Catherine the Great Martyr

Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria.

St. Catherine the Great Martyr was a noble and brilliantly educated maiden of Alexandria, martyred at the beginning of the fourth century. According to tradition, she confessed Christ before the emperor and bested in debate the philosophers gathered to refute her, leading many to the faith. After torture on the wheel, which was broken by grace, she was beheaded.

Her relics rest at the great monastery of Sinai that bears her name. She is honored as a patroness of learning and students, and her feast, kept on November 25 in some traditions and November 25 in others, is a cherished name day for Katerina.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Catherine the Great Martyr is commemorated on November 25. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on December 8 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Aikaterini, Katerina, Katia, Katina, Kate, Cathy, Cat, Katherine, Kathryn, Catherine, Ekaterini, Kaiti, Katie, Kathy

Also commemorated on November 25

• Mercurius the Great Martyr

  Martyr, Μερκούριος ο Μεγαλομάρτυς

  Holy Great Martyr Mercurius of Caesarea in Cappadocia, the soldier martyred under Decius.

  Name days: Merkourios, Mercurius, Mercurios, Merkouris

• Peter the Hesychast

  Venerable, Πέτρος ο Ησυχαστής

  Venerable Peter the Hesychast of Galatia, who lived as an ascetic from childhood.

• Augusta the Empress

  Holy Woman, Βασίλισσα Αυγούστα

  Holy Martyr Augusta the Empress, converted by Saint Catherine.

• Porphyrios the General

  Martyr, Πορφύριος ο Στρατηλάτης

  Holy Martyr Porphyrios the General and the 200 soldiers martyred with him.

• The 150 Rhetors

  Saint, Οι Εκατόν Πενήντα Ρήτορες

  The 150 philosophers and rhetors converted by Saint Catherine and martyred by fire.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.