St Barnabas was originally known as Joseph. He is styled as an Apostle in Holy Scripture, and, like St. Paul, ranked by the Church with the Twelve, though not one of them. He was born of Jewish parents in the Island of Cyprus about the beginning of the Christian Era. He was given the name Barnabas, which means son of encouragement. He was known as a peacemaker because the Apostles were suspicious of Paul after his conversion and Barnabas was the only one who saw him as being sincere. From there Barnabas and Paul became missionaries and were sent to Crprus Antioch to establish strong Christian communities. They both departed after a disagreement but we believe that the rift between them was healed. Barnabas is the patron saint of Cyprus, Antioch and invoked as peacemaker.
