Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Biography

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Katherine of Alexandria, Ekaterina of Alexandria, and Katharina von Alexandrien, was born into a noble family. She was highly educated in the areas of science and oratory. During her younger years, Catherine converted to Christianity after receiving a divine vision. At the age of 18, when the persecution of Maximinus was taking place, Catherine offered to debate the pagan philosophers of the time. Her arguments were so persuasive that many philosophers converted to Christianity. However, they were immediately martyred for their newfound faith. In response to this, Maximinus ordered Catherine to be scourged and imprisoned. During her imprisonment, the empress and the leader of Maximinus' army were amazed by the stories surrounding Catherine's conversion of the philosophers. They decided to visit her in prison, ultimately leading to their own conversion and martyrdom. As a result, Maximinus ordered Catherine to be broken on the wheel as a form of torture. However, when she touched the wheel, it shattered into pieces. Despite this miraculous event, Catherine was eventually beheaded. According to legend, her body was swiftly carried away by angels. Saint Catherine of Alexandria became immensely popular during the Middle Ages and numerous chapels and churches were dedicated to her throughout western Europe. She was revered as one of the divine advisors to Saint Joan of Arc. Her reputation for wisdom and learning led to her patronage of libraries, librarians, teachers, archivists, and anyone associated with wisdom or teaching. Additionally, her debating skills and persuasive language made her a patron saint of lawyers. She is also known as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. While the exact details of her life may be obscured by legend, romance, and poetry, Saint Catherine is traditionally depicted with a spiked wheel to represent her martyrdom. Other common representations include a woman arguing with pagan philosophers, a crown symbolizing her high status, and her foot resting on the head of a man. She is widely venerated and celebrated on 25 November, although she was removed from the calendar in 1969 and later restored in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. In Orthodox churches of Russian background, her feast day is observed on 24 November. Saint Catherine of Alexandria is revered as the patron saint of apologists, apprentice milliners, apprentice seamstresses, archivists, attorneys, barbers, barristers, craftsmen who work with wheels (such as potters and spinners), dying people, educators, girls, jurists, knife grinders, knife sharpeners, lawyers, librarians, libraries, maidens, mechanics, millers, nurses, old maids, philosophers, potters, preachers, scholars, schoolchildren, scribes, secretaries, spinners, spinsters, stenographers, students, tanners, teachers, theologians, turners, the University of Heidelberg, the University of Paris, unmarried girls, wheelwrights, the Worshipful Company of Carmen, the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, the Diocese of Dumaguete in the Philippines, the Diocese of Saint Catharines in Ontario, Wachtebeke in Belgium, Altena, Heidesheim am Rhein, Mähring, and Weissensee in Germany, as well as various locations in Italy such as Bertinoro, Camerata Picena, Cellino San Marco, Locri, Luint (Ovaro), and Pettenasco. She is also venerated in Kuldiga, Latvia, Zejtun, and Zurrieq in Malta, and Aalsum in the Netherlands. Saint Catherine of Alexandria was canonized as a saint in the Pre-Congregation era.