| Saint Barbara | |
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| Virgin and Martyr | |
| Born | third century (?), Nicomedia (in one version of her legend) |
| Died | c. Nicomedia ( Greek: Νικομήδεια modern İzmit) was founded by Nicomedes I of Bithynia at the head of the Gulf of Astacus which opens 306 (?), Nicomedia (in one version of her legend) |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy |
| Feast | 4 December |
| Attributes | Three-windowed tower, palm, chalice, lightning, a crown of martyrdom |
| Patronage | Artillery gunners, masons, mathematicians, miners, military engineers, stonecutters, against lightning, anyone who works at risk of sudden and violent death |
 Saints Portal |
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Saint Barbara, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was a Christian saint and martyr. Nicomedia ( Greek: Νικομήδεια modern İzmit) was founded by Nicomedes I of Bithynia at the head of the Gulf of Astacus which opens The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three Ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the The Calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a Liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more Saints "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Christianity has used symbols from its very beginnings Each Saint has a story and a reason why he or she led an exemplary life Towers are tall human-made Structures that are always taller than they are wide usually by a significant Margin. Arecaceae or Palmae (also known by the name Palmaceae, which is taxonomically invalid or commonly palm tree) the palm family is a family of Flowering Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of Electricity, which typically occurs during Thunderstorms and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom The patron saint of a particular group of people is a Saint who would protect and 'love' the group and its members Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar, and the term "masonry" can also refer to the units themselves A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study and research is the field of Mathematics. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body An engineer is a person professionally engaged in a field of Engineering. Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of Electricity, which typically occurs during Thunderstorms and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated a high level of Holiness and Sanctity The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom Although there is no reference to her in the authentic early Christian writings, nor in the original recension of Saint Jerome's martyrology, veneration of her was common from the seventh century. A martyrology is a catalogue or list of Martyrs (or more precisely of Saints, arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts
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Her story
According to the legendary accounts of her life that circulated from the seventh century, Barbara was the daughter of a rich heathen named Dioscorus. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world She was carefully guarded by her father who kept her shut up in a tower in order to preserve her from the outside world. Having secretly become a Christian, she rejected an offer of marriage that she received through him. Before going on a journey, he commanded that a private bath-house be erected for her use near her dwelling, and during his absence Barbara had three windows put in it, as a symbol of the Holy Trinity, instead of the two originally intended. When her father returned, she acknowledged herself to be a Christian; upon this she was ill-treated by him and dragged before the prefect of the province, Martinianus, who had her cruelly tortured and finally condemned her to death by beheading. The father himself carried out the death-sentence, but in punishment for this he was struck by lightning on the way home and his body consumed. [1]
This summary omits picturesque details found in some versions. These recount that, when her father discovered that she was a Christian, he wanted to kill her, but her prayers created an opening in the tower wall and she escaped. Pursued by her father and guards, she hid in a gorge in the mountains. She stayed hidden here until a shepherd betrayed her. As legend has it, the shepherd was transformed into a marble statue and his herd into grasshoppers. A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to When tortured, Barbara held true to her faith. Torture, according to the United Nations Convention Against Torture, is "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental is intentionally During the night, the dark prison was bathed in light and new miracles occurred. Every morning her wounds were healed. Torches that were to be used to burn her went out as soon as they came near her. According to one version, she died on 4 December 306 in her native Nicomedia, Bithynia, Asia Minor. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Events By Place Roman Empire July 25 — Constantine I is proclaimed Emperor by his troops Nicomedia ( Greek: Νικομήδεια modern İzmit) was founded by Nicomedes I of Bithynia at the head of the Gulf of Astacus which opens Description Several major cities sat on the fertile shores of the Propontis (which is now known as Sea of Marmara) Nicomedia, Chalcedon, Cius Anatolia (Anadolu Ανατολία Anatolía) or Asia minor, comprising most of modern Turkey, is the geographic region bounded by the Black
Veneration
Saint Barbara is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers (also known as Helpers in Need). The "Fourteen Holy Helpers" are a group of Saints venerated together in Roman Catholicism because their Intercession was thought Her association with the lightning that killed her father has caused her to be invoked against lightning and fire; by association with explosions, she is also the patron of artillery and mining. Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body Her feast on 4 December was included in the Tridentine Calendar, having been introduced in Rome in the twelfth century. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. The Tridentine Calendar is the Calendar of saints to be honoured in the official Liturgy of the Roman Rite during the course of the Liturgical year In 1729 that date was assigned to the celebration of Saint Peter Chrysologus, reducing that of Saint Barbara to a commemoration in his Mass. Saint Peter Chrysologus ( for "golden-worded") (c380&ndashc The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. [2] In 1969, because the accounts of her life and martyrdom were judged to be entirely fabulous, lacking clarity even about the place of her martyrdom, it was removed from that calendar. [3] But she is still mentioned in the Roman Martyrology,[4] which, in addition, lists another ten martyr saints named Barbara. The Roman Martyrology is the official Martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church.
