St. Barnabas is first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as' 'Joseph, surnamed by the apostles 'Barnabas' (which means one who encourages). He was by birth a Cypriot, tradition says he was born in Salamis and he owned an estate which he sold, giving the money to the church. [Acts 4: 36}

He went to Antioch after Stephen's martyrdom and then to Tarsus to look for Saul. The two men then returned to Antioch and worked there meeting the people and teaching. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. [Acts 11: 26}

They were sent to Jerusalem with a contribution to help their famine stricken fellow Christians and they returned "taking John Mark with them" [Acts 11: 30}. John Mark was Barnabas' cousin. [Col 4: 10}

Then, in AD 45, Paul and Barnabas, with John Mark as their assistant, sailed to Cyprus, landing at Salamis. Here they met with the Jewish. congregation and ordained Heracleidius as the first Bishop in Cyprus [he later became Archbishop}. Paul and Barnabas travelled right across the island, eventually arriving at Paphos. [Note: - in the hills just above the coast, behind the Petra tou Romiou rocks, there is still in existence the old 'Roman' road. There are a few very old stones to be seen and it is quite easy to imagine Paul and Barnabas walking along, on their way to Paphos.] 

In Paphos, according to the legend, they were thrown .into prison and Paul was flogged. The site is still shown In Paphos, near the church of Ayia Kyriaki, but the legend is based on very little fact! They came into conflict with the sorcerer Elymas and Paul's actions and words on that occasion so impressed the governor, Sergius Paulus, that he became a believer. [Acts 13: 1 - 12]

Paul and Barnabas, with John Mark, left Cyprus and travelled all over the eastern Mediterranean, until they quarrelled over taking John Mark with them. "There was a sharp argument and they separated; Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the care of the Lord's I grace. [Acts 15: 39 - 40] I

There are no more of Barnabas' adventures recorded in the Bible though Paul mentions him several times, but always in retrospect, reminding his readers of, what the two men had accomplished together. According to the history of the church in Cyprus, Barnabas returned to Salamis, where he was eventually put to death by the Jewish community. He was buried a few miles west of the town and his tomb was almost forgotten. .

But in 448 AD there arose a conflict between the authorities of the church in Antioch, who wished to control all the churches throughout the eastern Mediterranean and the Cypriot church, which insisted on its independence. Their reason was that the church in Cyprus was of an independent and more ancient foundation. The Emperor was asked to interve

However the Cypriot Archbishop had a dream in which St Barnabas revealed his burial place in a cave. The church. authorities hastened to investigate and found the tomb. When it was opened there was a coffin in which the saint's body was lying and on his breast was a copy of the Gospel of St Matthew. According to tradition Barnabas always carried this copy, written in his own hand and his devoted disciple St Mark had placed it in the grave with him.

The Emperor was so impressed by this that he declared the Church of Cyprus autocephalus [self-governing] and conferred on the Archbishop of Cyprus certain royal privileges, amongwhich is the right -to sign his name in red ink. These privileges have been preserved to this day.

A monastery was built near to the saint's tomb and the present building dates from the eighteenth century. The church is now used as an icon museum, housing icons collected from the Turkish areas of the island, although the iconostasis and sanctuary remain in place, with lamps and candles lit and tended.

The tomb of St. Barnabas is housed in a small church a little apart from the monastery and although the ground floor of the building is totally empty, the rock cut tombs beneath can be visited. There is one large excavation large enough to contain four or five tombs and one single tomb which is traditionally that of Barnabas. The saint's tomb is still venerated, and in late June 2003, was seen to be covered in a red cloth, with an icon and a wreath placed on it, the votive lamp was lit and candles were burning against the wall.

The tomb of St Barnabas remains a place of pilgrimage for Orthodox and Western Christians alike.

Drawing taken from 'Footprints in Cyprus' ed. Sir David Hunt
 

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