Great-Martyr Barbara of Heliopolis

My father Dioscorus was a man of noble birth, wealthy and renowned; he lived in the East, in Heliopolis, and was a pagan by origin and by confession of faith. I was his only daughter: he had no other children besides me, and he guarded me as the apple of his eye.

When I began to come of age, I became exceedingly beautiful of face, so that in all that region there was no maiden like me in beauty. Then my father built for me a high tower with splendid chambers and shut me up in it, assigning to me trustworthy governesses and servants, for my mother had already died: he wished that such beauty of mine should not be seen by common people.

Living in the tower, I found consolation in looking down from that height upon the upper and lower creations of God — upon the luminaries of heaven and upon the beauty of the earthly world. Gazing at the sky and observing the shining of the sun, the course of the moon and the beauty of the stars, I asked the servants who lived with me: “Who created all this?” And looking upon the fields and mountains, I asked: “By whose hand was all this made?” They answered that all this was created by the gods — of gold, silver and wood — whom my father honours.

Hearing such words, I began to doubt: the gods whom my father worships are made by human hands; how then could these handmade gods have created such a bright and lofty heaven and such beauty upon the earth, when they themselves can neither walk with their feet nor work with their hands? Thus I often looked at the sky, striving to know the Creator through creation, until suddenly the light of divine grace shone in my heart and opened the eyes of my mind to the knowledge of the One Invisible, Unknown and Incomprehensible God. And the words of David were fulfilled in me: «I meditate on all Thy works, I muse on the works of Thy hands» (Ps. 142:5).

When the time came to give me in marriage, many noble youths, having heard of my beauty, asked my father for my hand. Coming up into the tower to me, Dioscorus began to speak of marriage, naming various suitors to me. I, ashamed even to think of marriage, refused in every way, for I considered it a great loss to myself to lose the priceless pearl of virginity. To my father’s persistent exhortations I at last declared: “If, my father, you continue to speak of this and compel me to betrothal, you will no longer be called my father, for I shall kill myself, and you will be deprived of your only child.”

Hearing this, Dioscorus was struck with horror and went out from me, not daring any longer to compel me to marriage. After this he resolved to set out on a long journey; to those assigned to me he gave orders not to hinder me from freely descending from the tower wherever I wished.

When my father had set out on his journey, I, making use of the freedom to converse unhindered with whom I would, became friends with certain Christian maidens and from them heard the Name of Jesus Christ. They told me of His ineffable Divinity, of the Incarnation from the Most Pure Virgin Mary, of His voluntary Passion and Resurrection, of the future Judgment and of the unending blessedness of believing Christians in the Kingdom of Heaven. Hearing all this, I felt sweetness in my heart and desired to receive baptism.

It happened at that time that a certain presbyter came to Heliopolis in the guise of a merchant. Learning of him, I invited him to myself and secretly learned from him the knowledge of the One Creator of all and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, which I had long and fervently desired. The presbyter, having set forth to me all the mysteries of the holy faith, baptised me in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and departed to his own country. Enlightened by baptism, I was kindled with yet greater love for God and strove in fasting and prayer, serving my Lord, to Whom I was betrothed, having vowed to preserve my virginity in purity.

My father, setting out on a journey, ordered that a splendid bath be built at the bathhouse situated in the garden, and that two windows facing south be made in the bath. While the construction was underway, I once descended from my tower to look at it and, seeing two windows in the bath, asked the workmen: «Why have you made only two windows? Would it not be better to make three windows? Then the wall will be more beautiful, and the bath lighter». The workmen replied that my father had so commanded them. But I insistently demanded that they make three windows, in the image of the Holy Trinity, and said to them: «I shall intercede for you before my father and answer for you; do what I command you». Then the workmen, at my desire, made a third window in the bath.

There was there, as has been said, a bathing pool at which the bath was being built; this bathing pool was faced with hewn marble stones. Coming once to this bathing pool and looking toward the east, I traced with my finger upon the marble the image of the holy Cross, which was imprinted upon the stone so clearly as if it had been struck with iron. Moreover, at the same bath, also upon the stone, the imprint of my maiden foot appeared, and from this imprint water began to flow; later many healings occurred here for those who came with faith.

Walking once through the chambers of my father, I saw his gods, the soulless idols, standing in a place of honour, and I sighed deeply over the perdition of the souls of those people who serve idols. Then I spat upon the faces of the idols, saying: «May all who worship you and expect help from you, who are soulless, become like you!» Having said this, I ascended my tower and, as was my custom, gave myself to prayer and fasting, with all my mind immersed in the contemplation of God.

