The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Collection of the miracles of Apa Mena, attributed to Theophilos, Bishop of Alexandria (385-412)

[Where there is essentially the same story in the Greek collection of Menas' miracles (E07440), this is cross-referenced.]

The introduction is given as follows:

[ⲛⲁⲓ] ϩ[ⲱⲟⲩ] ⲛⲉ ⲛ[ⲉ]ϭ[ⲟⲙ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉ]ϣⲡⲏⲣ[ⲉ ⲛ]ⲧⲁⲩϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ · ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲁ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲁ ·
ⲉⲁϥϩⲓⲥⲧⲱⲣⲓⲍⲉ ⲛϩⲉⲛ ⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲛϭⲓ ⲡⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲑⲉⲟⲫⲓⲗⲟⲥ ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲓⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲣⲁⲕⲟⲧⲉ · ϩⲛ ⲟⲩⲉⲓⲣⲏⲛⲏ ⲛⲧⲉ
ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ϩⲁⲙⲏⲛ

'[These] are the miracles and wonders which occurred through saint Apa Mena following his martyrdom, a few of them related (here) by Apa Theophilos, the archbishop of Alexandria. In peace of God. Amen.'

The account begins with the description of the martyrdom of Apa Mena who, as a soldier in the regiment called Loutouriakon withdrew from his regiment into the desert to escape the demand to worship idols. He lived in solitude in the desert with just a few camels to live off. The surplus of the camels’ labours, he donated to the poor. He blessed his camels regularly and they would bow down before him in reverence. Apa Mena’s piety is demonstrated by prayer day and night and daily fasting until the evening. Eventually an angel is sent to him to summon him to go to Pyrrhus, the hegemon, to confess his faith and complete his martyrdom. Instructions are given to him as to what should be done with his body, i.e. to have it put on an unaccompanied camel, which will then be guided by an angel to its chosen burial place. Apa Mena then entrusts his camels to a fellow countryman who promises to donate them to his martyr shrine, and proceeds to fulfil his martyrdom.


Miracle One (The negligent camel herdsman):
The camel herdsman to whom Apa Mena entrusted his animals vows to dedicate the first born of his barren camel to the saint’s shrine, if only Apa Mena would enable the camel to have offspring. Once his camel gives birth, the herdsman ignores his vow. As a punishment Apa Mena comes from heaven, in the guise of a spatharios, removes the camel with her offspring from him and takes them in a cloud of light to his shrine. The camel herdsman looking for them eventually arrives at the shrine where he finds his animals. As a result, he makes a large donation and even remains himself as a lifelong servant at the shrine.

ed. Drescher, p. 12, column II, lines 11–29:
ϩⲧⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ [ⲁϥ]ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲛϭⲓ [ⲡⲣ]ⲱⲙⲉ · ⲁϥϥ[ⲓ ⲛⲛⲉ]ϥⲧⲃⲛⲟⲟⲩⲉ [ⲧⲏⲣⲟ]ⲩ ⲙⲛ ⲛ[ⲕⲁ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉ]ⲧϣ[ⲟⲟ]ⲡ [ⲛⲁϥ ⲁϥ]ⲧⲁⲁ[ⲩ ⲉ]ϩ[ⲟⲩⲛ] ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ · [ⲁⲩ]ⲱ ⲁⲡ[ⲟⲓ]ⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙ[ⲟⲥ] ⲁⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲡ[ⲉ] ⲉⲛⲉϭⲁⲙⲟⲩⲗ ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲁϥϭⲱ [ⲉϥ ⲟ ⲛϩⲙ]ϩⲁⲗ [ⲙⲡ]ϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ [ϣⲁ] ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲙⲟⲩ

'When it was morning, the man rose. He brought all his animals and anything he owned and donated them to the topos of Apa Mena. The oikonomos made him "head of the camels" of the topos. He remained a servant to saint Apa Mena until the day of his death.'

