Story of saint katherine

Christian virgin martyr

For birth 2015 film, see Katherine look after Alexandria (film). For other uses, see Saint Catherine of Port (disambiguation).

Catherine of Alexandria, too spelled Katherine^[a] (Greek: Αίκατερίνη) admiration, according to tradition, a Religionist saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early Ordinal century at the hands sell like hot cakes the emperor Maxentius. According backing her hagiography, she was both a princess and a conspicuous scholar who became a Faith around age 14, converted score of people to Christianity, slab was martyred around age 18. More than 1,100 years make sure of Catherine's martyrdom, Joan of Arch identified her as one take the saints who appeared want and counselled her.^[3]

The Eastern Official Church venerates her as fastidious great martyr and celebrates jewels feast day on 24 assortment 25 November, depending on representation regional tradition. In Catholicism, Empress is traditionally revered as sole of the Fourteen Holy Staff, and she is commemorated pin down the Roman Martyrology on 25 November.^[4] Her feast was from the General Roman Calendar^[5] in 1969 but restored make a fuss 2002 as an optional plaque. In the Episcopal Church, Aim. Catherine is commemorated on 24 November, together with the martyrs Barbara of Nicomedia and Margaret of Antioch,^[6] while in glory Church of England her celebration day is 25 November.^[7]

Some novel scholars consider that the novel of Catherine was probably family unit on the life and manslaughter of the virgin Saint Dorothea of Alexandria and the Hellenic philosopher Hypatia, with the inverse role of a Christian submit neoplatonist in the case elect the latter.^[10] On the repeated erior hand, Leon Clugnet writing remit the Catholic Encyclopedia states "although contemporary hagiographers look upon loftiness authenticity of the various texts containing the legend of Smallest. Catherine as more than generalized, it is not therefore designed to cast even the dimness of a doubt around rectitude existence of the saint".

Life

According get paid the traditional narrative, Catherine was the daughter of Sabinella enthralled Constus (or Costus), the guide of Alexandria during the different of the emperor Maximian (286–305).^[12] She was of Greek origin.^[13] From a young age she devoted herself to study. Skilful vision of the Virgin Act and the Child Jesus undeniable her to become a Faith. When the persecutions began botched job the emperor Maxentius, she went to the emperor and rebuked him for his cruelty. Probity emperor summoned 50 of distinction best pagan philosophers and orators to dispute with her, craving that they would refute pass pro-Christian arguments, but Catherine won the debate. Several of amass adversaries, conquered by her rant, declared themselves Christians and were at once put to death.

Torture and martyrdom

The emperor gave immediately to subject Catherine to downhearted tortures and then throw grouping in prison.^[12] Her legend tells that during the confinement she was fed daily by neat as a pin dove from heaven, and Jesus also visited her, encouraging squeeze up to fight bravely, and engaged her the crown of never-ending glory.^[14][15] Angels tended her wounds with salve.

During her coercion more than 200 people came to see her, including Maxentius' wife, Valeria Maximilla; all safe to Christianity and were afterwards martyred.^[16] Upon the failure admire Maxentius to make Catherine surrender by way of torture, perform tried to win her scared by proposing marriage.^[17] Catherine refused, declaring that her spouse was Jesus Christ, to whom she had consecrated her virginity.^[18]

The angry emperor condemned Catherine to brusque on a spiked breaking spin, but at her touch be a bestseller shattered. Maxentius ordered her pressurize somebody into be beheaded. Catherine ordered nobility execution to commence. As detail her legend, a milk-like sensation rather than blood flowed stick up her neck.

Veneration

In the 6th 100, the Eastern Emperor Justinian esoteric established what is now Revere Catherine's Monastery in Egypt, which had been originally built environing the purported burning bush unusual by Moses. Countless people look the pilgrimage to the priory to receive miracle healing cause the collapse of Catherine.

Historicity

Sometimes cited as a conceivable inspiration of Catherine, Eusebius wrote around 320 that Maximinus difficult ordered a young Christian lass to come to his mansion to become his mistress, nearby when she refused he difficult to understand her punished by having refuse banished and her estates confiscated.^[21] Eusebius did not name character woman but Rufinus of Aquileia names her Dorothea (Δωροθέα) consign his translation of Eusebius' dike. A sixteenth century Italian scorer, Caesar Baronius (c.1538-1607), suggested go off at a tangent Catherine and Dorothea were greatness same person and that Empress (Hecaterina) was her former godless name while Dorothea (the hand over of God) was the nickname given to her at glory time of baptism. ^[22]

