According to legend, Catherine of Alexandria was famous for her unprecedented beauty, intelligence and learning. Many noble and rich young men craved her hand, but she refused everyone. The reason for her refusal was that she wanted to marry only the man who would surpass her in beauty, wisdom, nobility and wealth.
Memorial Days:
- December 7
- May 5 (movable) – Council of the Sinai Venerables
Perhaps this is why prayers to St. Catherine of Alexandria are more often brought by girls who want to find the most suitable groom and get married.
Who is Saint Catherine
The exact date of birth of Saint Catherine is not known. Presumably, the years of the martyr’s life span the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century. Catherine's homeland was the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
The martyr's parents were noble people; the father of a girl named Const ruled the city. Therefore, Catherine was given an excellent education. In addition, the girl had extraordinary beauty and intelligence. The young maiden studied the works of ancient philosophers, writers, doctors, knew many languages, and had excellent command of oratory and dialectical arts. Therefore, when she came of age, the sons of many noble families tried to woo her. But the girl refused everyone, declaring that her chosen one would only be the one who was richer, more noble, more beautiful, and smarter than her.
Catherine's mother secretly professed Christianity. Therefore, she decided to consult with her spiritual mentor, who lived secludedly outside the city in a cave. Together with their daughter they went to the elder. After a conversation with Catherine, the hermit declared that he knew a young man who was superior to the girl in everything, handed her an icon of the Mother of God with the Savior and ordered her to pray.
Arriving home, Catherine prayed all night to the Most Pure Virgin to give her the opportunity to see her Son. The Most Holy Mother appeared to the girl along with the Divine Child. But the Savior refused to look at Catherine bowing before Him. He claimed that the girl was disgusting with her appearance, since she had not been baptized with holy waters, and there was no seal of the Holy Spirit on her.
The next morning, upset Catherine herself went to the elder, asking him to clarify the vision. The hermit baptized the girl, after which the Mother of God and her Son appeared to her again in a dream. The Savior's gaze was gentle and kind. He put a ring on her finger, betrothing her to Him. The next morning, Catherine woke up with a ring on her finger.
At this time, Emperor Maximilian visited Alexandria, organizing festivities dedicated to the pagan gods. Christians who refused to worship idols were burned at the stake.
The saint herself went to the emperor, trying to intercede for the people. The ruler, captivated by the girl’s beauty, decided to convert her to his faith. To do this, he convened the smartest men of the empire, arranging a dispute with the girl, but they failed to get the better of Catherine.
Then the emperor ordered the torture of the saint who refused to renounce the faith of Christ. But the instruments of torture were destroyed by an invisible force. Many people believed in Christ after this. And the martyr was ordered to be beheaded. The saint meekly went to her death for the sake of her Heavenly Bridegroom, laying her head on the block.
How does prayer help?
Saint Catherine the Great Martyr, when addressed in prayer, protects from mistakes and dangers that can lead to bad consequences. She, as the keeper of the home, maintains peace in the family and well-being in the house, helps in finding a betrothed and takes the pregnant woman under her protection. Prayer to the Great Martyr Catherine helps a woman find peace, helps in childbirth and protects the newborn from illnesses.
The relics of the Great Martyr Catherine are kept in the marble shrine of the altar of the catalycon in the monastery of St. Catherine. This is the former Sinai monastery, which was renamed after the holy remains were transferred there.
What do saints pray for?
Saint Catherine, like many of God's saints, is approached with various requests.
The Great Martyr of Alexandria helps:
- recover from physical and spiritual illnesses;
- pacify carnal sins;
- save the family;
- overcome learning difficulties;
- conceive a long-awaited child and give birth safely;
- avoid serious mistakes;
- strengthen faith.
But most of all, the saint patronizes unmarried girls who dream of a happy marriage. The main condition for this is pure motives that do not pursue selfish goals. Sincere prayers will help you find a person suitable not only in physical and mental parameters, but also in spiritual qualities.
Help with studying
In the biographies of St. Catherine, she appears to us as an intelligent girl who received various knowledge and skills, which is why Christians revere her as the patroness of knowledge. The prayers said on December 7, the day of veneration of the icon of the holy great martyr, are associated with education. Many universities in the world consider Catherine their patroness. It is generally accepted that when teachers and students turn to her, she helps them achieve success in acquiring knowledge and their chosen business. Students sincerely believe in her help in exams, turning to the icon with a request to pass the exam well. People who sincerely believe, whose work involves rational judgments, for example, judges and prosecutors, ask for heavenly support.
Rules for reading prayer
You can communicate with the Lord and God’s saints not only in church, but also at home. It is advisable to pray at home in front of the iconostasis. If Saint Catherine is chosen as the Heavenly Intercessor, then it is recommended to purchase an icon of the Great Martyr.
It doesn’t hurt to ask the priest for a blessing when reading a prayer. Then its action will be more effective.
During the prayer service, the following rules are observed:
- a lamp is lit in front of the icon;
- turning their face to the holy image, they kneel;
- read the prayer text, pondering every word, pronouncing the words sincerely;
- they end the prayer service with words of gratitude addressed to the Lord and the Great Martyr;
- Having finished praying, they make the sign of the cross.
