The Day of the Great Martyr Catherine is celebrated annually on December 7. This saint is considered the patroness of women, pregnant women and brides.
What prayer should you read on December 7 to make your deepest wish come true??
They pray to the Great Martyr Catherine for mutual love, for a happy marriage, for a successful resolution of pregnancy.
About the health of children, about a good life partner. Young girls ask to meet their soulmate.
Women also pray for the happiness of motherhood and for the preservation of harmony and understanding in marriage.
The prayer at home is read at the icon with only three candles. They are needed so that the birth is not interrupted.
Brief life of the Great Martyr Catherine
Days of remembrance: November 24/December 7, Cathedral of the Saints of Sinai
Catherine came from a noble family and was very beautiful. Her parents were looking for a worthy groom for her, but by the Providence of God, Catherine rejected all proposals for marriage until she found the Heavenly Bridegroom - Christ, for whom she accepted fierce torment and death. According to tradition, they pray to the Great Martyr Catherine for finding a good groom and for help in childbirth.
Miracle at the top of Sinai
The discovery of the incorruptible relics of the Great Martyr Catherine took place 300 years later. The abbot of the monastery, located at the foot of the mountain to which the angels once carried the body of God’s saint, was ordered by an unknown voice to climb with the brethren to the top where the shrine rests.
Without hesitation, the monks set off on their journey and, rising up among the clouds, discovered the body of the great martyr, untouched by decay for the entire period that had passed since the day of execution. It was not difficult to identify him by the ring preserved on his hand.
Having gone down, the monks transferred the relics they had acquired to their monastery. Today they rest in the marble shrine of the Sinai Monastery, founded and named in her honor (photo above). There, pilgrims can also venerate the main icon of the Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria, in which a reliquary (a special capsule for storing the relics of saints) with her finger is mounted.
Prayer No. 1 to the Great Martyr Catherine
O Saint Catherine, virgin and martyr, true bride of Christ! We pray to you as having received a special grace with which your Bridegroom, Sweetest Jesus, preceded you: for you put to shame the cunning of the tormentor and defeated fifty pagan wise men with your wisdom, watered them with heavenly teaching and guided them to the light of true faith! So ask us for God’s wisdom, so that we, having destroyed all the snares of the hellish tormentor, having rejected the temptations of the world and the flesh, may appear worthy of Divine glory, and for the expansion of our holy Orthodox faith, become worthy vessels, and with you in the heavenly tabernacle of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ together with the Father and the Holy Spirit we will praise and glorify to all ages of ages. Amen.
Who is the Holy Martyr Catherine
A believer can receive spiritual help from various Saints. People often turn to Catherine the Great Martyr for help.
Earthly life and wisdom of Saint Catherine
Saint Catherine lived in Alexandria of Egypt in the early 4th century. She was born into the family of the ruler of the city during the reign of Emperor Maximilian. The girl was distinguished not only by her extraordinary beauty, but also had a sharp mind. Living in the center of Hellenic learning, Catherine received an excellent education. She enjoyed studying the works of the best ancient scientists and philosophers.
Despite the large number of noble suitors, Catherine could not make a choice. Therefore, she announced to her parents that she would only marry a man who would surpass her in wealth, wisdom and knowledge. To resolve the situation, she visited an elder who secretly lived in solitude in a natural cave not far from the city, where he performed his feat of prayer. The holy elder, after listening to Catherine, said that he knew a young man who was superior to the girl in everything. Catherine wanted to see this man. Then the elder revealed to her the secret of Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. At parting, the elder handed Catherine an icon depicting the Virgin Mary and Child. He told her to pray to the Queen of Heaven asking for the gift of seeing her son.
Catherine, returning home, prayed earnestly all night. She saw a vision in which the Blessed Virgin asked Her Divine Son to look at the kneeling Catherine. But Jesus Christ turned away and said that the girl did not attract his gaze, because she was ugly, like any other unbaptized person who was not sealed with the seal of the Holy Spirit.
Saddened, Catherine went to the elder again the next day. He accepted her with joy and love and performed the sacrament of holy Baptism on her. The sage commanded the girl to pray unceasingly and maintain purity and chastity. In the evening of the same day, Catherine, during evening prayer, again saw the Most Holy Theotokos with the baby. Jesus now looked kindly at her and gave her the ring, thus betrothing her to Him. The next morning, when she woke up, the girl really saw a beautiful ring on her hand.
Death in agony in the name of Christ the Savior and faith
Almost immediately after Catherine realized the full power of the Christian faith, a grand pagan celebration was celebrated in the city. Emperor Maximilian himself arrived to see it. The holiday was filled with cruelty and orgies. Human sacrifices were made to idols. Persecution of adherents of the Christian faith began in the city. They were executed and burned in fire, but most of them found the strength to resist the cruelty of the pagans and did not give up their faith.
Observing everything that was happening, Catherine felt compassion and holy love for the martyrs. A desire arose in her soul to at least somehow alleviate their fate. Therefore, she decided to go to the main pagan priest, the persecuting emperor Maximin.
