Description

Feast Day/Commemorated: November 24

Saint Catherine, residing in the heart of Hellenistic knowledge and blessed with extraordinary beauty and intellect, received a most splendid education. Though many noble youths sought her hand, she declared her willingness to marry only one who surpassed her in illustriousness, wealth, comeliness, and wisdom. Her secretly Christian mother, discerning her daughter's spiritual yearning, sent her to a saintly elder. He spoke of a heavenly Bridegroom whose glory transcended all earthly comparisons, igniting in Catherine an ardent desire to behold Him. The elder then gave her an icon of the Theotokos and the Christ Child, instructing her to pray for a vision. After her initial vision where the Child turned away due to her unbaptized state, she returned to the elder, was instructed in the Faith, and received the Holy Mystery of Baptism. In a subsequent vision, the Lord tenderly looked upon her and bestowed upon her a ring, a wondrous gift symbolizing her divine betrothal.

At this time, the impious emperor Maximinus arrived in Alexandria for a grand pagan feast, which was marked by immense crowds, animal sacrifices, and the tragic burning of Christian confessors who refused to renounce Christ. Moved by profound love for the martyrs and a fervent desire to alleviate their suffering, Saint Catherine, with divine courage, approached the emperor-persecutor Maximinus. Introducing herself, the holy maiden boldly confessed her unwavering faith in the one true God and, with heavenly wisdom, eloquently exposed the errors of paganism. Captivated by her radiant beauty and profound intellect, the emperor summoned fifty of the empire's most learned rhetoricians to debate her, hoping to prove the superiority of pagan wisdom. Yet, by the grace of God, Saint Catherine utterly confounded the wise men, leading them to believe in Christ. Shielded by the sign of the Cross, these newly enlightened martyrs bravely embraced death by fire for Christ, by the emperor's cruel command.

Maximinus, now despairing of convincing the saint through argument, attempted to entice her with promises of immense riches and worldly fame. Receiving a resolute refusal from the steadfast Catherine, the enraged emperor ordered her to be subjected to terrible tortures before casting her into prison. Meanwhile, Empress Augusta, having heard much of the saint's remarkable spirit, desired to see her. Accompanied by the military commander Porphyry and a detachment of soldiers, Augusta visited the imprisoned Catherine. The empress was deeply moved by the holy martyr's unyielding spirit and the divine grace that illuminated her face. Saint Catherine, with divine eloquence, expounded the Christian teaching to them, and through her words, Empress Augusta, Porphyry, and the soldiers were converted to Christ.

On the following day, the martyr was again brought before the judgment court. Under the threat of being broken upon the wheel, she was urged to recant her Christian faith and offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. With unwavering resolve, Saint Catherine steadfastly confessed Christ. As she herself approached the instruments of torture, a divine angel intervened, smashing the wheels into pieces, causing many pagans nearby to perish. Witnessing this profound miracle, Empress Augusta, the imperial courtier Porphyry, and two hundred soldiers boldly confessed their faith in Christ before all, and for their unwavering testimony, they were forthwith beheaded, receiving the crown of martyrdom.

Maximinus, in his final desperate attempt, again sought to entice the holy martyr, proposing marriage to her. Saint Catherine, however, firmly confessed her eternal fidelity to her heavenly Bridegroom, Christ. With a final prayer to Him, she willingly laid her head upon the executioner's block, offering her life as a pure sacrifice. By divine will, the sacred relics of Saint Catherine were miraculously taken by angels to Mount Sinai. Centuries later, in the 9th or 10th century, through a divine revelation, her incorrupt relics were found and honorably transferred to the church of the Sinai Monastery, built by the holy Emperor Justinian the Great in the 6th century. To this very day, the venerable head and left hand of the Great Martyr Saint Catherine are presented for veneration by the Fathers of the Holy Monastery, a testament to her enduring sanctity and a blessing to the faithful.

About Our Icons (Print and Mounted):

Theophany Works Icons are handcrafted reproductions, made with prayer and a desire for excellence. Choose from our standard mounted option on Museum Quality Paper or you may choose to upgrade to Museum Quality Matte Canvas. Both offer a rich print with saturated coloration and are finished with our high-grade UV protection sealant offering a subtle tactile texture that gives our icons a truly authentic feel. Additionally, each Maple-shelled panel is prepared with a painted chamfered front edge as well as a round-over on the back edge to give a shadow box effect when hung on the wall. Our Icons come standard with a sliding key-hole slot on the back which allows for balanced hanging. These beautiful American-made reproductions will be a beloved addition to any home or parish at the fraction of the cost of a hand painted icon.