Honoring Catherine of Alexandria takes place on December 7th. This day is considered especially successful for prayers directed to her.
Need to pray
Prayer to the Great Martyr Catherine is a conversation with God through her. It’s not just the words of a memorized prayer that are important, what’s important is the state of our heart, its openness, the sincerity of our words. They turn to the Great Martyr Catherine when the heart is torn in sorrow, when there is no strength to fight illnesses, and failures in life are pursued at every step.
Saint Catherine was loved by God during her lifetime. Every person who turns to the great martyr for help in prayer receives it. Help comes, but it is given according to the strength of our faith. And our requests and prayers, which are addressed to the great martyr, are heard by the Lord God. That is why the priest in the church teaches that you need to pray and order prayer services, remembering all the Saints, because each of them and all of them together are equally important.
Prayers to Catherine the Great Martyr
The prayer book contains several Orthodox texts addressed to Saint Catherine. The text of the prayer is chosen depending on the situation.
About children
Throughout life, children are the main concern of parents. Mothers pray for their children not only when they are sick. They ask the Lord and Heavenly intercessors to guide the child on the true path, protect him from enemies, and help him in his studies.
With the help of prayer to St. Catherine, parents can not only ask for health and prosperity for their children, but also pray for both their sins and the sins of their child.
Words of the sacred text:
“Oh Saint Catherine, virgin and martyr, true bride of Christ! We pray to you, for the deliberate grace with which your Bridegroom, sweetest Jesus, preceded you, received, as if, having put to shame the temptations of the tormentor with your wisdom, you overcame fifty revolutions, and having fed them with heavenly teaching, you guided them to the light of true faith, so ask us, slaves by yours (names), this wisdom of God, and we, having thwarted all the machinations of the hellish tormentor, having despised the temptations of the world and the flesh, are worthy to appear in the divine glorious faith, and for the expansion of our holy Orthodox faith we will become vessels worthy, and with you in the heavenly tabernacle of the Lord and let us praise and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, to all ages of ages. Amen".
About saving the family
Family life does not always go smoothly. It happens that spouses quarrel and stop understanding each other. Prayer to the holy great martyr will help save the family and improve relationships.
Text of the prayer:
“Oh holy virgin and martyr Catherine! We pray to you: look upon the misfortunes of us, sinful servants of God (names), make us heavenly wise, not earthly. Hasten us through your prayers to overcome carnal lusts, addiction to the world and the machinations of evil spirits who are viciously fighting against us; May your intercession in the days of this life free us from their hostile attacks and from their aerial tortures. O wise maiden!
Grant us all the benefits of asking, for you can ask much from your Beloved Bridegroom, Christ our God. We know that the prayer of the righteous can do much, aided by the goodness of the Merciful God, to whom be glory, honor and thanksgiving always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.”
About marriage
Every girl dreams of meeting her one and only person and creating a happy, strong family.
The following prayer text will help you meet a worthy, reliable man who can become a support for the family and a good father for future children:
“Oh Saint Catherine, virgin and martyr, true bride of Christ! We pray to you through special grace, with which your Bridegroom, Sweetest Jesus, has preceded you: just as you have put to shame the charms of the tormentor, with your wisdom you have overcome the fifty branches and, having drunk them with Heavenly teaching, you have guided them to the light of true faith, so ask us for this Godly wisdom, and We, having thwarted all the machinations of the hellish tormentor and despised the temptations of the world and the flesh, will become worthy of the Divine glory and will become worthy vessels for the expansion of our holy Orthodox faith, and with you in the Heavenly Tabernacle we praise and glorify our Lord and Master Jesus Christ to all ages. Amen".
On maintaining chastity
Modern life is full of many temptations. It is especially difficult for young, inexperienced girls to avoid temptations. Believing girls who want to maintain their chastity turn to God's saint with a request to strengthen their spirit.
Words of the prayer text:
“O blessed Catherine the Great Martyr, glory to your frequency, you are the pillar of Orthodoxy, our hope and intercessor, who has revealed yourself to us. We pray to You, O ascetic, holy virgin, resting on the holy peak! Do not look down on us, satisfy our prayers, protect us from disasters, remove all darkness from our minds, allow us to philosophize about the spiritual, and not about the earthly. Pray for us to the Lord, so that all carnal desires and addictions to this mortal world will leave us. Protect us from the machinations of evil spirits who viciously attack us. Under Your protection and intercession we will be free from hostile misfortunes. O holy virgin! Give us the opportunity to ask You, asking what You will convey to our beloved.”
About health
All believers during illnesses turn to the Lord and the saints with requests for healing.
There is a strong prayer to St. Catherine that helps get rid of the disease:
“Oh holy virgin and martyr Catherine! We pray to you: look upon the misfortunes of us, sinful servants of God (names), make us heavenly wise, not earthly. Hasten us through your prayers to overcome carnal lusts, addiction to the world and the machinations of evil spirits who are viciously fighting against us; May your intercession in the days of this life free us from their hostile attacks and from their aerial tortures.
