| ST. JAMES ORTHODOX CHURCH |
| St. James - 195 North Main Street, Milpitas, Ca 95035 (408) 509 - 8802 |
| More about the Saint |
| Midnight Prayers 7:00am Matins Prayers 8:00am Divine Liturgy 10:30am |
The Greatmartyr St. Catherine
The Holy Great Martyr Catherine was the
daughter of Constus, the governor of Alexandrian,
Egypt during the reign of the emperor Maximian
(305-313). Catherine's mother, a secret Christian,
sent her to her own spiritual Father, a saintly
Elder living in a cave outside the city, for advice.
"If you do as I tell you," said the monk, "you will
gaze upon the countenance of this illustrious man."
In parting, the Elder handed Catherine an icon of
the Theotokos with the divine Child Jesus on Her
arm and told her to pray with faith to the Queen
of Heaven, the Mother of the Heavenly
The Holy Great Martyr Catherine was the
daughter of Constus, the governor of Alexandrian,
Egypt during the reign of the emperor Maximian
(305-313). Catherine's mother, a secret Christian,
sent her to her own spiritual Father, a saintly
Elder living in a cave outside the city, for advice.
"If you do as I tell you," said the monk, "you will
gaze upon the countenance of this illustrious man."
In parting, the Elder handed Catherine an icon of
the Theotokos with the divine Child Jesus on Her
arm and told her to pray with faith to the Queen
of Heaven, the Mother of the Heavenly
| Pilgrims to her monastery on Mt Sinai are given souvenir rings as a remembrance of their visit. |
| St. Catherine steadfastly confessed Christ and she herself approached the wheels; but an angel smashed the instruments of execution, which shattered into pieces with many pagans standing nearby. |
Bridegroom, and She would hear Catherine and grant her heart's desire. She then
received the Mystery of holy Baptism from him. Again St Catherine had a vision
of the Most Holy Theotokos with Her Child. Now the Lord looked tenderly at her
and gave her a beautiful ring, a wondrous token of her betrothal to the Heavenly
Bridegroom (This ring is still on her hand). The saint's love for the Christian
martyrs and her fervent desire to ease their sufferings compelled Catherine to
speak to the pagan priest and to the emperor Maximian. St Catherine firmly
confessed her fidelity to the heavenly Bridegroom Christ, and with a prayer to
Him she herself lay her head on the block beneath the executioner's sword.
received the Mystery of holy Baptism from him. Again St Catherine had a vision
of the Most Holy Theotokos with Her Child. Now the Lord looked tenderly at her
and gave her a beautiful ring, a wondrous token of her betrothal to the Heavenly
Bridegroom (This ring is still on her hand). The saint's love for the Christian
martyrs and her fervent desire to ease their sufferings compelled Catherine to
speak to the pagan priest and to the emperor Maximian. St Catherine firmly
confessed her fidelity to the heavenly Bridegroom Christ, and with a prayer to
Him she herself lay her head on the block beneath the executioner's sword.
| St Catherine is called upon for relief and assistance during a difficult childbirth. |
| The relics of St Catherine were taken by the angels to Mount Sinai. In the sixth century,, the venerable head and left hand of the holy martyr were found through a revelation and transferred with honor to a newly-constructed church of the Sinai monastery, built by the holy Emperor Justinian |
A Jerusalem Parish of the Greek Archdiocese