[This is Greek Miracle 9, E07449]


Miracle Two (The resurrection of a murdered pilgrim):
A rich man living in Alexandria decides to make a donation of 3,000 solidi at the shrine. On his pilgrimage, he is killed and then chopped into pieces by a man hosting him for the night, who wishes to steal the gold. But Menas appears on horseback accompanied by two angels, confronts the murderer, and resurrects the dead man. The repentant murderer and the resurrected pilgrim then make their way to the shrine of Apa Mena donating between them a total of 5,000 solidi.

ed. Drescher, p. 17, column I, lines 2–20:
[ⲡⲣⲱ]ⲙⲉ [ⲇⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉϥ]ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧ[ⲛⲟϭ ⲛϭⲟ]ⲙ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ · ⲁϥ[ϥⲓ ⲛ]ⲕⲉϫⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲛ[ϣⲉ] ⲛϩⲟⲗⲟⲕⲟⲧⲧⲓⲛⲟⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲕⲉⲙⲁⲁⲃ ⲛϣⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ · ⲉⲧⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲉ ϯⲟⲩ ⲛϣⲟ ⲛϩⲟⲗⲟⲕⲟⲧⲧⲓⲛⲟⲥ · ⲁⲩⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲩⲉⲣⲏⲩ · ϣⲁⲛⲧⲟⲩⲡⲱϩ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ · ⲁⲩⲧⲁ[ⲁⲩ] ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲣⲁϣⲉ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲩϯⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ

'When the man (i.e. the killer host) had seen the great power of Apa Mena, he took another 2,000 solidi in addition to the 3,000 of the one who had risen from the dead, this making 5,000 solidi. They walked together, until they reached the topos of Apa Mena. They donated the money to his shrine rejoicing and glorifying the God of saint Apa Mena.'

[This is Greek Miracle 1, E07441]


Miracle Three (The donation of a silver plate):
A rich man from Alexandria commissioned two silver plates (pinax), intending to keep one and donate the other to the shrine of Apa Mena; he then decided to keep the better one of the pair for himself. On his way to make the donation, his young servant boy appeared to drown when he plunged into the lake, having let one of the precious silver plates fall into it. His master appeals to the saint for help, and the boy—complete with dish—is miraculously saved by the saint who appeared and protected the boy from the water. Master and servant make their way to the shrine of Apa Mena, and the master acts as follows:

ed. Drescher, p. 21, col. II, line 30–p. 22, col. I, line 5:
ⲁϥϯ ⲙⲡⲡⲓⲛⲝ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛϩⲁⲧ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲕⲉⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϭⲱ ⲉϥⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲉⲓ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲙⲟⲩ

'He donated the two silver plates to his topos and also the young servant boy, so that he would remain serving (there) until the day of his death.'

[This is Greek Miracle 2, E07442]


Fragmentary Miracle Four (The rescue of a female pilgrim from attempted rape by a soldier):
A childless woman from Philoxenite decides to take all her precious possessions to the shrine of Apa Mena, in order to donate them there (perhaps in the hope of gaining offspring). Without telling her husband or anyone else, she walks alone into the desert. Near the location of the shrine of *Thekla (S00092), she meets a soldier … [In the Greek version of this miracle, the soldier attempts to rape her. Being the pilgrim of Apa Mena she is rescued not by the powers of Thekla whose shrine is nearer to the scene, but by Apa Mena himself who is responsible for her.]

[This is Greek Miracle 3, E07443. Here, in the Coptic collection, only the beginning of the story survives]


Fragmentary Miracle Fourteen (The punishment of a thief and the piety of his wife):
The wife of a man punished by the saint in his shrine tends to her husband until he dies, after which she makes a large offering to the shrine including all her earthly riches and her sheep. Additionally, she visited the shrine every year to make a votive offering.

