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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Name

Menas, soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena

Saint ID

S00073

Number in BH

BHO 745–750
BHG 1254-1269
BHL 5921-5924

Reported Death Not Before

305

Reported Death Not After

310

Gender
Male
Type of Saint
Martyrs, Soldiers
Related Evidence Records
IDTitle
E00160Greek private letter, from Oxyrhynchos (Middle Egypt) concerned with greetings and the transport of goods, providing a list of five saints to be invoked on the sender’s behalf: *John (presumably either the Baptist, S00020, or the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042), *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), and *Ioulianos (probably the , martyr of Cilicia, buried at Antioch or in Egypt S00305), datable to the 4th/5th c.
E00161Two Coptic documents from the Theban area of Upper Egypt testifying to a monastery and clergy of *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073); datable to the 7th/8th c.
E00162Greek writing exercise of the 6th/7th c. from Egypt, mentioning *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073).
E00163Greek lease from Herakleopolis (Middle Egypt) mentioning a church of *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073); dated 29 March 604.
E00164Greek Calendar of Church Services to be performed at different churches in Oxyrhynchus (Middle Egypt) from the end of October to the end of March of the years 535–536, providing information on the names of many churches, and on the saints’ days celebrated in the city.
E00206Greek Encomion dedicated to *Menas (soldier and martyr venerated at Abu Mena, S00073) composed by Dioskoros of Aphrodito (Upper Egypt); datable to the mid 6th c. Skeleton entry
E00207Greek petition from Aphrodito (Upper Egypt) of the year 547, including the signature of a presbyter of (the church of) *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073).
E00208Greek tax account from Hermopolis (Middle Egypt), mentioning a street named after *Euphemia (presumably the martyr of Chalcedon, S00017) and a street named after *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), as well as another street named after a saint whose name is now lost; it also mentions an oikonomos of *Sergios (probably the soldier and martyr of Rusafa, S00023); datable to the 7th c.
E00209Greek list of payments on a wooden lid from Kynopolis (Middle Egypt), mentioning a presbyter of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073); datable to the 7th/8th c.
E00512The Piacenza Pilgrim records his visit to the sanctuary at Abu Mena (Lower Egypt) of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), renowned for its miracles. Account of an anonymous pilgrim, written in Latin, probably in Placentia (northern Italy),c. 560.
E00709Greek inscription from Anazarbos (Cilicia, south-east Asia Minor) with a poem commemorating the restoration of a picture of *Menas (probably the soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073) perhaps in the apse of a local church, funded by an unnamed emperor. Probably 6th c.
E00741Greek list from the city of Oxyrhynchos (Middle Egypt), presenting festal payments expected from various churches and shrines, most of them dedicated to saints, including *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030), *Ioustos/Justus (saint with martyr shrine at Oxyrrhynkos, S01172), *John the Baptist (S00020), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), *Thekla (probably the follower of Apostle Paul, S00092), *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017), *Neilos (perhaps the martyr of Alexandria, S00405), *Viktor (, martyr of Egypt, son of Romanos, S00749), possibly *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192), *Philoxenos (saint with cult at Oxyrhynchos, S00443), and *Ioulianos/Julianus (probably the martyr of Cilicia, buried at Antioch or in Egypt, S00305); datable to the 5th c.
E00926Greek inscription commemorating the offering of a column to a church of *Mannis (a local martyr, S00611, or possibly *Menas, soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073). Found at Ikonion (Lycaonia, central Asia Minor). Probably later 5th or earlier 6th c.
E01001Two Coptic miracles of Apa *Mena (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), attributed to the time of Damian, archbishop of Alexandria (576–605), concerned with the building of his shrine and the celebration of his feast day; preserved in a 9th century parchment codex.
E01184Coptic will of the heads of the monastery of Epiphanios at Thebes (Upper Egypt), drawn up in the mid 7th century, attesting a monastery of Apa *Mena (presumably the soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, 00073) on the mountain of Jeme.