O wise maiden! Grant us all the benefits of asking, for you can ask much from your Beloved Bridegroom, Christ our God. We know that the prayer of the righteous can do much, aided by the goodness of the Merciful God, to Him be glory, honor and thanksgiving always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.”
About assistance in childbirth
Pregnant women often ask the Alexandrian saint for help during childbirth. The prayer addressed to the saint is read not only immediately before childbirth, but throughout the entire pregnancy. The sacred text calms, banishes all fears, improves well-being.
The prayer text reads as follows:
“O holy Great Martyr Catherine, a chosen vessel of purity, a pillar of Orthodoxy, our reliable intercessor, who showed us the guilt of begging you, a legal ascetic, a saint resting holy on a holy mountain! We pray to you: having come down from above, listen to the voice of our prayer, look at the misfortune of your servants, enlighten the darkness of our mind, make us wise in heaven, not earthly. Hasten with your prayers to overcome carnal lusts, addictions to the world and the machinations of evil spirits who are viciously fighting against us: so that through your intercession in the days of this life we will be free from their hostile attacks and after the end from their aerial tortures.
Oh, wise maiden! Grant us everything that is useful for asking: you can ask much from your beloved Bridegroom, Christ our God. We know that the prayer of the righteous can do much, aided by the compassion of the merciful God, to whom be glory, honor and thanksgiving always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen".
Troparion
In addition to the prayers to the great martyr, a troparion was written - a short text that can be read not only in church during the celebration of the saint, but also at home.
“With virtues, like the rays of the sun, / you enlightened the unfaithful sages. / And, like the bright moon, you drove away the darkness of unbelief, / and made the queen or you, / at the same time you also exposed the tormentor, / God-called blessed bride Catherine, / with desire You ascended into the Heavenly palace/ to the beautiful Bridegroom Christ,/ and from Him you were crowned with a royal crown:/ To him, with the Angels standing,/ praying for us,// those who do honor I love your memory."
Translation: “With virtues, like the rays of the sun, you enlightened the pagan sages; and, like a bright moon for those who walk in the night, she drove away the darkness of unbelief, and led the queen to faith, and at the same time exposed the tormentor, the bride called by God, blessed Catherine! With love you ascended into the Heavenly palace to the beautiful Bridegroom - Christ, and from Him you were crowned with a royal crown. Standing before him with the Angels, pray for us who are celebrating your sacred memory.”
Kontakion
Often, together with the troparion, they read the kontakion - a small Orthodox text glorifying the holy Bride of Christ.
“The honorable face of Divine martyrs, / raise up now, in honor of the all-wise Catherine, / for this is the sermon at the Tribute of Christ, / and trampled upon the serpent, having tamed the minds of the rhetoricians.”
Translation: “Begin sacred rejoicing now with God’s inspiration, loving the martyrs, honoring the all-wise Catherine. For with her feat she proclaimed Christ and trampled on the serpent, despising the knowledge of rhetoricians.”
About biography
Usually, the lives of saints were compiled many centuries later, and the sources of information were taken from the martyria (“martyrdoms”). The authors of the martyriums described the martyrdom and certain realities, which were collected bit by bit from various sources. Thus, a certain Athanasius, who is known to history as a stenographer and servant of Catherine, was engaged in the biography of the Great Martyr Catherine. His descriptions include the Eulogy to Catherine, the martyrdom compiled by Symeon Metaphrastus and the anonymous martyrs.
The biographies tell that the girl who believed in Christ connected her entire short life with serving him; at that time she was 18 years old. It is also said that the girl was of a noble family. Before Catherine adopted Christianity, her name was Dorothea, as some sources indicate. But the secret baptism performed by the monk and the mystical betrothal (she received a ring from the Infant Christ in a dream) changed the girl’s life.
Evsenius of Caesarea, who was a contemporary of the saint, also writes a biography about the nameless martyr, the story of her life completely coincides with the descriptions made by Athanasius about Catherine.
For a believer, the main thing is not the biography of the holy great martyrs, but how ardent their faith and love for God is. In the Holy Great Martyr Catherine, to whom believers turn to prayer, they see a role model and believe in her help.
How to pray correctly
In order for a prayer to be heard a lot, you need to pray with your heart and mind. Often we pronounce memorized texts mechanically, distracting our attention to earthly matters and not even delving into the words of the prayer.
Outwardly it looks decent, but our mind wanders, not concentrating on the One to whom we are turning, on God. Such a prayer may not be heard, even if we say it out loud and in church.
Pray with a pure soul and an open heart.
What words to ask
You can pray in your own words, coming from the heart, or borrow them from the heritage of the ascetic fathers.
Such prayer texts are published in Orthodox collections:
- prayer books;
- Akathists;
- other books.
The main thing is to delve into the words of the prayer and respond to them with all your heart. Break away from the bustle of earth and tune in to communion with St. Catherine will be helped by an iconographic image of a saint, a lit candle, a flickering lamp, and the smell of incense.
