In the 4th century, a confessor of the true teachings of the Church of Christ, the great martyr Barbara, a saint, whose feast day the Orthodox Church celebrates on December 17, shone from the distant city of Iliopol (present-day Syria). For seventeen centuries her image inspires us, setting an example of true faith and love for God. Prayer to Saint Barbara helps a huge number of believers. What do we know about her earthly life?

Daughter of the pagan Dioscorus

In those days when the future saint was born, the inhabitants of Iliopol, one of the largest cities in Mesopotamia, were drowning in the darkness of paganism. Man-made gods were worshiped by both noble citizens and the urban poor. Among the most wealthy and respected citizens was a certain Dioscorus. Fate generously rewarded him. He had houses, vineyards and many servants. Only one misfortune visited his house - the beloved wife of Dioscorus died. He grieved deeply for her and found consolation only in his only daughter. It was the future Saint Barbara.

The father dearly loved the child and did everything in his power to isolate her from the unsightly aspects of life. In addition, he dreamed of marrying Varvara to a rich groom, thus ensuring her happiness and prosperity. Wanting to save the beautiful daughter from prying eyes, and in addition, from possible communication with secret Christians who began to appear in the city, Dioscorus built a castle for her, in which she lived with her maids and educators. The girl could leave it only occasionally, accompanied by her father.

Contemplation of God's Creation

She spent long hours of solitude at the window of her room, immersed in the contemplation of the picturesque nature that surrounded the castle. One day, Saint Barbara wanted to find out from her mentors who created all this magnificence, striking the eye. Her teachers were pagans and therefore the creation of the world was attributed to those wooden and clay gods they worshipped. In this they tried to convince the young recluse.

But Varvara was not satisfied with this explanation. She objected to them, stating that their deities could not create anything, since they themselves were made by human hands. There must be a supreme Creator, one and all-powerful, having his own being. Only he is able, having created the world, to bring such beauty into it. Thus, she was an example of the comprehension of the Creator through his creations.

marriage proposals

Over time, rich suitors began to visit Dioscorus, who heard about the beauty of his daughter and wished for marriage bonds with her. The father did not want to decide anything without knowing the opinion of his daughter, but, turning to her with such conversations, he met her resolute refusal to marry anyone. This upset him, but Dioscorus attributed this decision to his daughter's youth and wayward character.

In order to give her the opportunity to make acquaintance with other girls and, communicating with them, change her mind, he allowed his daughter to leave the castle whenever she pleased. It was just what Barbara wanted so much. She began to visit the city often, and once, when her father was away for a long time, she met secret Christians who lived in Iliopolis. They told her about the incarnation of Jesus Christ from the Most Pure Virgin, about his atoning sacrifice, and about many other things that she did not know before. This teaching sunk deep into her heart.

Baptism of Barbara

After some time, a Christian priest appeared in the city, who, under the guise of a merchant, was heading to Alexandria. At the request of the girl, he committed over her. In addition, he more fully expounded to her the Christian doctrine, which Barbara immediately and unconditionally accepted. She vowed to devote her whole life to God.

Wanting to capture the image, she ordered in the new tower, the construction of which, when leaving, her father began, to make not two windows, as was planned in the project, but three. When the father, returning home, asked his daughter about the reason for her act, she, without cunning, told him the doctrine of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Hearing such speeches, the pagan father was so enraged that he rushed at his daughter, drawing his sword. She managed to escape only by flight, hiding in a crevice of a rock, which miraculously parted in front of her.

Prison and torment saint

Dioscorus was so blinded by pagan fanaticism that he drowned out all his fatherly feelings in him. By the end of that day, he still managed to catch the fugitive. He handed her over to the ruler of the city, so that he would throw her into prison. The poor girl was in the hands of ruthless executioners. But Barbara did not flinch before them, because in everything she trusted in God's help. At night, when she was fervently praying, the Lord appeared to her, comforting her and instilling hope for a speedy acquisition of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Barbara's courage doubled. Looking at her, one secret Christian openly declared her faith in Christ and expressed her desire to suffer with her. Having accepted the martyr's crown, both of them were beheaded.

Veneration of Saint Barbara in Russia

Three hundred years later, the relics of the Holy Great Martyr were transferred to Constantinople, and in the 12th century they ended up in Kiev. They were brought with her by her daughter, having married the Russian prince Mikhail Izyaslavich. They are stored there to this day. From the day we have venerated the Great Martyr Barbara. The saint helps everyone who turns to her with faith. She gives special help to those who ask to be delivered from sudden death and are afraid to leave earthly life without repentance. In addition, Barbara helps in other cases: the saint saves from unexpected misfortune. Since ancient times, it has been noted that plague epidemics, which often occurred in Russia, always bypassed those temples in which her relics were located. Saint Barbara, whose icon is in almost every Orthodox church, is one of the most revered and beloved saints in our country. Very many, not knowing the history of her earthly life, consider her Russian. By the way, this name itself was very common in Russia in past years.

