Barbara the Great Martyr

Great Martyr Barbara of Heliopolis, patron against sudden death.

St. Barbara the Great Martyr lived in the late third century. According to tradition, she was the daughter of a wealthy pagan, Dioskoros, who confined her in a tower; coming to faith in Christ, she confessed Him openly, and after cruel tortures she was put to death by her own father, upon whom judgment swiftly fell.

She is invoked as a protector against sudden and unprepared death, and by long tradition is the patroness of those who work with fire and explosives, including miners and artillerymen. Her feast on December 4 is a beloved name day for Barbara and Varvara.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Barbara the Great Martyr is commemorated on December 4. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on December 17 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Varvara, Varoula, Babs, Barb, Barbie, Barbara

Also commemorated on December 4

• John of Damascus

  Venerable, Ιωάννης ο Δαμασκηνός

  Venerable John of Damascus, theologian, hymnographer and defender of the holy icons.

  Name days: Damaskinos

• Seraphim of Phanarion

  Hierarch, Σεραφείμ Φαναρίου

  Hieromartyr Seraphim, Archbishop of Phanarion and Neochorion in Thessaly.

  Name days: Serafeim, Seraphim, Serafim

• Juliana of Heliopolis

  Holy Woman, Ιουλιανή

  Holy Martyr Juliana, who suffered together with Saint Barbara.

• John of Polybotum

  Hierarch, Ιωάννης Πολυβότου

  John the Wonderworker, Bishop of Polybotum in Phrygia, confessor of the holy icons.

• Christodoulos and Christodouli

  Martyr, Χριστόδουλος και Χριστοδούλη

  Holy Martyrs Christodoulos and Christodouli the Virgin.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.