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Saint Barbara in profile, her hair braided, holding a model of her tower, painted by Parmigianino about 1522

Saint Barbara

Said to have been beheaded by her own father, who was struck by lightning on the way home

Patron of
those in danger from thunderstorms and fire, artillerymen, miners, receiving the last sacraments at death
Western calendar
4 December, in the Roman Martyrology
Orthodox calendar
4 December (17 December on the old calendar)

Barbara's story comes to us in legendary Acts, and no early historical source names her, but before the ninth century she was honoured in both East and West. The legend tells that her rich heathen father shut her in a tower, that she had three windows put into his new bath-house as a sign of the Trinity, and that when she confessed herself a Christian he handed her to the prefect, carried out her beheading himself, and was struck by lightning on the way home. From that lightning she became the patron of those in danger from storms and fire, of artillerymen and of miners, and Christians ask her prayers against a sudden death without the sacraments.

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What is a saint’s feast day?

It is the day each year when the Church remembers a saint in its prayers, and for most saints it is the day they died and went home to God. Many saints here have two dates, because the Western and Orthodox Churches keep their own calendars, and some Orthodox churches still count by the old Julian calendar, which runs thirteen days behind ours.

What is a patron saint?

A patron saint is one we ask to pray for us in a particular place, work or need, as many ask Anthony of Padua for help when something is lost, and as Ireland looks to Patrick. A few patronages were declared by a pope, and most grew from long custom. A card says “Patron of” only where a source we checked names one.

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We began with the saints people search for most, by name, by need and by date, along with the apostles and the saints Orthodox Christians look for. Then we made sure every day of the year has at least one saint. That gives 378 so far, and we keep adding the saints readers ask for.

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