Saint Catherine, who
was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an
exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage,
and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the
passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by
her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had
been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom
in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of
Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of
Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the
Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine.
According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated
on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and
Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of
these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of
Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be
celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry
of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on
their original dates.
Saint Catherine, who
was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an
exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage,
and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the
passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by
her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had
been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom
in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of
Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of
Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the
Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine.
According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated
on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and
Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of
these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of
Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be
celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry
of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on
their original dates.
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