Leavetaking of the Entry
Fast day.
Commemorated today
- Holy Great Martyr and Most Wise Catherine of Alexandria and those with her (305)Great Martyr · d. 305 life on this site
The life we have written
Holy Greatmartyr Katherine of Alexandria
Remembered for learning, chastity, and fearless confession, Katherine offered her keen mind to Christ and refused every promise meant to purchase her faith.
- Era
- Traditionally late third to early fourth century
- Region
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Category
- Greatmartyr and virgin
- Feast
- November 24; November 25 in Greek usage
- Great Martyr Mercurius (c. 259)Great Martyr · d. c. 259
What is known
A great martyr is one whose sufferings were unusually prolonged or public, and whose veneration spread widely and early. The title marks the scale of what was endured and of the honour that followed, not a higher rank in heaven.
The year given is about 259. Kept in the Greek tradition.
Beyond this, no life of them survives that could be checked — which is true of most of the saints kept on any given day. The commemoration is the record.
Appointed readings
About this page. This is the Menaion date — the fixed calendar. Parishes on the New Calendar keep it on November 25 by the civil calendar. On the Julian calendar this same commemoration is kept on December 8 by the civil calendar. The movable cycle, which turns on the date of Pascha and changes every year, is on the calendar page. Where a life has been written on this site the name links to it; where it has not, only what the commemoration itself attests is shown, and nothing is added to it.