[Only the end of this story survives; but this is enough to tell us that it is not one of the miracles recorded in the Greek collection]

Miracle Fifteen (The expulsion of a demon from an Alexandrian man):
A man from Alexandria had been afflicted by a demon for seventeen years. His kinsmen decide to take him to the shrine of Apa Mena, but he is very violent on the journey and his kinsmen in despair appeal to the saint. Apa Mena appears in the guise of a soldier on horseback, takes the troublesome patient from them and rides with him back to his shrine. There he troubles the demon by hanging the man upside down. When the demon promises to leave the man, they let him down and bring him to the crypt (katabasis) where the saint’s body is located.

ed. Drescher, p. 25, col. I, line 28–col. II, line 32:
ⲁⲩϫⲓⲧϥ ⲉⲡⲉⲥⲏⲧ ⲉⲧⲕⲁⲧⲁⲃⲁⲥⲓⲥ · ⲉⲡⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ ⲁⲡⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϫⲓ ⲛⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲛⲉϩ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲙⲟⲩϩ [ⲉ]ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ · ⲁϥⲥⲫⲣⲁⲅⲓⲍⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ · ⲁⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ ⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙⲙⲁϥ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲡⲗⲁⲥⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛϥⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ ⲡⲁⲕⲁⲑⲁⲣⲧⲟⲛ · ⲁⲓⲉⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲉ [ⲉⲓ]ⲛⲁⲡⲁⲧⲁⲥⲥⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲕ ϩⲛ ⲧⲉϩⲓⲏ · ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲛⲧⲁⲓⲉⲛⲧⲕ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲙⲁ · ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲓⲉϯϣ[ⲓ]ⲡⲉ ⲛⲁⲕ · ϩⲛ ⲧⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲓⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲡⲁⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ · ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲁϥⲣⲟⲩϣⲁϩ ⲛⲕⲱϩⲧ · ⲁϥⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ ⲁⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ · ⲁϥϯ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲡⲣⲟⲥⲫⲟⲣⲁ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ·

'They took him down to the crypt (katabasis), to the location of the body of saint Apa Mena. The oikonomos of the topos took a bit of oil from the lamp which was burning by the saint’s body. He made the sign of the cross on him. They heard the holy martyr speaking with him in a fierce manner, saying: "Come out of God’s creation, unclean one, and he is well. For I came (originally) in order to strike you on the road. But I have put you down here (now) in order to shame you in the midst of all these masses who come to my shrine." Immediately he (the demon) turned into a flame of fire. He came out of him. The man was well immediately and gave his offering to the shrine.'

[This is Greek Miracle 12, E07452]

Miracle Sixteen (The rescue of a female Samaritan pilgrim from attempted rape by an innkeeper):
A Samaritan woman suffering severe headaches decides to visit the shrine of Apa Mena. On her way, an innkeeper attempts to rape her, and, when she resists, threatens her with death. She appeals to Apa Mena, and the innkeeper's arm, with sword in hand, becomes as stiff as stone. Apa Mena appears in the guise of a spatharios on horseback and promises her healing at his shrine. The next day, guided by an angel in the form of a monk, she reaches the shrine, is baptised a Christain, and enters its service for life.

ed. Drescher, p. 31, col. II, lines 14–18:
ⲁⲥϭⲱ [ⲉⲥ]ⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲉⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲣⲧⲩⲣⲓⲟⲛ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲩ

'She remained serving in the martyr shrine until the day of her death.'

The repentant rapist comes to the shrine, still holding his sword in his petrified hand. After seven days imploring the martyr, Apa Mena appears to him, and the man pledges to serve the saint for life:

ed. Drescher, p. 32, col. I, lines 24–27:
[ⲛϯⲛⲁⲥⲉ]ⲛ[ⲧ] ⲡⲉⲕⲧⲟ[ⲡⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲁⲛ ⲉ]ⲓⲟ ⲛϩ[ⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲛⲁ]ⲕ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉϩ[ⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲁ]ⲙⲟⲩ

'I shall not leave your topos, being a servant for you until the day I die.'