E01221Coptic Martyrdom of Apa *Mena/Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), presenting him as a native Egyptian from Nepaiat in the Mariotes district, serving in the regiment Loutouriakon. The account includes the return of his bones to Egypt and the building of his martyr shrine in the Mariotes (at Abu Mina). The Martyrdom is of uncertain date but survives in a manuscript from the 9th c.
E01222Coptic Miracles of Apa *Mena/Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), originally describing 17 miracles (of which 6 survive in full, and 2 in part), attributed to Apa Theophilos, archbishop of Alexandria (385–412).
E01223Coptic Encomium on Apa *Mena/Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) attributed to John, archbishop of Alexandria, most likely John IV (775-789), who had been an oikonomos at the saint’s shrine, presenting a history of the saint’s life as a man from Nikiu (in the Nile Delta, Lower Egypt), his martyrdom and afterlife, with a detailed account of the development of his shrine at Abu Mina.
E01252Coptic funerary inscription, probably from Bawit, with a long invocation to a large number of saints including the Archangels *Michael and *Gabriel (S00181 and S00192),*Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), *Adam and Zoe/Eve (the first man and woman, S00772), the Apostles (S00084), the martyrs *Viktor (martyr of Egypt, son of Romanos, S00749), *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080), *George (soldier and martyr, S00259), and *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), and *Pamoun (possibly the monk and martyr of Alexandria, S00775), as well as a long list of monastic figures that includes *Apollo, Anoup and Phib (monks and monastic founders, S00774); of unknown date, presumably 6th/9th century and most likely from Bawit (Middle Egypt).
E01302Coptic funerary inscription from Bawit (Middle Egypt) with a long invocation to a large number of saints including the Archangels *Michael (S00181) and *Gabriel (S00192), *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), *Adam and Zoe/Eve (the first man and woman, S00772), the *Apostles (S00084), the martyrs *Viktor (son of Romanos, Egyptian martyr, S00749), *Phoibamon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080), *George (soldier and martyr, S00259), *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), the *Martyrs of Thone (S00771), and a long list of monastic figures including *Apollo, Anoup and Phib (monks and monastic founders, S00774); presumably 6th/8th century.
E01379Greek inscription with a request for the intercession of *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033) as the God-Bearer, and of a saint whose name is lost. Found near Eleutherna, central-west Crete. Probably 5th c.
E01514The early 5th c. Syriac Martyrology commemorates on 12 June the martyrdom of *Mēnios (perhaps the martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073, or the martyr of Laodikeia, S01051), *Papias (martyr, S01046), *Matthew (martyr, S01047), *Dīos (presbyter and martyr in Kaisareia of Cappadocia, S01043), and *Zēnobios (martyr in Isauria, S01044). Preserved in a manuscript written in Edessa (northern Mesopotamia) in 411.
E02044Floor-mosaic with a Greek inscription commemorating the completion of a church (naos) dedicated to *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073) and its paving with a mosaic. Found at Riḥāb, between Bostra and Gerasa/Jerash (Jordan/the Roman province of Arabia). Dated 635.
E02124Greek list from the city of Oxyrhynchos (Middle Egypt), presenting churches, chapels, and martyria, most of them dedicated to saints, including *Serenos/Sirenos (saint with martyr shrine at Oxyrhynchus, S00134), *Anoup (presumably the monk and monastic founder, S00774), *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), and *John (presumably the Baptist, S00020, or the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042); datable to the early 6th century.
E02228Greek document concerning tax payments in grain, of unknown Egyptian provenance, mentioning an institution dedicated to *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073); datable to the 8th century.
E02853A complex of warehouses, excavated to the north of the praetorium in Caesarea Maritima (Roman province of Palaestina I), was richly decorated with religious wall paintings showing Christ with the *Apostles (S00084), and probably the Three Egyptian martyrs: *Ares/Aretas, Promos, and Elias (S00196), and *Philemon (martyr of Antinoopolis, Egypt, S00386). Finds of small objects and the biblical background suggest the existence of a shrine of *Paul the Apostle (S00008) at the site in the 6th/7th c.