Many churches and monasteries were erected in the Christian world in her honor. There is a church of St. Barbara in Moscow. She is very ancient. Its creation dates back to the 16th century. It is located not far from the Kremlin, on the street, which is called Varvarka (on behalf of Varvara). This saint in ancient times was considered one of them. Therefore, the place for her church was chosen exactly where there were numerous shopping arcades.

The Lord gave the Great Martyr Barbara a special gift - prayers and petitions for the last communion of a person. In her deathbed prayer, the Holy Great Martyr Barbara asked the Lord that He would deliver everyone who resorted to her help from unexpected troubles, from sudden death without repentance, and would pour out His grace on them. In response, she heard a voice from Heaven, promising to fulfill her request. Therefore, they pray to Saint Barbara not to die without confession and Holy Communion, they ask to be protected from serious illnesses and sudden and sudden death. They also pray to the saint for help and intercession for children, for deliverance from serious illnesses and illnesses, for help in despondency and sadness, and comfort in sorrow.

In the modern world, the holy martyr Barbara has new areas of patronage. On December 17, 1959, the Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN) were formed, so this day became a professional holiday for rocket soldiers. The coincidence of Saint Barbara's memorial day with the formation of the Rocket Forces made Saint Barbara the heavenly patroness of the Rocket Forces. In any missile division at the command post there is an icon of the Great Martyr.

It is widely known that the holy martyr Barbara is responsible before God for the miners. In the new Russia, the resumption of official veneration by miners of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara is associated with the name of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who gave his blessing to honor Saint Barbara as the heavenly patroness of all mining industries and their universities. The blessing of His Holiness Alexy II was announced at the Second Congress of Miners of Russia in 2002. And today, miners, like all Orthodox Christians, pray to the Holy Great Martyr Barbara for deliverance from sudden death, other unexpected troubles and troubles.

From the Life of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara

Saint Barbara lived in the 4th century during the reign of Maximian Galerius, a cruel persecutor of Christians. Having lost her mother early, Saint Barbara lived with her father in the city of Iliopol of Phoenicia (present-day Syria). The girl's father, a noble man, the pagan Dioscorus, having lost his wife, focused all his attention on raising his only daughter. Early noticing the rare beauty and abilities of his daughter, Dioscorus settled Saint Barbara in a tower, hiding from prying eyes.

Surrounded only by maidservants and pagan teachers, Saint Barbara often observed the life of nature. Indeed, the most beautiful views opened from the height of the tower. Varvara had a lot of time to think, and she began to think about who created such beauty, the contemplation of which brought her inexplicable consolation. The pagan teachers told her about their gods, but Saint Barbara could not believe that the stone idols worshiped by the teachers and her father could create such beauty and fill her with life.

Rumors about the extraordinary beauty and chastity of Saint Barbara attracted many noble suitors, and the father suggested that Varvara choose her future husband. Not expecting such a decisive refusal from his daughter, which he received in response to his proposal, Dioscorus decided to leave his daughter for a while and allowed her to walk freely where she wanted, hoping that separation from him and communication with other people could affect her. consent to marry.

The heart of Saint Barbara, long seeking the word of truth, led her to the Christian girls, who told her about the Creator of the world, about the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and His redemptive sacrifice, about the general resurrection. Saint Barbara immediately believed in the One, Life-Giving God, the Creator of the Universe, and burned with love for the Lord Jesus Christ. The presbyter from Alexandria, who was at that time in Iliopolis, taught Saint Barbara the basics of Christianity. Some time later, she received Holy Baptism.

According to the Tradition, before his departure “... Saint Barbara's father ordered the construction of a bathhouse with two windows in honor of the sun and the moon. Varvara, on the other hand, begged the workers to make three windows, in the image of the Trinity Light. Next to the bath was a font surrounded by a marble fence. On the eastern side of the fence, Varvara drew a cross with her finger, which was imprinted on the stone, as if it had been carved with iron. The footprint of the saint was imprinted on a stone step, and a source of healing water gushed out of it.