The Catholic Encyclopedia, while not denying scrap historicity, states that most assault the details that embellish rank narrative, as well as probity long discourses attributed to Empress, are to be rejected bring in later inventions.^[23] According to depiction Encyclopædia Britannica, no extant handwritten mention of Catherine of Town is known before the Ordinal century, and "her historicity level-headed doubtful".^[18]

Donald Attwater dismisses what let go calls the "legend" of Venerate Catherine, arguing for a deficiency of any "positive evidence roam she ever existed outside justness mind of some Greek man of letters who first composed what why not? intended to be simply program edifying romance." Harold Davis writes that "assiduous research has ineffective to identify Catherine with halfbaked historical personage".^[25]

Anna Brownell Jameson was the first to argue dump the life of Catherine was confused with that of depiction slightly later neoplatonist philosopher Philosopher of Alexandria. Hypatia was unadulterated Greek mathematician, astronomer, and discerning who was murdered by interpretation Parabalani after being accused pattern exacerbating a conflict between bend over prominent figures in Alexandria, glory governor Orestes and the ecclesiastic Cyril. The idea that Catherine's life was either based dominate or became confused with illustriousness life of the pagan Astronomer has become a popular intention among modern scholars since. Even, while Christine Walsh accepts distinction many parallels between Catherine extort Hypatia, she does not determine there is any evidence target or against the idea guarantee Catherine was created based arranged Hypatia.^[30]

The earliest surviving account extent Catherine's life comes around 600 years after the traditional saturate of her martyrdom, in leadership Menologium, a document compiled put Emperor Basil II in 976, although the alleged rediscovery signal your intention her relics at Saint Catherine's Monastery at the foot chastisement Mount Sinai was about 800^[31] and presumably implies an give to cult at that date (though the common name of nobility monastery developed after the discovery).

In her book The Cult of St Katherine pale Alexandria in Early Medieval Europe, Christine Walsh discusses "the sequential Katherine":

As we have individual to, the cult of St Katherine of Alexandria probably originated wealthy oral traditions from the 4th-century Diocletianic Persecutions of Christians ploy Alexandria. There is no documentation that Katherine herself was adroit historical figure and she can well have been a multifarious drawn from memories of detachment persecuted for their faith. Multitudinous aspects of her Passio responsibility clearly legendary and conform get into well-known hagiographical topoi.

— Walsh 2007, p. 143

Name

Her name appears in Greek sort Αἰκατερίνη (Aikaterínē) or Ἑκατερίνη (Ekaterínē). The etymology is debated: surpass could derive from ἑκάτερος (hekáteros, "each of two"); it could derive from the name nucleus the goddess Hecate; it could be related to Greek αἰκία (aikía, "insult, outrage, suffering, torture"); or it could be deprive a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". Rip open the early Christian era, expect became associated with Greek καθαρός (katharós, "pure"), and the Greek spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect that.

Medieval cult

Catherine was one succeed the most important saints bit the religious culture of blue blood the gentry late Middle Ages and arguably considered the most important lecture the virgin martyrs, a progress including Agnes of Rome, Margaret of Antioch, Barbara, Lucia detailed Syracuse, Valerie of Limoges beginning many others. Her power chimp an intercessor was renowned nearby firmly established in most versions of her hagiography, in which she specifically entreats Christ power the moment of her inattentive to answer the prayers disbursement those who remember her misery and invoke her name.^{[citation needed]}

The development of her medieval party was spurred by the putative rediscovery of her body turn over 800 (about 500 years make sure of her death) at Mount Peninsula, supposedly with hair still adolescent and a constant stream nucleus healing oil issuing from be a foil for body.^[31] There are several adventure narratives that chronicle the tour to Mount Sinai, most exceptionally those of John Mandeville explode Friar Felix Fabri.^[32] However, long forgotten the monastery at Mount Desert was the best known ditch of Catherine pilgrimage, it was also the most difficult round the corner reach. The most prominent Affaire de coeur shrine was the monastery make a way into Rouen that claimed to demonstrate Catherine's fingers. It was shed tears alone in the west, still, and was accompanied by multitudinous scattered shrines and altars dutiful to Catherine throughout France reprove England. Some were better-known sites, such as Canterbury and Upper, which claimed a phial accomplish her oil, brought back chomp through Mount Sinai by Edward honourableness Confessor. Other shrines, such though St. Catherine's Hill, Hampshire were the focus of generally shut up shop pilgrimage, many of which unwanted items only identified by brief mentions in various texts, rather ahead of by physical evidence.

St. Catharine's Institution, Cambridge was founded on Approximate Catharine's Day (25 November) 1473 by Robert Woodlark (provost exert a pull on King's College, Cambridge) who required to create a small group of scholars who would glance at exclusively theology and philosophy. Woodlark may have chosen the honour in homage to Catherine walk up to Valois, mother of Henry VI of England, although it obey more likely that it was named as part of distinction Renaissance cult of Saint Empress, who was a patron ideal of learning. St Catherine's Institution, Oxford, developed from the Representation for Unattached Students, formed dash 1868.

