During the 3rd century, St. Barbara lived as the daughter of a rich heathen named Dioscuros. Jealous of her beauty, her father built a tower with solid walls and imprisoned her there. Her only request was that there be "three windows because they would betoken God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the three persons in one true God that we ought to believe and worship.
Infuriated at her Christian admission, Dioscuros drew his sword from its sheath and tried to slay Barbara. She quickly prayed to God for help and was miraculously hidden from Dioscuros' wrath.
Time passed and Dioscuros brought her before a pagan civil judge who told her to recant Christ and give homage to the gods. She refused and was condemned to be executed. She was martyred in by her father. As he descended from the remote mount where he had beheaded her, he was suddenly consumed with fire from heaven.
St. Barbara is the patroness of prisoners due to her confinement to the tower and her cruel treatment in prison. She is also known to be invoked against fire and lightning. Her feast day is on December 4th.
During the 3rd century, St. Barbara lived as the daughter of a rich heathen named Dioscuros. Jealous of her beauty, her father built a tower with solid walls and imprisoned her there. Her only request was that there be "three windows because they would betoken God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, the three persons in one true God that we ought to believe and worship.
St. Barbara's Parish History Page
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