In the footsteps of St. Barbara
Where faith, where love,
Where there is love the world
Where the world, there is Blessing,
Where is blessing there is God !!!
(D IPR s on the input e to cal s u
SV. Dmitri Of Rostov)
On Saturday, December 17, when all Orthodox Christians venerate the memory ' five of St. Barbara, the Lord granted us to attend the Liturgy in Svyato-varvarinskaya Church Shpaniv village where the stately temple flaunts an unusual Golden domes and joyful vigil, which was conducted by the Cathedral clergy, and not left anyhow how should spirituality in our hearts.
The greatness of service, devotion of the parishioners, and most of all-awesome chants in honor of the Saint, which were performed by the 16 priests, has created a truly unearthly atmosphere. Updated and happy we returned home ...
In the evening, remembering the life and suffering of St. Barbara, those sermons that spoke of the priesthood, found a response in my heart that I immediately poured on the paper, because the ideas themselves are roaming in my head, and when they recorded, then, you see, and the content emerges. But honestly, read the writing, I have got the feeling some longing and nezavershennoe that the story remained unfinished.
Elevated mood on the following day brought the celebration of St. Nicholas Myrl and kyskovo the Wonderworker, in our small group, everyone at intermission shared the surprises and festive gifts.
And only returning home I realized the indescribable feeling of anxiety that accompanied me the whole day. On the bus people said that we have, right at the bus stop, lost the girl of 15 years. We used to hear that at the intersection of bypass road in the village of Kolodenka frequent accidents, but on the sidewalk, in broad daylight ?? !! Were going to meet a lot of young people, very quiet, and the shop seller called the girl's name. It was the closest friend of my daughter ...
Parents despair and pity could hardly stand on his feet and only the wise grandmother praying to St. Barbara to and begged the Lord for forgiveness of sins who died without repentance, because faith and the power of prayer of the Holy Martyr is extremely high.
So let's go in the footsteps of St. Barbarians ...
Barbara was not interested in all earthly pleasures, she never thought about marriage because all her thoughts were reduced to one God. When Dioscorus saw this renunciation of all earthly things, I decided to go to the trick, and going on a long journey, dreaming that her daughter would miss him, and when he returns, it is in gratitude and FILIAL love will agree to marry and be reconciled with the parent gods . Therefore, he allowed her to leave the tower and manage the construction of a bath in the yard "I.
Imagine his surprise when on returning he saw in the bath three Windows instead of two and the cross carved above the door. Saint Barbara boldly took the father's wrath and explained to him that the window in the bath made in honor of the Holy Trinity, to the very walls glorified the name of it, but the cross depicted here to the power of the cross drove away all evil spirits.
The parental surprise has changed the rage, pulling the sword of Dioscorus began to persecute the Saint Barbara, and by the grace of God, the mountain opened and hid the Holy, where is she in the cave praying and preparing for death. Finding daughter, Dioscorus began to mercilessly beat her, unconquered, free spirit, Holy he was imprisoned in a dark cabin without food or water. Seeing that the child does not want to obey his parents ' will, he gave her at the mercy of the ruler of the city. He was amazed by the beauty, strength and spirit of girls, have tried at first by cunning and temptations to break it, but when she resolutely "rejected" all the courting-was angry and ordered to torture.
Holidays the great Martyr prayed so hard that the Lord Himself appeared and strengthened her in the dungeon. Despite the heroism and suffering of the Holy, in the crowd, even more entrenched in the Christian faith, was Juliana, who could not resist the immediacy and anger of the ruler, raised his voice, began to cry and blame the Maximian of cruelty and injustice, for which he was martyred together with Saint Barbara the great Martyr in 306.
Even in the last minutes of his earthly life, Saint was praying for us sinners.
"Hear and now praying to Thee Thy servant, Hear to the King, and give His grace to every man, Who will remember me and my misery:: Yes will not approach him, sudden illness and let not kidnap his unexpected death, for Thou knowest, Lord, that we are flesh and blood and the most pure creature of Thy hands."
Many healings and miracles occurred through the prayers of her. Relics of the Holy great Martyr Barbara were transferred from Greece to Kiev, when after the baptism of Rus princes were especially close and friendly relations with Greek kings, and took their wives, their sisters and daughters.
