The Story of Saint Catherine’s Prison :: Saint Catherine

The Story of Saint Catherines PrisonNear Famagusta is another city called Salamis, set on the seashore, where there was erstwhile a noble and wealthy city. It is there that St. Catherine was born and her tomb remains still. German priest Ludolf von Suchen of WestphaliaIn the 12th century, the story of the beloved St. Catherine was brought to Europe by the Crusaders returning from their battles in the East. She was from a noble blood line of Roman emperors and her father was Constantine, King of Salamis. In 290 A.D. Constantine was appointed the new conveningr of Egypt. When Constantine left to rule Egypt, he decided to leave his brother in charge of the Salamis kingdom. Unexpectedly, Constantine died in Alexandria, Egypt. During this time, Catherine converted to Christianity and her conversion sent her uncle, the interim king, into a rage. He had Catherine imprisoned in Salamis, later in Paphos, and finally Alexandria, Egypt. She was brought before the new Alexandrian emperor, Emp eror Maxentius, who had replaced her deceased father. Emperor Maxentius was persecuting Christians. Catherine reprimanded him for this cruelty and asked him to stop. Insulted and astounded at Catherines boldness, the Emperor held Catherine prisoner at his palace. He called his scholars in to try to trick her into committing heresy against the Roman religion so she could be put to death. However, she converted many of the Emperors scholars to Christianity with her eloquence and knowledge of religion and science. The Emperor became so outraged he had his scholars put to death and Catherine was tortured and thrown into the palaces dungeon. The Empress, Maxentius wife, had heard of this impressive young woman. The Empress and the Emperors military general secretly snuck into the prison to meet and talk with Catherine. They listened to Catherine and were converted and baptized into Christianity. The Emperor discovered their secret fulfil and had them, the Empressand his general, put to death. The Emperor ordered Catherine to be broken on the torturers wheel, yet when she touched it, it was miraculous destroyed. Distraught and infuriated, Emperor Maxentius ordered Catherine to be beheaded. subsequently her death, her body was carried to Mount Sinai by angels and the place where Catherines body was found is also believed to be the site of the burning bush seen by Moses.