The Legend of Saint Barbara
Patron Saint of the Field Artillery
According to legend, Saint Barbara
was the extremely beautiful daughter of a wealthy heathen named Dioscorus, who lived near
Nicomedia in Asia Minor. Because of her singular beauty and fearful that she be demanded
in marriage and taken away from him, he jealously shut her up in a tower to protect her
from the outside world.
Shortly before embarking on a
journey, he commissioned a sumptuous bathhouse to be built for her, approving the design
before he departed. Barbara had heard of the teachings of Christ, and while her father was
gone spent much time in contemplation. From the windows of her tower she looked out upon
the surrounding countryside and marveled at the growing things; the trees, the animals and
the people. She decided that all these must be part of a master plan, and that the idols
of wood and stone worshipped by her parents must be condemned as false. Gradually she came
to accept the Christian faith.
As her belief became firm, she
directed that the builders redesign the bathhouse her father had planned, adding another
window so that the three windows might symbolize the Holy Trinity.
When her father returned, he was
enraged at the changes and infuriated when Barbara acknowledged that she was a Christian.
He dragged her before the perfect of the province, who decreed that she be tortured and
put to death by beheading. Dioscorus himself carried out the death sentence. On his way
home he was struck by lightening and his body consumed.
Saint Barbara lived and died about
the year 300 A.D. She was venerated as early as the seventh century. The legend of the
lightning bolt which struck down her persecutor caused her to be regarded as the patron
saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, fires and sudden death.
When gunpowder made its appearance in
the Western world, Saint Barbara was invoked for aid against accidents resulting from
explosions--since some of the earlier artillery pieces often blew up instead of firing
their projectile, Saint Barbara became the patroness of the artillerymen.
Saint Barbara is usually represented
standing by a tower with three windows, carrying the palm of a martyr in her hand. Often,
too, she holds a chalice and a sacramental wafer and sometimes cannon are displayed near
her. In the present calendars, the feast of Saint Barbara falls on December 4th and is
traditionally recognized by a formal Dining-In or military dinner, often involving
presentation of the Order of Saint Barbara.
The Order of Saint Barbara is an honorary military society of the United States Field Artillery. Both U.S. Marine and Army field artillery along with their military and civilian supporters are eligible for membership. The order is managed by the U.S. Field Artillery Association and two levels of recognition exist. The most distinguished level is the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara and those who are selected for this honor have achieved long-term, exceptional service to the field artillery surpassing even their brethren in the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The order links field artillerymen of the past and present in a brotherhood of professionalism, selfless service and sacrifice symbolized by Saint Barbara