E03270The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 10 July *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073).
E03415The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 31 October *Isaiah (Old Testament Prophet, S00282), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), and *Phokas (possibly the martyr of Antioch, S00413).
E03427The early seventh-century Georgian version of the Lectionary of Jerusalem commemorates on 12 November *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073).
E03729The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 4 May *Silvanos (martyr of the Phaeno copper mines, S00193), and his students, and *Pelagia of Tarsus (martyr, S01688), or *Pelagia (martyr in Antioch, S01093), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), and *Phokas (martyr of Sinope, S00052) or *Phokas (martyr of Antioch, S00413).
E03796The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th century, based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 10 July *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073) and the *Forty-five martyrs of Nikopolis (martyrs in Armenia under Licinius, S01778).
E03912The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 31 October *Isaiah (Old Testament Prophet, S00282), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073) and *Phokas (possibly martyr of Antioch on the Orontes, S00413), *Paul (the first anchorite, S00089), *Pantaleon / Panteleemon, martyr of Nicomedia, during the Diocletian persecution of 305, S00596), *Cornelius (probably the Centurion, New Testament saint, S00301), and *Epimachos (of Pelusium, martyr of Alexandria, S00222).
E03923The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 11 November *Viktor and Stephanis (martyrs of Damascus, S01630), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), and *Ioannes/John the Almsgiver (patriarch of Alexandria, ob. 616/620, 01659).
E03924The Church Calendar of Ioane Zosime, compiled in Georgian in the 10th c., based however on 5th-7th c. prototypes from Palestine, commemorates on 12 November *Jacob the Dismembered (martyr of Persia under Bahram V, ob. 421, S01660), *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), and *Ioannes/John the Almsgiver (patriarch of Alexandria, ob. 616/620, 01659).
E04237The Miracles of *Artemios (17) recount how *Artemios (martyr of Antioch under Julian, S01128), at his shrine in Constantinople, healed the relative of a patrikios from a hernia, and temporarily punished with the same affliction an Alexandrian actor. Written in Greek in Constantinople, 582/668; assembled as a collection, 658/668.
E04285Greek scribal exercise from unknown Egyptian provenance using the name of *Menas (presumably the soldier and martyr celebrated at Abu Mina, S00073); datable to the 6th/7th century.
E04286Greek private letter of unknown Egyptian provenance mentioning a shrine (topos) dedicated to *Menas (presumably the soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073); datable to the 5th century.
E04366Coptic document from Jeme (Upper Egypt) concerning the sale of property mentioning a presbyter of an establishment dedicated to Apa *Mena (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073) among the witnesses; datable to the middle of the 8th century, either 730 or 745.
E04420Procopius of Caesarea, in his On Buildings, reports that the emperor Justinian (r. 527-565) built or restored shrines in Constantinople to the following martyrs: *Tryphon (martyr of Nicaea, S00439), *Menas and Menaios (martyrs venerated at Constantinople, E01698) and *Ia (female martyr in Persia under Shapur II, S00885). Written in Greek at Constantinople, in the 550s.
E05016The 6th/7th c. recension of the Latin Martyrologium Hieronymianum, as transmitted in 8th c. manuscripts, records the feasts of a number of saints on 11 November.
E05713John Malalas, in his Chronographia (12.43), mentions the martyrdom of *Menas (martyr of Egypt, S00073) under Diocletian (r. 284-305). Written in Greek at Antioch (Syria) or Constantinople, in the mid-6th c.
E05973Coptic ostracon from Deir el-Bahari (Upper Egypt) with a guarantee for the good service of a new deacon of a church of Apa *Mena (presumably the soldier and martyr celebrated at Abu Mena, S00073); datable around the year 600.
E05991Coptic ostracon from Deir el-Bahari (Upper Egypt) with a list of saints or rather institutions dedicated to saints, such as *Mary (presumably Mary, mother of Christ, S00033), Apa *Michael (presumably the Archangel, S00181), and Apa Biktor (possibly Viktor, son of Romanos, S00749), possibly also one to *Mena (presumably Menas, soldier and martyr celebrated at Abu Mena); datable to the 7th century.
