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Holy Great Martyr Menas 11/24/2013
He came from Egypt and was an experienced soldier. As a devout Christian he could not observe the unholy worshipping of idols, so he left the army, the city and the people and headed to the mountains. For Saint Menas found it easier to live among wild beasts than among the impious people. One day it was revealed to the Saint that there was a pagan festivity in the city of Kotyaeum, so he went down to the city and confessed his faith in the living God Jesus Christ and admonished the inhabitants for their idolatry, which is deception and darkness. The Governor of the city, called Pyrrhos, interrogated Menas about who he was and where he came from. The Saint’s answer was “My fatherland is Egypt, my name is Menas. I was a soldier but when I saw your idolatry I left the army and gave up military honours. I came here to confess Christ as the true God, so that he could recognize me as a true servant in the Heavenly Kingdom.“ Having heard this, Pyrrhos put him to the torture. He was beaten, his skin was flayed with iron claws, and his whole body was burnt with flaming torches. He was put to yet more tortures before he was beheaded. His body was thrown into the fire so that the faithful could not take it, but nevertheless they were able to save part of his precious relics. They gave them honourable burial and later they were translated to Alexandria and a church was built over the tomb of the Great Martyr. Saint Menas suffered for Christ around 304 and inhabited the Heavenly Kingdom. He was a great wonderworker on earth and remained so after his departure from this world. Saint Menas has helped all that venerate him and call upon his help with faith. Many times he appeared as a soldier riding a horse to help the faithful and punish the unfaithful.
