Saint Catherine

Автор: Даниэль Хосейни

Praise be to you, o holy martyr Catherine,
Steadfastly you stood up for Christ.
Despising threats of emperor Maximian,
Your lofty memory will ever last.

You blossomed forth as offspring of the wealthy parents,
Being highly educated like no other girl.
Excelling women with supremely beauty,
You have rejected bridegrooms asking for your hand.

You dreamed of Bridegroom who is equal
In wealth, in wisdom and the noble birth you have.
Your mother took you to her Christian elder,
Who knew the Man, Him who surpasses all herein.

You fell asleep after you prayed before an icon,
And in your dream your Bridegroom didn’t want to look at you.
When you were thoroughly in Christian piety instructed,
Then Jesus lifted up his face and kindly smiled at you.

Courageously confessing Christ before the assembly of pagans,
You fearlessly exposed the vanity of idol worshipping.
You challenged emperor to summon up philosophers in Alexandria,
Whom you converted through debate to Jesus Christ, true God.

With bravery enduring threats and floggings,
You were confined in dungeon without food to eat.
From there you preached God’s word to Roman soldiers and Augusta,
Who were impressed by you, embracing Gospel’s faith.

A friend of emperor invented cruel torture:
To tear your flesh to shreds by means of pricky wheels.
But when they strapped you underneath the engine,
God’s holy angel freed you, shattering into the bits the wheels.

Weak maiden put the mighty emperor to shame:
Horrific threats and torture were of no avail,
Just like the flattery or sweet, seducing talk.
And so he ordered her to be beheaded.

Triumphantly you faced the death,
It brought you safely home forever.
Victoriously now you rejoice,
O Catherine, pray for us to God in Heaven.