Meanwhile my father returned from his journey. Inspecting the buildings, he approached the newly built bath and, seeing three windows in its wall, began angrily to rebuke the servants and workmen for having disobeyed his command. They replied that it had not been their will, but mine. My father immediately summoned me and asked why I had ordered a third window to be made in the bath.

I answered: «Three is better than two, for you, my father, ordered two windows to be made in correspondence, as I suppose, to the two heavenly luminaries, the sun and the moon, but I ordered a third to be made in the image of the Triune Light, for the inaccessible, ineffable, never-setting and unwaning Light of the Trinity has three windows, by which every man coming into the world is enlightened».

My father was troubled by such wondrous but incomprehensible words to him. Leading me to the place in the bathing pool where the Cross had been traced upon the stone by my finger, he asked in what manner the light of the three windows enlightens every man. I answered: «Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Three Persons of the One God in Trinity, Who dwells in unapproachable light, enlighten and give life to every breath; for this I ordered three windows to be made, that one might represent the Father, another the Son, and the third the Holy Spirit». Pointing with my hand to the Cross upon the marble, I said that by this sign I had depicted the Son of God, Who became incarnate of the Most Pure Virgin and of His own will suffered on the Cross, that the power of the Cross might drive away from here all the power of the demons.

This and much else I said yet to my hard-hearted father concerning the Holy Trinity, the incarnation and suffering of Christ, and the power of the Cross, by which I brought him into terrible rage. Dioscorus was inflamed with wrath and, forgetting his natural love for me, drew his sword and wished to pierce me, but I turned and fled.

With sword in hand my father pursued me like a wolf after a sheep, and was already overtaking me when a stone mountain unexpectedly barred my path. I knew not where to flee from the hand and sword of my tormentor; I had but one refuge – God, from Whom I sought help and protection, lifting to Him the eyes of both soul and body.

The Most High quickly heard His handmaid and anticipated me with His help, commanding the stone mountain to part before me in two, as once before the protomartyr Thecla when she fled from the profligates. I hid in the cleft that was formed, and immediately the rock closed behind me, giving me a free path to the top of the mountain; having ascended there, I hid in a certain cave.

My father, not seeing his fleeing daughter before him, was amazed and, going round the mountain, sought me for a long time; he saw on the mountain two shepherds pasturing flocks of sheep – they had seen me ascend the mountain and hide in the cave. One of the shepherds, a compassionate man, seeing that my father was filled with rage, did not wish to betray an innocent maiden and said that he had not seen her; but the other, in silence, pointed with his hand to the place where I was hiding.

My father hastened there, and upon the shepherd who had betrayed me the judgment of God fell in that very place: he himself was turned into a stone pillar, and his sheep into locusts. Finding me in the cave, my father began to beat me mercilessly; throwing me to the ground, he trampled me with his feet and, seizing me by the hair, dragged me to his house. Then he shut me in a narrow, dark hut, locked the doors and windows, affixed a seal, set a guard, and tormented me with hunger and thirst.

After this my father went to the governor of that land, Martianus, and told him everything about me, relating that I rejected their gods and believed in the Crucified One; he brought me to him and gave me into his hands, saying: “I renounce her, for she rejects my gods; torment her, mighty governor, as it shall please your will.”

The governor, astonished at my beauty, began to speak to me meekly and kindly, exhorting me to worship the gods and obey my father. But I, exposing with wise speech the vanity of the pagan gods, confessed and glorified the Name of Jesus Christ. At last he said: “Have pity on yourself, fair maiden, and hasten to offer sacrifice to the gods with us; if you will not submit, you will force me to torment you cruelly.” I answered: “I desire to be a sacrifice to Him myself, for He alone is the true God, Creator of heaven and earth, while your gods are nothing; they themselves are the work of human hands, as the prophet of God says: «Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens» (Ps. 113:12; Ps. 95:5). These prophetic words I acknowledge, and concerning your gods I confess that they are false.”

Enraged, the governor immediately commanded me to be stripped – this first torment was for me a suffering heavier than the very wounds. Then the tormentor commanded me to be laid on the ground and beaten severely with ox sinews, and the earth was stained with my blood; when the scourging ceased, the tormentors began to rub my wounds with a hair shirt and sharp potsherds. All these torments did not shake the steadfastness in faith of the martyr, for my faith was founded on the rock – Christ the Lord. After this the governor commanded me to be shut in prison until he should devise for me the most cruel torments.

Barely alive from the severe tortures, I prayed with tears in the prison to my beloved Bridegroom, Christ God, that He would not forsake me in such grievous sufferings, and I spoke with the words of David: «Do not forsake me, O Lord, my God! Be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!» (Ps. 37:22–23).