Orthodox Christians have never ceased to venerate Saint Barbara, who is very popular among them. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world For them too her feast day is 4 December. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. In the 12th century, the relics of Saint Barbara were brought from Constantinople to the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kiev, where they were kept until the 1930s, when they were transferred to St. Vladimir's Cathedral in the same city. A relic is an object or a personal item of religious significance carefully preserved with an air of Veneration as a tangible memorial Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery (Михайлівський золотоверхий монастир translit Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the St Volodymyr's Cathedral (Патріарший кафедральний собор св
Historicity of her legend
Although the legend of Saint Barbara is included in the Golden Legend (and in William Caxton's version of it) and although she was one of the most popular saints of the Middle Ages, some scholars doubt its veracity and even her existence. The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea by Jacopo da Varagine is a collection of fanciful hagiographies or lives of the Saints that became a late medieval There is no mention of her in the earlier martyrologies, her legend appearing no earlier than the seventh century. A martyrology is a catalogue or list of Martyrs (or more precisely of Saints, arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts Her cultus did not spread until the ninth. This article discusses cult in the original and typically ancient sense of "religious practice" (cultus Various versions differ on the location of her martyrdom, which is variously given as Tuscany, Rome, Antioch, Heliopolis, and Nicomedia. Tuscany (Toscana is a region in Italy. It has an area of 22990 km² and a population of about 3 Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Antioch on the Orontes (Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Δάφνῃ Ἀντιόχεια ἡ ἐπὶ Ὀρόντου or Ἀντιόχεια ἡ Μεγάλη Antiochia ad Orontem also Nicomedia ( Greek: Νικομήδεια modern İzmit) was founded by Nicomedes I of Bithynia at the head of the Gulf of Astacus which opens [5]
The name "Barbara" literally means "a barbarian woman". "Barbarian" is a pejorative term for an uncivilized person either in a general reference to a member of a nation or Ethnos perceived Since the saint's family is described as being respectable Roman citizens, it must have been already in use as a plain given name at the time when the story came into circulation.
Patronage
Saint Barbara became the patron saint of artillerymen. She is also traditionally the patron of armourers, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners and anyone else who worked with cannon and explosives. She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder. She is venerated by everyone who faces the danger of sudden and violent death in work.
The Spanish word santabárbara and the corresponding Italian word santabarbara mean the powder magazine of a ship or fortress. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. It was customary to have a statue of Saint Barbara at the magazine to protect the ship or fortress from suddenly exploding.
Saint Barbara’s Day, 4 December, may be celebrated by British (Royal_Artillery, RAF Armourers), Australian (RAAF Armourers), Canadian (Royal Canadian Artillery) and New Zealand (RNZA) artillery formations, units and sub-units with church parades, sports days, guest nights, cocktail parties, open house, and other activities. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. The Royal Artillery, is the common name for the Royal Regiment of Artillery, is an Arm of the British Army. The Royal New Zealand Artillery forms the Artillery section of the New Zealand Army. The Order of Saint Barbara is a military honor society of the US for both the US Army and the US Marine Corps Artillery, including field artillery and Air Defense Artillery. Order of Saint Barbara is a military Honor society of the US for both the US Army and the US Marine Corps Artillery including Field artillery In the United States, an honor society is an organization of rank the induction into which recognizes excellence among one's peers The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. Field artillery is a category of mobile Artillery used to support armies in the field
The city of Santa Barbara, California, located approximately 100 miles northwest of Los Angeles, is some called because of the Franciscan mission there that was dedicated to her. Santa Barbara is a city in Santa Barbara County California, United States. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West There were many churches dedicated in her name in Russia, including one in Moscow next to Saint Basil's Cathedral and in Yaroslavl. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Moscow (Москва́ romanised: Moskvá, IPA: see also other names) is the Capital and the largest city of The Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin on the Moat (Собор Покрова что на Рву - The Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God, or simply Yaroslavl (Яросла́вль is a city in Russia, the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, located north-east of Moscow.