E06819Coptic funerary stela presumably from Sinnuris in the Fayum invoking a long list of saints, among them the martyrs *Viktor (probably the martyr of Egypt, son of Romanos, S00749), *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080), *George (soldier and martyr, S00259), and *Menas (soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073); datable to the 7th–9th century.
E06942The Greek Martyrdom of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) recounts the tale of the pious Egyptian soldier Menas, who deserts his regiment in Kotyaion (central Asia Minor) in order to avoid participating in pagan worship, returns later to declare publicly his Christian faith, and is martyred after being tortured at the hands of the local governor. The text was probably written around the 5th/6th century, probably in Kotyaion.
E07003The Notitia Urbis Constantinopolitanae (‘Record of the City of Constantinople’) records among the principal churches inside the walls of Constantinople the shrines of *Menas (probably the soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), *Paulos (the Confessor, bishop of Constantinople, ob. c. 350, S01500), *Akakios (martyr of Byzantium, S01603), and the *Holy Apostles (S02422). Written in Latin in Constantinople in the early 5th century.
E07296Jug with Greek inscription mentioning *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073). Found at Abu Mina (southwest of Alexandria, Egypt). Probably 5th/6th c.
E07308Greek building inscription mentioning *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073). Found at Nazleh near Polydeukeia (Fayum, Egypt). Probably the end of the 7th/the beginning of the 8th c.
E07309Neck of the amphora with Greek inscription mentioning *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073). Found at Oxyrhynchos (Upper Egypt). Probably 6th/7th c.
E07315Mould-made terracotta amphora stoppers with Greek inscriptions referring to *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) and just possibly to *Kollouthos (physician and martyr of Antinoopolis (Middle Egypt), ob. early 4th cent., S00641) and *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080). Found at Antinoopolis (Upper Egypt). Date unknown; just possbily 6th c.
E07393Latin inscription on an altar pedestal, recording the deposition of relics of *Felicianus (one of the martyrs of Vaga, 00817) and *Menas (presumably the soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, 00073). Found in Carthage (central North Africa). Probably 4th/5th c.
E07440The Greek Miracles of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts thirteen stories of prodigies performed on the way to, or at the saint’s shrine south of Alexandria (Lower Egypt), focusing on miracles of justice, such as punishment of crimes and perjury. It mentions several types of vows and donations, and provides information about the organisation of the shrine. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c. Overview entry.
E07441The Greek Miracles of *Menas (1), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), appeared on horseback and brought back to life a pilgrim, murdered and dismembered by an innkeeper while on his way to the saint’s shrine; the murderer becomes a monk. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07442The Greek Miracles of *Menas (2), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) rescued from drowning the servant of a man who had promised to dedicate a silver plate at the saint's shrine. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07443The Greek Miracles of *Menas (3), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) rescued a woman, travelling alone to his shrine at Abu Mina, from being raped by a soldier. The woman also visited a shrine of *Thekla (follower of Paul the Apostle, S00092) in the same area. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07444The Greek Miracles of *Menas (4), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) uncovered the fraud of a Christian man, who attempted to seize an amount of money entrusted to him by his Jewish friend, and then committed perjury at the saint's shrine. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07445The Greek Miracles of *Menas (5), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) concurrently healed a crippled man and a mute woman, by instructing the former to attempt to sleep with the latter. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07446The Greek Miracles of *Menas (6), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) rescued from rape a Samaritan woman who was travelling to the saint's shrine as a pilgrim. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07447The Greek Miracles of *Menas (7), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) rescued from a crocodile a man who was travelling to the saint's shrine as a pilgrim. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07448The Greek Miracles of *Menas (8), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) revealed the theft of a sheep, committed by a rich pagan man against a poor Christian widow; the former’s perjury is punished by paralysis. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07449The Greek Miracles of *Menas (9), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) claimed a camel which had been promised to him by a man who then neglected his vow. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c..