While I was thus praying, at midnight a great light illumined me; I felt both fear and joy together in my heart: my Incorruptible Bridegroom was drawing near, desiring to visit His bride, and behold, the King of Glory Himself appeared to me in ineffable glory. The Lord, looking upon me with love, said to me with His sweetest lips: «Take courage, My bride, and fear not, for I am with you; I guard you, I look upon your struggle and lighten your pains. For your sufferings I am preparing for you in My heavenly chamber an eternal reward; therefore endure to the end, that you may soon delight in the eternal blessings in My Kingdom!»

Hearing the words of the Lord Christ, I melted like wax before the fire with the desire to be united with God. Having comforted me and gladdened me with His love, the Most Sweet Jesus also healed me of my wounds, so that no trace of them remained upon my body; after that He became invisible, leaving me in ineffable spiritual joy. And I remained in the prison as though in heaven, glorifying Him with heart and lips and giving thanks to the Lord for not having despised but having visited His handmaid who was suffering for His Name.

There lived in that city a certain woman named Juliana, a believer in Christ. From the time I was seized, she followed my sufferings from afar, and seeing that Christ had healed me of my wounds, she too desired to suffer for Him.

In the morning I was brought out to trial for new tortures; Juliana followed me from afar. When I stood before the governor, he saw with astonishment that I was completely healthy and said: «Do you see, maiden, how our gods care for you? Worship them and offer sacrifices». I answered: «Jesus Christ, my God, Who heals every disease, has healed me; Him I worship. But your mind is blinded, and you cannot see this Divine Healer».

Such speech enraged the governor: he ordered me to be hung on a tree, my body to be scraped with iron hooks, my ribs to be burned with lighted candles, and my head to be struck with a hammer. Juliana, beholding my suffering, could not restrain her tears and began to rebuke the governor; she was immediately seized and declared that she was a Christian. The governor ordered her to be tortured as I was, and hung her with me, and she was scraped with iron combs. Enduring torments myself, I lifted my eyes upward to God and prayed: «Do not forsake me, O Lord, but mercifully regard me and my fellow-sufferer Juliana, strengthen us both and grant us strength to accomplish this present struggle: «The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak» (Mt. 26:41; Mk. 14:38)».

After this the torturer ordered both our breasts to be cut off. When our suffering increased, I cried out: «Do not take Your Holy Spirit from us, restore to us, O Lord, the joy of Your salvation, and uphold us with a princely spirit in Your love!» (Ps. 50:13–14).

After such tortures the governor ordered Juliana to be taken to prison, and me, for greater shame, to be led naked through the city, with mockery and blows. Covered with shame as with a garment, I cried out to my beloved Bridegroom Christ God: «O God, Who clothest the heaven with clouds and wrappest the earth with mist as with swaddling bands, do Thou Thyself, O King, cover my nakedness and the suffering of the great-martyr Barbara; grant that the eyes of the impious may not see my body and that Thy handmaid may not be utterly mocked!»

The Lord Jesus Christ, looking down from on high with all His holy Angels upon the struggle of His handmaid, at once hastened to my aid and sent me a radiant Angel with a shining garment to cover my nakedness. After that the impious could no longer see my uncovered body, and I was brought back to the torturer. After me the holy Juliana was also led naked through the city.

Finally the torturer, seeing that he could not turn us from love for Christ or incline us to idolatry, condemned both of us to beheading by the sword.

Dioscor, my hard-hearted father, was so hardened by the devil that he not only did not grieve at seeing the great torments of his daughter, but was not even ashamed to become my executioner. Seizing me and holding a drawn sword in his hand, he dragged me to the place of execution appointed on a mountain outside the city, while one of the soldiers led holy Juliana after us.

As we walked, I prayed to God thus: «O God without beginning, Who hast stretched out the heaven as a covering and established the earth upon the waters, Who commandest Thy sun to rise on the good and the evil and pourest rain upon the righteous and the unrighteous, hearken now also to Thy servant who prayeth to Thee, and grant Thy grace to every man who will remember me and my sufferings, that no sudden illness may come near him, nor unexpected death seize him; for Thou knowest, O Lord, that we are flesh and blood and the creation of Thy most pure hands».

While I was praying thus, a voice was heard from heaven, calling me with Juliana to the heavenly dwellings and promising the fulfilment of what was asked. And we went to death, both martyrs, with great joy, desiring the sooner to be freed from the body and to stand before the Lord. When we reached the appointed place, I, the lamb of Christ, bowed my head beneath the sword and was beheaded by the hands of my merciless father, and the word of Scripture was fulfilled: «the father shall deliver up the child to death» (Mt. 10:21; Mk. 13:12). The soldier beheaded holy Juliana. Thus we accomplished our contest: our souls departed with joy to their Bridegroom Christ, met by Angels and lovingly received by the Master Himself.