When Dioscorus found out about his daughter's orders, he began to get angry, but when, during the explanation, he realized that his daughter was a Christian, he became completely furious, drew his sword and wanted to hit Barbara with it, but she rushed to run. Varvara ran until she ran into a mountain that blocked her further flight. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, she turned to the Lord with a prayer for help. At her prayer, the mountain parted, forming a cleft, along which the girl went to the top of the mountain. There, in a cave, she took refuge from the wrath of her father.

The shepherds, who saw Varvara on the mountainside, told the father where his daughter was hiding. Dioscorus could not allow his daughter to be a Christian, he severely beat Barbara and put her in prison, leaving her without food and water, hoping that she would come to her senses and renounce the Christian faith. When Dioscorus realized that he would not achieve anything, he handed over his daughter into the hands of the ruler Martian, the persecutor of Christians.

Neither persuasion, nor promises of wealth and all sorts of other earthly blessings could shake the faith recently acquired by Barbara, then Martian gave the order to torture. According to the Tradition, at midnight an unspeakable Light shone in the dungeon, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself appeared to the suffering great martyr, healed her wounds, sent down joy to her soul, consoled her with the hope of bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven. The next day, when Barbara appeared healed before Martian's court, he tried to convince her that it was the idols who healed her, persuading Barbara to sacrifice to them. But Saint Barbara glorified the Lord Jesus Christ as a true healer of souls and bodies. She was subjected to even greater torment.

Unable to endure what was being observed, the Christian Juliana, standing in the crowd, indignantly began to denounce the cruelty of Martian and announced to everyone that she, too, was a Christian. The torture continued for several more days. When it became clear that the girls would not renounce, Martian sentenced both martyrs to beheading with a sword. The Holy Great Martyr Barbara was executed by her father. According to legend, Martian and Dioscorus immediately after the execution received retribution from God: they died from a lightning strike.

The relics of St. Barbara were transferred to Constantinople in the 6th century, and in the 12th century, the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Alexei Komnenos, Princess Barbara, entering into marriage with the Russian prince Mikhail Izyaslavich, brought them with her to Kiev, where they are now located - in the Cathedral of the Holy Prince Vladimir.

Immediately after the Baptism of Russia, the Great Martyr Varvara became one of the most revered saints of the Russian people. And today in all Orthodox churches the words are heard:

Lamb all-blessed Varvaro,
Divinely illumined by the light of the Holy Trinity Trisolar
and in the font, having affirmed in the victory of the flattery of the father,
You have confessed the faith of Christ.
That, all-honorable, from above, God has given you grace,
heal all sickness and disease.
Pray him, great martyr, may our souls be saved.

Saint Barbara of Iliopol is one of the Christian great martyrs, protecting Orthodox people from possible sudden death, which is a punishment from Above. A person can no longer repent of sins and take communion, and therefore appears before Christ in a sinful state.

Barbarian intercession protects a person from a terrible heavenly punishment. She is revered by both Orthodox and Catholics.

Biography of the Great Martyr

The life of Saint Barbara the Great Martyr says that the girl endured many terrible tortures for Christ through the malice of her pagan father.

Varvara Iliopolskaya

It was she, the only one, who was honored to be depicted on the icon, holding in her hands the Chalice - the Chalice of Communion, which only a priest can touch.

adolescence

The girl was born on the territory of present-day Syria in the city of Iliopol in a noble family of pagans. Her father Dioscorus, having been widowed early, took great care of his beloved daughter. Growing up, Barbara became a very beautiful girl. That is why her father built for her a high and tastefully furnished dwelling - a high tower with magnificent chambers. Teachers and maids were assigned to the girl. Dioscorus forbade his daughter to leave the castle without his permission, so that unworthy people would not see her beautiful face. Varvara's only entertainment was contemplation of the beauty of the earthly world from the height of her dwelling.

Holy Great Martyr Barbara of Iliopol. Icon, XIV century.

The girl dreamed of knowing the true Creator of the world. But the father wanted to marry off his daughter and for this he invited wealthy suitors to get acquainted with Varvara. She refused to fulfill her father's will. Frustrated, Dioscorus decided to let his daughter leave the walls of the tower and allowed her to communicate with her friends in the hope that they would still persuade her to choose a spouse.

Read about other women ascetics:

Once he went to distant lands on business and ordered during his absence to build a luxurious bath at the bathhouse. In the bath, he ordered to make only two windows on the south side. But Varvara persuaded the builders to make the third, eastern, in the name of the Holy Trinity. On the marble stone with which the pool was lined, the girl drew the Holy Cross. It's a miracle, but it was imprinted on the stone, as if it had been specially carved. The imprint of a girl's foot remained here, and subsequently water began to flow from it and many miraculous healings were performed.

