CATHARINE, Knights of St CATHARINE of Mount Sinai, an ancient military order, erected for the assistance and protection of pilgrims going to pay their devotion to the body of St Catharine, a virgin of Alexandria, distinguished for her learning, and said to have suffered martyrdom under Maximin. The body of the martyr having been discovered on Mount Sinai, caused a great concourse of pilgrims; and travelling being very dangerous, by reason of the Arabs, an order of knighthood was erected in 1063, on the model of that of the holy sepulchre, and under the patronage of St Catharine; the knights of which obliged themselves by oath to guard the body of the saint, keep the roads secure, observe the rule of St Basil, and obey their grand master. Their habit was white, and on it were represented the instruments of martyrdom whereby the saint had suffered; viz. a half wheel armed with spikes, and traversed with a sword stained with blood.