Description: A beautiful maiden imprisoned in a high tower by her father Dioscorus for disobedience. With the help of Origen and Valentinian, she converted to Christianity. Her father denounced her to the local authorities for her faith, and they ordered him to kill her. She escaped, but he caught her, dragged her home by her hair, tortured her, and killed her. He was immediately struck by lightning, or according to some sources, fire from heaven. Her imprisonment led to her association with towers, then the construction and maintenance of them, then to their military uses. Venerated as one of the 14 Auxiliary Saints (Holy Helpers), she is invoked in thunderstorms and is the patron saint of artillerymen and miners.
Description: Saint Michael defeating the dragon, from an antique engraving. "Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it." (Revelation 12:7-9, NAB)
