The Great Martyr Catherine is an example of courage in the face of torture and execution, and is an inspiration to all Christians.

Catherine lived in Alexandria in the early part of the 4th century. While the era of Christian persecution was drawing to a close, followers of Christ still had to practice their faith secretly. Alexandria was a center of learning in the ancient world, and Catherine was well-versed in many fields. She was especially gifted in the knowledge of the teachings of Christ, and Catherine was blindly obedient to her Master.

When Catherine was 18, the emperor Maxentius decreed that all of his subjects must offer sacrifices to idols. Catherine steadfastly refused, and was brought to the emperor's court. Hoping to humiliate the young Christian maiden, Maxentius brought in 50 of his most learned scholars and philosophers to engage Catherine in debate over her beliefs. Catherine showed that she was wise beyond her years, confounding her pagan adversaries with her brilliant answers to their questions.

The enraged emperor had Catherine placed on a wheel of spikes, hoping to tear her body apart in this inhuman way. Miraculously, an angel is said to have delivered her from this punishment. After many other barbaric forms of torture, Catherine finally attained martyrdom by means of beheading. Her relics repose on Mount Sinai in the famous monastery that bears her name: the Monastery of St. Catherine.