According to the hagiographies, Barbara, the daughter of a rich pagan named Dioscorus, she was carefully guarded by her father, who kept her locked in a tower to preserve her from the outside world. Secretly converting to Christianity, she turned down an offer of marriage that she received through her father.
Before setting out on a journey, his father ordered a private bathhouse for his use to be erected near his dwelling, and during his absence, Barbara had three windows placed, as a symbol of the Holy Trinity, instead of the two originally, intended for when her father returned, she recognized herself as a Christian; upon this he drew his sword to kill her, but his prayers created an opening in the wall of the tower and he was miraculously transported into a mountain gorge, where two shepherds watched over their flocks. Dióscoro, who was chasing his daughter, was rejected by the first shepherd, but the second betrayed her. For doing this, he turned to stone and his flock turned into locusts.
Dragged before the prefect of the province, Martinianus, who had cruelly tortured her, Barbara remained faithful to her Christian faith. During the night, the dark prison was bathed in light and new miracles occurred. Every morning, his wounds healed. The torches that would be used to burn her went out as soon as they got close to her. Ultimately, she was sentenced to death by beheading. His father himself carried out the death sentence. However, as punishment, he was struck by lightning on the way home and his body was engulfed in flames. Barbara was buried by a Christian, Valentinus, and her grave became the site of miracles. This summary omits picturesque details, supplemented by Old French accounts. [3]
According to the Golden Legend, his martyrdom took place on December 4 "during the reign of the Emperor Maximian and the prefect Marcien" (r. 286-305); the year was given as 267 in the French version edited by Father Harry F. Williams of the Anglican Fellowship of the Resurrection (1975).
