Light a candle in front of an icon of Saint Catherine. Place where child can see it.
The Life of Saint Catherine the Great
Saint Catherine was the daughter of a ruler named Cestus. She was admired for her noble birth, exceeding beauty, and unmatched intelligence. From the time she was small, her parents had her taught by all the best masters in the land. She learned how to make complex arguments and excelled at philosophy, literacy, languages, and medicine. Catherine could discuss every subject, and by the time she was 18 even the most scholarly people were in awe of her knowledge and accomplishment.
Many men sought her hand in marriage, but she refused them all. Catherine didn’t care if they were handsome or wealthy. Finally, her mother asked the advice of a Christian ascetic who lived near the city. He told Catherine that he knew the perfect man for her - who possessed surpassing wisdom - wisdom that wasn’t gained through studying. This Man was noble. He had authority over the whole universe, and made the world by his own power. He is God incarnate: Son and Eternal Word of the Father, who became man for our salvation.
Before the ascetic left, he gave Catherine an icon of the Theotokos with the baby Jesus. That night the Theotokos appeared to Catherine but Christ turned away and would not look at her saying that she was ugly and unclean and subject to sin and death. Catherine was very hurt. She went back to ascetic, who taught her about the Christian faith and baptized her.
The Holy Virgin appeared to Catherine again, This time Christ said to His mother joyfully, “Now I accept her as my most pure bride for she has become radiant and fair, rich and truly wise!” The Theotokos put a ring on the maiden’s finger and Catherine promised to take no other spouse on earth.
In these days, ruling the land was the impious emperor Maximin. He declared that everyone must offer sacrifices to false idols. Catherine knew this was wrong. She went to him and declared that she would not sacrifice to the idols. As the emperor listened to her argument against idolatry, he was struck by her beauty and boldness. She offered to debate all the best scholars. Catherine would happily disprove idolatry and prove the One true God. So the emperor sent heralds out all over the land to gather the best scholars.
When they were gathered, Saint Catherine stood alone, but she was completely unafraid. The Archangel Michael appeared to her in a vision and comforted her. He assured her that the Lord would speak through her mouth. She would overcome the scholars words by the Wisdom that comes on high. And so it happened. The scholars were completely undone, and ran out of arguments! All 50 orators were reduced to silence. They listened to Catherine words and recognized their error, asking the Saint for baptism. The emperor was furious. He condemned the scholars to death. They were burned alive on November 17.
Next, Emperor Maximin ordered Catherine to be tortured. He ordered a frightful instrument of torture to be built. It had four spiked wheels connected together. Catherine was tied to it immediately after it was done. An angel came to free her, however, and the torture device with all of its wheels was hurled down a slope killing many pagans on its wake. The emperor’s own wife had seen all that happened to the maiden. She converted to Christianity and visited Saint Catherine in prison. Porphyrius, a close friend of the emperor, escorted the emperor’s wife along with 200 soldiers. They all became faithful disciples of Christ.
The Emperor discovered that his wife, friend, and soldiers had come to love God and he became enraged. The impious Maximin had his wife cruelly tortured and beheaded on November 23. The next day, he put Porphyrius and the 200 soldiers to death. November 25 he brought Catherine before him again. She was radiant. She knew her final time had come and that she would be with her beloved Savior soon. She was taken out, and after her final prayers, beheaded. Two angels carried her body from Alexandria to Mt. Sinai, where it was discovered later by a pious ascetic who lived there.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, and Saint Catherine,
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!
Many men sought her hand in marriage, but she refused them all. Catherine didn’t care if they were handsome or wealthy. Finally, her mother asked the advice of a Christian ascetic who lived near the city. He told Catherine that he knew the perfect man for her - who possessed surpassing wisdom - wisdom that wasn’t gained through studying. This Man was noble. He had authority over the whole universe, and made the world by his own power. He is God incarnate: Son and Eternal Word of the Father, who became man for our salvation.
Before the ascetic left, he gave Catherine an icon of the Theotokos with the baby Jesus. That night the Theotokos appeared to Catherine but Christ turned away and would not look at her saying that she was ugly and unclean and subject to sin and death. Catherine was very hurt. She went back to ascetic, who taught her about the Christian faith and baptized her.
The Holy Virgin appeared to Catherine again, This time Christ said to His mother joyfully, “Now I accept her as my most pure bride for she has become radiant and fair, rich and truly wise!” The Theotokos put a ring on the maiden’s finger and Catherine promised to take no other spouse on earth.