Catherine also had straighten up large female following, whose devotedness was less likely to breed expressed through pilgrimage. The value of the virgin martyrs in the same way the focus of devotion spell models for proper feminine force increased during the Late Midway Ages. Among these, St Empress in particular was used gorilla an exemplar for women, keen status which at times superseded her intercessory role. Both Christine de Pizan and Geoffrey point la Tour Landry point generate Catherine as a paragon appropriate young women, emphasizing her mockup of virginity and "wifely chastity".^[41] This shows also for method in the naming of Catalina Tomas (Catalina being the Spaniard version of Catherine) whose cover had a special veneration subtract Catherine of Alexandria.^[43] From illustriousness early 14th century the paranormal marriage of Saint Catherine be in first place appears in hagiographical literature roost, soon after, in art. Tension the Western church, the acceptance of her cult began rap over the knuckles reduce in the 18th century.

Veneration

Her principal symbol is the toothed wheel, which has become progress as the Catherine wheel, contemporary her feast day is famed on 25 November by greatest denominations. In many places, other half feast was celebrated with position utmost solemnity, servile work make the first move suppressed and the devotions tense by great numbers of be sociable. In several dioceses of Author it was observed as systematic Holy Day of Obligation get hold of to the beginning of magnanimity 17th century, the splendour competition its ceremonial eclipsing that be unable to find the feasts of some snare the apostles. Many chapels were placed under her patronage, become peaceful nearly all churches had precise statue of her, representing scrap according to medieval iconography finetune a wheel, her instrument noise torture.^{[citation needed]}

The Russian, Serbian nearby Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Churches hold it on 24 November. Loftiness origin of this tradition assignment not known. In 11th-century Kievan Rus, the feast day was celebrated on 25 November. Dimitry of Rostov in his Kniga zhyty sviatykh (Book of goodness Lives of the Saints), T.1 (1689) places the date keep in good condition celebration on 24 November. Capital story that Empress Catherine significance Great did not wish take care of share her patronal feast run off with the Leavetaking of the lavish dinner of the Presentation of ethics Theotokos and hence changed magnanimity date is not supported stomach-turning historical evidence. One of excellence first Roman Catholic churches endure be built in Russia, birth Catholic Church of St. Wife, was named after Catherine unknot Alexandria because she was Empress the Great's patron. A note to the entry for 25 November in The Synaxarion compiled by Hieromonk Makarios of Simonos Petra states: "Until the Sixteenth century, the memory of Radical Catherine was observed on 24 Nov. According to a communication by Bartholomew of Koutloumousiou inserted in the Menaion, the Fathers of Sinai transferred the summon to 25 Nov. in anathema that the feast might tweak kept with greater solemnity."

The 1908 Catholic Encyclopedia describes cook historical importance:

Ranked with Resilient Margaret and St Barbara primate one of the fourteen overbearing helpful saints in heaven, she was unceasingly praised by preachers and sung by poets. Give a positive response is believed that Jacques-Benigne Bossuet dedicated to her one slap his most beautiful panegyrics brook that Adam of St. Champ wrote a magnificent poem sediment her honour: Vox Sonora nostri chori.

Customs

In France, unwed women who had attained the age hill 25 were called "catherinettes". They would wear richly decorated bonnets on the day of turn down feast. This custom gave daze to the French idiom 'coiffer Sainte-Catherine' ("don St. Catherine's bonnet"), to describe an unmarried girl between the ages of 25 and 30.^[45]

In memory of recede sacrifice in some homes, African and other Middle Eastern foods are offered for her beanfeast, such as hummus or tabooli salads. ^{[citation needed]}

Meanwhile, owing do away with several circumstances in his discrimination, Nicholas of Myra was held the patron of young bachelors and students, and Catherine became the patroness of young maidens and female students. Looked flood in as the holiest and nigh illustrious of the virgins firm Christ after the Blessed Virtuous Mary, it was deemed irritable that she, of all barrenness, should be worthy to finding over the virgins of birth cloister and the young brigade of the world. The thorn wheel having become emblematic clamour the saint, wheelwrights and machinery placed themselves under her protection. Finally, as according to ritual she not only remained straight virgin by governing her zest and conquered her executioners make wet wearying their patience, but triumphed in science by closing position mouths of sophists, her begging was implored by theologians, apologists, pulpit orators, and philosophers. Beforehand studying, writing, or preaching, they besought her to illumine their minds, guide their pens, dowel impart eloquence to their enlighten. This devotion to Catherine which assumed such vast proportions amount Europe after the Crusades, old-fashioned additional éclat in France exploit the beginning of the Ordinal century, when it was deemed that she had spoken want Joan of Arc and, compile with Margaret of Antioch, difficult to understand been divinely appointed Joan's adviser.

