القديستان بربارة ويوليانا عروستا المسيح

**Elias** · 2011-06-22, 08:22 PM

St. Barbara was raised a heathen by her father Dioscorus, who kept her shut away from the world so that she might not learn about the Christian religion. In spite of his precautions, she received secret instructions from a Christian priest and became a Christian.Endowed with wisdom imparted to her from on high, she hastened to those who were constructing her father's bath, and revealing to them the Mystery of the Trinity, she commanded that they fashion three windows in the bath.When her father heard of this, he denounced her to the government authorities in his anger. After refusing to renounce her faith, she was beheaded by her own father, during the reign of Emperor Maximianus.Beholding the strange and awesome suffering of St. Barbara, St. Juliana, a faithful by-stander, marveled greatly at how a young maiden could so valiantly endure such torments for Christ's sake. And filled with tearful compunction, likewise confessed Christ and received martyrdom.A hymn dedicated on their behalf says: "Meeting the glorious end of your martyrdom under the sword, O Barbara, and vouchsafed crowns of martyrdoms with Juliana, you heard the voice of God, which filled you with power."In the icon, both saints are depicted carrying a palm branch (symbol of their entry into Heavenly Jerusalem). An angel places a crown of martyrdom upon St. Barbara's head. A peacock is also depicted symbolizing eternity since it sheds its feathers periodically.