Catherine of Alexandria died.
Catherine of Alexandria . The Eastern Orthodox Church venerates her as a Great Martyr and celebrates her feast day on 24 or 25 November ( depending on the regional tradition ) . Great martyr . Generally speaking , a Great Martyr is a martyr who has undergone excruciating tortures -- often performing miracles and converting unbelievers to Christianity in the process -- and who has attained widespread veneration throughout the Church . A martyr ( Greek : μάρτυς , mártys , `` witness '' ; stem μάρτυρ - , mártyr - ) is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating , renouncing , refusing to renounce , or refusing to advocate a belief or cause as demanded by an external party .