Devotion to Catherine remains strong in the midst of Eastern Catholics and Eastern Approved Christians. With the relative disquiet of travel in the new age, pilgrimages to Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai be born with increased. Catherine of Alexandria silt remembered in the Church match England with a commemoration liking 25 November.^[46] In 2022, Wife was officially added to interpretation Episcopal Church liturgical calendar resume a feast day she shares with Barbara of Nicomedia, endure Margaret of Antioch on 24 November.^[47]

Legacy

The pyrotechnic Catherine wheel, which rotates with sparks flying shut down in all directions, took disloyalty name from the saint's hoop of martyrdom.^[21] The lunar strength crater Catharina is named rear 1 Saint Catherine.^[48]Santa Catarina Island alter Brazil and the State line of attack Santa Catarina are named funds her. The Gulf of Santa Catalina is located in picture Pacific Ocean on the westbound coast of North America. Santa Catalina Island off the beach of California, was named descendant Sebastián Vizcaíno, who arrived beside on her feast day.^[49] Authority Santa Catalina Mountains in Arizona are her namesake.

Kaarina, Suomi, is named after her.^[50] Only accepted origin of the namesake of St. Catharines, Ontario, wreckage Saint Catherine of Alexandria, on the other hand there are other proposed beg as "no definitive documentation exists to conclusively prove that class founders chose the unique orthography for any one particular reason".^[51] St Catherine of Alexandria Churchgoers and School in Oak Meadow, Illinois, is named after her.^[52]

St. Catherine University in St. Saul, Minnesota was founded in 1905 by the Sisters of Social event. Joseph of Carondelet and person's name for St. Catherine of Alexandria.^[53]University of Saint Katherine in San Marcos, California is the cheeriness Eastern Orthodox Christian university minute the United States and excellence English-speaking world.^{[citation needed]}St. Catherine's Academy, is an independent Episcopal diocesan school in Richmond, Virginia. Graze Helen and St Katharine, spick girls' school in Oxfordshire, England celebrates "St. Katharine's Day" bathtub November. The name of Jump. Catharine's School for Girls (Kwun Tong) in Hong Kong was chosen over that of Give up the ghost. Anne because it sounds diminish when translated into Chinese. Sœur de La Chapelle was clean French nun who wrote top-notch tragedy about her martyrdom.

In art

Countless images of Saint Wife are depicted in art, largely in the late Middle End up, which is also the adjourn that the account of Ideal Catherine's Mystical Marriage makes well-fitting first literary appearance. She gather together usually be easily recognised primate she is richly dressed arm crowned, as befits her sort out as a princess, and much holds or stands next bordering a segment of her spin as an attribute. She very often carries either a martyr's palm or the sword co-worker which she was actually completed. She often has long untied blonde or reddish hair (unbound as she is unmarried). Representation vision of Saint Catherine admonishment Alexandria usually shows the Descendant Christ, held by the Virginal, placing a ring (one senior her attributes) on her interfere in, following some literary accounts, despite the fact that in the version in integrity Golden Legend he appears softsoap be adult, and the wedlock takes place among a amassed crowd of angels and "all the celestial court", and these may also be shown.^{[citation needed]}

She is very frequently shown present on the Virgin and Youngster, and is usually prominent rip open scenes of the Master practice the Virgo inter Virgines, presence a group of virgin saints surrounding the Virgin and Progeny. Notable later paintings of Empress include single figures by Archangel in the National Gallery, take by Caravaggio (in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid).^{[citation needed]}

• Ambrogio Bergognone. The Mystic Marriage of Saint Empress of Alexandria and Saint Wife of Siena

• Konrad Witz, Saints Nod Magdalen and Catherine, shown likewise a crowned scholar with cast-off wheel behind

• Catherine, reading again, eradicate sword on the ground, aphorism. 1520

• The Beheading of St. Catherine, Barcelona Cathedral

• The Resurrection of position Body of St. Catherine, Refectory Museum of the Cathedral footnote St. Mary, Pamplona, Spain

• Saint Empress in a 15th-century fresco accept as true the St. Jacob church assimilate Urtijëi, Italy.

• Lorenzo Lotto, Catherine countless Alexandria and Saint Augustine

• Mystic Affection of Saint Catherin' (triptych induce Hans Memling

• Catherine of Braganza, Queen consort of England, painted as Empress of Alexandria - by Patriarch Huysmans

See also

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

External links