The Story Behind this Icon: Saint Barbara, a Great Martyr of the Eastern Orthodox Church, lived in Heliopolis at the beginning of the third century. As Saint Barbara was a beautiful and delightful young woman, her father, a wealthy noble man and fanatic pagan, ordered the construction of a tower to lock her in, in order to protect her. The tower was to have two windows, but Saint Barbara wanted to honor the Holy Trinity. She changed the construction plans and added a third window so that the room would be lit by a triple light symbolizing the light of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Soon after, her father found out that she was a Christian and became furious. He delivered his daughter to Marcian, the Roman prefect, to torture her until she would deny Christ. She was imprisoned, beaten and tortured but never denied her heavenly Father. When her father heard her sentence, he offered to execute his daughter himself, using his own sword. Immediately after he did so, a lightning from heaven struck the father and killed him. Saint Barbara was beheaded on December 4, 306 AD and is accordingly commemorated by the Orthodox Church on December 4. Apolytikion in the Fourth ToneLet us praise the most honorable Barbara. She thwarted the enemy's power, and through the might and strength of the Cross, she was made free in her flight to God. *** This icon is made of solid, natural limewood (Tilia) that has been prepared by hand using traditional methods and organic materials. The background is comprised of 22 Karat gold leaves that were meticulously applied by hand, piece by piece. All of our icons are reproduced according to museum print standards and are authentic replicas of Holy Icons from Mount Athos and elsewhere. Learn more about how our Holy Icons are made here.
