Among the numerous Christian saints, the Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria occupies a special place. She came to faith in Christ after a deep study of the works of scientists-enlighteners of her time and past centuries. This knowledge helped her understand that only a single and omnipotent Creator could create this world, full of evidence of his presence in it. When the Mother of God appeared to her with the Eternal Child in her arms, she accepted them into her heart without a shadow of a doubt.
Childhood and youth of the future ascetic
Saint Catherine of Alexandria was born in Egypt in the second half of the third century. She came from a royal family and from early childhood lived in luxury befitting her position. However, it was not games and fun that seduced the mind of a young girl. Her main passion was studying. The city of Alexandria, where she lived, has long been famous for its library, where the works of thinkers of the past were kept. Saint Catherine devoted all her time to them.
By barely eighteen years old, she already knew perfectly the works of Homer, Plato, Virgil and Aristotle. In addition, having a penchant for the natural sciences, shestudied the works of famous doctors such as Hippocrates, Asclepius and Galin. To complete her education, the learned maiden comprehended the subtleties of oratory and dialectics. She easily conducted discussions with learned men in many languages and dialects. Thinking over everything she read in ancient manuscripts, she came to the conclusion that the creator of the whole world around her should be some great and powerful mind, and not those man-made idols that the Egyptians worshiped at that time.
Bride from the royal family
Besides extensive knowledge and a bright mind, Catherine of Alexandria had extraordinary beauty. Is it any wonder that with such virtues, and even having a noble origin, she was among the most desirable brides in the state. Proposals were constantly made to her from many enviable suitors, who tried to touch her with declarations of love and seduce her with promises of a happy and rich life.
However, the proud girl refused everyone, and finally her family began to insist that she still make a choice and give them the heir of all the we alth that belongs to her by right of kinship. But apparently, the enemy of the human race instilled pride in her heart, and in response to them the maiden declared that she would marry only that young man who would be equally noble, rich, smart and handsome with her. She does not agree to anything less, since she possesses these four virtues more than all the girls in the world. If such an ideal is not found, then she is ready to remain in her virginity until old age, but not stoop to an unequal marriage.
The news of the heavenly bridegroom
Hearing such reckless speeches, the girl's mother decided to resort to the help of an old hermit who, professing Christianity, which was forbidden at that time, lived outside the city, in a cave. This wise man, having listened to Catherine, decided to enlighten her with the light of those truths that had until now been hidden from her, despite all her learning.
He told her that there is a young man in the world who surpasses the wisdom of all living on earth, and his beauty is comparable only to a sunbeam. The whole visible and invisible world is in his power, and the we alth that he distributes with a generous hand, not only does not decrease, but increases each time. His race is so high that it is incomprehensible to the human mind. After these words, the elder handed Catherine an icon, which depicted the Blessed Virgin with her divine baby. Reverently clutching the precious burden to her chest, Catherine left the elder.
Vision of the Blessed Virgin
Excited by the elder's story, Catherine of Alexandria returned home, and on the very first night, in a light dream, the Mother of God appeared to her with a baby in her arms. It was a great joy for her to feel the gaze of the Holy Virgin on herself, but her Eternal Son hid his face from the girl, and in response to her prayers, he ordered her to return to the elder and through him to comprehend those truths that would allow her to see his divine features. Catherine silently bowed before the baby Jesus and his mother. Her soul was filled with a burning desire to be enlightened as soon as possible with that teaching that would lead her toGod. Waking up from sleep, she did not close her eyes until morning, again and again experiencing what she saw in a dream.
Light of the faith of Christ
The next day, barely dawn, she was again in the same cave, and the righteous husband told her the great teachings of Jesus Christ. With bated breath, she listened to the bliss of the righteous in paradise and the eternal torment of those who walked the path of sin all their lives. All the undeniable superiority of the true Christian faith over pagan prejudices was revealed to her. Divine light shone on her soul.
