In the beginning of the third Christian century, around 236 AD, there lived a noble man from one of the countries in the east, called Dioscorus, during the days of Maximianus the Emperor.
Dioscorus, a pagan worshiper, had a daughter by the name of Barbara, who was his only child. Because of his strong love for her, he built for her a tower to live in so that it could protect her from anyone that her father did not trust. While she was growing up, the saint always raised up her eyes to the sky from the top of the tower and admired the beauty of the sky and what was in it: the sun, the moon and the stars.

She came to the conclusion that they must have able and wise maker and that would be none other than the Almighty God who created them. At that time, there was a great Christian teacher by the name of Origen (from Alexandria) who happened to be in this area where St. Barbara lived. When he found out about St. Barbara, and that she wanted to become a Christian. He went to her and taught her the principles of Christianity.
St Barbara had a huge bathhouse with a large basin (big enough to be baptized in) and two windows. She ordered a third one to be opened and a cross to be placed over the water basin.

When her father came to see her and saw the changes that were done, he asked her for the reason. She told him, "Don't you know, my father, that with the Holy Trinity everything is complete, and here are three windows in the name of the Holy Trinity. This sign is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, which gives salvation to the whole world. I ask you, O my dear father, to turn away from the wrong way that you are in and worship the God Who created you."
When her father heard these words, he became angry, drew his sword. She fled, and he ran after her. There was a rock in front of her that split into two halves and she went through. The rock then returned to its earlier state. Her father went around the rock and found her hidden in a cave. He seized her and took her to Marcianus, the governor.
The Governor talked to her kindly, promising her many things. When St. Barbara did not agree to what her asked, he threatened her, but still could not take away her love for the Lord Christ. So he ordered her to be tortured with different kinds of torture.

There was a young woman called Juliana, who watched St. Barbara while she was being tortured and wept for her. St. Juliana saw the Lord Christ strengthening and comforting St. Barbara every time she was tortured. St. Juliana was enlightened and believed in the Lord Christ, and became a Christian. Marcianus ordered their heads to be cut off. So St. Barbara and St. Juliana both received the crown of martyrdom.

St. Barbara's father perished shortly after and so did the Governor who tortured her.
The water of the basin that had the cross over it in the tower had the power to heal everyone who washed with it.

They placed the bodies of these two saints in a church outside of the city of Galatia. Years later, they relocated the body of St. Barbara to the church in Cairo which is named after her to this day.

May her prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.