St. Menas of Egypt
St. Menas was an Egyptian soldier serving in the Roman army at Kotyaeion in Phrygia during the reigns of Diocletian and Maximian.
When an imperial edict demanded that soldiers worship idols, he cast off his military belt and withdrew to the mountains for a life of prayer and asceticism, then descended during a pagan festival to openly proclaim Christ, for which he was tortured and beheaded around the year 304. His relics were carried back to Egypt and enshrined southwest of Alexandria, where his tomb at Abu Mena became one of the greatest pilgrimage centers of the early Christian world, renowned for countless healings and for his swift help as a wonderworker.
My fatherland is Egypt, my name is Menas. I was an officer, but witnessing the worship of idols, I renounced your honors. I now come before you all to proclaim my Christ as the true God, that He may proclaim me as His servant in the Heavenly Kingdom.
Troparion · Tone 4
Forsaking an earthly army, O prize-winner, you received a heavenly inheritance; after receiving glory from earthly kings, O wise one, you endured martyrdom and received an unfading crown. Therefore, O Great Martyr Menas, intercede with Christ God to save our souls.
Apolytikion of St. Menas (Plagal of the Fourth Tone)
With great valour of soul, thou didst strive in martyrdom, and having fought the good fight, O divine Great Martyr Menas, thou from Heaven hast received the gift of miracles; for God hath shown thee to the world as a worker of great signs, and He made thee our protector and a swift help in afflictions and ever-vigilant defence from harm.
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