[BAH-buh-ruh] (from Greek, meaning ‘strange’).
According to tradition, Barbara was a beautiful young virgin who lived in the third or fourth century. To remove Barbara from the attentions of her many admirers, her father Dioscurus confined her in a tower but was subsequently enraged to discover she had become a Christian. He attempted to kill her for her temerity, but was miraculously prevented from completing the act. After Dioscurus reported Barbara to the authorities she was tortured and formally condemned to death by beheading, Dioscurus volunteering himself as her executioner. As Barbara expired her father was struck by lightning and burnt to ashes. She is honoured as the patron saint of gunners, miners and firefighters.
Variants: Bab, Babs, Barbie, Barbra, Bobbie.
Barnabas (m)
[BAH-nuh-buhs] from Hebrew meaning ‘son of encouragement’.
A Jewish-Cypriot leader in the early church who had an important ministry in encouraging others. He contributed generously to the Jerusalem church, but his most important action was in persuading the leaders there to accept Saul of Tarsus as a genuine convert (Acts 9:26–27). After leading the young church at Antioch, he was sent out from there with Paul on the church’s first missionary journey (Acts 13:1–3). Initially Barnabas was the leader, but soon graciously gave way to his younger colleague’s greater gifts. Though he separated from Paul over whether Barnabas’ cousin Mark should accompany them on a second journey and went his own way to Cyprus, Paul continued to express his admiration for Barnabus (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11). Today he is honoured as the patron saint of Cyprus.
Variants: Barnaby, Barney.
Bartholomew (m)
[BAH-thol-uh-mew] from Hebrew, meaning ‘son of Talmai’.
One of the twelve apostles, named in Mark 3:18 and often identified as being the same person as Nathanael, whose meeting with Christ is described at John 1:45–51. No other details are known of his life, but he is credited with advancing the cause of Christianity through the Indian subcontinent. Legend has it that he died a martyr in Armenia. His body is said to have been taken to an island in the Tiber at Rome and his church there became a famous centre of medical expertise (hence the naming of Barts hospital in London). He is honoured as the patron saint of tanners and others who work with skins and leather, such as bookbinders, furriers and cobblers.
Variant: Bart.
Bartimaeus (m)
[BAH-ti-may-uhs] from Aramaic bar, meaning ‘son’ and Greek timaios, meaning ‘honourable’.
A blind beggar from Jericho who received his sight from Jesus as a result of his persistence (Mark 10:46–52).
Baruch (m)
[buh-ROOK] from Hebrew, meaning ‘blessed’.
Jeremiah’s secretary and companion who wrote down Jeremiah’s prophecies and read them to the people (Jeremiah 36).
Basil (m)
[BA-zil] from Greek, meaning ‘kingly’.
Cappadocian bishop (c.329–379). Born into a wealthy Christian family of Caesarea (in modern Turkey), Basil was persuaded by his older sister Macrina to give up a promising secular career and join the church. Accordingly, in 356 he founded a monastery on the family estate in Pontus (perhaps the first monastery in Asia Minor) and established a monastic rule there that became a model for the development of early monasticism in the East, which is still the basis of Orthodox monasticism. Together with St Gregory of Nyssa, these saints are sometimes known as the ‘Three Cappadocians’.
Because of his profound influence upon the growth of early monasticism and for his undoubted leadership qualities, Basil is identified as one of the Doctors of the Church and is often referred to as Basil the Great. He is honoured as the patron saint of Russia.
Variants: Bas, Baz.
Feminine form: Basilea.
Basilea feminine form of Basil.
Bathsheba (f)
[bath-SHEE-buh] from Hebrew bath, meaning ‘daughter’ and sheba, meaning ‘seven(th)’ or possibly ‘oath’.
A beautiful woman with whom David committed adultery while her husband Uriah was fighting in Israel’s army (2 Samuel 11:2–5). David’s first child by her died at seven days old, but her second son Solomon became David’s successor (1 Kings 1:11–40).
Variant: Sheba.
Beatrice (f)
[BEER-tris] from Latin, meaning ‘bringer of happiness’.
Beatrice da Silva (1424–90), Portuguese abbess. Born into a noble Portuguese family, Beatrice (or Beatrix) spent her childhood in the royal court and accompanied Queen Isabel of Portugal to the court in Spain. Briefly imprisoned on false charges, she abandoned the life of the court and joined the Cistercian convent of Santo Domingo de Silos in Toledo. Ultimately she founded the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is honoured as the patron saint of prisoners.
Variants: Beat, Beatrix, Beattie, Bee, Trix, Trixie.
Beauty (f)
[BEW-ti] from Latin bellus.
Physical or spiritual attractiveness that delights the senses. The Bible sees God as the creator of beauty: ‘He has made everything beautiful in its time’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NIV). God himself is also worthy of all admiration and enjoyment as the One who is supremely beautiful.
Bel (f)
[bel] from Akkadian, meaning ‘master’ or ‘lord’.
Name or title of the god of Babylon, Marduk (Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 50:2). Also features in the apocryphal book Bel and the Dragon, which is one of the Additions to the Book of Daniel. The name is unrelated to Bell or Belle.
Benedict (m)
[BEN-uh-dikt] from Latin benedictus, meaning ‘blessed’.
Name of various saints, including Benedict of Nursia, (c.480–c.547), Italian patriarch and founder of the Benedictine Rule, considered the father of western monasticism. Beyond the fact that he was born into a prosperous family in Nursia in Umbria, little is known of the details of Benedict’s life. Tradition has it that, revolted by the degeneracy of Rome, he opted initially for the life of a hermit, living in a cave near Subiaco. In due course he was asked to assume the leadership of a community of monks nearby, only for them to attempt to poison him when they failed to live up to his high expectations.
Subsequently he organised the disciples he had attracted into 12 new communities, including the monastery of Monte Cassino (founded c.529). For these communities Benedict formulated the Regula Monarchorum or Benedictine Rule, to provide practical and spiritual guidance. This profoundly influential rule placed particular emphasis upon the role of the monastery as a place of sanctuary and education and directed monks to spend most of their time praying, studying, working and living on a communal basis. They were also expected to preach and do charitable work among the local population.
The Benedictine Rule provided the foundation for monastic life throughout the Western world and it is still observed in many monasteries today. He is honoured as the patron saint of Europe and also of cave explorers.
Benedict the Black (1526–89), Sicilian lay brother. Born to Black African slaves near Messina in Sicily, he was granted his freedom when he reached the age of 18. As a young man his restraint when insulted because of his colour impressed the leader