St. Barbara of Nicomedia (JP 01) COLLECTION

According to tradition, St. Barbara of Nicomedia (3rd-4th century) was young, rich, and very beautiful. To shield her from the world, her father Dioscorus locked her away in a tower. Despite her isolation, she was allowed tutors. Her studies led her to reject paganism and to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and to Him she pledged her virginity. When she spurned a proposal, and after a series of misadventures during an escape attempt, she was turned over to the Roman authorities and denounced as a Christian by her own father. Dioscorus himself carried out her death sentence and beheaded her. He was immediately incinerated by fire from heaven, a lightning bolt. + This splendid NeoGothic image boasts a vivid color palette and depicts her principal attributes: tower, crown, sword, and palm of martyrdom. + Feast: December 4