Orthodox saint

St Barbara

Holy Great Martyr Barbara of Heliopolis

Αγία Μεγαλομάρτυς Βαρβάρα · Свѧта́ѧ великомѹ́ченица Варва́ра · Великомученица Варвара Илиопольская

St Barbara is remembered on 4 December (17 December on the Old Calendar). Orthodox Christians pray to St Barbara for a Christian end to our life, painless, unashamed and peaceful, to receive the Holy Mysteries (Communion) before death and strength at the hour of death through the Body and Blood of Christ.

Feast days

Feast: Martyrdom (with St Juliana)
Kept on: 4 December (17 December on the Old Calendar)
Next, New Calendar: 4 December 2026
Next, Old Calendar: 17 December 2026

The New Calendar is kept by the Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Bulgarian churches, the OCA and most converts; the Old Calendar by the Russian, Serbian and Georgian churches, Jerusalem and Mount Athos, 13 days later on the civil calendar.

The life of St Barbara

St Barbara was the only daughter of Dioscorus, a wealthy pagan of Heliopolis in Syria, who shut her away in a tower to guard her beauty. Gazing on the heavens, she came to know the one Creator, and was secretly baptized by a priest who came disguised as a merchant. While her father was away she had a third window cut into his new bathhouse in honor of the Holy Trinity. When she confessed Christ, Dioscorus handed her over to torture; the Lord appeared to her in prison and healed her wounds. Her courage brought St Juliana to faith, and both were beheaded, Barbara by her own father, who was soon struck dead by lightning. Her relics rest in Kiev. Orthodox Christians pray to St Barbara above all for a good Christian death, that no one who honors her will be taken suddenly, without repentance and the Holy Mysteries.

What the faithful ask of St Barbara

The faithful pray for

a Christian end to our life, painless, unashamed and peaceful
to receive the Holy Mysteries (Communion) before death
strength at the hour of death through the Body and Blood of Christ
steadfastness in faith and courage in trials
health and the salvation of the soul
healing in illness
children for childless women and an easy birth (Russian/Ukrainian folk usage)

St Barbara protects

from sudden death without repentance and Communion
from lightning and storms
from fire and explosions
from enemies visible and invisible

Patron of

those who fear a sudden, unprepared death
artillerymen (honored as such in Russia too)
miners and tunnelers (Western usage)
firefighters (Western usage)
armorers, military engineers and those who work with explosives (Western usage)
architects and builders (Western usage)
Kiev, where her relics rest

Miracles

Barbara had a third window built into her father's bathhouse to confess the Holy Trinity, and traced a cross on the marble wall that was etched as if with iron.
Source: OCA — Greatmartyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana at Heliopolis in Syria
Her father Dioscorus beheaded her himself and was then struck down by lightning, together with the governor Martianus.
Source: OCA — Greatmartyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana at Heliopolis in Syria
Her relics, taken to Constantinople in the sixth century, were brought to Kiev in the twelfth by the Byzantine princess Barbara Komnene and still rest there.
Source: Azbuka very — Великомученица Варвара Илиопольская

Where the traditions differ

Orthodox (especially Russian) prayer to St Barbara asks above all for a Christian death 'partaking of the Divine Mysteries' and against sudden, unprepared death. The trade patronages — miners, firefighters, armorers, explosives workers, architects — are mainly Western/Catholic (she is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers), though Russian sources also call her protectress of artillery. Protection from lightning comes from the lightning that struck her father. The Lebanese/Levantine 'Eid al-Burbara' customs are not covered here.

St Barbara in our shop

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Until then, the closest we carry

Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.

Ask our priest

Our priest can serve a moleben to St Barbara for the people and the need you name.

Prayer services

Name days

These names keep their name day on a feast of St Barbara:

Prayed to for

Questions

When is the feast day of St Barbara?

Martyrdom (with St Juliana): 4 December (17 December on the Old Calendar).

What do Orthodox Christians pray to St Barbara for?

Orthodox Christians pray to St Barbara for a Christian end to our life, painless, unashamed and peaceful, to receive the Holy Mysteries (Communion) before death, strength at the hour of death through the Body and Blood of Christ, steadfastness in faith and courage in trials, health and the salvation of the soul and healing in illness.

What is St Barbara the patron saint of?

St Barbara is the patron of those who fear a sudden, unprepared death, artillerymen (honored as such in Russia too), miners and tunnelers (Western usage), firefighters (Western usage), armorers, military engineers and those who work with explosives (Western usage), architects and builders (Western usage) and Kiev, where her relics rest.

What does St Barbara protect from?

St Barbara protects from sudden death without repentance and Communion, from lightning and storms, from fire and explosions and from enemies visible and invisible.

Whose name day is on a feast of St Barbara?

The name day of Barbara, Varvara, Barbra and Varvaro.

Sources

OCA — Greatmartyr Barbara and Martyr Juliana at Heliopolis in Syria (read 14 October 2026)
Azbuka very — Великомученица Варвара Илиопольская (read 14 October 2026)
Wikipedia — Saint Barbara (read 14 October 2026)