About the book: 2009 / Saint Catherine (Greek: “always pure”) was born in Alexandria at the end of the 3rd century. Being of a noble family, she was distinguished by her extraordinary beauty and wisdom. Converted to Christ by a hermit, she, according to legend, was awarded a miraculous vision: the Lord Jesus Christ Himself called her His Bride. Saint Catherine suffered martyrdom during the reign of Emperor Maximin Daza (305-313). With her firmness in faith, she turned many to her Heavenly Bridegroom. The book, along with a description of the life and suffering of the Great Martyr Catherine, a canon and an akathist in honor of her, contains materials about the monasteries of her name, and also presents the reflections of the holy fathers of the Church on martyrdom and monasticism as bloodless martyrdom.