As legend has it, Santa Barbara, Saint Barbara, Santabárbara, Sainte-Barbe or Barbe is an early saint and one of several hundred venerated within the Christian faith.

She is principally acknowledged as the patron saint for tunnellers, miners, soldiers–particularly those within artillery–armourers, fireman, mathematicians, chemical engineers and prisoners and is invoked as a protector against lightning, storms, hurricanes, fever and sudden death.

She is also considered one of the 14 helpers or auxiliary saints of emergency situations with her feast day being commemorated on December 4th each year across the world along with a number of other venerated saints. Some accounts state that Saint Barbara is merely a legend and not an authentic character and some religious scholars even doubt the historicity of her legend. It is for this reason she was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 but not from the Catholic Church’s list of Saints. Of the 14 holy helpers or auxiliary saints half are regarded as historical figures and others, including Barbara, are considered legends. Regardless – Barbara is venerated in various other Orthodox, Aglipayan and Anglicanism churches and is revered around the world as giving hope and protection to many working in various occupational settings including tunnellers.

LIFE – A BRIEF HISTORY

According to traditions, Barbara lived in the 3rd or 4th century raised as an only daughter by her rich and influential pagan father, Dioscorus. Dioscorus was furiously protective of his only daughter and as result banished her into solitary confinement in a purpose-built but sumptuous tower to protect her from men due to her beauty and other external foreign influences. It was during this forced solitude she gave herself to prayer, meditation and to religious study.

Again as with her legend there are some discrepancies over her location with some references being made to the ancient Greek city Nicomedia, present day Izmit, Turkey, or in Heliopolis of Phoenicia, present day Baalbek, Lebanon. Although not completely validated it seems more likely that the city was that of Antioch or Syrian Antioch, which is situated in modern day Antakya, Turkey.

Under emperor Maximian, the ancient Greco-Roman city on the eastern side of the Orontes River was founded by one of Alexander the Great’s generals and played an important role in trade along the Silk and Persian Royal Roads. During this period Antioch was at a major crossroads and one of the most important cities in the Eastern Mediterranean in Rome’s dominion. Due to its strategic position it was called the ‘Cradle of Christianity’ and from where the first reference to the word ‘Christian’ emerged.

STEADFAST IN FAITH

Before parting on a journey Dioscorus commissioned a set of windows to be fitted in a private bathroom for Barbara. She took the opportunity to have a third installed as a symbol of the holy trinity (The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit).

On his return he informed her she was to be betrothed to a suitor of his choice for marriage, which she rejected. It also appears this may have been the time she also confessed to him that she had converted to Christianity rejecting her father’s faith in paganism and idols after having been secretly baptised by a Christian priest, which would have further infuriated him into a fit of rage.

Depending on which account one reads it appears that on hearing of the conversion her father drew his sword to kill however her prayers created an opening in the tower wall through which she was able to escape and miraculously transported to a mountain gorge to a location where two shepherds watched over their flocks.

In pursuit of his daughter he was rebuffed by the first shepherd but helped by the second, who as a result was turned to stone and his flock changed into locusts. Other references make mention of Barbara taking refuge in the silver mines of Laurium in Greece from where the connection of her being the patron saint of miners and against mining collapse appears to have comes from.

On her capture Dioscorus then dragged Barbara to a civil tribunal before the province prefect Martinianus where he publically denounced her. As a result Barbara was subjected to unquestionable cruelty and torture during which she remained true to her face even against such hardship and anguish.

TRAIL AND TRIBULATION

At her father’s behest, Barbara endured excruciating torture in a dark and lonely prison. Torches used to provoke and burn her would be immediately extinguished. It is said that the prison would be bathed in a light at night and that miracles would occur with any wounds inflicted on Barbara miraculously healed by the next day.

The torture continued for a short while before Dioscorus would again be instrumental in pushing for her death by demanding her beheading. To show no end to his cruelty he would be his own daughter’s executioner. As if by divine justice immediately following the slaying of Barbara a huge storm arose and her father was incinerated by a bolt of lightning.

