On the Feast of Saint Barbara, the Martyr, Rise, O Sleeper, and Christ Will Shine Upon You!
Report by Elia Nasrallah
Translation by Mary Yahchouchy
Amid waves of violence, atonement, the culture of hatred and commodification...we often distance ourselves from the very essence of our life, the foundation manifested in faith, hope, and love. It is true that we cannot deny this fact because we are drowning daily in great storms pushing us away from the shore of safety, but we agree that the desired safety cannot be reached without adhering to faith.
Here comes back to memory a story that we have always repeated from year to year, especially in early December, the story of a girl who "did not yearn for money and did not care about beauty" as we sing in one of her hymns. But how can she not care about money and beauty, when they are today, according to many, two essential elements to ensure a better life?
The heroine of the story, Barbara, was so rich she had access to royal joy, no money nor beauty could offer. How is that? How were you, Barbara, able to withstand and live in joy despite all what you’ve been through?
The answer lies once again in the words of the hymn: “she loved wounded Jesus, whose words nourish the soul.” Therefore, “faith” remains the key to overcoming all odds. Barbara clung to this weapon, urging us to move away from the pagan culture such as money, prestige, and attachment to possessions and power... to experience the joy and love of Christ, far from passing glories, in an effort to cross towards the coming kingdom.
Where is Barbara today? Where do we find her in our lives and societies? What about the reality we live in? Why do many young people detach themselves from the teachings of the Church and follow different currents? We asked these thorny questions to the parish priest of the Saint Elias Church for the Greek Orthodox in Rabieh - Mtayleb, Lebanon, Father Agapios Naous.
The Love of Christ, Foundation of Faith
Many people today, despite their adherence to their faith, prefer not to publicly talk about it, why is that?
Father Agapios believes that “a person should be an open Bible for people to read. A person who lives in Christ, preaches in his name, and declares his faith, even if without speaking.” But according to Father Naous, “people have become sick with sin, for we are weak in faith, and you see us fighting for fleeting spoils, dedicating our lives for them while we do not make effort to stay with Christ for the sake of eternal life. This is the fruit of laziness, fear, and hesitation. He who lives in sin, far from grace, cannot profess his faith.”
Father Agapios adds: "One who loves Christ would become martyr in his name, would preach his words, and declare his faith in him when needed. In the past decades, many spent time in prison and court because of their faith, but the Holy Spirit was speaking through them. As for us, we sing outside the swarm of Christ for we are weak in him, because of our sins and while what we lack is the glory of the Lord. We have never decided that we wanted to proclaim our faith, faith shows on its own.”
Fear, Enemy of the Faith in God
What are the types of confrontations or preventions that would refrain us from declaring our faith? Naous replies: “I do not believe that anyone could keep a person from proclaiming their faith if they are not afraid. Our problem in life is that we are cowards and afraid because we cling to the earth. One who loves earth and mud cannot declare the kingdom of heaven. He who loves Christ, however, is not afraid. Satan is the source of fear.
According to Father Agapios, "we must be stronger than Satan so we can declare the love of Christ, as well as our faith. The hero flees to God, so Satan flees then from him, and his faith becomes proclaimed. Many were injured in the war of life, but closed their wounds and continued the fight so they were saved. Therefore, we must rise, bind up our wounds, and continue the spiritual battle against our sin. Let us make a covenant with God and represent Him, so His light will shine in us and our light will shine in people’s life.”
Faith, a Path Towards Heavenly Peace
A question arises here, who would sacrifice and pay the price in order to keep his faith alive? Father Agapios answers, recalling the lives of the early Christians who were “a radiance of Jesus Christ, praying, loving God to the end, living divine knowledge, and trying to conquer passions and desires, believing that the Divine Liturgy is moments of eternity that they experience in the body, then emerge from it having acquired the real light of God.”
“Today, however, No one on earth can give us inner peace. This peace comes to us from above. One who lives in it can testify and die for Christ. He who fears knowing himself inevitably strays from divine knowledge.” Therefore, he asks: “How can a person die for someone he doesn’t know? Whoever neglects prayer and thinks he has another door to repentance is deceived by the devil. A person who does not love himself sacrifices himself for the sake of his loved ones. He who loves himself cannot love God, nor die for his sake. It is therefore important to know for whom we die, how we die to whom we live for, and how we live, for there is death that revives and life that kills.”
The Great Martyr Barbara: A Role Model
Between the reality we live in and the life of Saint Barbara the martyr, there are many contradictions that appear between attachment to material things and attachment to heaven... How can we reflect Barbara's faith in light of the difficult circumstances we are going through?
Father Agapios explains: “St. Barbara lived a difficult life under persecution and the pressures that surrounded her. But she knew in her heart that she could not see the face of God without going through her bitter experience. I believe that no one can walk the divine way without trials. The saints knew that temptation existed. They asked for God's help to remain steadfast through it all and turn it into a path of salvation. Now, people forget every virtue, but upon temptation you see them bowing their heads and returning to themselves.”
“You read in the Bible how all things work out well for the good of those who love God,” Father Agapios continues, “and therefore, we must rely on God, for from pain comes comfort. Saint Barbara the martyr adored Christ, she knew that her unfortunate experience couldn’t deprive her from her will to become a testimony for Christ. We must follow in her footsteps for she is a blatant example of Christ's love.”
Agapios advises: “If you fall, O man, hundreds of times a day, go back and get up and continue walking towards God. Saint Barbara, in every fall and temptation, would get up and say to herself, ‘Rise, O sleeper, and Christ will shine on you.’ The light of her faith burned the darkness of the world. The devil has the power to cast darkness on earth and captivate us in it, but the power of God is much stronger and greater.
The Christian life never promised us a calm sea, but a safe harbor. The turmoil of sin and evil will remain on earth, our sea, but Christ dwells in our ship and calms every stormy turmoil, so we reach Him with grace as the martyrs arrived through blood until they sang in the kingdom of heaven and lived in the calm harbor.”
The Light of the Lord is for the Children of the Heavenly Kingdom
Where is the church in all of this? Naous replies: “People do not pay much attention to Church and stray from its teachings, as it is also remiss. Therefore, we must take advantage of all the available means to spread the good news of the kingdom. The greatest thing in existence is for someone to be sanctified, and if he does, he becomes holy for the whole community. Churches distinguished by their spirit of prayer are drawing people, but we must also be strengthened by Jesus Christ and behold his radiance.
Agapios concludes: “Young people live in a world of confusion and temptation that is getting even more violent. Everything before us today is distorted and counterfeit and incites us to sin. Not to mention that young people are moving away from the teachings of the Church towards other currents because they draw them in. Jesus Christ told us how ‘many will come from here and there and draw people in, but do not be afraid, little flock, and for on earth you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have conquered the earth and the world, so let us remain healthy and upright, and let us not expose or participate in exposing the sins of others without repenting of our sins. Let us testify in Jesus Christ in our resilience for he strengthens us, enlightens us, and knows how to draw people to him.”
The Lord draws people to Him and strengthens them, but how can we, in turn, comfort others and draw them to Church, when we are already weak on earth? Let us hold on to our faith, strive, and resort to the Lord, the Grantor of great resolve and mercy, in the face of all trials. May we learn from Saint Barbara the Martyr, who influenced many by her righteous faith, especially Saint Juliana the Martyr, bride of Christ and honorable fighter.
Communication and Public Relations Department