During her father's long journey, Varvara made friends with the city's Christian women, who told her about Christ, about His life, sufferings, resurrection, and about His Most Pure Mother. In those days, in the city, under the guise of a visiting merchant, an Orthodox priest was persuaded by Varvara to perform the Sacrament of Holy Baptism over her. She vowed to dedicate her life to Christ.

Suffering for Christ

Upon returning home, the father heard from his beloved daughter the instructions of the Christian faith. In a rage, he attacked the girl with a sword, but she managed to run away and hide in a mountain crevice, which miraculously opened up before her. But the local shepherd gave away her location to Dioscorus, and in the evening the father brought his daughter home, severely beating her. In the morning he took her to the governor of the city and renounced her paternity because of her rejection of the pagan deity. The mayor for a long time persuaded the beauty to renounce the faith of Christ and not deviate from the long-accepted pagan laws. But the saint firmly stood her ground and denounced the idolatrous heresy. She openly confessed Jesus Christ as God and Heavenly Bridegroom.

Great Martyr Barbara

By order of the city planner, Varvara was subjected to cruel torment and torture. She was severely beaten, her deep wounds were rubbed with a sackcloth, she was hung up from a tree, her delicate body was whittled with iron hooks, and her skull was smashed with a hammer. An ordinary person could not have survived after incredible suffering, but Barbara bravely endured them. She was strengthened by faith and the Power of God.

In the same city lived the girl Juliana. She was a true believer and God-fearing townswoman. Ever since she was captured by the pagan tormentors, Varvara has been watching her from afar. When she was thrown into prison after being tortured, Juliana looked through the prison window and never ceased to be amazed at the strength of the faith of the young beauty, her great will, not sparing her life to lay down her life for Christ. Seeing that the Heavenly Father had healed the virgin from terrible wounds, Juliana decided to also suffer for the Creator and begged Him to send patience in the coming sufferings.

In the morning of the next day, the guards took the saint out of prison and led her towards new painful tortures. Juliana followed the martyr from a distance. Looking at the terrible suffering of the girl, she cried a lot. Gaining strength and courage, she loudly from the crowd began to accuse the city lord of inhumanity and blaspheme the pagan deity. The guards immediately grabbed her, and the mayor asked about her religion. Juliana was not afraid and publicly called herself a Christian.

Now, together with Varvara, the girls were taken naked along the city streets, and then hung up to a tree and began to plan their bodies with iron combs. After torture, the heads of the martyrs were cut off. Moreover, Dioscorus personally executed his beloved daughter. But God's retribution befell him: lightning struck the man and his body turned into a handful of ashes.

repose

The remains of Barbara and Juliana were buried in the village of Gelasia by the pious husband Valentinian. Later, a temple was erected at the burial site, inside which the holy relics rested.

Icon "Holy Great Martyr Barbara of Iliopol"

In Mesopotamia, a church was also built in honor of Barbara; within its walls, part of the relics of the virgin and her petrified breast, from which milk and blood oozed, were kept.

Attention! The holy relics of the Great Martyr were transferred to Constantinople in the 6th century, and in the 12th century Princess Varvara, wife of the Russian prince Mikhail Izyaslavich, took them with her to Kiev, where to this day they rest in the walls of the Vladimir Cathedral.

What to pray for Barbara

The servant of God is able to solve any problems of believing Christians, among them:

• patronage of miners and artillerymen;
• salvation from sudden death without repentance;
• protection from misfortunes and troubles, mental anguish and despondency;
• salvation from fire, sea storm;
• healing from various, even untreatable ailments;
• good outcome of difficult childbirth;

The holy relics of the great martyr have miraculous properties, charge with divine energy those who flow to them. Things consecrated on a shrine with relics are worn by Orthodox people on the body as some kind of “talismans”. It is known that Russian empresses, instead of their expensive rings, put on their fingers modest rings consecrated on the relics of Barbara.

Iconography

The gaze of the beautiful virgin Barbara is directed from the canvas of the icon to the viewer. The girl is dressed in a green tunic with a brown maforium over it. The saint's head is crowned with a crown. In her right hand, Barbara holds the Holy Crucifix, called to remind of the suffering of the Almighty. The left palm of the martyr is open and turned to the prayer books, symbolizing the righteousness and openness of an honest, sinless soul.

The facial features of the young maiden are clean, open, but strict, embodying the beauty of the celestial. The image of the virgin does not express emotions and is a detachment from the worldly, a commitment to serving the Savior.

Video about the life and suffering of the Great Martyr Barbara.

