Catherine of Alexandria

● Patroness: of girls, virgins, nuns, those in marriage and wives; philosophers, theologians
and scholars, teachers and students, librarians, lawyers, notaries, shoemakers,
hairdressers, for migraines, headaches, diseases of the tongue and speech impediments;
for finding drowned people
● Attribute: broken wheel, book, sword, crown
● Born in Cyprus
● Geboren around 307 in Alexandria, Egypt
Catherine is a legendary figure; she was only worshiped from the 8th century. Her figure unites
the fate and character traits of the pagan scholar Hypatia, who was killed by Cyril of Alexandria
in 415. First came the passion story, which was widely disseminated; Based on this, further
embellishments followed and the formation of legends grew in the 12th to 15th centuries.
According to legend, Catherine was the daughter of King Costus of Cyprus. When the emperor’s
son wanted to marry the beautiful, highly educated and immeasurably rich woman, she saw in a
mirror that the suitor did not match her in terms of nobility, beauty, wealth and wisdom. She
also proudly rejected other men. A hermit pointed them to Jesus Christ as the true bridegroom.
She was baptized and saw a vision of the baby Jesus putting the engagement ring on her finger.