Initially, the temple was wooden, but in 1772 it was replaced by the existing stone one, consecrating the throne in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker. The new name "Nikolskaya" was not fixed, and the people of Suzdal still call the church Pyatnitskaya in memory of the wooden church that stood here earlier.... Since ancient times, Saint Paraskeva Friday enjoyed popular love among the Orthodox almost on a par with the Mother of God.
Pyatnitskaya Church against the background of the Church of the Entry into Jerusalem
According to legend, Paraskeva was born in the 3rd century AD in the city of Iconium (modern Turkey), in a family of pious Christians. Her parents especially revered Good Friday, associated with the atoning deed of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion on the Cross. In honor of this mournful day, the Iconian Christians named their daughter Paraskeva, which means "Friday" in Greek. This is how the tautological formation Paraskeva-Friday appeared in Russian speech.... Like Christ, Paraskeva was martyred for her faith and was beheaded by the order of the emperor Diocletian for refusing to worship pagan idols.
The architecture of the Pyatnitskaya church
Bird's eye view of Pyatnitskaya and Entry-Jerusalem churches
In the 18th century, the Church of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, intended for winter services, formed a single ensemble together with Entry-Jerusalem "summer" temple... The complex of "paired" churches was complemented by a bell tower with a "pipe" tent and a brick fence, which had an original end in the form of a "cross barrel" with a head. Unfortunately, the bell tower and the fence have not survived to this day. The Pyatnitskaya church in Suzdal is an example of a "warm temple" typical for posad architecture. Its composition, stretched along the east-west axis, is based on two stone cages. On the east side, the temple is adjoined by a wide semicircular apse, covered with a semi-dome (conch). Unlike other winter churches, the central massive octagon, set on a quadrangle, is crowned with a chased head in the shape of a flowerpot, which is rare for Suzdal.
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