Barefoot in Varvara
I named my creative space Varvara seven years ago. The name came as a soul-call — I loved how the “r” rolls, but also felt drawn to its connection to Bulgaria. There is a small sea village in the southern part of the Black Sea with the same name. Though I had never visited, I loved its sea association.
As a linguist, I also looked into the meaning of the name. Varvara is of Greek origin, meaning “stranger” or “foreigner.”That felt aligned, since I have often lived between lands — Bulgaria and America — never fully one or the other, always a bridge between worlds. Each time I spoke the name, it carried warmth and love.
Seven years later, when I returned to Bulgaria to reconnect with my roots, I knew I had to visit Varvara in person.
Saint Varvara (known in English as Saint Barbara) has always carried a mysterious presence in my heart.
Her story begins in the 3rd century, when she was hidden away in a tower by her father — shielded from the world, yet awakening to the beauty of creation and the truth of God. Even in her confinement, she found freedom in spirit.
When she chose faith over fear, she was persecuted and killed by her own father. And yet, her legacy endures: she is remembered as a protector of children, women, and all who live courageously in their truth.
In Bulgaria, her feast day on December 4th is tender and simple: wheat or corn is boiled and shared with neighbors, a gesture of nourishment and blessing. It is as if her spirit lives on through these humble offerings — reminding us that transformation often begins quietly, through small acts of care that ripple outward into community.
When I first imagined Varvara, I didn’t want “just a brand.” I wanted a name that carried depth, courage, and story. Saint Varvara’s journey of finding freedom in faith while hidden away resonates deeply with my own.
I, too, have known times of being set apart, of searching for meaning in solitude, of holding to inner truth even when it was costly.
Varvara is both ancestral and alive. She represents Bulgaria — my roots, my homeland’s traditions, its grains and rituals. But she also represents the part of me that has wandered, transformed, and now seeks to offer beauty and nourishment to others.
This is why Varvara is more than a name. It is a living thread — one that connects past and present, Bulgaria and America, the inner and outer life. It carries forward the spirit of transformation, protection, and blessing.
My hope is that when you step into Varvara — through art, words, gatherings, or the simple beauty of presence — you, too, feel the warmth of belonging.
