Saint Menas the Egyptian

Who is Saint Menas the Egyptian?

(He is the patron saint of finding lost things, and of work and livelihood.)

Saint Menas the Egyptian was born in the middle of the third century and was martyred in the days of the Emperor Maximian (296-304).
From his youth he loved military life, and when he grew up he joined the army. He was strong, brave and disciplined. He came to know Christ and, beyond that, became wise and ascetic.
At that time the Roman commander Firmilianus gathered various units of troops to transfer them to North Africa, with instructions that included telling the soldiers to beware of Christians and arrest those who refused to obey Caesar’s decrees. Menas was then serving in a unit stationed in Phrygia, in Asia Minor.
As soon as he heard the orders of the high command, he was shocked, angered and disgusted. He took off his belt, threw it on the ground and fled to the mountains, for he thought it better to live among wild beasts than among idol worshippers, who were more beastly than the beasts.
Menas lived in the mountains for some time as a hermit, devoted to prayer. His military training helped him control his inclinations and fight his passions, until he became strong in the Spirit, steadfast, firmly rooted and ready for difficult tasks.
Then a divine revelation came to him that the acceptable time had come, the time of martyrdom. He went down into the city while the pagans were celebrating a festival. He went in among them and cried out: “Know, O people, that there is only one true God, Christ, and the ones you worship are nothing but pieces of senseless wood!” His words struck them like lightning.
As soon as they came to their senses, they fell on him, beat and punched him, and then handed him over to the governor of the city, who seized the opportunity to amuse himself by torturing another witness of Christ.

The governor began by asking: “Who is this insolent man, and what is his rank?” Menas answered boldly: “I am from Egypt and my name is Menas. I was an officer in the army,
but when I saw your worship of idols I rejected your honours, and I have come today to declare among you that Christ alone is the true, living God…” The governor restrained himself somewhat and tried, with threats and warnings,
and then with enticements and promises, to shift him from his position, but he failed. So he handed him over to the torturers, who flogged him savagely and rubbed his wounds with rough haircloth. Then they flayed him and burned his sides with torches, and after tormenting him in every way they could devise, they cut off his head and set fire to his remains to wipe out every trace of him. But some believers managed to recover some of his bones, which were later taken to Alexandria.
Saint Menas’s appearances and miracles are beyond counting; the faithful have known him as a helper in hardship and distress, and as one who corrects the ungodly and the hypocrites.
He is usually shown as a horseman on his steed.

The Orthodox Church celebrates him on November 11 each year.

Prepared by Rita, of the Sawt el Rab team