Because of her identification with lightning and cannonry, in Santería she is identified with the god Shango, god of lightning and war. Santería, also known as La Regla de Lukumi (Lukumi's Rule and The Way of the Saints is an Afro-Cuban religious tradition derived from traditional beliefs See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always
In modern popular culture
The first Spanish-language TV Novela filmed in the US and in full color, was the 1973 production of Santa Bárbara, Virgen y Mártir, filmed entirely on location in Hialeah, Florida. Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.
Saint Barbara is referenced in the song "Don't Let Me Explode" by the rock band The Hold Steady. The Hold Steady is a Brooklyn -based Rock band. Four of its five members have lived in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area and their Twin Cities roots are frequently Before performing the song at a 2006s Lollapalooza music festival, lead singer Craig Finn told the story of Saint Barbara to the crowd of several thousand fans. Lollapalooza is an American music festival featuring Alternative rock, hip hop, and Punk rock bands Dance and Comedy performances Craig Finn is an American Singer and Guitarist born in Boston Massachusetts and raised in Edina, Minnesota. He compared being a Christian in her time to having facial tattoos.
She plays a central role in the Jimmy Buffett bestseller, A Salty Piece of Land. James William "Jimmy" Buffett (born December 25 1946) is a Singer, Songwriter, Author, Businessman, and recently A Salty Piece of Land is a 2004 Novel by bestselling Author and Songwriter Jimmy Buffett.
In the Robert Heinlein book 'Space Cadet', Saint Barbara was referenced as also being the patron saint of Rocketmen due to the high likelihood of their deaths being sudden and caused by explosions. Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7 1907 – May 8 1988 was an American Novelist and Science fiction Writer. Space Cadet is a 1948 Science fiction novel by Robert A Heinlein about Matt Dodson who joins the Space Patrol to help preserve peace in the Solar System This may be seen as a natural progression from her use by Artillery units. In the aforementioned book, a mass is dedicated to her after the deaths of several trainee patrolmen in a rocket crash.
In art
Saint Barbara is depicted in art as standing by a tower with three windows, carrying a palm branch and a chalice; sometimes cannons are depicted by her side. A palm branch (or palm Frond or palm stem) usually refers to the leaves of the Arecaceae (sometimes known by the names Palmae | NOTE Throughout this article "cannon" is used as BOTH the || singular and plural
Gallery
 Saint Barbara flees from her father, by Peter Paul Rubens (c. 1620) |
 The Holy Family with Saint Barbara and young Saint John, by Paolo Veronese (c. Paolo Veronese (1528 – April 19 1588 was an Italian painter of the Renaissance in Venice, famous for paintings such as The Wedding at Cana 1565) |
 Saint Barbara, by Jan van Eyck (c. Jan van Eyck or Johannes de Eyck (jɑn vɑn ɛik (before c 1395 &ndash before July 9, 1441) was an Early Netherlandish painter active 1437) |
 Traditional holy card design for Saint Barbara |
 A Greek Orthodox ikon of Saint Barbara. Holy cards are small mass-produced, Devotional Pictures made for the use of the Catholic faithful The Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) is formed by several autocephalous churches An icon (from Greek εἰκών eikōn, "image" is a religious work of art most commonly a painting from Eastern Christianity. |
 Saint Barbara by Corrado Parducci |
References
- ^ Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Barbara
- ^ Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice 1969), p. Corrado Giuseppe Parducci ( March 10, 1900 - November 22, 1981) was an American Architectural sculptor. 98
- ^ Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice 1969), p. 147
- ^ Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7)
- ^ Bulfinch, (2001). "One Hundred Saints". Boston, MA: Little, Brown and Company.
See also
Religious
- Fourteen Holy Helpers
- St. Barbara Church (in Bohemia)
Artillery
- Air Defense Artillery
- Artillery
- Oozlefinch
- Field Artillery
- Royal Artillery
External links
- Catholic Forum profile for Saint Barbara
- Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Barbara
- Saint Barbara in Orthodoxy
- Royal Artillery: St Barbara
- United States Field Artillery Association: Saint Barbara
- An image of a 16th century French sculpture of Saint Barbara, holding a tower
- Information on Saint Barbara as patron of Santa Barbara, California
- A Day to Honor Saint Barbara
- Where the tradition of the 'Barbarazweig' comes from
Dictionary
Saint Barbara
-proper noun
- The patron of armourers, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners and anyone else who worked with cannon and explosives.
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