E07450The Greek Miracles of *Menas (10), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) made a horse be born with three legs, which a pagan had vowed to dedicate both to Menas and his pagan god. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07451The Greek Miracles of *Menas (11), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) punished a soldier who attempted to seize some timber offered to the saint's shrine by a donor. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07452The Greek Miracles of *Menas (12), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) healed a young man possessed by a demon, taking him by force to his shrine. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07453The Greek Miracles of *Menas (13), ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria, recounts how Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) punished a man who kept stealing pigs from the saint's shrine. Written in Greek in Alexandria, probably in the 5th/6th c.
E07454Five Greek miracle-stories of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) offer a summary version of the first five stories of the Miracles of Menas ascribed to Timothy of Alexandria (see E07440). Probably written in the Middle Byzantine period.
E07510Latin inscription commemorating the deposition of relics of the martyrs *Menas (soldier and martyr, buried at Abu Mena, S00073) and *Sebastianus (martyr of Rome, S00400) from a rural site at Henchir Fallous (Proconsularis, central North Africa). Later 6th or 7th century.
E07549Sophronius of Jerusalem, in his Miracles of the Saints Cyrus and John (41), recounts how *Kyros and Ioannes/Cyrus and John (physician and soldier, martyrs of Egypt, S00406) healed from a monstrous deformity a young boy from Babylon (Lower Egypt) named Menas, after *Menas (the soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), at their shrine at Menouthis (near Alexandria, Lower Egypt). Written in Greek in Alexandria, 610/615.
E07665Sophronius of Jerusalem, in his Miracles of the Saints Cyrus and John (46), recounts how *Kyros and Ioannes/Cyrus and John (physician and soldier, martyrs of Egypt, S00406) healed from blindness two men who came to their sanctuary at Menouthis (near Alexandria, Lower Egypt), one from a village close to the sanctuary of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073), the other from the monastery of Tabennesos (in Lower and Upper Egypt, respectively), by sending them to wash at the pool of Siloam in Jerusalem. Written in Greek in Alexandria, 610/615.
E07696Sophronius of Jerusalem, in his Miracles of the Saints Cyrus and John (51), recounts how *Kyros and Ioannes/Cyrus and John (physician and soldier, martyrs of Egypt, S00406) healed the presbyter Georgios, originally from Tarsus in Cilicia (south-east Asia Minor), from a cataract and delivered him from death during a pestilence, both times at their sanctuary at Menouthis (near Alexandria, Lower Egypt). Sophronius also mentions veneration of *Paul (the Apostle, S00008) and *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073). Written in Greek in Alexandria, 610/615.
E07951The Paschal Chronicle records the martyrdom of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) at Kotyaion in Phrygia in 295. Written in Greek at Constantinople, c. 630.
E08311Latin inscription recording the deposition in 474 of relics of *Laurentius/Laurence (deacon and martyr of Rome, S00037), *Hippolytus (martyr of Rome, S00509), *Euphemia (martyr of Chalcedon, S00017), possibly *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena,S00073), and of the Holy Cross. Found between present-day Constantine and Setif (Roman Numidia, central North Africa).
E08313Pilgrim ampulla of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073) found at Hippo Regius (Numidia, central North Africa); probably 5th/6th c.
E08476Greek inscription on a boundary-stone of a church or monastery of *Menas (soldier and martyr buried at Abu Mena, S00073). Found at Siref Akreim (Cyrenaica, eastern North Africa). 5th/6th c.