St. Barnabas, originally named Joseph, was a Jewish man from Cyprus who became an early Christian, as mentioned in the New Testament. Demonstrating his generosity, he sold his belongings and gave the money to the Apostles, which led to him being called Barnabas, meaning "son of encouragement." A prominent leader in the early Church, Barnabas played a crucial role in welcoming Saul (later known as Paul) into the Christian community. Barnabas and Paul traveled together to Antioch in Syria, where they provided aid during a famine. Their missionary work took them to Cyprus and Asia Minor, where they encountered both strong opposition and great support. After returning to Antioch, a discussion about accepting Gentile converts led them to Jerusalem, where it was decided that Gentiles did not need to adhere to Jewish laws to be baptized. Plans for another missionary journey fell apart when Barnabas wanted to bring his cousin, John Mark, along. Paul opposed this because Mark had previously left them during their mission, resulting in Barnabas and Paul parting ways. Barnabas chose to take Mark and return to Cyprus. Information about Barnabas' later life comes mainly from tradition and legend. It is believed that he preached in Alexandria and Rome and established the Church in Cyprus. Although he was not the Bishop of Milan, some traditions suggest he was martyred in Salamis around 61 AD. Documents once attributed to him, such as the Epistle of Barnabas and the Gospel of Barnabas, are now thought to have been written by other authors. St. Barnabas is honored for his ability to promote peace, his generosity, and his dedication to spreading the Christian faith. His feast day is celebrated on June 11.