Saint Barbara became the patron saint of artillerymen. She is also traditionally the patron of armourers, military engineers, gunsmiths, miners and anyone else who worked with cannon and explosives. She is invoked against thunder and lightning and all accidents arising from explosions of gunpowder. She is venerated by Catholics who face the danger of sudden and violent death in work.
In 303 A.D., Barbara is the beautiful, twenty-yearold daughter of Dioscoro, the Roman governor during a time of fierce Christian persecution. Barbara is a pagan, but when Giuliana, a slave raised alongside her almost like a sister, is condemned to death for her Christian faith, Barbara rebels. She valiantly attempts to save Giuliana, as well as other Christians being persecuted, boldly protesting to her father and other government leaders. When that fails, Barbara