Editing Catherine of Alexandria (section)

==Life==
According to the traditional narrative, Catherine was the daughter of Sabinella and Constus (or Costus), the governor of [[History of Alexandria#Late Roman and Byzantine period|Alexandria]] during the reign of the emperor [[Maximian]] (286–305).<ref name=oca>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2015/11/24/103382-great-martyr-katherine-of-alexandria|title=Great Martyr Katherine of Alexandria|website=www.oca.org}}</ref> She was of [[Greeks|Greek]] origin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catharina K |url=https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/8166 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=[[United States Geological Survey]] |quote=Origin: St. Catherine of Alexandria; Greek theologian, philosopher}}</ref> From a young age she devoted herself to study. A vision of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] and the [[Christ Child|Child Jesus]] persuaded her to become a Christian. When the persecutions began under the emperor [[Maxentius]], she went to the emperor and rebuked him for his cruelty. The emperor summoned 50 of the best [[pagan]] philosophers and orators to dispute with her, hoping that they would refute her pro-Christian arguments, but Catherine won the debate. Several of her adversaries, conquered by her eloquence, declared themselves Christians and were at once put to death.{{sfn|Clugnet|1908}}

===Torture and martyrdom===
[[File:IconEcaterina.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|[[Icon]] of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, with scenes from her martyrdom]]
The emperor gave orders to subject Catherine to terrible tortures and then throw her in prison.<ref name=oca/> Her legend tells that during the confinement she was fed daily by a dove from heaven, and Christ also visited her, encouraging her to fight bravely, and promised her the crown of everlasting glory.<ref>Irene González Hernando, ''Catherine of Alexandria''</ref><ref>The Golden Legend: Volume VII</ref> Angels tended her wounds with [[salve]].

During her imprisonment more than 200 people came to see her, including Maxentius' wife, [[Valeria Maximilla]]; all converted to Christianity and were subsequently [[martyr]]ed.<ref name="Britannica">{{cite web |url= https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/99687/Saint-Catherine-of-Alexandria |title= Saint Catherine of Alexandria |publisher= Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date= 29 October 2010}}</ref> Upon the failure of Maxentius to make Catherine yield by way of torture, he tried to win her over by proposing marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 2014 |title=St Catherine of Alexandria |url=https://downsideabbeylibrary.tumblr.com/post/103541462716/st-catherine-of-alexandria-today-is-the-feats-of |access-date=25 April 2023 |website=Downside Abbey Archives and Library}}</ref> Catherine refused, declaring that her spouse was Jesus Christ, to whom she had consecrated her virginity.<ref name="britannica1"/>

The furious emperor condemned Catherine to death on a spiked [[breaking wheel]], but at her touch it shattered.{{sfn|Clugnet|1908}} Maxentius ordered her to be beheaded. Catherine ordered the execution to commence. As per her legend, a milk-like substance rather than blood flowed from her neck.{{sfn|Morton|1841|p=133}}

===Veneration===
In the 6th century, the Eastern Emperor [[Justinian I|Justinian]] had established what is now [[Saint Catherine's Monastery]] in Egypt, which had been originally built encircling the purported [[burning bush]] seen by [[Moses]]. Countless people make the pilgrimage to the monastery to receive miracle healing from Catherine.{{sfn|Foley|McCloskey|2009|p=}}