The rapist is then healed with oil from the lamp burning in front of the saint’s body, which the priest puts on his petrified hand. In gratitude, he donates all his belonging to the shrine and remains there himself as a servant for the rest of his life.

ed. Drescher, p. 32, col. II, lines 14–29:
ⲁ[ⲡⲉⲡⲣⲉ]ⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ ϫⲓ ⲙⲡⲛⲉϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩ[ⲙ ⲡ]ⲫⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲙⲟⲩϩ ϩⲓⲑⲏ ⲙⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ ⲙⲡⲡⲉⲧⲟⲩⲁ[ⲁⲃ · ⲁϥ]ⲥⲫⲣⲁⲅⲓⲍⲉ ⲛⲧⲉϥϭⲓϫ · ⲛⲧⲉⲩⲛⲟⲩ · ⲁϥⲗⲟ [ⲉⲃⲟⲗ] ϩⲙ ⲡϯⲧⲕⲁⲥ · ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲁϥϯ ⲙⲡⲉⲧⲛⲧⲁϥ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ · ⲁϥϭⲱ ⲉϥⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟⲛⲉⲓ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉϥⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ϣⲁ ⲡⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲙⲟⲩ

'The priest took the oil from the lamp burning in front of the saint’s body and made the sign of the cross on his hand. Immediately, he was healed from the pain. The man donated all he owned to the topos of Apa Mena and remained serving in his topos until the day of his death.'

[This is Greek Miracle 6, E07446]

Miracle Seventeen (The water miracle):
At the time of a severe drought, multitudes, men, women, and children gathered at the shrine suffering from thirst. Rows of camels were sent to draw water from wells near the lake, but this still was not enough. People approached the chief presbyter and oikonomos of the shrine in despair. They told them to go down into the crypt and kneel before the saint’s body and implore him to ask Christ to grant them what they need. When they did this, men and women imploring the saint to have mercy on his people gathered around him, the holy martyr spoke from the grave asking Christ to produce water in the desert. Immediately the archangel *Michael appeared and struck the rock with his rod, so that water poured forth, filling a large area. Everybody drank and glorified God.

At the end of the account, it is mentioned that there are many more, in fact countless miracles wrought by Apa Mena, but these that the archbishop has related here must suffice to make one believe in the saint’s power. A particular gift that God granted the saint is pointed out: that he still speaks out as if alive.

ed. Drescher, p. 34, col. II, lines 10–20:
ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲍⲉ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲙⲏⲛⲁ · ⲙⲡⲉⲓⲕⲉⲛⲟϭ ⲛϩⲙⲟⲧ · ⲁϥⲕⲱ ⲛⲧⲉϥⲯⲩⲭⲏ · ⲉⲥϭⲁⲗⲱⲟⲩ ⲉⲡⲉϥⲥⲱⲙⲁ · ⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲛ ϩⲁϩ ⲛⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ ϩⲓ ⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ ϩⲛ ⲧⲕⲁⲓⲥⲉ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲉϥⲟⲛϩ

'God granted saint Apa Mena also this great gift: He left his soul dwelling in his body. From the grave he speaks with many mouth to mouth, as if alive.'

[This story is not in the Greek miracle collection]


Text: Drescher 1946.
Translation: Gesa Schenke.

Burial site of a saint - crypt/ crypt with relics
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Cult building - independent (church)
Martyr shrine (martyrion, bet sāhedwātā, etc.)

Vow
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Consecrating a child, or oneself, to a saint

Miracle after death
Punishing miracle
Miracle with animals and plants
Healing diseases and disabilities
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Power over life and death
Material support (supply of food, water, drink, money)
Invisibility, bilocation, miraculous travels
Miraculous protection - of people and their property
Exorcism

Bodily relic - entire body

Women
Children
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Soldiers
Officials
Other lay individuals/ people
Crowds

Oil lamps/candles

Source

Discussion

Bibliography