The ruler of the country accepted the girl who boldly identified herself. Catherine admitted that she professed the faith of Christ and eloquently denounced the pagans. She tried to open their eyes to the fact that they were committing a terrible sin by persecuting Christians, and for this they would suffer heavy punishment.
Maximilian listened carefully to the girl, whose beauty and eloquence really pleased him. Love feelings for the beauty awoke in his soul. Therefore, he set out to convince her and force her to voluntarily renounce the faith of Christ. To do this, he convened 50 of the wisest from the entire empire and forced them to enter into a discussion with Catherine. But after listening to all the arguments of the eloquent girl, the wise men themselves believed in Christ.
Having been defeated, Emperor Maximilian tried to convince Catherine on his own, promising her great wealth and glory for her renunciation of the faith. But in response I heard an angry refusal. This angered the ruler and his patience ran out. The Emperor decided to imprison Catherine and subject her to physical torture.
The next day, the girl was taken to a crowded place and continued to be tortured in front of the residents of Alexandria. But Catherine showed unprecedented resilience. After which Maximilian threatened to throw her on the wheel if the girl did not renounce her faith. But this did not frighten Catherine; she courageously headed towards the wheels herself. But at that moment an Angel descended from heaven and crushed the terrible instrument of execution. Pieces of it scattered around and killed many pagans.
At that moment, Catherine, offering a prayer to Jesus Christ, put her head on the block, and the executioner cut off her head. And again Angels descended from heaven and took them to Mount Sinai.
Prayer No. 2 to the Great Martyr Catherine
Oh, holy Great Martyr Catherine, a chosen vessel of purity, a pillar of Orthodoxy, our reliable intercessor, who herself showed us the reason to pray to you, a legal ascetic, a saint resting holy on a holy mountain! We pray to you: bow down from above and listen to our prayer, turn your gaze to the misfortune of your servants, enlighten the darkness of our mind, so that we think about the spiritual, and not about the vain earthly things. Help us with your prayers to overcome carnal desires, addiction to the world and the machinations of evil spirits who are viciously fighting with us, so that through your intercession in our earthly life we will be free from their hostile attacks, and at the end of the soul - from their aerial tortures. O wise maiden! Grant us everything that we ask that is useful for us, for you can ask much from your beloved Bridegroom, Christ our God! We know how much the prayer of the righteous can do, accompanied by the compassion of the Merciful God, to whom be glory, honor and gratitude always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Questions for the priest
There is discord in my family.
It was as if the husband had been replaced. He often gets nervous and lashes out at loved ones. Will prayer to St. Catherine help? If your faith is strong and your intentions are pure, then it will help. Approach prayer seriously and thoroughly. Be honest with your desires. Saints help only pure and sincere people.
I'm 38 and I can't build a personal life. I went to special trainings, but to no avail. One hope is in the Lord! Will prayer help in this case?
Of course it will help! During her lifetime, the Great Martyr Catherine was lonely, but found a companion in the person of Christ the Bridegroom. You just need to ask her for help, and she will definitely introduce you to the right person. The meeting may happen unexpectedly, but will leave an imprint on your destiny. Prayer can be performed using a photo.
Prayer No. 3 to the Great Martyr Catherine
O holy virgin and martyr Catherine! We pray to you: turn your attention to our misfortunes, sinful servants of God (names), enlighten us to think about the spiritual, and not about the vain earthly things. Help us with your prayers to overcome carnal desires, addiction to the world and the machinations of evil spirits who are viciously fighting with us, so that through your intercession in our earthly life we will be free from their hostile attacks, and at the end of our souls - from their aerial tortures. O wise maiden! Grant us everything that we ask that is useful for us, for you can ask much from your beloved Bridegroom, Christ our God! We know how much the prayer of the righteous can do, accompanied by the goodness of the Merciful God, to whom be glory, honor and gratitude always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Ekaterina: the meaning of the name
The name Catherine itself came from Byzantium. The root of the word is “katarios” (purity), hence the translation from ancient Greek – “immaculate”, “pure”. In the 11th-12th centuries, the name Ekaterina was already found as Katerina, and later, for ease of communication, it was shortened to Katya. Europe also has its own form - Katrina, Katrein, Catalina.
The Order of St. Catherine was established by Peter I in memory of the victory over the Turks and was (and is still considered) the highest award for women.
An interesting fact is that in 1797, according to the new statute, princes were awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, which was worn on a blue ribbon, and ladies were awarded the Order of St. Catherine, which was customary to be worn on a red ribbon. And immediately after baptism, boys were girded with a blue (St. Andrew’s) ribbon, and girls with a red (Catherine’s) ribbon. The custom of tying babies with different ribbons quickly took root among the nobility; later the tradition took root and has survived to this day.
Troparion to the Great Martyr Catherine, tone 41
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 you assured the queen thou art,/ and thou also denounced the tormentor,/ blessed Catherine, the divinely called bride,/ rose with desire You are in the Heavenly palace / to the beautiful Bridegroom Christ, / and from Him you were crowned with the royal crown: / To Him, with the Angels standing, / praying for us, / doing the most honorable crush yours.
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 to the Great Martyr Catherine, tone 21
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 your 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.
