St. Mena was Egyptian by birth, of a Christian family. He was born in the year 285. His mother, Ophemia, was barren. It was said that when she praying in front of Virgin Mary’s icon, appealing for her intercession that God may give her a child, she heard a voice saying ‘ amen ‘. Therefore, when her prayer was answered, and got a son, she called him Menas. His father ‘Odexius’, who was employed with the Roman Empire, died when Menas was young. When he joined the army, he was given a high rank in recognition of his father’s prominence.

When Mena was assigned to go to Algeria, he resigned after three years to devote himself to Christ. He headed toward the desert and lived for five years as a hermit. In his pious life, and celibacy, he saw visions, and revelations encouraged him to declare his Christianity. A great eagerness to live in heaven overwhelmed him, the place he envisioned himself crowned with three crowns: one for celibacy, one for chastity, and one for martyrdom. In a keen desire mood, he went to Roman governor announcing his Christian faith. He was tortured, by many ways and means. Then his executioners tried to burn his body, but the fire did not affect him. Many pagans were attracted by his endless sufferings, declared their Christianity, and did not fear martyrdom. Some believers loaded his body on a camel, and headed towards the western desert where the camel stopped, and could not continue. So, they buried him right there where his present new monastery stands today, at the end of lake ‘Mariot’ close to Alexandria.

Many miracles led to the spot of burial. During the time of King Zenon who was Christian, his daughter was very sick. His councilors suggested that she should try to visit that place, which is blessed for no known reason. When she went there, St. Mena appeared to her in a dream, and told her that his body was buried there. In the morning she bathed in the lake and was healed. Then, she told her companions of the vision. Immediately, King Zenon ordered the St.’s body to be dug out, and a church to be built in that place which was called Abu- mena. Soon a great city grew there, and it became a miracle place for the sick. After the Arab conquest, the city was destructed. They looted the marble pillars, and used them in palaces and mosques. In the 14th century, some people of Mariot found a wooden box. They brought it to the governor, who opened it, only to find some bones wrapped in a piece of cloth. When they threw them in the fire, they were not burned, and a miracle led them to the place where the body of the Saint was. Pope Benjamin of Alexandria, ordered o transfer the blessed relics to a church in Cairo bearing St. Mina’s name.

Under St. Cyril (Kyrillos) VI reign, who considered St. Mena his Patron, God allowed the resurrection of the old monastery, where the blessed relics of Mar Mina went back to his old place. The new monastery became holy for the Martyr Saint Menas. In his will St. Pope Kyrillos stated his desire to be buried in the new monastery beside his Patron, and not in the famous Cathedral in Cairo. And he got what he desired. Innumerable miracles of all sorts have been performed and recorded to this day.

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