Celebrations for St. Barbara's Day

Today, in the presence of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince, Pierre Dartout, Minister of State, the highest dignitaries in the Principality and the French military authorities, Msgr. Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco, celebrated the traditional Mass of St. Barbara, Patron Saint of the Monaco Fire and Emergency Service. Exceptionally, as the Church of St. Nicholas is too small for the health measures related to the COVID-19 health crisis to be implemented, this celebration took place in Monaco Cathedral.

In his homily, after recalling the suffering endured by St. Barbara, "who risked her life for an ideal greater than herself," the Archbishop thanked the fire brigade "fraternally," emphasising that, "While we are concerned about our own existence, you care about that of others! While we would like to flee from dangers, you face them! While we forget the meaning of the words 'courage,' 'dedication' and 'sacrifice,' you have chosen them as your motto!"
St. Barbara, who originated from Turkey, was martyred in the 3rd century AD; refusing to renounce her faith, she was beheaded by her own father, who was immediately punished by the heavens by being struck to death by lightning.

In Monaco, a garden bears her name. It is situated in the extension to the Saint Martin Gardens, and was laid out in around 1830, during the reign of Prince Honoré V.