While legend places the martyrdom of St Paul near Rome, ancient tradition holds that his one-time traveling companion, St Barnabas (see Acts 11–15), became the first bishop of Milan and baptized the city’s first Christians. The story brings the New Testament in real time to the streets of Milan and predates the arrival of the relics of the Magi – the city’s other biblical claim – by some three centuries. While the presumed relics remain in Milan to this day, the legend of St Barnabas is widely regarded as a myth, and it is doubtful that the Apostle, whose feast day was celebrated this past week on June 11, ever set foot in the city.
St Barnabas baptizing a Milanese
As with the relics of the Magi, the development of the Barnabas tradition is connected with Saint Eustorgio, the bishop of Milan (344–350 AD), who established a church foundation at the present site of the Basilica di Sant’Eustorgio, which is located on a cemetery dating to the third and fourth centuries and which coincides with the place where St Barnabas is said to have baptized the city’s first Christians. The topography corresponds to the location of an ancient stream where St Barnabas reputedly established Milan’s first baptism font, now located under the inner courtyard of a house on the southern side of the Piazza Sant’Eustorgio. As still indicated on the façade of this house, on October 28, 1623, Cardinal Federico Borromeo restored and blessed this font, ensuring the survival of the Barnabas legend.
The Milanese commemoration of St Barnabas, the ‘son of encouragement’ (Acts 4:36), has also found expression in the city’s historic Church of St Paul and St Barnabas, which became the principal church for the Order of Barnabites, founded in 1530 by St Antony Zaccaria.
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St Barnabas’ role as the first bishop of Milan is not the only myth surrounding the apostolic saint. Tertullian wrongly identified Barnabas as the author of the New Testament book of Hebrews, and his authorship of the apocryphal texts, The Epistle of Barnabas, The Gospel of Barnabas, and The Acts of Barnabas, once espoused by the Early Church Fathers, has now been discredited.
The Christian tradition more widely held than the Milanese version states that Barnabas, never a bishop, preached in Alexandria and Rome before being stoned to death at Salamis (Cyprus) about 61 AD, where he is still venerated as the patron saint of Cyprus. Legend depicts him anachronistically holding a copy of the Gospel of Matthew at the time of his death.
Medieval Milanetc 
Thank you for these posts. they are always interesting and make me realize how little i know the ciy I live in.
I dont see why he couldnt have traveled to Milan, its not that far from Rome. You make it sound like he couldnt physically have gone the distance, where as in reality he could have walked in a few days journey. Seems reasonable. Clearly Cardinal Borromeo who consecrated the area thought so, as well as the 15th C Barnabite Order, who must have had good reasons. The evidence of the stream is in keeping with the history of other Bishops and Saints, who have very similar stories.
It seems to me a mistake to confuse literature with geography. While you might realistically argue that he wasnt the author of some books which had the name Barnabas (how many others had that name after him, right? Could have been one of them) the geography is a seperate isse. Geographical places often have very distinct histories, which include wars or martyrdoms. This doesnt have to imply anything about literature or be connected to it. One doesnt reflect the other. What is known about him, that he was sent as an apostle to convert the lands far and wide of Rome, is in keeping with the story about Milan.
this is one of those things that “you wont know until you get to heaven”, as my dad used to say –lol
Thanks for your comment. I appreciate the conversation. I would say that my doubts regarding the Milanese tradition that Barnabas was the first bishop of Milan and/or baptized in Milan has little to do with geography and more to do with a ‘hermeneutic of suspicion’ regarding certain aspects of the cult of the saints. Namely, places wanted to associate themselves with biblical figures and saints for various reasons but the stories are not always true. Yes, these historical figures indeed traveled widely, but it is good to be suspicious. For a long time, people thought that places and churches named after saints indicated that the saint had actually founded these places (i.e., had been there in person), but now they are understood to more generally represent the diffusion of the saints’ cult. If Barnabas was really the first bishop of Milan, then that is a very significant thing indeed. But the tradition is not very strong, despite the attention Borromeo gave it, indicating that it is not generally believed to have been true, while other traditions of Barnabas are stronger, including the biblical reference that he was from Cyprus. Could it be true that he was also in Milan — either as bishop or a traveler? Sure, but I would remain skeptical. Thanks! Rodney