In these days, ruling the land was the impious emperor Maximin. He declared that everyone must offer sacrifices to false idols. Catherine knew this was wrong. She went to him and declared that she would not sacrifice to the idols. As the emperor listened to her argument against idolatry, he was struck by her beauty and boldness. She offered to debate all the best scholars. Catherine would happily disprove idolatry and prove the One true God. So the emperor sent heralds out all over the land to gather the best scholars.
When they were gathered, Saint Catherine stood alone, but she was completely unafraid. The Archangel Michael appeared to her in a vision and comforted her. He assured her that the Lord would speak through her mouth. She would overcome the scholars words by the Wisdom that comes on high. And so it happened. The scholars were completely undone, and ran out of arguments! All 50 orators were reduced to silence. They listened to Catherine words and recognized their error, asking the Saint for baptism. The emperor was furious. He condemned the scholars to death. They were burned alive on November 17.
Next, Emperor Maximin ordered Catherine to be tortured. He ordered a frightful instrument of torture to be built. It had four spiked wheels connected together. Catherine was tied to it immediately after it was done. An angel came to free her, however, and the torture device with all of its wheels was hurled down a slope killing many pagans on its wake. The emperor’s own wife had seen all that happened to the maiden. She converted to Christianity and visited Saint Catherine in prison. Porphyrius, a close friend of the emperor, escorted the emperor’s wife along with 200 soldiers. They all became faithful disciples of Christ.
The Emperor discovered that his wife, friend, and soldiers had come to love God and he became enraged. The impious Maximin had his wife cruelly tortured and beheaded on November 23. The next day, he put Porphyrius and the 200 soldiers to death. November 25 he brought Catherine before him again. She was radiant. She knew her final time had come and that she would be with her beloved Savior soon. She was taken out, and after her final prayers, beheaded. Two angels carried her body from Alexandria to Mt. Sinai, where it was discovered later by a pious ascetic who lived there.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, and Saint Catherine,
Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!
Together chant the Megalynarion: Let us praise the all-lauded and noble bride of Christ, * the godly Catherine, the guardian of Sinai and its defense, * who is also our support and succor and our help; * for with the Holy Spirit’s sword * she hath silenced brilliantly the clever among the godless; * and being crowned as a Martyr, she now doth ask great mercy for us all.
Ask child questions about the story:
Q: When Saint Catherine was a young woman, why did everyone admire her?
A: Because she was very intelligent
Q: When the Mother of God and Christ appeared to Saint Catherine the second time, what did the Theotokos give her as a sign of her betrothal to Christ?
A: A ring
Q: What happened when the 50 scholars debated with Saint Catherine?
A: God spoke through Saint Catherine and the scholars saw their error. They wanted to be baptized and worship the One True God
Q: After Saint Catherine was martyred, what happened to her body?
A: Angels reverently took it to Mount Sinai
Ask child questions about the story:
Q: When Saint Catherine was a young woman, why did everyone admire her?
A: Because she was very intelligent
Q: When the Mother of God and Christ appeared to Saint Catherine the second time, what did the Theotokos give her as a sign of her betrothal to Christ?
A: A ring
Q: What happened when the 50 scholars debated with Saint Catherine?
A: God spoke through Saint Catherine and the scholars saw their error. They wanted to be baptized and worship the One True God
Q: After Saint Catherine was martyred, what happened to her body?
A: Angels reverently took it to Mount Sinai
Activities
Make Saint Catherine’s Crown
Cut the shape of a crown out of a piece of paper. Have paper
snippets of different colors and other things to decorate crown with.
Saint Catherine’s Ring Activity
Make Saint Catherine’s ring. Have the child design their own by providing pipe cleaners and beads. Or they can make this one, from this fantastic BLOG.
Fold a third of the pipe cleaner in on itself. String on the pearl bead from the opposite end, and slide over the folded piece creating a loop. Bend the loop on the left downward creating a U-shape as you curve it back up to thread over the right side of the pipe cleaner. Pinch under the pearl to create a ring shape and secure by twisting the right side of the pipe cleaner around, pulling tightly. Continue wrapping to the end of the pipe cleaner and tuck inward. (onecharmingparty.com)
Cut the shape of a crown out of a piece of paper. Have paper
snippets of different colors and other things to decorate crown with.
Saint Catherine’s Ring Activity
Make Saint Catherine’s ring. Have the child design their own by providing pipe cleaners and beads. Or they can make this one, from this fantastic BLOG.
Fold a third of the pipe cleaner in on itself. String on the pearl bead from the opposite end, and slide over the folded piece creating a loop. Bend the loop on the left downward creating a U-shape as you curve it back up to thread over the right side of the pipe cleaner. Pinch under the pearl to create a ring shape and secure by twisting the right side of the pipe cleaner around, pulling tightly. Continue wrapping to the end of the pipe cleaner and tuck inward. (onecharmingparty.com)