Menas of Egypt
Egyptian saint, martyr and wonder-worker, said to have lived 285-ca. 309
Feast: 11 November (1962 Missal, commemoration) · not on the current Roman calendar
Who they were
Menas, an Egyptian Christian, served in the Roman army. When Diocletian's edicts against the Christians were proclaimed in Phrygia, he left the army to live in prayer and fasting in the mountains. During a great festival he appeared in the circus and fearlessly professed his faith; he was scourged, tortured and beheaded around 295.
His body was brought to Egypt, and the fame of miracles at his grave in the desert of Mareotis near Alexandria drew thousands of pilgrims; Abu Mina became for centuries a national shrine and a large city.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: Menas has been honoured as a martyr since the early centuries.
Why that counted as sanctity
Menas left the army rather than serve persecution, and then went openly before the crowd to confess Christ, knowing it meant death.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Menas
- Wikidata Q163432 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Menas of Egypt (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.