Who was Saint Catherine?

Saint Catherine, the namesake of the monastery, is one of the most popular early Christian saints. Although she was martyred at only 18 years old, the dramatic story of her short life is one of unwavering faith and powerful intellect.

Catherine was born around 287 in Alexandria, Egypt, an important center of culture and learning, as well as faith, in that era. Her father, Cestus, was a man of wealth and importance and his daughter Catherine was well educated in the sciences and the philosophical schools of thought of the ancient world. She was recognized as an intellectual and beautiful woman of the upper class.

At age 14, Catherine had a profound religious vision and decided to become a Christian. In traditional accounts, Christ appeared to her in a dream, giving her a ring, and asking her to be faithful to Him.

Catherine was unable to idly watch so many fearful Christians renouncing their faith. Forsaking her lineage, education, and wealth, she appeared before Maximinus to condemn his idolatry. She admitted that she was a Christian and that she was betrothed to Christ.

In an attempt to outwit and embarrass Catherine, Maxentius called 50 of the most brilliant philosophers to debate with her. Catherine spoke so eloquently that many of the philosophers became convinced and became believers in Christ. All were executed by Maxentius. Infuriated by Catherine’s triumph, the Emperor threw her in the prison and she was condemned to death.

During her imprisonment, hundreds of people came to visit her, including many officials, and even Maxentius’ wife, Valeria Maximilla. Each was converted to Christianity by the saint, and each was

Maxentius is said to have offered Catherine the choice of marriage to him or becoming his mistress. This could have given her power in this political situation but she refused his offer. Maxentius subjected her to all variety of toture but the saint, emboldened by the power of Christ, survived all of this torture unscathed. He ordered that she be executed on the “breaking wheel” but as Catherine was brought out, she touched the wheel, and it shattered. As the events had taken a particularly unfavorable turn for him, Maximinus finally ordered that she be beheaded and on the 25 of November, the date on which the Church venerates her memory, Catherine became a martyr. At the time of her execution, some sources say that there flowed a milky white substance rather than blood. Her martyrdom was in the year 305.

The legend continues by saying that the angels then carried Catherine’s body and laid it on Mt. Catherine, near Mt. Sinai. Ancient texts report that the body of the saint was kept for almost three hundred years by ascetics before being discovered in approximately the year 800, during the time of the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian I, and the nearby monastery began to be named for her.

Catherine was selected by the church as one of fourteen “Holy Helpers”, who were thought to be especially powerful intercessors. Pilgrims travel to the remote monastery site to pray for healing. Martyrdom accounts, eulogies, hagiographies, chants, and poems that recount the life and martyrdom of Saint Catherine have been studied by scholars from the eighteenth century to this day. The story of her faith and purity became an especially powerful subject, especially in Renaissance art. And the name, Catherine, remains popular. She is venerated around the world on her feast day, November 25th.