St Barbara

Barbara, dad, Shepherd 1, Shepherd 2, 3 sheep, Martinianus

Barbara was the most beautiful woman any one had ever seen.  Her Dad was so enamored by her beauty that he said “ Barbara, will you marry me?”

Barbara said “Ew!  No!  You’re my dad!”

So her dad took her by the hair, and dragged her to the top of a high tower, where he locked her in.  Yelling through the door, he said “If you won’t marry me, you won’t marry anyone! “  Then he laughed an evil and diabolical laugh.

But Barbara prayed, and suddenly the walls of the tower opened up, and she was miraculously brought to a nearby gorge, where 2 shepherds who were looking after their sheep, hid her.

When he dad came looking for her, he demanded of the shepherds “Have you seen my daughter Barbara?”

The first shepherd said “No, I have not seen her.”

But the second shepherd said “Yes-  she’s over there in that gorge!”  After saying this, he was turned to stone!  And his sheep were turned into grasshoppers!

Barbara’s father grabbed her and said “Now I will take you to Martinianus, who will put you to death for being a Christian!”

Martinianus giggled like a school girl when he saw the prisoner, and tortured her cruelly.  Each night she would be placed in a cell, where her wounds would be miraculously healed.

Finally Martinianus said “You are to be beheaded!”

Barbara’s Father took a sword, and chopped off her head!  Then he began once more to laugh maniacally!  Then he was suddenly struck by lightning.

St Barbara’s feast is Dec 4^th, and is celebrated in Arab countries with traditions like Halloween!

 

St Barbara-  Pray for us!