Every year on December 17, in all Orthodox churches, St. Barbara of Iliopolskaya, who glorified the Lord with her life and martyrdom, is prayerfully remembered. Born into the family of a pagan fanatic, she was able with her young mind to comprehend the failure of the prejudices he professed and to perceive with her heart the unfading light of Christ's teachings.
The young daughter of a wealthy pagan
When Varvara Iliopolskaya was born (the icon, or rather, her image is presented in the article), it is not known, but from the records that have reached us it follows that she lived in the large trading city of Iliopol of Phoenician in the III century. Her father Dioskor, a rich and noble man, an ardent supporter, is committed to paganism, which at that time was the official religion of all the states subject to Rome. Widowed early, he wholeheartedly attached himself to his only daughter, Barbara, seeing in her a source of joy and happiness.
When Varvara Iliopolskaya grew up a little, her father, wanting to protect her from immodest eyes, and most importantly, to exclude any possibility of communicating with Christians who had appeared in the city at that time, placed her daughter in a castle specially built for her. The girl lived, surrounded by truly royal luxury, but there was one annoying detail that poisoned her joy in life - her father did not allow her to leave this "golden cage".
Reflections on the Creator of the World
Spending long hours near the window and contemplating from the height of one of the towers the beauty of the world around her, Varvara Iliopolskaya involuntarily came to the thought of who is the Creator of this magnificence. The assurances of the educators assigned to her that everything visible around was created by those gilded idols that her father worshiped did not in any way convince her. The inquisitive mind of the young recluse told her that God should not be man-made, but having his own being and located outside the tangible material world.
As a loving father, Dioskor dreamed of a happy marriage to his daughter, and when the time came, he favored the rich and noble grooms who frequented their house. However, what was his grief when the daughter flatly refused to give preference to any of them, saying that she wants to remain clean and chastity. Her father did not convince her of anything, but decided to give it to her married friends, for more frequent communication with which he allowed Barbara to leave the house when she pleased.
Holy baptism
Soon it happened that Dioskor was forced to part with his daughter for a while, going on a long trip, where his urgent business was called. In his absence, Varvara Iliopolskaya often left her home, and one day fate brought her with people who turned out to be secret Christians. When the girl, as usual, started a conversation on a topic of concern to her about the Creator of the world around them, they introduced her to the doctrine of the Triune Deity, the Creator of all things, about His incarnation from the Blessed Virgin Mary, about death on the cross and the subsequent resurrection.
From that day on, Barbara's only desire was to receive holy baptism as soon as possible and devote himself to the service of Jesus Christ. The case was soon introduced. New friends led her to a priest who secretly traveled under the guise of a merchant and in those days was passing through Iliopol. After talking with the girl and instructing her in the foundations of faith, he performed this holy sacrament over her. The Grace of God that descended upon her gave Barbara the power to fulfill her high destiny.
Recognition of faith
Going on a trip, Dioskor ordered the servants to decorate his house with another tower, in which, according to his plan, there should be two windows. Filled with new religious feelings for her, Varvara Iliopolskaya persuaded the workers, in violation of the project, to cut through the third window. In this way, she wanted to have a visible symbol of the Holy Trinity before her eyes . The builders exactly fulfilled her request.
When Dioskor, returning from a trip, demanded an explanation for such a strange whim, from his point of view, the daughter did not dissemble, but openly told him everything that had happened in his absence and announced that she would continue to reject paganism and profess Christianity so hated by him. Father’s anger knew no bounds. Not remembering himself with rage, he drew his sword, and only the flight saved Barbara from inevitable death.
A vision of the Lord that strengthened a virgin
But she could not hide for a long time. By the evening of that day she was captured and, at the behest of her father, brought to the ruler of the city. Dioscorus publicly denied his Christian daughter, leaving her to the mercy of the same pagan fanatic as he was. The ruler, making a concession to her youth and, as it seemed to him, an immature mind, was in no hurry to use force, but tried to persuade the girl to change her mind. However, he soon became convinced of her inflexibility.
Barbara Iliopolskaya the Great Martyr retained her courage even when she was transferred into the merciless hands of the executioner. When at night, on the stone floor of her dungeon, the maiden gave up prayer, Jesus Christ appeared in a visible form before her, who commanded the unfortunate woman to endure torment to the end and not lose hope in His help. With His perfect lips He foretold her imminent bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The martyrdom of the saint
In the morning, the courageous Christian was taken out of prison and beheaded in the presence of a large crowd of pagans. The execution was committed by Dioscur, in his fanatical blindness, he did not spare his own daughter. So Varvara Iliopolskaya ended her earthly journey.
The Great Martyr, whose icon is represented in most Orthodox churches, has become one of the most revered Christian saints. Over the course of many centuries, people have been coming to her in an endless stream, believing their innermost secrets and revealing the soul in the hope of its help. It is generally accepted that she has a special blessing from God to protect those who worship before her from violent death.