Saint Barbara, the protectress of miners, is celebrated on December 4 not only by the Orthodox Church but also by other Christian denominations.
Blessing Workers in Vienna’s Subway Tunnels
In Austria, a strong tradition marks this day with blessings for miners and infrastructure tunnel workers to ensure their safety. For the first time, an Orthodox priest, Father Ioan Moga from the Romanian Orthodox Church “St. Anthony” in Vienna, was invited to participate in the ceremony.
Father Moga descended into the underground construction site of Vienna’s expanding subway lines U2 and U5, offering prayers of blessing for the hundreds of workers present, including many Orthodox Christians, especially from Bulgaria.
He was joined by Evangelical pastor Hans-Jürgen Deml, who sang Christmas carols and delivered a short sermon, according to the website of the Romanian Orthodox Church “St. Anthony” in Vienna.
Officials and Workers United in Prayer
The event was attended by Wiener Linien’s technical director, the director of the construction company PORR, the mayor of Vienna’s 7th district, construction site managers, and representatives of local and central authorities.
At the end of the ceremony, a worker recited the traditional Miners’ Prayer dedicated to Saint Barbara, followed by the symbolic “traditional explosion,” a loud sound reverberating through the construction site’s tunnel walls.
Symbolic Gifts for Participants
Participants received symbolic keepsakes: Saint Barbara’s Branches — budding cherry twigs traditionally distributed on December 4. When placed in water, they are expected to bloom by Christmas. They were also given a symbolic brick made by Wiener Linien from earth excavated during the tunnel construction.
Photos: Romanian Orthodox Parish in Vienna
