"The all-blessed bride of Christ let us extol in song, Katherine the divine and protectress of Sinai,  the assistance and helper of all of us; for she muzzled brilliantly, the ungodly clever men,  by the power of the Spirit. And now crowned as Martyr, she pleads great mercy for all of us. (Plagal of the 1st Tone)" - Apolytikion of Saint Katherine the Great

On December 12, 1999, I joined the Orthodox Church and took the name of Saint Katherine (Ekaterini). My name day - feast day of the saint for whom a person is named - is November 25.

The tradition for name days began in the first century when Christians prayed to God on the anniversary of a martyr's death, thanking God for the martyr's example and asking Him, through the martyr's intercession, to guide and direct their lives.

St. Katherine is the patron saint of scholars. She lived in Alexandria, Egypt during the fourth century A.D.  She was the daughter of the ruler Constantus and was given the finest education. She spoke several languages and was a great supporter of the Christian faith. Katherine was said to have been beautiful, statuesque, and unequaled in kindness. She refused all proposals of marriage; saying that the man she married must be young and equal to her in the four virtues that were attributed to her: compassion, wealth, wisdom, and beauty.

Katherine's mother was concerned about her daughter's beliefs and took her to seek the advice of a saintly hermit. After listening to her story, he said, "I know of a magnificent man who surpasses you in all ways." Wanting to meet this man, Katherine asked who his mother was. The hermit gave her an icon of the Theotokos and told her to pray to the icon through the night adding, "If you are worthy of Him, and if you approach Him in faith, His mother will allow you to see Him."

That night, the Theotokos and Christ appeared to Katherine, and the Lord placed a beautiful golden ring on her finger, saying, "Today I make you my bride, and for ages to all ages. Hold this joining sacred and never take unto yourself another bridegroom."

By the age of 18, Katherine began to debate the great minds of Alexandria. She challenged all pagan philosophers in public debates and defeated them soundly. As her fame began to spread, the Emperor Maxentius sent an edict that all people throughout the empire should support his reign, worship his gods, and turn from the popular Christian religion. Katherine, of course, refused. Maxentius tried to persuade her to abandon her faith with a tribunal consisting of 150 philosophers. When the philosophers failed to make her renounce Christianity, she was imprisoned. While in prison, she converted the empress and many soldiers. Maxentius eventually sentenced her to a deadly torture known as "the wheels." When Katherine was placed in the device with sharp blades, the wheels broke loose and killed many pagans. For this reason, the torturer's wheel has served as a symbol for Saint Katherine and is often depicted in her icons.

Maxentius eventually ordered Katherine to be beheaded. Her death occurred on November 25th near the year A.D. 311, and her body is said to have been lifted by heavenly angels and taken to Mount Sinai. A band of monks later discovered her body and built a monastery near the spot of the discovery. Relics of Saint Katherine are enshrined in the monastery of Saint Katherine on Mount Sinai; St. Nicholas Church, Kato Patessia, Athens; and Zerbitsa Monastery, Sparta. There have been more miracles attributed to St. Katherine than any other saint of the Church.