Saint Catherine, Russian hand painted icon. Condition is good considering the age of the item. Saint Catherine the Great Martyr was a Christian saint and martyr, one of the most educated women of her time. Catherine's mother, who secretly professed Christianity, sent her to a hermit who initiated her into the faith. The legend tells how angels carried the martyr's body to Mount Sinai, where the Roman Emperor Justinian I founded the Sinai Monastery. The monastery has survived the centuries, remaining a repository of priceless works of early Christian art, architecture and illustrated manuscripts. The main symbol of Catherine's world is the wheel with spikes, which is known as "Catherine's wheel". In the Rhodopes (Middle Rhodopes), the saint is worshiped against serious illnesses. Women do not work or touch sharp objects because it is believed that if they cut themselves, the wound will not heal.