Ayia Barbara

SAINT BARBARA

Barbara was born around 210 A.D. in Nikomedia, Asia Minor (today, Turkey). (Most of the people of Asia Minor at the time were either Greek or Hellenized natives of many indigenous tribes).

Her father Dioskoros was a fierce loyalist of the, then, existing pagan religion. When Barbara declared that she became a Christian her father reported her to the regional ruler Martinos. She refused to change, so the ruler tortured her. Eventually, her own father decapitated her, but at the same time he was struck by lightning and fell to the ground (we don’t know if he survived).

Her remains were transported to the capital Constantinople during the 5^th century and in 991 AD Emperor Vasilios the 2^nd offered her remains to the Venetians who buried them inside the Saint Mark Cathedral in Venice (therefore, she was considered an important martyr).

(Because of the constant threat of invaders such as Arabs and Turks, people and important relics were migrating westwards into Europe in order to survive).

St. Barbara is a protector of the military and the explosives manufacturers, also of the marines and miners.

Annual feasts in honour to St. Barbara were celebrated in the town of Merzifon (Fazimon) in the Sevastia district of Asia Minor ( coordinates 41’ North, 35’ 30’ East) as late as the 13^th century (after that time Islam became the dominant religion that was imposed by force by invading Turks and Mongols)). Maybe this last city is where Barbara spent most of her short life.