Saint Catherine of Alexandria is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius. According to her hagiography, she was both a princess and a noted scholar, who became a Christian around the age of 14, converted hundreds of people to Christianity, and was martyred around the age of 18. More than 1,100 years following her martyrdom, Saint Joan of Arc identified Catherine as one of the Saints who appeared to her and counseled her.

The Orthodox Church venerates her as a Great Martyr and celebrates her feast day on 25 November. In Catholicism she is traditionally revered as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Her writings played a key role in defeating a demon that had taken possession of Elisabeth-Maria Holstein and later became a holy relic for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.