As the Life relates, immediately after the execution, divine punishment overtook Dioscor and the governor Martian: both were slain by a thunderstorm, and lightning burned their bodies to ashes — thus were the innocent sufferings of the martyrs avenged.

In that city there lived a pious man named Valentian. Taking the honourable relics of the holy martyrs Barbara and Juliana, he brought them into the city, buried them with due honour and built a church over them. In that church many healings were wrought from the relics of the holy martyrs — by the prayers and grace of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God in Trinity, to Whom be glory unto the ages, amen.

Thus ended the earthly contest of the Great-martyr Barbara. But, as the Life relates, her honourable relics did not remain in Heliopolis even after her death: their path lay far to the north, to a land which she herself did not know in her lifetime.

As the Life relates, in later times the honourable relics of the holy Great-martyr Barbara were translated from Greece to Russia, to Kiev, when, after the enlightenment of the Russian land by holy Baptism, the Russian princes were in especially close and friendly relations with the Greek emperors and took their sisters and daughters as wives.

The first wife of the Great Prince of Kiev Svyatopolk Izyaslavich, named Michael in holy Baptism, was the Greek princess Barbara, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus. Before her departure from Constantinople to Russia, Princess Barbara besought her father to grant her the relics of the holy Great-martyr Barbara, which she brought with her to Kiev. Her husband, the Great Prince Michael, having built in Kiev a stone church in the name of the holy Archistrategos Michael, his patron, honourably placed therein the holy relics of the Great-martyr.

During the invasion of the Russian land by the Tatar Khan Batu, the relics of the holy Great-martyr were hidden by the clergy in a secret place beneath the steps of the stone staircase leading to the upper part of the church. Many years after Batu’s devastation, the honourable relics, by God’s good pleasure, were found, taken from under the bushel, and openly laid with honour in the same church.

As the Life relates, the Chancellor of the Polish Kingdom, George Ossoliński, once visited Kiev. Coming to the church of the Michael Monastery to venerate the venerable relics of the Great-martyr Barbara, he related: «I cherish a deep faith in the help of the holy Great-martyr Barbara, for many testify that whoever entrusts himself to her intercession will not die without repentance and partaking of the Divine Mysteries. I was in Rome and in the western lands and everywhere asked where the relics of the holy Great-martyr Barbara are, in the West or in the East. I was told that in the West the relics of the holy Great-martyr are not found, nor are they in the East, but that they abide in these lands. Now I believe that it is here, in Kiev, that the true relics of the holy Great-martyr Barbara are found». Having venerated the holy relics, the Chancellor received as a gift, on account of his great faith, a portion of the finger of the right hand of the Great-martyr.

There was also in Kiev the Patriarch of Antioch Macarius; with great faith and love and with tears he venerated the venerable relics and related: «In my patriarchate, not far from Antioch, there is a city called Heliopolis, in which the holy Great-martyr Barbara suffered. When I inquired there about her holy relics, I was told that from deep antiquity they are not there, nor in any other place in the East, but that they abide in the Russian land. Now I undoubtedly believe that here rest the true relics of the holy Great-martyr». The Patriarch earnestly asked that a portion of these holy relics be given to him, and his request was granted.

As the Life relates, many miracles and healings from the holy relics of the Great-martyr took place in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. The Archbishop of Chernihiv Lazar Baranovych, even before he occupied the episcopal see, related in one of his books: «Afflicted with a grave illness, I turned to no other physician, but hastened with prayer to the relics of the holy Great-martyr Barbara, with faith drank the water in which the hand of the Great-martyr had been dipped, and the cup of this water was unto my salvation».

A certain warrior, coming to the church to the venerable relics, venerated them with great reverence and related: «Once, while I was with the regiment, I rode out with my comrades to mow hay, and behold, the Tatars attacked us and took all my comrades captive; I alone was saved. When I was thanking God for my deliverance, the holy virgin Barbara appeared to me in exactly the same garment and crown as she lies here, and said to me: “Know that I am the martyr Barbara, who delivered you from the Tatars.” And so I have come here to her holy relics to thank her for her wondrous intercession».

Likewise a certain citizen of Slutsk, whose withered hand was healed through prayer to the Great-martyr, brought to her relics a hand made of silver as a token of healing, and asked that it be hung by the shrine of the saint.

Let us honor Saint Barbara:/ for you crushed the enemy’s snares/ and like a bird got rid of them,// with the help and weapon of the Cross, O all-honorable one.