Having returned home, St. Catherine prayed for a long time and, when she was overtaken by a dream, she again saw the Holy Virgin, but this time the divine Son looked graciously at her. He put a ring on the finger of a newly converted Christian woman and commanded her not to enter into an earthly marriage. When Catherine woke up, seeing this gift of God on her hand, she realized that from now on she was betrothed to Christ himself.
Christian preaching at a pagan temple
In those years when the light of Christianity shone in the soul of a young virgin, all of Egypt was still buried in the darkness of paganism, and adherents of the true faith were subjected to severe persecution. It so happened that the ruler of the country, the impious king Maximin, came to Alexandria, devoted to serving idols to the point of fanaticism. He ordered a grand celebration to be held in their honor and sent messengers to all parts of the country demanding that the inhabitants be summoned for a general sacrifice.
Catherine of Alexandria, together with everyone, came to the temple, where they were supposed toto honor stone and bronze idols, but instead of taking part in the general madness, she boldly turned to the king with words in which she denounced these demonic delusions. She not only tried to turn him and all those present away from paganism, but spoke to them about the One Creator of the world and the great teaching that he brought to people.
Philosophical debate and promises of riches
The ruler, filled with anger, ordered her to be taken to prison, but, sparing her youth and beauty, did not rush to extreme measures. He sent his wise men to her to convince the girl and return her to the path that Maximinus considered right. For a long time his envoys excelled in eloquence, but Catherine answered them so wisely and balancedly that they left disgraced.
Then the king resorted to the surest, in his opinion, means - the promise of innumerable earthly blessings for the renunciation of hated Christianity. However, this did not help either. What did all earthly riches and honors mean to her in comparison with the eternal bliss that she hoped to find in the Kingdom of the heavenly bridegroom. All the promises were just empty words for her.
Sacrifice for the triumph of truth
And then the ruler's eyes were covered with a veil of anger. He gave the innocent maiden into the hands of his most skillful executioner and ordered her to be tortured to renounce Christ. But a miracle happened. All his terrible weapons crumbled to dust in the blink of an eye as soon as he took them in his hands. It ended with him and all the henchmen seized with horror, and they informed the king that the Higher powers were protectingprisoner and demonstrate the truth of her words.
But the wicked tsar was deaf to their arguments, not wanting to deviate from his delusions, ordered Catherine to be executed immediately. This Christian great martyr was beheaded in 304, and her blood irrigated the fertile field, on which the life-giving fruits of Christianity sprouted. She and thousands of such ascetics with their lives laid the mighty foundation of the temple of the new faith, which soon embraced the entire civilized world.
Monastery at Sinai and Basilica in St. Petersburg
After some time, the holy relics of Catherine of Alexandria were transferred to Sinai and rested in the monastery that bears her name. The Russian sovereign Peter I, paying tribute to the memory of St. Catherine, the heavenly patroness of his wife, Empress Catherine I, ordered a silver shrine to be made for them and sent to Sinai.
In the very Northern capital of Russia, on its main thoroughfare - Nevsky Prospekt, the Catholic Church of Catherine of Alexandria was built.
It opened its doors in 1783 during the reign of another empress who bore her name, Catherine II, who was also under the heavenly protection of this saint. The temple, or, as it is called, the basilica, has survived to this day, and its photo is presented above. The parish of Catherine of Alexandria is one of the other Catholic communities in St. Petersburg. This building has become one of the architectural masterpieces of the city.
Among the host of Orthodox saints, Catherine of Alexandria also occupies a worthy place. Icon depicting this saintfound in most churches in Russia. As a rule, she is presented in royal attire, a crown and with a cross in her hand. Sometimes a wheel with teeth is also depicted - an instrument of torment crushed by divine power. The Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria prays at the throne of the Most High for the sending of eternal life to all who, for the sake of His Kingdom, reject perishable earthly blessings. Her memorial day is December 7th.
