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Memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria Bishop John O. Barres St. Agnes Cathedral November 25, 2020

When Bishop Emeritus William Murphy and Msgr. William Koenig started the restoration of St. Agnes Cathedral, they decided to include two new icons. The Baptism of Jesus belongs where it is at the baptistry to my right. With Pope St. John Paul II, Bishop Murphy has always tried to think of the Church as “breathing with two lungs”, the lung of the East and the lung of the West. It was St. John Paul II who restored St. Catherine of Alexandria’s feast to the universal liturgical calendar in 2002. In the icon to my left, St. Catherine of Alexandria represents the East and our St. Agnes of Rome represents the West. Every dimension of Catholic Art and Iconography helps the Church to evangelize. As we celebrate the Memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria, we also celebrate how this beautiful and profound Icon enhances our Catholic faith experience. They were both martyred in 304, each in her respective city. Catherine was 18, Agnes 12. Catherine was so highly educated that the Governor, Maxentius, challenged her Christianity by organizing a debate. Alexandria was an intellectual center and Maxentius brought leading Greek inspired philosophers and savants to challenge her. St. Catherine of Alexandria humbly conquered them all. Legend says she refused the Governor’s wish to marry her and she was sentenced to death by the wheel. The legend says that the wheel shattered and so she ultimately was beheaded. Both East and West honor her as St. Catherine, the Great Martyr.1 The Collect of the Memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria reads: “Almighty ever- living God, who gave Saint Catherine of Alexandria to your people as a Virgin and

1 Cf. Email from Bishop William Murphy, November 23, 2020.

2 an invincible Martyr, grant that through her intercession we may be strengthened in faith and constancy and spend ourselves without reserve for the unity of the Church.” Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us! St. Catherine of Alexandria, pray for us! St. Agnes of Rome, pray for us!

Two icons were commissioned and installed on either side of the sanctuary as part of the 2016 restoration.

One icon depicting the Baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist is on the wall near the Baptismal Font and the second icon is on the wall directly opposite this icon near the ambo. The icon by the ambo features the Blessed Virgin hold the child Jesus and flanked by the Patroness of our parish, St. Agnes, along with St. Catherine of Alexandria. Like St. Agnes, St. Catherine was martyred for her faith at a young age. St. Catherine is especially revered by the Eastern Church and being depicted with St. Agnes in this icon reminds us of our unity with the Churches of the Eastern Rite.

George Filippakis, a gifted artist who specializes in Byzantine iconography, is the iconographer of these icons.