Holy Varvara. St. Barbara: what helps? The Prayer of St. Barbara

In the IV century, Sveti Sveta (present-day Syria) shone forth from the remote church of Christ, the great martyr Varvara, the saint, whose day of commemoration the Orthodox Church celebrates on December 17. Seventeen centuries inspire us with its image, setting an example of true faith and love for God. The prayer of St. Barbara helps a large number of believers. What do we know about her earthly life?

The daughter of the heathen Dioscora

In those days, when the future saint was born, the inhabitants of Iliopol, one of the largest cities of Mesopotamia, drowned in the darkness of paganism. Man-made gods were worshiped by notable city dwellers, and the urban poor. Among the most wealthy and respected citizens was a certain Dioscor. Generously rewarded his fate. He had houses, vineyards, and many servants. Only his misfortune visited his house - his beloved wife Dioscora died. He deeply mourned for her and found consolation only in his only daughter. It was the future saint Barbara.

Father gently loved the child and did everything in his power to keep her from the unsightly sides of life. In addition, he dreamed of giving Varvara a married rich groom, thus ensuring her happiness and prosperity. Wanting to save the beautiful daughter from extraneous views, and besides, and from the possible communication with the secret Christians who began to appear in the city, Dioscor built for her a castle in which she lived with her maidens and teachers. She could leave the room only occasionally, accompanied by her father.

Contemplation of the creation of God

Long hours of solitude she spent at the window of her room, immersed in the contemplation of the picturesque nature that surrounded the castle. Once Saint Varvara wanted to learn from her mentors who created all this splendor, amazing eyes. Her teachers were pagans and therefore the creation of the world was attributed to those wooden and clay gods, who were worshiped. In this they tried to persuade a young recluse.

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

Marriage offers

Over time, rich diapers began to be visited by rich suitors who heard about the beauty of his daughter and wished for her marriage bonds. The father did not want to decide anything without recognizing the daughter's opinion, but turning to her with such conversations, met her strong refusal to marry someone. This upset him, but Dioscor attributed this decision to his youth and the wayward nature of his daughter.

To enable her to reduce her acquaintance with other girls and, in dealing with them, change her decision, he allowed her daughter to leave the castle when she pleased. This was exactly what Varvara wanted so much. She often went to the city, and one day, when my father was on a long trip, I met secret Christians living in Iliopol. They told her about the Triune God, about the incarnation of Jesus Christ from the Blessed Virgin, about his redeeming sacrifice, and much more that she did not know before. This teaching deepened in her heart.

The Baptism of Barbara

After some time in the city was a Christian priest, who disguised as a merchant was heading for Alexandria. At the request of the girl, he performed on her the sacrament of baptism. In addition, he more fully expounded to her the Christian teaching, which immediately and unconditionally accepted Varvara. She vowed to devote her whole life to God.

Wishing to capture the image of the Holy Trinity, she ordered in a new tower, the construction of which, when her father started to leave, did not make two windows, as planned in the project, but three. When the father, returning home, asked his daughter about the cause of her deed, she told him the truth about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, not deceitfully. Hearing such a speech, the pagan father was so furious that he threw himself at his daughter, exposing his sword. She managed to escape only by fleeing, hiding in the crevice of the rock, which before her miraculously parted.

The prison and martyrdom of the saint

Dioscor was so blinded by pagan fanaticism that he drowned out all the paternal feelings in him. By the end of that day, he still managed to catch the fugitive. He gave it to the governor of the city, so that he threw her into prison. The poor girl was in the hands of ruthless executioners. But Varvara did not flinch before them, as she relied on God's help in everything. At night, when she prayed earnestly, the Lord appeared to her, comforting her and giving him hope for the soon attainment of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Varvara's courage doubled. Looking at her, one secret Christian openly declared her faith in Christ and expressed a desire to suffer with her. After accepting the martyr's crown, they were both beheaded.

Veneration of St. Barbara in Russia

Three hundred years later the relics of the holy martyr were moved to Constantinople, and in the 12th century they were in Kiev. They were brought with them by the daughter of the Byzantine emperor, having married the Russian prince Mikhail Izyaslavich. There they are kept until now. From the day of the Baptism of Rus , the great martyr Varvara is honored. The saint helps all who turn to her faithfully. Special help is given to those who ask to get rid of sudden death and are afraid to leave the earthly life without repentance. In addition, in other cases, Varvara helps: the saint saves from an accidental misfortune. Since ancient times, it has been noticed that plague epidemics, which often happened in Russia, always bypassed those temples in which its relics were located. Saint Varvara, 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 very name in past years was very widespread in Russia.

Many in the Christian world erected in her honor of temples and monasteries. There is a church of St. Barbara and in Moscow. It is very ancient. Her creation refers to the XVI century. It is not far from the Kremlin, on the street, which is called - Varvarka (on behalf of Varvara). This holy one in ancient times was considered one of the patrons of trade. Therefore, a place for her church was chosen exactly where there were numerous trading rows.