Catholic holiday - the day of St. Barnabas is celebrated on June 11. The original name of Barnabas was Joseph, for his kindness and mercy he received the nickname Barnabas, which means "son of consolation." He was born into a wealthy Levite Jewish family in Cyprus, and received a good theological education in Jerusalem. There Barnabas met Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul. Saint Barnabas is considered the founder of the Cypriot Church.
The Apostle Barnabas was among the first seventy disciples of Christ. After the death of Jesus, Barnabas and the Apostle Paul made missionary travels in Cyprus, Perga and Antioch, aimed at spreading Christianity. Barnabas was killed by the Jews in Cyprus in the city of Salamis: he was stoned and thrown into the fire. Subsequently, Barnabas' nephew Mark found his body unharmed by fire. The burial place of the apostle began to be called "The Place of Health", since many sick people received healing there. Later, a temple was erected on this site, and the relics of the saint were transferred to the altar.
On the day of St. Barnabas, June 11, solemn services are held in all Catholic churches. Residents of the Spanish city of Logroño (province of La Rioja) celebrate this holiday in a special way. Saint Barnabas is the patron saint of their city. The holiday in this city began to be celebrated in 1521, when the Spaniards defeated the French, who were trying to penetrate into Castile through Logroño. A memorial museum was opened in the city, where residents exhibited war trophies and weapons, and utensils were placed on the highest towers of the temples, which they could defend from the enemy. Subsequently, in 1522, the "Vow to Saint Barnabas" was created on the procedure for holding the celebrations, which are still observed.
During the holiday, the inhabitants of Logrono dress up in ancient costumes of that era, a medieval market opens, and camps of the French and Logron troops are set up. A fancy-dress performance is staged, in which the battle between the Spaniards and the French is played out in front of the city gates. The Arc de Triomphe, located at the beginning of Calle Portalles, is decorated with boxwood branches for the holiday. This is the only surviving arch of those that were installed at all the gates of the city in honor of the victory over the French. The locals of Logroño keep the belief that in order to be lucky in love, you need to walk under it three times. In memory of the holiday of St. Barnabas, residents and guests of the city traditionally take a couple of boxwood leaves.
