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St. Catherine of Alexandria

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (circa 287-circa 305)
    Born in Alexandria, Egypt
    Represented in art and iconography by a spiked wheel
    Executed by decapitation by order of the Roman Emperor
    Feast day is on November 25
    St. Catherine's monastery in Sinai, Egypt built in her honor

Why she might be annoying:

    She is sometimes confused with St. Catherine of Siena.
    Her background was wealthy and privileged.
    Many of her converts were immediately executed.
    The truth of her life has been obscured by centuries of legends.
    She is far less popular now than she was in the past.
    She was removed from the saints’ calendar in 1969 owing to doubts over her existence.
    She is the patron saint of lawyers.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She was renowned for her learning and skill at debating.
    She tried to persuade the emperor Maximus to stop persecuting Christians.
    She failed but converted his scholars, his soldiers and his wife.
    Her instrument of torture, a spiked wheel, fell apart when she touched it.
    She spoke to Joan of Arc and was one of her divine advisors.
    Her feast day was restored in 2002.
    The Catherine wheel firework is named after her.

Credit: Georgina


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 236 Votes: 47.88% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 9 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 121 Votes: 51.24% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 111 Votes: 45.95% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 57 Votes: 43.86% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 64 Votes: 35.94% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 61 Votes: 34.43% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 157 Votes: 47.13% Annoying