The Holy Great Martyr Barbara was born in the city of Iliopol (present-day Syria) under Emperor Maximin (305-311) into a noble pagan family. Barbara's father Dioscorus, having lost his wife early, was passionately attached to his only daughter. In order to protect the beautiful girl from prying eyes and at the same time deprive her of communion with Christians, he built a special castle for his daughter, from which she would leave only with the permission of her father (kontakion 2). Contemplating from the height of the tower the beauty of God's world. Barbara often felt the desire to know his true Creator. When the teachers assigned to her said that the world was created by the gods whom her father reveres, she mentally said: “The gods whom my father reveres are made by human hands. How could these gods create such a bright sky and such earthly beauty? There must be only one God, whom not a human hand created, but He Himself, having His own being. Thus, Saint Barbara learned from the creatures of the visible world to know the Creator, and the words of the prophet came true on her: “Learn in all your deeds, learn your hand in creation” (Ps. 142, 5) (Ikos 2).

Over time, rich and noble suitors began to come to Dioscorus more and more often, asking for the hand of his daughter. The father, who had long dreamed of Varvara's marriage, decided to start a conversation with her about marriage, but, to his chagrin, he heard from her a resolute refusal to fulfill his will. Dioscorus decided that over time his daughter's mood would change and she would have a tendency to marry. To do this, he allowed her to leave the tower, hoping that in communicating with her friends she would see a different attitude towards marriage.

Once, when Dioscorus was on a long journey, Varvara met local Christian women, who told her about the Triune God, about the inexpressible Divinity of Jesus Christ, about His incarnation from the Blessed Virgin, and about His free suffering and Resurrection. It so happened that at that time in Iliopolis, passing from Alexandria, there was a priest who disguised himself as a merchant. Having learned about him, Varvara invited the presbyter to her place and asked to perform the Sacrament of Baptism over her. The priest explained to her the foundations of the holy faith and then baptized her in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Enlightened by the grace of Baptism, Varvara turned to God with even greater love. She promised to dedicate her whole life to Him.

During the absence of Dioscorus, a stone tower was being built at his house, where the workers, on the orders of the owner, intended to build two windows on the south side. But Barbara, having once come to see the construction, begged them to make a third window - in the image of the Trinity Light (ikos 3). When the father returned, he demanded from his daughter a report on what had been done, “Three are better than two,” Barbara said, “for the impregnable, inexpressible Light, Trinity, Three Windows (Hypostases or Faces).” Hearing Christian teachings from Barbara, Dioscorus was furious. He rushed at her with a drawn sword, but Varvara managed to run out of the house (ikos 4). She took refuge in a mountain crevice, which miraculously parted before her.

By evening, Dioscorus, at the direction of a shepherd, nevertheless found Varvara and, with beatings, dragged the martyr into the house (ikos 5). The next morning, he took Varvara to the city governor and said: “I renounce her, because she rejects my gods, and if she does not turn to them again, then she will not be my daughter. Torment her, mighty ruler, as you please.” For a long time the mayor persuaded Varvara not to deviate from the ancient laws of the fathers and not to oppose the will of her father. But the saint with wise speech exposed the delusions of idolaters and confessed Jesus Christ as God. Then they began to beat her severely with ox sinews, and after that they rub the deep wounds with a hard hair shirt.

At the end of the day Varvara was taken to the dungeon. At night, when her mind was occupied with prayer, the Lord appeared to her and said: “Be of good cheer, My bride, and do not be afraid, for I am with you. I look at your feat and ease your illnesses. Endure to the end so that you will soon enjoy eternal blessings in My Kingdom. "The next day, everyone was surprised to see Barbara - there were no traces of recent tortures on her body (ikos 6). Seeing such a miracle, one Christian, named Juliana, openly confessed her faith and declared her desire to suffer for Christ (kontakion 8). They began to lead both martyrs naked around the city, and then hung them on a tree and tortured them for a long time (kontakion 9). Their bodies were torn with hooks, burned with candles, and beaten on the head with a hammer (ikos 7). From such torture it was impossible for a person to remain alive, if the martyrs were not strengthened by the power of God. Remaining faithful to Christ, by order of the ruler, the martyrs were beheaded. Saint Barbara was executed by Dioscorus himself (Ikos 10). But the ruthless father was soon struck by lightning, turning his body to ashes.

The relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara were transferred to Constantinople in the 6th century, and in the 12th century the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Alexei Komnenos (1081-1118), Princess Barbara, entering into marriage with the Russian prince Mikhail Izyaslavich, brought them with her to Kiev, where they are now - in the Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir.