Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Our patron saint · Holy Great Martyr

Wisdom offered to Christ. Courage sustained by faith.

St. Dimitri of Rostov’s account

From The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints, Volume 3: November.

A brief retelling of St. Dimitri’s account.

The search for her Bridegroom

Catherine, a learned young woman of royal lineage in Alexandria, sought a bridegroom surpassing her in every excellence. Her mother brought her to a Christian elder, who directed her longing toward Christ.

Renewed in baptism

Through prayer before an icon of the Theotokos, instruction, and baptism, Catherine came to know Him. In a vision, Christ gave her a ring; her heart became wholly devoted to her heavenly Bridegroom.

Wisdom and witness

Catherine confronted Emperor Maxentius over pagan worship. Fifty learned orators could not overcome her testimony and embraced Christ. In prison, her witness also brought Augusta, Porphyrius, and his soldiers to faith.

Faithful unto death

An angel destroyed the wheels intended to torture her. Refusing the emperor’s promises, Catherine prayed before her execution and offered her life to Christ. Her relics were borne to Sinai.

“I prefer the robe of martyrdom to the imperial purple.”

Saint Catherine, in St. Dimitri’s telling

Continue with the complete account on Saint Kosmas Orthodox Education.

Saint Catherine’s Monastery surrounded by the rocky mountains of Sinai, Egypt — **Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai, Egypt.**Photo: Berthold Werner / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for the web.

Watch and learn

The life of Saint Catherine

Watch on YouTube

Troparion of the Great Martyr Catherine

in Tone IV—

Thy ewe-lamb Catherine crieth out to Thee with a loud voice, O Jesus:

“I love Thee, O my Bridegroom, and, seeking Thee, I pass through many struggles; I am crucified and buried with Thee in Thy baptism, and suffer for Thy sake, that I might reign with Thee; I die for Thee, that I might live with Thee. As an unblemished sacrifice accept me, who sacrifice myself with love for Thee.”

By her prayers save Thou our souls, in that Thou art merciful.

Our patron in West Texas

As a community under Saint Catherine’s patronage, we seek to offer our minds and hearts to Christ. Her example invites us to pursue truth, grow in prayer, and bear witness with courage and love.

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