As a Roman Catholic Theologian, and a student of philosophy, Saint Katherine of Alexandria is my patroness.
I have this image of
her, painted by the renaissance master Raphael tattooed on my right arm.
Her legend tells us
that she was born in Alexandria, Egypt around the year 287 CE, and that she
died as a martyr during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maxentius c. 305.
She was broken on the
wheel; she was tied to it, impaled on its spikes, and crushed beneath it as it
was rolled through the streets.
Katherine was only
eighteen years old but gifted with a rare intellect. She was from a wealthy
family and used her fortune to hold salons where she invited pagan philosophers
to debate with her and other Christian scholars on matters concerning the central
tenets of the faith and the doctrines of the Church.
Katherine is always
depicted in the saffron and ochre robes of the philosopher, which had been the
tradition throughout the ancient Near East and Hellenistic Civilization since
at least the time of Socrates (mid-fourth century BCE). It is likely that these
colors, and their association with philosophy come from the Buddhist
missionaries travelling west from as early as the sixth century BCE.
Given First 11.25.2020
No comments:
Post a Comment
I am very interested in your commentary, please respond to anything that interests you.