The death date by various accounts is between 286-305 AD. Barbara’s lifeless body was taken away by a Christian, Valentinus to be buried and it is said her tomb became a site of miracles. The site of which is also unclear.

SAINT BARBARA AND THE HOLY HELPERS

The 14 helpers are a group of saints venerated by Roman Catholicism due to their intercession against various diseases. List of Nothelfer ‘helpers in need’ originated circa 14th century as a result of the bubonic plague or black death that was rampant across early Europe.

Legend has it that devotion to Santa Barbara and the other saints began when a young shepherd Mermann Leicht in 1445 saw a young child crying in a field near the Cistercian Franciscan monastery in Langheim. As he bent down to pick up the child it abruptly disappeared, a short time later the child reappeared in the exact location this time with two candles burning next to it. Some months later Leicht saw the same child this time with a red cross on its chest and accompanied with 13 other children. It is said the child spoke “we are the 14 helpers and wish to erect a chapel here, where we can rest. If you will be our servant, we will be yours” shortly after two candles descended to the exact spot. Pilgrims started to flock the area after the owners of the land erected a chapel and it is alleged miraculous healings began through the divine intervention of the saints. At the heart of the 14 holy helpers is the three holy maids being Saint Margaret, Saint Catherine and Saint Barbara who would have been among the children seen in Langheim.

MODERN DAY VENERATION

As in her life and death the exact location of the tomb of Saint Barbara appears to be in question with some referring to locations from Greece, Syria to Russia. However regardless of this the legend of Saint Barbara has grown over the years with many incidents attributed to her. One such incident was that involving a man Henry Kock who was nearly burnt to death in a fire – he called upon Saint Barbara to whom he had always shown great devotion and it is said she aided his escape from a burning house and kept him alive long enough until he could receive the last sacraments.

As a religious day Saint Barbara’s feast day is celebrated predominantly by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans however whatever an individual’s belief Santa Barbara gives many workers a glimmer of hope that there is a saintly figure watching over them and will help them return back safely home.

In modern popular culture many countries around the world celebrate Saint Barbara in different ways such as Eid il-Burbara amongst Arab Christian and many songs have been written to honour her to name but a few. In some cultures there is the custom of the ‘Barbara branch’ on December 4 cherry tree sprigs are cut and placed in a vase filled with water and kept close to light. After exactly 21 days, i.e., Christmas, these branches are said to blossom and is considered an older tradition than the concept of modern Christmas trees.

In some countries such as the Western Australia Mining Club commemorate St Barbara’s Day by remembering fallen colleagues who died in the mining industry that year while in the tunnelling industry there is a tradition of establishing a small shrine to Santa Barbara at the beginning of a tunnel portal or at junction(s) of the underground into long tunnel headings which is often accompanied with an invocation to the saint for her divine intervention and protection for all who work during the construction phase.

There is a huge volume of information available on the saintly figure however those wishing to view relicts for the purposes of veneration some are kept in St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

Many workers and locations claim Santa Barbara for themselves but in truth she is venerated by many with whom she has Patronage.

TUNNELLERS AND MINERS

As industries both mining and tunnelling have a large number of worldwide deaths. In mining these deaths account for approximately 8 per cent of fatal accidents worldwide even though in combination these employ less than 1 per cent of the global workforce. Even with major technological advances and greater awareness of health and safety many people continue to die both as a result of accidents and ill health caused as a result of working conditions such as coal workers pneumoconiosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders to silicosis.

With these harrowing figures it is without doubt an important psychological benefit to have faith in divine providence, a guardian angel, god(s), deities, offerings or some other spiritual intervention. Ancient miners and tunnellers were known to give sacrifices to appease the gods. Regardless workers’ religious convictions, many place trust and faith in Saint Barbara who holds a close place in many miners’ and tunnellers’ hearts.

IN CONCLUSION

We can see that from various sources of information available that the legend of Saint Barbara is still strong after many centuries since her death with celebrations of her life commemorated throughout the world. Many celebrate December 4 in their own unique way and in their own traditions. Santa Barbara continues to give many hope and confidence to work in some dangerous environments and whether you are a person of faith or no faith, it is always nice to know there may be a guardian angel watching over us