The Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of one of the most famous saints of the first centuries of Christianity, the Great Martyr Catherine (+ c. 305-313), on December 7.
Saint Catherine was the daughter of Constas, ruler of Alexandria in Egypt during the reign of Emperor Maximin (305-313).
The girl possessed a rare beauty, besides she was highly educated, including well-versed in ancient philosophy. Many young men asked her to marry them, but she refused them all. Catherine told her parents that she would agree to marry only someone who surpassed her in nobility, wealth, beauty and wisdom.
One holy elder told the girl that Christ surpasses her in all this. After giving the girl an icon of the Mother of God with the Infant Jesus in her arms, he also told her that if she wanted to see the Lord, she should pray to this image.
Catherine prayed all night in front of the icon and received a vision of the Mother of God, but even at the request of the Most Pure Virgin, the Infant did not want to look at the girl, because she was not a Christian. The girl returned in sorrow to the elder, who comforted her and baptized her, commanding her to keep purity, chastity and unceasingly pray.
The next time Catherine prayed in front of the icon, the Lord looked at the girl tenderly and gave her a ring, giving her to Himself.
At that time, a magnificent feast was organized in Alexandria with numerous victims, including Christian martyrs, since Emperor Maximin came to the city. Saint Catherine came to the governor, confessed herself a Christian and exposed the errors of the pagans.
Captivated by the beauty of the girl, Maximin tried in various ways to convince her, but failing to succeed, he ordered the saint to be severely tortured and then thrown into prison. However, the faith and power of St. Catherine's spirit were so great that even Empress Augusta and Governor Porfiry, who visited her in prison, turned to Christ after meeting her.
However, Catherine herself faced severe trials. At first, they wanted to wheel her, but an angel invisibly appeared and destroyed the instrument of execution. After seeing this miracle, Empress Augusta and Porfiry with 200 soldiers confessed their faith in Christ in front of everyone and were beheaded.
Maximin again tried to seduce the holy martyr by offering her marriage, and was again refused. Catherine once again openly professed faith in Christ and voluntarily put her head under the executioner's sword.
The relics of St. Catherine were miraculously transferred to Mount Sinai. In the sixth century, by a special revelation, its honest head and left hand were found. They were transferred with honors to the new temple of the Sinai Monastery.