St. Catherine of Alexandria holding a sword and a wheel, St. Barbara holding a tower, St. Paul holding a sword, and St. Peter holding a key and a book, and other saints (All Saints)

St. Catherine of Alexandria was a 4th-century Christian martyr and saint. According to tradition, she was a learned and beautiful woman who converted to Christianity and became a noted defender of the faith. She was imprisoned and subjected to various tortures, including being broken on a wheel, but survived. She is said to have converted the emperor Maxentius to Christianity before her ultimate execution. St. Catherine is the patron saint of philosophers, students, and preachers and is venerated by the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Coptic Churches.

According to the New Testament, Paul, who was originally known as Saul, was a devout Jew and a zealous opponent of the Christian Church. However, on the road to Damascus, Paul had a vision of Jesus, who revealed himself to him and called him to be an apostle. After his conversion, Paul became one of the greatest missionaries of the early Church and is credited with establishing many Christian communities throughout the Mediterranean world. The sword he is depicted holding symbolizes his earlier life as a persecutor and his later life as a defender of the faith.