Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr - November 25th
St Catherine of Alexandria (d. 305, Alexandria, Egypt) (Relics: Mount Catherine, Egypt)
First Class Relics
Saint Catherine’s Monastery
Mount Catherine, Egypt
*This is the oldest continually inhabited Christian monastery in the world. It has never been destroyed and can trace its history back seventeen centuries. Tradition claims that this monastery rests upon the land where God spoke to Moses in the burning bush and at the foot of the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments.
*As for the relics of St Catherine a tradition claims that a monk at this monastery saw in a vision angels carrying the body of St Catherine to the top of the highest mountain in Sinai. The monks then miraculously found her body as the vision indicated and subsequently buried her body in this monastery. Today these relics rest within a marble reliquary at an altar to the right of the main sanctuary.
*In the early 11th century the monk, Symeon Pentaglosses, brought one finger of St Catherine of Alexandria to Rouen, France. A church was built to house this relic. Since that time, however, this French church has been destroyed and the relic lost.
Churches of Honor in Rome
Basilica di San Clemente (Basilica of Saint Clement)
Via di San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Colosseum.
*The chapel located in the back left corner of the nave is dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria.
*The remains of St Clement I (d. 97) and of St Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107) rest beneath the main altar.
*Also a chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to Saints Cyril (d. 869) and Methodius (d. 885). The extant remains of St Cyril rest within the altar of this chapel.
Sant'Agostino (Saint Augustine)
Piazza Sant'Agostino
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Navona.
*The first chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria.
*Relics of St Monica (d. 387) rest in the chapel to the left of the main altar.
Sant'Antonio dei Portoghesi
(Saint Anthony of the Portuguese)
Via dei Portoghesi 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is northeast of Piazza Navona.
*The first chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria.
Santissima Trinita dei Spagnoli
(The Most Holy Trinity of the Spanish)
Via dei Condotti 41
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*Three paintings within the second chapel on the right side of the nave depict scenes from the life of St Catherine of Alexandria.
Santa Caterina dei Funari (Saint Catherine of the Funari)
Via dei Funari
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Jewish quarter and it is dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria. It is not open often.
*A painting of the martyrdom of St Catherine of Alexandria is placed above the main altar.
Santa Caterina della Rota (Saint Catherine of the Rota)
Via di San Girolamo della Carità 80
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Farnese and it is dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria. It is not open often.
