Saint Barbara is one of the most revered early Christian martyrs, the daughter of a pagan nobleman. She lived at the end of the 3rd century in Heliopolis in Asia Minor. She was famous for her beauty and interested in philosophy. In order to prevent companionship with Christians, her father put her in a tower, but she was still secretly baptized by the early Christian theologian and philosopher Origen. For this act, she was killed by the sword of the angry father, who was immediately struck by lightning.
In Polotsk image of the late Baroque period, Barbara is represented in a green dress, symbolizing immortality, and a red cloak, symbolizing divine love. The palm branch in her hand is an attribute of the martyr, the sword is the instrument of execution. A bowl with a light wafer reminds of the sacrament of Eucharist.